I'm happy I got some banked chapters because school is back for me.

Ad-Jacin-t to You: Part Eight

Their original plan was to eat at home but they wounded up staying at The Rampion. Jacin didn't trust the idea of The Rampion's immortal fries to bring them home and test the theory. Besides, it wasn't that much of an oddity to sit in a cushioned booth with their dress and uniform since some of their classmates stopped by. Were they ditching the after-parties or getting something for the trip there as a chaser? Question's in the air and Winter's content with leaving it there.

After their meal, they stopped by a grocery store to bring home some ice cream and anything for breakfast tomorrow. The aesthetic of the floral gown and cadet uniform in the retro diner was one look, but a nearly empty grocery store was even better. Winter twirled through the empty freezer aisle as she browsed for ice cream while Jacin pulled out a box of waffles. The idea of warm waffles and cold cream together made his mouth water so he grabbed more boxes. Different flavours to match whatever assortment of ice cream Winter picked.

Jacin doesn't want to kill the mood or dampen Winter's whimsy, but there's been something on his mind since he got here.

"Winter-"

Winter looks at him immediately, eyes wide in concern. "You called me Winter. What's wrong?" It's the fact he used her real name and not Trouble or any other sweet nickname.

"Why didn't you tell me about the school dance? I had to hear from Cinder."

Winter pauses, hugging the ice cream cartons against her body as she breaks eye contact with Jacin. He walks up to her, putting their items in the store's freezers for now so they could have this conversation without everything melting in her arms.

"I know I prefer being dialled out but I don't mind being plugged in," Jacin says to start the conversation. "I just want to know why you didn't even tell me."

Without thinking, Winter takes a seat on the ground, skirt billowing around her as she leans against the cold freezer. "I feel bad for making or even asking you to come here, or even hearing a rejection if you can't come. So sometimes I figure that it's better to leave the question open to avoid those feelings."

Jacin takes a seat next to her. "I want to come. I'll always want to see you."

"But I can't go home and see you." Tears well in her eyes. "It's all still so much but I miss you and Artemisia, and Iko and Kinney. I love my life here but I want to go back."

Jacin takes a breath before holding her hands and looking at them. "What does Dr. Darnel say?"

Winter shrugs. "I think things are getting better but I don't know what he thinks right now. Do you think I can handle being back?"

"Trouble, it's not what I think. I know that if you really want to come home, you'll surpass your doubts and expectations."

-o-

To pass the time before she had to go home, Thorne and Cress were circling her block in his car. Neither of them wanted to call it a night since, despite the dance ending, it felt like it was just starting. Once Thorne pulled over on the curb of the road, Cress unbuckled her seatbelt but didn't step out of the car. Instead, she turns to face him and smiles.

"Thank you for making this the best night of my life," Cress says. "Everything about it was more perfect than whatever perfect means."

"One moment," Thorne says.

To Cress's surprise, Thorne takes his crown off and puts it on her head. Cress tenses when she feels it because it doesn't feel right. It's out of place and doesn't belong to her, but when she looks at herself in the mirrors and Thorne's excited reaction, she can't help but smile. Imagine she was Star Queen, Thorne's Star Queen. It'd be a real fairytale.

"Keep it," Thorne tells her.

Cress shakes her head as she takes the crown off. "It's yours."

"It looks better on you."

"But the people have spoken and they chose you."

Thorne can't argue that point. "You're right. Can't disappoint."

Cress laughs as he puts his crown back on. If her father answers the door, she knows that he'll brag about winning and score himself some brownie points.

-o-

Scarlet awoke in the dark unsure of when she even fell asleep. She remembers that during the movie, she started yawning so she lay down on Wolf's lap. She probably fell asleep and deeply too since he was lying behind her and his arm was draped over her torso and she never noticed. Scarlet isn't sure what time it is or when their shared blanket got here but she assumes Wolf brought it and turned off the television. How he managed to grab a blanket and still be the big spoon amazes her.

Scarlet slips out of his embrace and he doesn't budge, not even when she nearly fell on the floor. She walks down the dark hallways but isn't concerned since she's been here enough times to navigate through the dark. Only the stars know how many times she's done that before. Scarlet steps into the bathroom and turns on the light. After a moment of being blinded by the brightness, she blinks a few times and catches her reflection in the mirror. She's still in her dress, grateful that she didn't pick a ballgown given their couch situation. Her mascara gave her dark circles under her eyes and she has some lines on one of her cheeks from lying on the couch. Her hair, somehow, looks the same as usual: unruly red curls.

Scarlet grabs a tissue and dampens it with the tap to start dabbing away the mascara as she hears a soft knock on the door. She thinks it's probably Wolf waking up after she got up but when she opens the door, it's his mom. She looks wide-awake which, according to Wolf, is her natural state.

Stars, this is awkward.

"Hey, Maha," Scarlet greets, "Wolf and I lost track of time."

"Have fun at the dance?" Maha asks.

"Yeah, lots, I'll show you some pics later."

"Here." She hands Scarlet some clothes. She glances at them and it's a pair of Wolf's sweatpants and a t-shirt that will definitely be too big for her. "Idiot son just left you and your pretty dress on the couch. I raised him better than that, or I thought I did. Use whatever you need in here and then sleep in his room. Leave him out there."

Scarlet grins. "I will. Thank you."

"And show me pictures in the morning."

"Will do."

-o-

Kai and Cinder went back to his place after their walk. They headed up to his room and Kai was grateful it was presentable enough. He doesn't remember the last time he was here but at least it was kept up. Cinder looks around and Kai recognizes the feelings: it's familiar but not. It's a museum exhibit of something he once knew and a place he once lived. Kai still had some photos here of his parents and his friends to keep the homey feeling. The closet was full of summer clothes since his current winter threads were at Torin's since he's wearing them more nowadays.

But it's still his room since it's still his house, despite putting his jacket on his desk chair feeling impolite.

"Gonna bring that home with you?" Cinder asks, referring to his Star King crown that he places on his bedside table.

Kai shrugs as Cinder walks up to him. "I don't know. I might leave it here. I think the twins will break it."

"Could leave it here as decoration. A night of memories that aren't selfies. You have a condom, right?"

He nods. And then, in a heightened silence, Kai and Cinder lock eyes with the same thought and question running through their minds. With a nod of her head, he pulls her close and their lips touch, soft and tentative. Cinder still inhales in surprising joy as she leans into him. His hand was on the back of her neck before running up into her hair and combing out her ponytail. Although it was her comfort hairstyle, the moment her dark locks drop free, her nerves ease up. She works on unbuttoning his shirt as Kai wonders how in the stars to take off her one-piece, the thrill of the moment melting and swirling around them.

"Stars, I barely remember getting into this thing," Cinder grumbles as they finally find the concealed zipper along her back.

Cinder's body flutters when Kai's fingers brush up and down her bare skin. Once her jumpsuit slides onto the floor and his shirt is off, he settles his body onto hers so they line up perfectly.

"I've been meaning to ask," Cinder whispers, poking his abs. "Where did these come from?"

Kai smiles. "Just enjoy them, Cinder."

Kai won Star King, got a dance with Thorne, and hooked up with Cinder. This boy really won the night.