The stars were one of the very few unhampered treasures of Ridgeton. They never ceased to disappoint every non-rainy night. Tonight however, it wasn't easy basking in those glittering miracles when the silence that separated Tali and I's thoughts had gotten awkward fast.

   Each step we took side by side was agonising.

"Hey, Talise?" I finally gathered courage to speak out, twiddling my thumbs along the way. "I still feel like I owe you an apology for not being as open in our conversations about Zavlon Academia. And I'm referring to the ones before this whole craziness with the Yunies. I just thought I was protecting you from being looked down on by Zavolonians, but I should have known you're not like me. Not even those snobs can have a contemptuous word to say you."

   That was already obvious in her minor interaction with Rav, Dorian and Camila. Talise's personality may not make her the most approachable person sometimes—like today, but that didn't change the fact that she was a great person. The way she'd helped Rav even while she was still mad was a clear indication of that.

"It's okay." She shrugged. "And I get why you didn't tell me about this whole mind control thing either. A part of me keeps hoping when I wake up tomorrow, it'll just be some nightmare, possibly an aftermath of those crappy pills I downed at the party. That maybe I was wrong in thinking I'd wasted my money on something useless and the pills had kicked in after all. 'Cause not gonna lie, this is actually sort of terrifying."

   Tali admitting this was kind of a big deal since she was the bravest person I knew. Plus, showing her vulnerable side had never been her strongest suit. As glad as I was to hear her express herself, the thought of all this going wrong and affecting Talise was unsettling. Imagining my best friend in danger was nerve-wracking.

"You know you can still say no, right?" I ignored the tightness in my throat. "It is not our intention to put anyone in danger. Especially you."

"Damn," she clutched a handful of her clothing around her chest area with a pained look. "Was all that 'we need you' talk just bait then?"

"Well, yeah," I chuckled when she shoved me in response. "But seriously, are you in?"

"Break into an alien infested fortress? Uh, hell no!" She snorted. "Do so with my best friend kinda with me though? I'll give a solid yes to that. "

   Our walk stopped in front of Talise's home. We faced each other with light smiles and whispered our goodbyes. I proceeded to continue to my destination when Tali shocked me—us both, I'm sure— by grabbing one of my arms and pulling me into a hug. She gave me a tight squeeze before pulling away and walking toward her house's entrance.

   For both our sakes, I wasn't going to bring that up tomorrow. Or ever.

"See you tomorrow!" I gave a final wave before she shut her door.

   On the rest of my journey home solo, I noticed how every dimly-lit building, big and small, carried a unique beauty with it. I attributed that to the moon's borrowed shine cast upon Ridgeton. The absence of the houses and trees ahead would have made it possible to discover its glittering effect on Clearwater River.

   I took a look at the full moon one last time before entering through my door.

   My head went blank the moment sounds from TV reached me in the kitchen. I couldn't believe how I had easily forgotten about Mum. The next steps I took were shaky and hesitant. What was I going to tell her? Assuming she didn't kill me first, that is.

   I stopped at the door that linked the kitchen to the living room, taking deep breaths. Bracing myself for the worst, I walked into the room with silent feet.

"Mum, I can explain..." I trailed off as my stare around the room rested on the figure draped across the couch.

   I heaved a sigh of relief.

   Mum's eyes were closed shut as she lay on the couch, nearly motionless. The only form of movement came from the rising and falling of her chest while she drew and let out quiet breaths of air. My attention shifted to the two coffee mugs that stood on the mountain of Medical Studies textbooks with open pages spread across the coffee table. I looked back to her, now noticing that she was in her nurse's uniform this whole time.

   Oh, Mum.

   Tiptoeing around her, I searched and picked the remote from the floor to turn off the television. I tended to the cups next, then did my best in arranging the textbooks into orderly stacks.

   I was about to leave when a crumpled blanket on the floor caught my eye. She had probably shrugged it off in her sleep. While using the blanket to cover her sleeping state once more, I pressed a kiss to her forehead and said "Goodnight" in a hushed tone.

   Mum didn't even stir.

***

"WAKEEE UPP!"

   A splitting headache erupted as I shot up from my bed with a start. The rays from the morning sun blinded me temporarily and did their part in worsening the pain that surged through my head.

   At the edge of my bed was Talise, wearing a grin my fists were ever ready to punch right off. The sour expression I threw her way didn't faze her, but knocking some sense into her could. Then I remembered she was way more skilled in fighting. I probably wasn't even going to get a minute to hit before she beat my ass.

   I uncurled my fisted hands.

"What is wrong with you, Tali?" I glanced at the ticking digital clock beside my bed as I sunk back into bed. "It's only six o'clock."

   The days leading to our initial failed plan and the highly draining party last night had earned me a few extra hours of sleep but it just had to be a crime that I wanted to make up for it.

   Tali was dead to me.

"I came over the minute your mum walked by my house. Aren't we in luck that she left pretty early today? Get ready already!" With those words, she yanked the covers off of me.

   Dead.

"Wait, what about school?" I palmed my forehead with a gasp. "I can't believe we forgot! Why don't I text Cami to tell the guys we'll be dropping in la—"

   Tali's lips pressed against each other in a thin line. "Get your butt in the bathroom. It's Saturday."

   I groaned as I finally scrambled out of the covers in compliance. There went my last attempt—pretty dumb, I know that— to make her leave me alone. In my defence, I'd never experienced the classic school day/weekend mix-up to be able to try it on someone else.

   Was that her fault? No. 

   Still? Dead, I tell you.

"Yeesh, you look tired."

"Bite me."

***

"You seem exhausted," Dorian, standing beside me, leaned over to murmur.

   I didn't care to hide my eye roll.

   Talise and I had gotten to the motel where Rav, Camila and Dorian dwelled not too long ago. Immediately after we all converged in Camila's room, Talise became engrossed in a conversation with Rav and Camila concerning questions about the outline of a plan they had unveiled to us based on her role as a visitor. Unfortunately, not everyone (Dorian) was keen to shut up (Dorian) and at least pretend to listen (you guessed right).

"Yeah, I noticed, but your sense of observation is highly appreciated, Dorian."

   Anyone would have been fooled by how his tone in his earlier whisper was the perfect example of concern but this was the guy who had lied about where he was on Virtual Dance Night and hid a mysterious tattoo on his chest for who knows how long. I really wished I had gotten my eyes on what exactly the permanent ink was drawn into that night. I refused to be anyone.

    Besides, my sleep was cut short. Rudely, might I add. The last thing I needed was to be insulted for it. Especially when my lack of sleep was coupled with the rumblings of my stomach punishing me for skipping breakfast.

"By the way, Beth," Rav said, diverting his focus from Cami and Tali toward me. 'I have something I need to say to you."

   Oh, no. Please don't. I was dreading this.

"After combining the bits of what my memory served with everything else Cami and Dorian filled me in on, I recalled kissing you," Rav continued. "Now before I'm informed that there's a warrant for my arrest for sexual harassment, I'll just like to give you a formal apology."

"It's okay. You weren't you." Also, nobody ever wanted to be reminded of their first drunken human cheek slobber.

"Of course not!" he shook his head vigorously. "I made these drugs engulf me. Engulf my desires, my libido—"

   The morning headache I believed had faded away was triggered, returning with full-on vengeance. Damn it, Rav.

"Really!" I fisted my hands at my sides to avoid covering my ears. "It is fine. Thank you...for that rather elaborate apology."

   This was not my day.

"Straight from the heart." He nodded with a grin and a hand across his chest. "And be rest assured that I don't plan on violating your cheeks anymore in any future drug escapades. I have even extended my vow to include the cheeks on your face and as—"

"Great. Now that that's over," Cami saved me from more misery by cutting him off with a clap. "Let's get to it, shall we?"

A/N: I hope you guys are having a great day! Please vote and comment your thoughts!

QOTD: Are you a morning person? If , like Beth, you're not, which time of the day are you mainly active?

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