This arc has a lot of Cresswell which I know a lot of you want.

To Ask For the Crescent Moon: Part Two

Cress is sitting at the kitchen table, grinning at her phone as her bowl of cereal becomes soggier below her. She isn't sure if she even tasted yet since she's been so enveloped in her conversation with Thorne. They usually text into the night until one or both of them sleep with their phones on their chest, somewhere in the mess of sheets and pillows, or dangling from their hand over the edge. Then they'd wake up to either their alarms or the other person continuing the conversation as if they never fell asleep. When they would see each other, the conversation would continue except then they saw each other's initial reaction and be close enough to hold hands or share kisses.

Her moment is ruined when she looks up from her phone and sees her father staring at her inquisitively. She puts her phone face down on the table and starts eating her mushy cereal as if she was never texting.

It doesn't stop her father from staring and she's forced to meet his eye.

"Crescent Moon," her father starts. Cress already knows where this is going based on the professional voice tone he often uses with his patient. "I know I shouldn't make assumptions but are you texting a boy?"

Cress didn't think she was being that obvious but looks down at her cereal. As she stirs her bowl, her cheeks burn. She knows she's blushing crazily but wants to blame in on her father's burning stare.

"Okay," her dad starts, leaning against the kitchen counter, "now I know you're texting a boy."

"Yup," Cress responds, still not looking up. Her lips twitch into a smile before she bites on them. She didn't think she'd admit that now.

"Boyfriend?"

Cress nods, biting harder on her lips. She doesn't want to see her father's face because she's scared of its expression following her reaction to a question she didn't even answer. Despite being with Thorne for a while, she never told her dad they were dating … until now. How he didn't find out until now is surprising. She isn't sure if he'd be mad or shocked and she doesn't want to find out. This conversation is awkward but it's not like Cress would talk about it with her mom either.

"Well," her father prompts, "who is it?"

Cress looks up at him and sees he's more curious, probably waiting till the end to react. "Thorne."

Her father's brows frown a little while he pieces it together. Cress has had Thorne over when her dad was here but he's only seen them play video games in the living room and she's mentioned him when she would talk about her day with her friends. Maybe he's piecing together a timeline. Or he's aware of Thorne's flirtatious reputation around town. Or he's wondering how long he would've gone without knowing his daughter was dating Carswell Thorne. All of the above. Cress wasn't even sure when she would've told him but nothing like the present, right? If there's one thing she's keeping to herself, it's how long she's had a crush on Thorne.

Cress glances at the time on the oven since she doesn't want to turn over her phone and smile at unread messages. She wishes it was time for her to leave for class.

"Bring him over," her dad says, making Cress's heart dive into her stomach, "I'd like to talk to him."

His tone is permissive but Cress knows he's serious. She slowly nods, slipping her phone into her lap without looking at it. Cress isn't sure how to bring that up to Thorne or if he'd be willing to do it.

-o-

Instead of their first period classes, their entire year got called down to the auditorium for an assembly. As students pile in their seats, Winter leads her friends to an empty row at one of the side wings so they could have it to themselves. They were supposed to stay with their class but their teacher didn't make an effort to keep them together and no other teacher kicked them out of their chosen seats. As they wait for the other students to settle, they go on their phones to pass the time as the student council gathers on the stage in front of the microphone set-up.

"Why are we here?" Wolf asks, leaning against Scarlet.

Scarlet shrugs. "School spirit and spades."

"At least we're out of geography class," Cinder adds.

Nobody could contest that because this impromptu assembly gets them out of a class about tectonic plates.

First, their principal speaks. He gives the usual speech about how important it is to follow the uniform rules or else repercussions will follow. Teachers monitor everyone, pointing out non-regulated sweaters and shoes. Cinder glances at the nearest teacher as she hides her white sneakers behind her bag on the ground and under her seat. Scarlet had to take off her red sweatshirt and Winter had to remove her floral headband (which she replaces with a floral scrunchie to make a half-do).

Then, the school president steps forwards and dryly thanks the principal for enforcing the rules which gets a few snickers from the students. After a more entertaining welcome, the purpose of the assembly is announced: there will be an upcoming school dance.

Chants and screams have to be silenced as other announcements are presented.

"Aces, I would've preferred geography class," Cinder grumbles. She knew what would follow the school dance announcements and immediately shrivelled her body into a fetal position in her seat. She didn't care if her non-uniform shoes were exposed.

"Ugh," Wolf groans, slouched in his seat, "I'd rather not dance."

Cinder and Wolf glance at each other, knowing they're thinking the same thing.

"Wanna race cars or something?" Cinder asks.

Wolf grins. "I know a place."

Scarlet peers into their conversation, leaning close to his face. "Excuse me?"

Kai looks over. "Yeah, what she said."

Cinder rolls her eyes as she sits straight again. "Do we look like we'd go to a dance?"

"Not with that attitude."

"You know what, Wolf, you could go race cars," Scarlet says, sitting back in her seat and going on her phone.

Wolf looks at her silently. He glances at the others for help on what happened but Kai smiles, Winter and Cress pretend not to have noticed, Cinder shrugs and mouths an insincere apology masked with a grin. Meanwhile, Thorne laughs at him and Wolf knows Scarlet notices since Thorne leans across her in her seat to laugh at him.

"Ha, she first-named you," Thorne says.

"Shut up, Carswell," Wolf responds.

Cress turns to Winter. "So, are you going to ask Jacin to come?"

Winter shrugs. When the dance was announced, she wasn't as excited as she thought she'd be. "I don't know if he'd be available. I don't want to bring it up and have him feel bad if he can't join me."

"But he'll end up seeing pics and wonder why you didn't mention it."

"That's a very good point." She sighs, glancing at her phone. "I don't know. It'd be asking for the moon to get him to come here."

"That reminds me. I have a different moon to ask for and I'll need your advice along with Cinder's and Scarlet's."

Winter checks the time on her phone. The assembly is over which means they'll go back to class for the remainder of first period's scheduled time.

"Let's roam the halls until second period," Winter says.

-o-

Once they were dismissed from the auditorium to return to class, the girls ditch their boys in the crowd of students. It helped that Scarlet was mad at Wolf for not wanting to go to the dance and Cinder didn't want Kai to try and convince her. As they were escaping the crowd of emptying students and teachers, Scarlet kept shooting dagger-like glares at Cinder for influencing Wolf to race cars instead before smiling since it's not her fault her boyfriend is like that. Besides, it's not like there was any real bad-blood since Kai could be giving Wolf spades for the same reason.

When they were free from the crowds, Cress fills them in on her conversation with her father about him wanting to meet Thorne as her boyfriend.

"My father will know Thorne and I would go to the dance together," Cress says. "He'll definitely want to meet Thorne again before then or maybe he won't let me go."

"Thorne wouldn't mind," Winter says. "He'd see it as a challenge to win your father again and he's a charming people-pleaser."

"I guess, but what was it like when your boyfriends met your parents?"

"Jacin was a baby when he met my parents. Like, he was fresh from the womb. I think my father was in the delivery room."

"Kai met Levana before he met me, and there's the whole thing about our mothers setting us up in utero," Cinder responds.

"Wolf barely looked at my dad," Scarlet adds. "He met my Grandmère after the police showed up on the farm following the car chase on the freeway. She was impressed by his driving and thought he was already my boyfriend."

Cress sighs. "This conversation was no help."

Scarlet scoffs. "Thorne got you out of your shell and now you have a social and romantic life. Your dad will love him."

"Besides, he grew on us," Cinder adds. "Don't tell Thorne I said that."

Cress smiles. "Okay, you have a point there."

As you can see, the long-time poll about who you wanted as the dance's kings and/or queens will be answered … not in this arc but the next one.