Rena, that sounds like an awesome idea. I might change it up but I'm definitely interested in working with it.

Who wants to see Cinder pick up Jacin from the airport?

To Ask For the Crescent Moon: Part Ten

[earlier]

Cinder: Just to let you know that I skipped school this afternoon to pick up Jacin from the airport.

[Fairest Levana has read the message]

-o-

Cinder got to the airport earlier than she thought. She ignored texts from everyone since Winter definitely told them she skipped class unexpectedly in case they had any information. It's not like her friends could keep secrets, well they could consider her Selene Blackburn origin, but one as exciting and sudden as this? Nah. Besides, she couldn't risk texting while driving because she promised Winter she wasn't doing anything bad and she didn't want to call Jacin to pick her up from the police station. He wouldn't. He'd leave her there and take a cab to her place.

Cinder wasn't spending 100 univs on airport parking, especially for Jacin. She parked at the front of the gated section and stayed in the car so she wouldn't technically be parking, making it in time to see the plane land. She knew she wouldn't have to wait long since Jacin would have to check-in. There'd be no time spent on baggage claim since he probably only brought a backpack and a carry-on.

After Cinder called Jacin yesterday, she dropped herself and Winter off at home. When Winter went to her room, Cinder went to her own and opened her laptop. She called Jacin back and they only spoke logistics. They arranged for the next departing flight with a reasonable amount of time for him to pack, which would've been in eight hours from Jacin's current time in Artemisia. He'd fly over and Cinder would pick him up during school. She bought and emailed him a ticket and left for him to make leave arrangements with Andromeda Academy. It's never been a better moment that Jacin's father was in charge of the school.

Cinder glances up from her phone when she sees Jacin walk outside. She laughs, seeing him squint at the blinding brightness of the snow. It was basically her reaction when she first encountered snow when she arrived from Luna and she sure as spades didn't warn him for that reason. It's his fault if he didn't already know it was snowing here or checked the weather. She sees Jacin tug his jacket tighter over himself as he trudges through the snow, carrying a small suitcase he wanted to roll on the ground.

Cinder was recording from the moment he stepped out of the airport.

Cinder unlocks her car when he's close enough and she hears his continued curses as he tosses his bags in the back before getting into the front. They look at each other for a second and he swats her phone away as she bursts out laughing.

"I know you made it snow," Jacin says.

"Yes, Jacin, it was all me," Cinder states in a mocking defeat. "Thanks for coming."

"Oh yeah, about that, I won't go to the dance if you're not going."

Cinder glares at him. "Are you serious? Then why bother flying here?"

Jacin shrugs. "If I'm here and I cured Winter's hiccups, then she'll do anything with me."

"You speak too highly of yourself."

"I deserve it."

"You won't let her skip out on the dance."

"Like you won't let Kai go alone."

Cinder bites down on her lips as she starts the car and grips the wheel tightly. "Sucks my spades."

"See you on the dance floor."

Cinder pulls out of her parking space and heads onto the main road.

"I'll have you know, I'm still working on my application essay," Jacin says.

"You're still doing the Selene topic?"

"Yes. Maybe Levana will help me instead of you."

Cinder narrows her eyes. "Really? What happened to me as your primary source?"

"First, you were a baby at the time my essay takes place so your infant mind isn't credible, as if your current brain is. Besides, I think Commonwealth made you more human. It's weird."

"So you care about my robotic well-being?"

"I never said that."

"But you do." She laughs a little. "Before we go back to my place, we're going out."

Jacin groans. "Aren't you going to ask if I have plans?"

"No, because they're with me."

"Fair. Can we go somewhere to eat? The plane was only serving bagels and cream cheese."

"That sounds amazing."

"But I ate that on the way to the airport so I wasn't hungry on the plane."

"That's your fault. Fine, but since you're making me go to the dance, it's only fair I make you suffer in the meantime."

He smirks. "Whatever. I get the last laugh seeing you at the dance."

-o-

Cinder and Jacin walk into a designer store downtown sipping on takeout cups from a burger place down the street. Since Cinder planned to surprise Winter with Jacin when she was home and the school day wasn't over yet, and if Cinder was actually going to wear a dress to the dance, she had to look nice. She knows nothing about school dance fashion and she knows that. Despite their bantering, Jacin would be brutally honest if she looked like trash.

The store was full of older rich ladies, those who didn't have a day job at all or anymore, who had a sales clerk scurrying behind them to rack some big commission bucks. Cinder and Jacin definitely didn't fit in to the bright store with the tinge of expensive perfume wafting in the air. Aside from their takeout drinks, they looked like teenagers who came from the skatepark from cutting class. No store's clerk looked their way, not that they wanted one to follow them. Cinder and Jacin are surprised they weren't kicked out yet for dragging in slush on the formerly spotless floor.

They start browsing once they passed the makeup stands. There are so many options that it's overwhelming since this isn't their wheelhouse. Racks and racks of dresses with a tinge of perfume in the air and sophisticated opera music playing overhead. They're better off at a skatepark. Cinder has never seen so many sequins in her life. She owns nothing like this, nothing dance appropriate. Back home in Artemisia, she skipped all formal events and opted for some other conventionally messy activity with other classmates who ditched.

Racing cars with Wolf look so much more fun now. At least she didn't have to dress up for it.

Cinder stops in front of a mirror. She looks at her unzipped bulky jacket, old t-shirt, torn jeans, baseball cap, messy ponytail, and large boots. Her gaze goes to the pink frilly dress beside her, trying to picture herself wearing it. Jacin gags for her since he's known her long enough to read her thoughts. It makes her smile. She'd wear it to make him nauseated.

"The last time I wore a dress was Levana's wedding and was a babbling infant." She points at the tacky pink dress. "I'm going to rock this."

Jacin cringes. "You're better off in a rocket leaving Earth."

They head to a different section where nothing caught Cinder's eyes. Not like she expected anything to be jaw-dropping. She doubts Jacin's actually paying attention since he's swiping through dresses without really looking at them.

"Cinder, why didn't Winter tell me about the dance?" Jacin asks, his tone softer with no snarky remark. Even when Cinder glances at him, his face is serious. "I know you know."

"I know you know I won't tell you," Cinder responds, keeping a small smile. "Trust me, it's better if you hear from her yourself, especially since she has hiccups and they'll bounce in every few words."

"I would've come if she asked."

Cinder shrugs. "Tell her that. I brought you here as her dance date and hiccup cure."

"And fashion helper."

Cinder scoffs, glad that the Jacin she kinda-maybe-hates is back. "You've been no help."

They wander to the shoes which they realized because of the small cursive sign that said shoes. The items on display didn't look like shoes at all. Cinder is a sneaker and construction boots type of girl. Those shoes looked like weapons that didn't even cover the feet. She doesn't understand the appeal or why they were so expensive.

"I don't think any dress or outfit will make me look sexy," Cinder says, turning away from the shoes and sitting on the ottoman where she's supposed to try on a pair. "Whatever sexy even means."

"Sexy is a state of mind," Jacin says, sitting across from her.

"One I don't have."

"Did Levana say anything? Give any glamorous advice?"

"Levana said not to come home with kitten heels." Cinder expects Jacin's confused expression which comes immediately. "I don't know. Wanna know why Levana's always in a bad mood? Because pointy shoes are painful."

"Speaking of painful, was I supposed to wear a suit to the dance?"

Cinder's face lights up. "How about you wear a dress and I'll wear your suit."

"Why not? I'd probably look nicer in it than you ever will."

Cinder nods. She'd so go to the dance if Jacin was wearing a dress.

Jacin eyes her. "Wait, are you really wearing a dress?"

Cinder shakes her head. "Stars, no."

"Not worth a shot."

"Wait, I told you that there was a dance and you didn't bring a suit?"

"I'm not that dense. I don't own one that fits properly but I brought my school uniform."

"Aces, this dance will be something."

They toast their takeout cups before heading out.

What better way to end the arc than with their little sibling arguments? It's even better since the next arc is named after Jacin.

The next arc will finally be the school dance where we'll see the results of the poll I've been getting votes on for at least two years. I already have the results and you'll be excited. I'll have the first chapter up on the story's fourth anniversary, July 29th, 2021. I can't promise the whole arc will be done by then but we'll see on the day.