I'm free from exams!

The Boy Who Cried Wolf: Part Nine

"You'd better call me or Winter when you land," Levana orders, "and when you arrive at the hotel."

Cinder smiles sweetly in a way that everyone knows is forced. Even Levana can tell but she doesn't care. If this is how they've done it for seventeen years with no issues, then there's no point in stopping or complaining about it.

"Make sure you don't ruin the gifts in there," Winter says. She knows that Cinder isn't exactly careful with most things.

"I won't." Cinder opens her arms and hugs Winter tightly. No promises. It's not her fault if baggage tosses it around like nothing.

Off to the side, Cress stands with Thorne who's kneeling on the ground. He moves around her carry-on, trying to see if he could fit inside. He rests the bag against Scarlet's calf, trying to see what position would work best. Every crouch didn't work since she still had stuff in there.

"Thorne, you don't want to go back to Luna," Kai tells him, forcing him back on his feet.

"Why?" Thorne asks, trying to see if he can rearrange some of Cress's things to make room. She's small so her clothes are small. He can work with that.

"Remember Andromeda Academy?" Scarlet questions, smiling a little when she sees Thorne's head pops up in PTSD.

Thorne clears his throat, standing normally again but putting his arm around Cress. Forget it. He can live for four days without his girlfriend. As long as he never has to think about Andromeda Academy, he's fine with anything.

"Can you watch him for me?" Cress asks, referring to Thorne.

Kai nods as Scarlet shakes her head. Kai glares at her and Cress and, even Thorne, beg her with puppy eyes and pouted lips. Scarlet groans and concedes with an eye roll. She would've surrendered eventually because Thorne's a lost cause and she'll have to keep an eye on Kai as well. Nobody has to watch her since she'll be fine.

Kai approaches Cinder from behind. He wraps his arms around her waist and kisses her cheek. Cinder squirms, making him laugh as she turns around to push his face away. She laughs before giving him a quick kiss.

"Too many emotions," Cinder jokes as Kai kisses her again.

"I will miss you," Kai whispers in her ear.

"Well, you know what I'm going to do to you when I get back -" Cinder starts.

She's about to finish but stops when all eyes are on her and Kai. Kai clears his throat and steps to the side, breaking all physical contact with Cinder. Cinder readjusts her jacket as everyone grins wildly, waiting for the rest of that sentence, except for Levana who pretends she didn't even hear the conversation start.

"You could tell me some of that stuff," Thorne says, nudging Cress just for her reaction.

She just happened to have her eyes bug out and her cheeks turn as red as Scarlet's hair. Before she could scurry away, Thorne pulls her close for a goodbye kiss. To Cress's benefit, her father wasn't her to see her leave. They shared a heartfelt goodbye back at home before Cinder picked her up to drive here. If her father saw Thorne kiss her, she would run for the first plane out of here.

Scarlet opens her arms and grabs Cress with one arm and Cinder with the other, smothering them in a hug that her hair too up most of. Winter claps excitedly as she joins in, suffocating Cress and Cinder with their curls. It until the airport's announcement that the girls separate and they can breathe again.

"Gate Nine's flight to Artemisia will soon start boarding."

"That's us," Cinder says excitedly as Cress bounces beside her.

Before they start walking over, they look over at their tardy friend approaching them. They all turn, Cress and Cinder smile, and Scarlet wraps her arms around Wolf as he approaches them with his carry-on bag. Scarlet starts kissing his cheek as Wolf holds her by the small of her back.

"Sorry for being late," Wolf says to the group. "Customs had a blast interrogating me."

His mom also had a mouthful to say before he left. The usual be careful, watch the girls, and, his personal favourite, come back.

"I'm going to miss you," Scarlet whispers to him.

"I will miss you more," Wolf responds before kissing her.

"See, Kai," Thorne says, gesturing to Scarlet and Wolf, "that's how you do it without everyone staring at you."

"We're staring," Kai responds.

"Yeah, but we're not cringing on your behalf."

Kai narrows his eyes at them as Cinder walks over to Scarlet and Wolf.

"I'd hate to break this up but we have to start boarding," Cinder says.

Wolf nods and Scarlet steps down. He gives her a quick kiss before Thorne jumps on his back as a goodbye. Wolf groans. Not going to miss that. He throws Thorne off.

"Watch him," Wolf says to Scarlet.

Scarlet opens her arms in frustration. "Why is it my responsibility?"

Wolf laughs before kissing her forehead.

"I thought you weren't going," Kai says with a smug grin on his face.

Wolf sighs, shrugging. "I kept saying no so I'm still confused about what I'm doing here but might as well find out."

-o-

They got on the plane and found their row. Cinder stuck with simple economic seats that had enough space for them. It was Cress and Cinder's first times travelling abroad alone and Wolf's only experience was when he fled to France to find Scarlet. In other words, they didn't want to be apart on the plane. Wolf puts their bags in the upper compartment as Cress slides past him to get to the window seat and Cinder stands beside Wolf in the aisle.

When he closes the door, he looks at Cinder, waiting for her to get inside but she opens her arm for him.

"Really?" Wolf questions. "You want me in the middle seat? I'm the size of you and Cress and more."

"Why are you complaining?" Cinder asks. "I bought your ticket last."

"You bought them at the same time!"

"Oh, look at those clouds!" Cress exclaims, looking out the window.

Cinder laughs a little. "Cress, we're still on the ground."

She was amazed by the clouds in Commonwealth. They weren't even in Artemisia yet. It didn't matter that clouds are clouds. There's always a difference.

"I know!"

Cinder and Wolf can't believe that girl. She was so innocent and pure that she had to be protected at all costs. With that gesture, Wolf grumbles as he gets in the middle seat. It was either get in first or climb over Cinder, which he would never do since she's so stubborn. Cinder smiles proudly as she gets the aisle seat.

"Thank you for coming," Cinder tells Wolf as Cress continues to be fascinated by the sky.

"I'm not only doing this for you," Wolf responds.

"You could just say you're welcome like a normal person."

"You didn't have to come to my house and persuade me, like a normal person."

"It got you here, didn't it?"

"Don't get your hopes up, we're still on the ground."

After his conversation with his mom, Wolf called Cinder and said that he started packing. Despite Cinder seeing that coming, she still doubted it since it couldn't have happened that easily (despite all her efforts). At least, she didn't think it would've happened that quick since she didn't even make it back home from his place when he called. (And Cinder was relieved that he chose to come because she already bought his ticket and didn't want to waste it.) Cinder wanted to ask him what changed his mind but she figured that it'd be better to hear it on the plane ride there.

"Your mother was the reason my mom came to Luna," Wolf says. "It couldn't be more of a coincidence that President Blackburn's daughter was asked me to go back with her."

Cinder smiles softly, nodding. "I'll teach you all I know. Maybe we'll find some cool propaganda to read."

Wolf laughs a little. "Before I left for the airport, my mom said you'd have a bounty on your head."

Cress turns over and gasps. " … spades, I didn't think of that. Are we in danger?"

"We're fine."

Cress notices Cinder and Wolf both jittering in their seats although the plane hasn't started moving yet. She turns in her seat to face them.

"Scared of flying?" Cress asks.

"Scared of landing," Wolf responds.

Cinder scoffs, waving a hand. "Please. I survived there for years without anyone recognizing me. We'll be fine. Now, buckle up and enjoy the ride. Any in-flight service is on me."

A guest idea wanted me to have Kai and Cinder talk seductively to each other in front of the group so you got that (and Levana's reaction as well).