I'd say this chapter is the one that really kick-starts the main and side plots.

To Ask For the Crescent Moon: Part Four

Thorne sees Cress brushing snow off her car in the student parking lot when he approaches her. When she notices him, he takes her brush and continues cleaning off her car as she stands to the side.

"I thought it over for a second and I will meet your dad again," Thorne says, "or officially. Whatever."

Cress lights up. "Really?"

"On one condition."

"Do I have to clean off your car?"

Thorne laughs as he finishes off her car and hands Cress her brush. "No, you have to meet my parents."

Cress's mouth dries up. She should've seen that coming but is surprised it didn't hit her earlier. Even when Cress brought up meeting her father, the thought of meeting Thorne's parents never crossed her mind. His parents are never around and he never brings them up. The rare times she's heard about them was when they would go out of town. Cress was nervous meeting Thorne's dog. Comet jumped on her and she shrieked because she thought she was being attacked. She can't imagine being face-to-face with the people who were faceless in her head.

"Relax, my parents aren't that bad…" Thorne says as he wraps his arm around Cress and nudges her. "Look how great I turned out."

"Debatable," Cress says since Thorne spots her nerve and is grinning. Then, a counteroffer pops in her head and she's smirking. "But, I'll only go to the dance with you if you meet my dad."

Thorne breaks from her and looks at her in shock. "I thought we were already going together."

"That was an assumption, Carswell."

Thorne's jaw drops and some horrified sound comes out. "You just first named me!"

Cress straightens her back proudly as she crosses her arms. "Yes, yes I did. Carswell."

Thorne squares his shoulders, knowing the game she's playing and could be a fair player. "You're bluffing. Crescent Moon wouldn't miss the dance."

"Am not. Crescent Moon would race cars with Cinder and Wolf. It sounds fun."

Thorne hesitates. He thinks she's serious! "You wouldn't."

Cress walks up to him and whispers like a child's song, "Lunars stick together."

"Spades…" Thorne mutters close to her face. He throws his arms up in defeat. "Alright, Crescent Moon, I'll meet your dad."

Cress claps.

-o-

Kai walks up to the garage where Cinder works just in time to see her finishing her shift. He knows she isn't driving home since Winter dropped her off after school. Winter was supposed to pick her up as well but Kai called her and said he'd get her since he thought he could work his charm to get her to the upcoming dance with him.

He enters through one of the garages and sees Cinder hunched over a car's open front hood. Kai stands beside her, smiling as he watches Cinder work. Seeing her so focused that she didn't even notice him makes him feel a certain type of happiness he can't explain. The best he could say was that he loved watching people work on their passions and hobbies, especially if he didn't know how to do it himself.

When Cinder finishes, she glances up and smiles at him. She stands up and closes the car before wiping her oil-stained hands on her overalls and brushing stray strands of her hair back.

"What are you doing here?" Cinder asks.

"So is that the car you're planning to race," Kai says.

Cinder nudges him. "Funny."

Kai follows her as she goes to the front to clock out and then to her cubby to grab her things. She puts on her jacket and doesn't zip it up because she notices Kai's gaze on her. It's the same face he's had all day since the school dance was announced.

"You've got to be kidding me," Cinder grumbles.

"Come on," Kai pleads as they head back out towards his car, "it'll be fun. We'll be all dressed up."

Cinder stops in her tracks and makes sure Kai sees how messy her outfit is, which isn't off from her usual threads. Even her school uniform sometimes manages to look dishevelled. Cinder could never picture herself in a dress nor would she ever want to.

"Point," Kai says, "but consider a first time for everything."

"Not the first time I had in mind."

Kai pauses. "Wait, what?"

Cinder laughs as she gets into his car.

-o-

Wolf couldn't ignore Scarlet's presence at his job. It was at the gym. He was at the front desk and she was leaning against the counter across from him. She would stare at him longingly to try and get his attention or poke him with a pen. Incoming members would walk in and scan their cards without being bothered by her being in the way. Some gym members leaving would wish her a good day instead of him. Even Wolf's manager didn't mind her presence since he knew she was Wolf's girlfriend and a waitress at The Rampion.

"Find a new Star King yet?" Wolf asks when he notices Scarlet's eyes drifting to random men working out nearby.

"Funny," Scarlet states without a laugh in her voice.

"You know you'll be my Star Queen regardless."

"You know you'll be my Star Queen regardless," Scarlet mocks which gets a rise out of Wolf.

-o-

In the evening, once Cinder arrived at home, she walked outside and skidded down her driveway when she sees Wolf pull up. He parks at the end of her driveway and she sees him step out in his work uniform. She's in her pyjamas and a jacket since it's cold out but Wolf was just wearing his work shirt. Cinder doubts he even has a coat in the car.

"So, Scarlet stopped by the gym?" Cinder asks already knowing the answer. Or else why would they be having this conversation?

"Not just stop by," Wolf responds, "she was there for my whole shift and nobody minded. You're lucky Kai just picked you up."

"Speaking of, do you think Kai and Scarlet would still go if we don't?"

"Probably, but here's the thing, Cinder, you and I will eventually cave. We're not as strong as we'd like to think."

Cinder mumbles under her visible breath and her teeth start chattering since she's freezing. "I know."

They stand silently for a bit, thinking of a possible next move for their strategy that's destined to fail.

Cinder perks a little. "Since we'll end up at the dance at some point, how much fun would it be to see which one of us caves first? You know, even see the lengths our darling boyfriend and girlfriend will go to try and get us to give up a wonderful night of car racing in the snow."

Wolf is already nodding, intrigued. "First person to cave pays the other 20 univs."

"Deal."

Without even thinking, Cinder and Wolf shake hands over his car, confirming their new bet.

"How the stars are your hands so warm?" Cinder asks, holding his hand with both of hers. "You're not even wearing a jacket!"

-o-

Group Chat: The Lunar-French Ladies
Members: Cinder, Cress, Scarlet, Winter

Cress: Now Thorne is making me meet HIS PARENTS as some retaliation.

Scarlet: HA!

Cinder: We should've seen that coming. We probably forgot he even had parents. Smart move on Carswell's part which is why I bet he didn't come up with it.

Cress: HELP. ME.

Winter: Again, no helpful advice from me. Jacin's parents met me when I was born as well.

Cinder: Kai's dad was … you know.

Scarlet: Wolf's mom loves me.

Cinder: You've been saying she hates you.

Cress: You got him grounded when you ran away to France.

Scarlet: Not MY fault he showed up.

Scarlet: And last I checked, YOU told him where I was and the BLACKBURNS paid.

Winter: Levana ships Wolflet.

Cinder: Come on, you know Wolf would've pulled some illegal spades to get there.

Cress: Us Lunars stick together.

Scarlet: Whatever.

Scarlet: Cress, you will do fine with Thorne's parents. They liked his ex, if I remember correctly.

Cress: Again, no help.

-o-

Later in the night, Winter walks down the hallway in her pyjamas. She meant to go down to the kitchen to get something to drink but got distracted when she passed by Levana's office and saw her sitting at her desk. Winter slowly opens the door and peeks inside, taking a seat at the chair on the other side of Levana's desk when her stepmother makes eye contact with her.

"Levana, I need advice," Winter says.

"From me?" Levana asks. "Has the internet already failed you?"

"It's about Jacin."

For once, Levana's face softens with concern. "Is everything alright with him?"

Winter sighs before starting to explain everything about the school dance and Jacin. She isn't sure if all the details were coherent because she started sobbing. Levana doesn't leave her seat but pushes a tissue box closer to Winter.

"I fail to see the problem and why you're crying," Levana says.

"What do you mean?" Winter says, choking on her cries. "I - I just told you."

Levana rolls her eyes. "Come on, Winter, you're acting like a child."

Winter is about to respond but her crying turns into hiccups. She sits there for a few seconds trying to stop them but they get worse.

"Oh, stars…" Levana grumbles.