The days passed slowly. Kim hang out with us more now that we knew that she was with Chris (which was a lot to take in at first), and it turned out that Chris was right; she wasn't that bad once you got to know her.

She was a lot sweeter when she wasn't trying to get me in trouble and a lot smarter than she let on.

We even met up in her room once and met her little brother. He was only two years old, but he was quite a cutie and I could see she loved him very much. She really wanted him to have a bright future.

Psyche and I kept in touch. She filled me in with the planning and all that and we even managed to get the hotel's ballroom as a venue, so everyone who was left homeless from the fire could come easily. Besides, it was a free event and it was right under their rooms. People needed to be cheered up at a time like this.

We were positive that lots of them would attend.

Two weeks passed, and we were finally ready. The venue was decorated, Claire had forced us to go shopping (Kim helped her out with that) and we had spread leaflets at the hotel guests.

The staff helped out too. We encouraged everyone to spread the word to their friends and families and even put up a few advertising posters around the neighborhood and whatever was left of the Clonies.

Not many people would want to join the people that destroyed their homes and most of them would want to help take car software the issue. Everything had begun with sporadic murders that didn't affect everyone, and then Jasmine and Jessie took almost everything from almost everyone.

The event was to happen the following evening. My sister preferred calling it a ball, when that wasn't exactly what it was.

The night before, I couldn't sleep again. I can't say the same about Chris, who was sleeping so quietly and peacefully, that I was worried that he was dead. Then he let out a loud snore and my worry disappeared.

I went outside, to our room's balcony. It wasn't the same as my balcony, but that one was long gone by now. At least I had a substitute.

With a sigh, I leaned over the edge and I looked down at the street. It was late, a good three hours after midnight, but I could still see people walking around. I had stared down multiple times during my stay at the hotel, and this weirded me out every time, probably because I grew up at the Clonies, where no one got out of their house after ten.

«Can't sleep?» someone asked. I turned around to see Jon doing the same thing as I was. I was surprised I didn't notice him earlier.

«No, but what's new?» I shrugged.

«You should have that checked out.»

«I've already told you that that's the least of our problems right now.»

«Yeah, but that doesn't stop me for being worried.» he muttered.

«I think I can see that.» I smiled. «Thanks for your concern, but it's a little unnecessary.»

«Why do you mind if it's only a little, then?» he smirked.

«Shut up, monkey.» I blushed for no reason.

«Fine, but you should seriously try and get some sleep. It's gonna be a big day tomorrow.»

«Yeah... That only makes things worse.»

«You don't have to tell everyone you're the savior, we could tell everyone that we know who the savior is or something. You could go up there with a mask.» he said something I'd heard from him over a million times.

«Jon, we talked about this. They need to know, that's the only way to get people moving! Anything else will just seem fake.»

«And how are you so sure that people will follow a sixteen-year-old to battle? You're not exactly experienced in that stuff.»

«I know, but we need to have hope. I know that's cliché and I hate myself for saying this, but isn't that what all this is about? These are dark times. Sometimes hope is all people need. I think this whole fate thing is stupid, but people believe in this. If we make them have faith, maybe they'll fight back.»

«Since when did you become so cheesy, Jinxie?» he laughed.

«I have no idea. It must be the stress.» I joked. We both laughed and stood there in silence for a while. Those damn butterflies were about to explode in my stomach. I could feel them.

I bit my lip and stared down at the street, again.

«I miss home...» I frowned.

«Yeah... I know what you mean...» his face fell. «Everything happened so fast...» I nodded.

«I'm worried, and before you ask about what, I'm worried about everything. What's going to happen next, if we'll make it through, Alice's future, Chris, Kyle, you... I hate being worried. It makes me feel responsible.»

«Your concern is understandable, but unnecessary.»

«Same goes for you, you hypocrite!» I mocked him.

«Touché, Jinxie.» he rolled his eyes. «You should go to sleep.»

«Yeah, I'm not feeling like it...» I sighed.

«That's what you're saying now, but when you get on that stage to announce you're the savior and all that and yawn in front of everyone, you'll regret not sleeping.»

«Nope. If I yawn, I'll probably scream "I regret nothing!" just to spite you.» I smirked.

«Why am I not surprised?» he rolled his eyes, but smiled nonetheless.

«Wait a minute... You're still up too! Was all this conversation a way to not get your butt busted, you sneaky monkey?»

«Maybe...» he smirked.

«Well, you failed, so spill. Why are you up?»

«It's stupid. Don't worry about it. Maybe I'll tell you some other time.» he smiled slyly. I glared at him.

«Just go to sleep, but don't think I'll forget about this betrayal.» I have up. I know... It was pitiful, but I was tired and I knew that Jon would win this argument, because unlike me, he had been sleeping like a normal person.

«Fine, but you go to sleep too.»

«Alright.» we both stood there and didn't move. I felt the urge to grab him by the collar of his t-shirt and kiss him, but (of course) I didn't. I blushed a bit and went inside, glaring at him as he did the same.

«Goodnight, Jinxie.»

«Goodnight, monkey.»

The next day, Psyche called our room at six in the morning. I woke Chris up, we got dressed for the final preparations and knocked on Kyle and Jon's door.

We went downstairs at the ballroom to sort out a couple more things and after lunch, we went back to our rooms to get ready.

As I was getting the dress Claire forced me to buy (because she's Claire and never misses a chance to make me wear something formal), she barged in the room to do my hair and (I'm saying this with a shudder) makeup.

I hate makeup and I like my hair down.

Chris was ready, so he went next door to hang out with the other guys. Several minutes after, while Claire was losing a battle with my hair, there was a knock on the door. My sister got it and Kim walked in the room.

«You're here just in time. I can't tame that beast on my sister's head.» Claire rolled her eyes.

«Good thing I'm here, then.» Kim smirked. She was wearing a really light pink dress, that fell down to her calves. It was pretty simple, considering the fact that this was Kim Summers we were talking about, but it still suited her a lot.

After many times of exclaiming "ouch", "yikes" and "stop it", my hair was finally caught in a really long and tight ponytail. Even though it started from the top of my head, it still reached down to my waist and I felt my back clear.

Then was the makeup (cue dramatic sound and thunder strikes on the background).

I'm not going to talk about that part, mainly because it's a nightmare I'm trying to forget about.

The dress I was wearing was another part of the nightmare. It was down to my knees (I managed to change Claire's mind about getting a longer one), kinda sparkly (ew) and pretty plain. It was strapless and had lace and stuff from the waist down. I also managed to get out of wearing heels and into wearing flats (I really dodged a bullet there).

It was bearable, but still pathetic. My sister never missed a chance to play dress-up.

Speaking of my sister, she was wearing a silver dress that was so long it reached her ankles. It left her back bare, which showed off a tattoo she'd had a couple years ago. It was some big stars on the right side of her back that reached down to her waist and that she had tattooed when she and Ben got engaged. He had a similar one on his ankle, which was why he made sure to always wear long socks.

Her dress was the type that didn't have sleeves, but was held up by being tied on the back of her neck.

When we were ready, Claire went back to her room to get her fiancé and her daughter, and then we all knocked on Jon and Kyle's door.

Chris turned red when he saw his girlfriend and they went ahead of us, holding hands. They were a pretty cute couple, which is something I never thought I would say about Chris and Kim.

Ben and my sister were holding the baby, so they fell a little behind and I was left with the remaining of the gang.

«It's been years ever since I saw you do your hair up.» Jon laughed.

«Shut up, it was for good reason. For a moment I was worried that Kim and Claire would rip it off my head.» I shook my head. Jon and Kyle laughed harder. «I hate you both.» I rolled my eyes.

We went to the ballroom. It was empty, but soon people started gathering. I had a feeling of satisfaction as I saw people having fun, discussing and dancing around. Psyche and Moira came too, even though I have to say that the latter seemed reluctant to be there.

Chris and Kim were dancing. Psyche was babysitting Alice while Claire and Ben followed the other couple's example. Kyle hit the buffet. Moira was hanging around the bar.

«May I have this dance?» Jon asked me with a dramatic bow.

«Why not, monkey?» I laughed and took his hand.

We danced for a while and my stomach exploded and everything was great and I couldn't stop laughing. I had danced with Jon before and it had never been like this.

I hated the fact that I had a crush on him. It made things weird for me.

«Okay, I'm gonna go get something to eat. I'm starving.» I told him.

«Alright. I'll go catch up with Chris and Kim.» he shrugged. It was funny how Kim had become part of the group so easily. We accepted her pretty fast, considering our past.

And then I ran away to get Kyle. As much as I hated it, we needed to talk.

«There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you.» I hissed at him.

«What's wrong?» Kyle frowned.

«We need to talk.»

«Is it about the ice cream? I'm sorry! I told Psyche to get more chocolate!» he rushed.

«What? That's not what I want to talk about, you idiot.»

«Then what is it?» he looked so confused and lost, I almost burst out laughing.

«It's about Jon...» I said hesitantly and bit my lip.

«Are you gonna tell me, or what?»

«I think I like him. Like more than friends.» I rushed. He burst out laughing. «What's so funny?»

«You only just figured this out?» he said through his laughter.

«No, I figured it out a while after the visit to the Soulreaders.» he laughed harder at this.

«So you were the last one to find out you've been crushing on Jon since you were in diapers? We've all known for years!»

«Keep your voice down!» I hissed. I was redder than a tomato.

«Okay, okay, sorry...» he tried to pull himself together.

«Let's just go find the others...» I rolled my eyes.

And we did, but when that happened, there was a blackout.

«Okay, whose hand is this?» Kyle asked.

«I think it's mine...» Chris replied.

«Yikes!» Kyle exclaimed. I assumed he pulled his hand away.

«Stop shouting!» Kim told them both.

«Jinxie? Is that you?» Jon asked.

«I don't know what you're talking abou--» the lights turned back on.

And Jon was practically making out with Kim. Kyle was frozen.

Chris and I... Well that's a long and painful story.