New year, new arc!

To give you an idea of when I started writing this arc, Selfie's weekly updates for the previous arc are on the second week. I didn't think I'd get to start it till 2021, let alone publish it, but I went through another phase of listening to I Can Hear the Bells on loop and slightly changed the plan for this chapter.

This arc, as you can tell, belongs to our darling Crescent Moon. For those wondering, "To Ask For the [Crescent] Moon" is an expression meaning "to ask for something very difficult or impossible to get." That concept is very present in this arc.

To Ask For the Crescent Moon: Part One

Three Years Ago

After being in Commonwealth for a year, Cress would say she finally adjusted. She overcame jet lag a week in, adjusted to her new town and school in a month, and the rest of the year to grow accustomed to the changing seasons, her parents' separation, and Commonwealth's culture. It wasn't that different compared to her old neck of the woods. Between the course load and new people, her focus always shifted to someone specifically.

Carswell Thorne.

Even on her new student tour, she was told about him and shown which locker was his when they passed it. Cress didn't meet him. She couldn't. When she came to town, he left. Ironically, his parents shipped him off to Andromeda Academy in Luna because he wasn't being the son they wanted.

Everyone spoke about him. He was so popular, so missed. He even left behind his beautiful girlfriend, Kate Fallow, long caramel hair and big round glasses. The school yearned for Carswell Throne, whom they only called Thorne. They missed his mischiefs, his wild parties, drives around town. It was a spurt of energy that livened up the school. Cress was never a part of the conversations but she would hear them in passing since nobody ever noticed her.

Cress dreamed of an adventure like the ones they recounted. She lusted for the boy they described as bigger than anyone else. She wanted to see the bright fairytale smile she's only seen in old photos on social media.

Is it wrong for her to be this infatuated so quickly? Her heart says it's fine as long as it's still beating.

And one day, she saw his bright smile stride down the halls in the Lunar Academy uniform. For a moment, she thought she was hallucinating but everyone in the halls were gawking as he walked by.

Cress locks eyes with him for a second and her world suddenly froze. Bells were ringing in her head but they weren't school bells. Her heart wasn't prepared so it isn't sure whether to freeze, speed, or burst. It was unprepared to see him again since nobody knew if he'd be coming back.

Carswell Thorne is back in town to stay. Was he staring at her?

Her head spins. Something's beginning. Cress tries not to think about the rumour that Thorne got expelled from Andromeda Academy only to return to the beautiful Kate Fallow. She tries to ignore them when she would catch them hugging or sharing kisses. Sometimes she would picture herself on the receiving end but it would break her heart since it could never happen.

One little look and love's knocked her out.

Cress wonders if it's too early for her to love someone. She never met him but she felt a longing for him as if she missed him. She's read in romance novels that it's possible to love someone without having ventured into their soul.

A new boyfriend should be like a new best friend but even then, how could she be Thorne's friend if she can't even look at him without blushing? Maybe her innocence compared to Kate will captivate him but that's a little scandalous to think about.

"That was a one-time thing I've done many times," Thorne tells his friends. Turns out he was looking at them and they were right behind Cress. "It just finally worked. I made this choice with my parents' money and now I'm back home."

Then again, maybe Thorne was the risqué one. Nobody knew how he managed to get expelled but it must've been a big stunt if it got him out of military school and sent back across the ocean. She wonders if he got deported. The possibilities make him much more attractive to her.

History class was the one class she shared with Thorne and the stars blessed her by having the teacher place him one row ahead of her. It was the best set-up she could've asked for since she could stare at him all day long without him seeing her do so, and still look like she was paying attention in class.

Today, Thorne wasn't in class which Cress found weird since she saw him in the halls. She heard about possible tension in the relationship. Thorne came back to town for her and underneath the cute reunion, Kate's family was moving towns and he caught her making out with another guy.

Cress knows Thorne didn't want to believe it. Who would? He left the country and came back for her only to be betrayed by the sweetheart he believed in, whom he trusted.

Eventually, Thorne came to class, right in time for the bell. Nobody looked at him since everyone knew. His sullen expression said it all as he collapsed into his seat, slouching. He and Kate Fallow are over. He ended it. Everyone will start talking about it once they know more information. Thorne puts in his headphones, not wanting to be disturbed or distracted. Cress can't help but pity him but be impressed that he still came to class after having his relationship blow up in his face. She can hear his music.

Cress isn't sure if broken hearts can get put back together. She doesn't think so, or at least not completely mended. Damage might always be there. Love always comes back in lives but still, it'll be hard to love someone who's not done loving someone else. He's a charming ex-cadet with a broken heart. He took off the fancy uniform but Thorne is still a hero to Cress.

If Carswell Thorne could fall in love with her, she'll never break his heart.

-o-

Present Day

They left in the morning and it was now past noon. It's been hours since Cress and Thorne hit the roads. As usual, they never had a destination in mind. It's always random roads and going on the freeway lanes that have the least cars. If they wounded up at an exit, they obliged. They'd stop only to refill the gas, get a bite, or when something up ahead looked interesting.

Before winter hit, they spent weekends or Friday nights after school visiting places they've stumbled across. They've strolled through botanical gardens, fruit plantations, riversides. Small intimate places on the outskirts of Commonwealth to sneak kisses as if they were being watched, marked by the countless selfies on their camera roll.

But today? They were approaching a roundabout and couldn't decide where to exit so they just kept circling. It wasn't an inconvenience to any other drivers since they were the only ones on the road.

Thorne and Cress yell like children on a rollercoaster as Thorne turns the wheel for another lap. They've lost count of how many laps they've done around the island, but neither of them were complaining about motion sickness or making up their mind on which exit to explore.

Too much love and adrenaline to cover impending nausea.

They have a history of innocent passion and not much else. They have never dedicated a whole day to simple things like eat a meal or watch a movie. It was always a complete adventure, sometimes with a meal or movie at the end. Thorne has never seen anyone so beautiful in his looks and his soul. She's this shining light and he can't stay away from him.

He would stare at her and wonder how she could, after all this time, be his. It's the only time he glances at her and doesn't get overwhelmed by their joy.

"Don't look at me like that," Cress says when she glances at him.

"What way am I looking at you?" Thorne asks with a playful grin.

"Like I'm the sun."

Thorne raises a brow. He didn't think his face looked like that, whatever that expression means. "What does that mean?"

"Your eyes squint and sometimes it feels like you're looking past me. Like you know I'm here but you're taking in everything else. Also, keep your eyes on the road when you drive."

Thorne grins with a small laugh. "I'm looking at you and everything else, when I'm not driving, of course."

"Of course," Cress retorts.

"You're no sunshine to me, Cress, you're literally the moon. Aside from your namesake, I can look at you for as long as I want without going blind."

Cress sits back, cheeks reddening as if they were still flirting before becoming an item. "And when the sun comes up?"

"I'll wait until sunset if it means I can see you again."

Cress holds his hand with both of hers, close to her cheek where she softly kisses it.

"Next exit," she whispers into his palm, loud enough for him to hear before she closes his hand and gives it back to him like an entrusted secret.

Thorne's heart flips against his ribs as he takes his hand back and holds the wheel. He knows he has to keep his eyes on the road but he wants to look at her. Thorne knows what she looks like. He's always known. The small girl with long blonde hair that he cut short was starting to grow back. Bright blue eyes above a sea of freckles across her nose and cheeks with dimples that accompany a giddy smile he only noticed once he got close to her.

Even just the smallest glance in her direction, making sure she knows he heard him since his mouth went dry and he can't speak. Cress didn't even do much. It was a small kiss on his hand with two words that any passerby would shrug. But not him. It wasn't meant for anyone else but him. She whispered it in his palm, despite being the only two in the car, as an unguided form of intimacy only for them. Not even the stars could get a glimpse.

If there was one girl who could play with his heart and his words in a way he never thought was possible, it's Crescent Moon.

So I impulsively bought Never Be the Same by Camilla Cabello at around 1 AM one night after it was in my head for days. It was the motivation I needed to finish part one.

As I've done with the past few arcs, there will be daily updates on Saturdays till the end of this arc.