SUN AND MOON

Tyler and Nat sat close on a couch, the soft glow of fairy lights wrapping the room as they shared a blanket, the pair chatted and laughed about random things before the conversation slowly drifted into silence.

Nat glanced at Tyler, her pulse quickening. She hesitated for a second before reaching out, her fingers brushing against Tyler's cheek. Tyler looked back, their eyes meeting. Nat leaned in slowly, her heart raced, their lips almost touching...

~

Suddenly, Tyler jolted awake, her heart was racing. She lay there, staring at the ceiling, her hand drifting to her cheek, almost like she could feel Nat's touch.

She shifted in bed, letting out a breath. For a second, she almost smiled, but then it faded as the weight of the realization hit her.

She had feelings for Nat.

~

The night had finally arrived—the one Nat and Tyler had been looking forward to all semester. Everyone's films were edited and submitted, ready for the media club's big end-of-semester showcase.

Nat stood in front of her mirror, adjusting her outfit. She tugged her cool socks higher from her Docs, straightened the worn leather jacket she'd 'borrowed' from her Mami, and fiddled with her mood ring. After one final glance, she grabbed her bag and headed down the hall to the kitchen, where Rosa and Y/N were waiting.

"Alright, I'm all set!" Nat announced as she approached them.

Y/N looked over with a warm smile, her eyes lighting up as she took in her daughter's outfit, "Naw, you look so cute!" She was impressed.

Nat crossed her arms and huffed, "I'm not cute. I'm dark and mysterious. Do you not see this leather jacket?" She gestured to the jacket.

Y/N's smile widened even more, "How cute." She murmured in awe of her daughter.

"Is that my jacket?" Rosa asked, crossing her arms as she raised an eyebrow.

Nat bit her lower lip with a grin, "Yeah, it's the one without any blood on it. But don't worry, I'll definitely return it." She reassured.

"Just don't lose it."

Nat raised her hands, "I pinky promise. Now let's get moving before we're late."

With that, the three of them grabbed their things and headed toward the door. Nat adjusted her bag, Y/N flicked off the lights, and Rosa opened the door, leading them out into the hallway.

~

Now at school, the three arrived, Nat stepped out of the car, pulling down the sleeves of her jacket to brace against the winter air. Y/N gave her a quick squeeze on the shoulder, smiling, while, Rosa locked the car and fell in step behind them.

Outside the theatre, groups of students, parents, and teachers mingled, their breath visible in the cold air. Nearby, a table buzzed with ticket and food sales.

Nat's eyes lit up when she spotted Tyler across the crowd. She Turning to her parents, "I'm heading over to Tyler. See you guys later!" She waved.

Y/N watched their daughter skip away with a proud smile on her face, "Alright, see you later!" She called out before turning to Rosa. "Man, I'm so proud of our lazy, rebellious, anxiety-ridden kid," She said, which prompted a chuckle from Rosa. "Alright, let's go get those tickets and snag some snacks," She added.

Rosa raised an eyebrow, "Rainbow Nerds?"

"Yeah." Y/N's brows furrowed in mock surprise as she looked at her. "How do you know me so well?" She teased.

Rosa leaned in slightly, "Dude, we've been married for twenty years,"

"Oh, no way." Y/N played along with her banter. She then took Rosa by the hand and led her toward the ticket stand. As they approached, they spotted a familiar pair in line.

"Kevin? Commissioner Holt?" Y/N's eyes widened in recognition.

Holt turned around, "Y/N, Rosa. I anticipated we might see you here. It's always a pleasure." His face broke into a rare smile.

Kevin chuckled, "Tyler's been raving about Nat and their film project non-stop. It's the highlight of every conversation at home." He bobbed his head.

"You don't say," Rosa raised a brow.

"We do say," Holt confirmed.

Y/N glanced toward the ticket stand, then back at Holt and Kevin, "Hey, since we are all here, how about we sit together for the films?" She asked, shifting the conversation.

Holt's smile grew slightly, "That sounds like an excellent idea. Perhaps we should procure some unseasoned nuts?" He glanced at Kevin, who gave a nod.

"Wow, you're really living on the wild side tonight, huh?" Y/N's voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"You think that's wild? You should have seen him last week," Kevin recalled with a chuckle. "Raymond went wild and had water without ice."

"Damn..."

~

Meanwhile, by the posters, Nat approached Tyler, who was examining their film's poster as snow fell lightly around them.

"Hey, Ty!" Nat called out, breaking Tyler's concentration.

Tyler looked up, "Hello, Nat." Her expression softened a touch. "That jacket looks excellent on you," She remarked.

Nat smiled, leaning in, "Thanks! I'm all about that goth chic, father figure vibe tonight." She joked.

Tyler's lips curved into a faint smile as she chuckled softly. Her gaze lingered on Nat, clearly entertained by her joke.

"Here, and I got you some saltless popcorn." Nat handed over the bag.

"Oh, thank you." Tyler's eyes softened as she took the bag. "How did you know saltless popcorn was my preferred flavor?"

Nat shrugged, her smile unwavering, "I have a big brain. I remember stuff you tell me."

Tyler's gaze lingered on Nat for a moment. Noticing the slight flush on her cheeks, she quickly turned away, "The poster is quite impressive, by the way," Her voice was a bit tighter than usual. She shifted her attention back to the display, though her eyes kept darting back to Nat.

Nat nodded, her eyes following Tyler's, "Totally, Darcy nailed it with the art."

"And the stickers," Tyler added, glancing at the stickers that decorated the poster.

"Yeah, Darcy's has this huge sticker collection from when they were a kid. Apparently, they've been saving them for the right moment to use." Nat recalled.

"I see," Tyler bobbed her head before turning to Nat. "So, shall we head inside, Miss Director?"

Nat's eyes lit up at the name, "Oh, absolutely, Miss Director." She chuckled, playing along with Tyler's antics.

With that, they turned towards the entrance, their footsteps crunching softly in the snow as they made their way inside.

~

Now, inside the theater, some people were already seated and chatting, while others were still finding their spots.

Meanwhile, Y/N, Rosa, Kevin, and Holt had settled into their seats. Y/N was happily munching on Rainbow Nerds, offering them to Rosa like they were a rare commodity. Beside them, Kevin and Holt sat side by side, sharing a bag of unseasoned nuts.

As Nat and Tyler went down the aisle to their seats, they spotted Mac, Gino, Luna, and Darcy, who were already seated ahead.

Mac glanced back and sighed, "Oh man, it's Ty! I wish I still had those chocolates to give her." He threw his hands up in frustration before spinning to face Gino. "Dude, why would you eat all of them?"

Gino shrugged, "The box said 'for my special person.' I figured that meant they were for me."

Mac groaned in disbelief, "Unbelievable."

"It's okay, Maccie!" Darcy chimed in, pulling out their Twizzlers. "Here, just take some of my Twizzlers!"

"Oh, thanks," Mac said, clearly trying to calm down as he grabbed a handful of Twizzlers. His face scrunched up almost immediately as he examined them. "Why are these so sticky?"

Luna leaned in, "Is that... caramel?" She lifted a brow.

"Yeah!" Darcy exclaimed, a strangely ecstatic smile spreading across their face. "I went all out with the caramel!"

"No kidding," Mac's voice was laced with sarcasm.

"Ew, it's dripping on my seat," Luna grimaced, scooting closer to Darcy to avoid the mess.

Just then, Tyler and Nat arrived and took their seats beside the group. Tyler sat down next to Mac, "Mac," She greeted with a small smile.

Mac's face brightened, his earlier frustration momentarily forgotten as he leaned toward her, "Hey, Ty! Ready to watch your film?"

Tyler gave a brief nod, her eyes already fixed on the screen, "Indeed."

Mac grinned and took a hesitant bite of a caramel-soaked Twizzler, "Not bad," He considered the treat, slumping into his seat as the theater lights dimmed.

The room fell quiet as Ms. Rhunk, the media club supervisor, stepped onto the small stage, smiling widely at the audience.

"Hi everyone!" Ms. Rhunk's voice carried across the room. "Thanks so much for coming out tonight for our special film showcase. We've got an amazing lineup of student films."

She paused, letting the applause from the audience fade, "To kick things off, we're excited to present the first group of filmmakers. They've put together a short film called 'Ninjas of the Hidden Realm'. So, without further ado, let's give a round of applause for Alex Kim, Jordan Lee, and Casey Rivera!"

As the applause filled the theater, the screen lit up with the film's opening credits, and the night officially began.

~

The film opened in a shadowy dojo. Hiro, Mya, and Kenji, all in DIY ninja costumes, approached a chest in the center.

"This has to be it," Hiro announced as he reached for the chest.

Mya squinted at the symbols on it, "Those look like traps. Be careful."

Kenji aimed his flashlight at the symbols, "We need to solve this puzzle first. It says, 'Only the moon's shadow reveals the way.'"

Mya sighed, "Shine the flashlight on it, already."

Kenji adjusted the light until one symbol glowed brightly. Hiro eagerly pressed it, and the chest creaked open, revealing a scroll.

Just then, the ground rumbled, and spikes began rising from the floor.

"Seriously? Another trap?" Hiro shouted as they scrambled toward the exit.

Kenji grabbed the scroll, "Run!"

The camera followed the three out just before the door slammed shut behind them.

~

As the film played on, Tyler and Nat sat side by side, their shoulders lightly brushing as they shared a bag of plain popcorn. Tyler reached for a piece, her fingers grazing Nat's hand. She didn't look away from the screen. Nat's gaze, however, was drawn to Tyler, her gaze lingering as the light from the movie illuminated Tyler's face.

Tyler was like the moon; her soft, quiet glow calmed everything around her. Even the night seemed to grow darker just to let her shine more brightly.

With a contented smile, Nat finally tore her eyes away from Tyler and refocused on the film.

~

As the film reached its climax, Hiro, Mya, and Kenji entered a chamber where soft light filtered through walls sparkling with handmade crystals. At the center, an ancient artifact glowed faintly on a pedestal.

Mya touched the artifact, "We've got this," She whispered, glancing at Hiro and Kenji.

Suddenly, shadows shifted in the doorway as rival ninjas emerged.

Kenji drew his weapon, "We're not alone!" He shouted.

The fight was intense. Hiro spun and kicked, Mya slid and deflected blows, and Kenji's sword flashed as he blocked attacks.

"Cover me while I get the artifact!" Hiro called, sprinting towards the pedestal and he dodged strikes. Mya and Kenji moved to shield him.

Mya fought, yelling, "Almost there!" as she deflected an attack.

With the rivals driven back, the chamber's light brightened. Hiro grabbed the artifact, "Let's go!"

Breathless but victorious, the trio exited the dojo as dawn's light began to appear. The screen faded to black, and the theater erupted into applause.

~

As the applause slowly faded, Ms. Rhunk stepped back to the front of the stage, "Thank you, Alex, Jordan, and Casey! That was fantastic! You should be very proud of yourselves!"

Alex, Jordan, and Casey exchanged high-fives.

Ms. Rhunk continued, "Now, let's keep the excitement going. I'm thrilled to introduce our next film, which promises to be just as captivating. This one is called 'The Great Pie', and it's brought to us by a group of incredibly talented students. Let's give a big round of applause for Emily Thompson, Jacob Martinez, and Sofia Ramirez!"

The audience applauded the group as the screen flickered to life.

~

After a series of films, Ms. Rhunk returned to the stage, her smile a bit forced as she spoke, "Thank you, Diego, Mika, and Bianca for your... interesting film," She gave a polite nod before clearing her throat. "Now, let's switch gears. Up next, we have something completely different. Tyler Holt and Natalia Diaz are bringing us their sci-fi adventure, 'Invasion: Earth's Last Stand.'"

Nat couldn't contain her excitement as she turned to her friends, "This is it!" She whispered.

As the audience clapped the screen flicked once again to life.

~

The scene opens on a calm mountain under the bright midday sun. Suddenly, a streak of light cuts across the sky, leading to a crash as a fiery meteor slams into the forest, creating a massive explosion.

As the smoke starts to clear, the camera zooms in on the smoldering crater. Rising from the center of the crater is Gino, decked out in a homemade alien costume—green face paint and a toy laser gun flashing with LED lights.

Gino stumbles around the forest, he picks up a stick, examining it as if it's some advanced piece of technology. He then tries to interact with a squirrel.

The peaceful forest scene is suddenly shattered by rustling leaves as Gino spins around to discover Tyler and Mac, who are on a camping trip and sitting around a campfire.

"Humans!" Gino bellows in his best alien growl.

Tyler and Mac both jump in surprise, screaming at the top of their lungs.

~

As the film progressed, it built up to a scene set against the backdrop of the earlier mountain crash.

Tyler's character and Mac's character stood facing each other in the calm of the forest's afternoon light.

"I didn't think you'd come back," Mac's gaze was distant.

Tyler's response was equally subdued, "I couldn't stay away. Not after everything we've been through." Her eyes met Mac's, but there was no spark.

As they moved closer, it felt awkward, like they were going through the motions rather than sharing something real. Their hands touched briefly, but there was no spark—just a clumsy attempt to find the right spot.

~

As the scene unfolded on the screen, Tyler and Nat couldn't escape the lingering memory of their own almost-kiss during rehearsal.

Tyler's mind wandered back to that moment. She remembered the intensity of their nearly shared kiss—the way Nat's eyes had locked onto hers, making everything else fall away. The brief touch of Nat's hand, the warmth of her breath—it was all still vivid in her mind.

Nat, too, was absorbed in that memory. She could still feel the closeness, the way Tyler had looked at her as if she was the only person in the world. The sensation of Tyler's touch lingered. Her mood ring began to glow pink again. She quickly slipped her hand into her pocket, trying to push aside the wave of feelings as she focused on the screen, but the memory was hard to shake.

~

As the fight scene reached its climax, the audience was riveted. Gino, dressed in a homemade alien costume, 
emerged from behind a tree, his laser prop ready.

Out of nowhere, Tyler burst from the shadows. With a swift move, Tyler grabbed Gino's gun and arm, pulling him off balance. Without hesitation, Tyler delivered a head-butt that sent Gino reeling backward with a loud thud.

~

As the film played, Gino mouthed the lines along with his character, "You will rue this day! Rue it, I say!" He whispered to Mac.

~

As the crowd chuckled at Gino's line, Mac then burst onto the scene, laser raised, and fired his prop. Despite the lack of actual flashing beams that weren't edited in, the actors exaggerated their movements, "Not so fast!" Mac shouted.

The scene quickly escalated into a shootout. Gino, Tyler, and Mac darted behind rocks and trees, trading shots. Gino peeked out from behind a rock, aiming his laser before ducking back down. Tyler crouched behind a tree, firing back, while Mac leaped from cover to take his shot.

When Mac's shot hit Gino, the audience watched as Gino staggered, clutching his chest in agony. He fell to the ground with a thud, his eyes wide with disbelief. Tyler and Mac approached, high-fiving each other with triumphant grins.

The scene then faded to black as the audience applauded the film.

~

As the applause and cheers subsided, Ms. Rhunk returned to the stage with a bright smile, "Thank you, Tyler and Natalia, for that fantastic film. Next up, we have Andy Peterson and Stephanie Stone with their film..."

~

Later that evening, the event shifted to the gym, which had been transformed with twinkling fairy lights hanging from the ceiling and colorful streamers with balloons decorating the walls.

Students, parents, and teachers chatted about the films as the snack table was overflowing with all kinds of food, from savory bites to sweet treats, while a DJ played music in a nearby corner.

Nearby the entrance, Nat was surrounded by a group of students. "...and that's how I edited the meteor scene," She explained before spotting her parents, she quickly waved to them. "Oh, hold on a sec!" She excused herself from the crowd.

She made her way over to Y/N and Rosa, her eyes shining with anticipation. "So, what did you guys think?"

Y/N's face lit up, "The film was spectacular!" She declared. "I haven't felt this thrilled since someone double-bounced me on a trampoline!"

Nat's eyes sparkled with relief, "Yeah?"

"Hell yeah!" Rosa gave a firm nod. "Seriously impressive, Mija." She crossed her arms but her stern look softened into a proud smile.

Nat's face brightened with a big smile, "Thanks. That means a lot." She glanced between her parents. "So, do you guys want to meet my five friends now?"

~

Around the punch bowl, guests gathered, chatting and laughing as they refilled their cups. One person added a splash of sparkling water to their drink, while another poured a generous helping of fruit punch.

"I thought Tyler and Nat's film was really sweet. It had heart, even with the alien." Sadie admitted.

"Yeah, same!" Her friend bobbed her head.

~

Nearby the snack table, Gino was busy autographing students' books, bags, and posters.

Gino looked up from signing someone's arm, "Remember, if you turn these into memorabilia, I'm entitled to seventy percent of the profits." He declared to his 'fans'. "That's just how it works in the world of celebrity endorsements."

~

As Gino continued to sign autographs, Darcy and Luna took to the dance floor, hand in hand. They bounced and swayed to 'Escape (The Pina Colada Song)'.

Luna grinned as she sang along, belting the lyrics, "'If you like Pina Coladas and gettin' caught in the rain...'" She swayed her hips gently, her hair bouncing in sync with the music.

"'If you're not into yoga. If you have half a brain...'" Darcy matched Luna's energy, as they spun around.

~

While Luna and Darcy danced, over to the side stood, Tyler and her dads, "Congratulations again, Tyler. Your film was very impressive—efficiently structured, emotionally resonant, and I must say, an excellent use of negative space. Truly, I'm proud of you." Holt's voice was steady but with that familiar precise warmth.

Tyler nodded, the corners of her lips twitching up, "Thank you, Dad."

"Yes, Tyler. You've got a real talent for this." Kevin beamed. "I was captivated from start to finish. You put your heart into it. I haven't been this emotionally moved since my lecture on 19th-century Romantic poetry."

Before Tyler could respond, Mac sidled over with a broad grin, wrapping her in a hug, "Hey, great job on the film, babe! Thanks for casting me. I had a blast! You made me look like an absolute superstar."

Tyler hugged him back with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the production."

As they embraced, Tyler's gaze drifted over to the dance floor. Nat was there, laughing and spinning with Luna and Darcy. The fairy lights bounced off Nat's hair, creating a soft, radiant glow around her. She seemed to illuminate the entire room, her joy was infectious.

Nat was like the sun; her presence illuminated everything around her. Even the sun seemed to shine a bit brighter just to be near her.

Reluctantly, she released Mac and tried to refocus, but her gaze kept drifting back to Nat. Mac noticed Tyler's distant look and nudged her lightly, "Hey, you okay?"

Tyler blinked and brought her attention back to Mac, "Absolutely. I got caught up in the moment."

"I'm well aware of my hug skills," Mac grinned, not realizing she wasn't referring to his hugs. "So, how about we grab some punch?" He gestured to the food table behind him.

"What flavor is the punch?"

"Berry,"

Tyler's face fell, knowing that if she had asked Nat the same question, Nat would have simply answered with 'pink'.

~

As the night wound down and people began heading to their cars, Tyler and Nat walked side by side through the light snowfall, following their parents to the parking lot.

"Hey, Ty, I've got a little something for you," Nat broke the silence.

Tyler glanced at her, "Oh? What is it?"

Nat's face brightened with a wide grin as she held out a small, wrapped box, "It's a wrap gift to celebrate the end of our film—don't open it until you're home, though."

Tyler accepted the box with a soft smile, "Thank you. I'll make sure to open it later."

Nat leaned in, her breath visible in the chilly air, "Pinky promise?" She extended her pinky.

Tyler's gaze remained steady as she linked her pinky with Nat's, "I promise."

They shared a lingering warm smile before Nat turned toward her car, her breath forming a small cloud in the air as she called over her shoulder, "Night, Ty! See you later!"

"Goodnight," Tyler replied, watching her walk away through the softly falling snow before turning in the opposite direction.

~

Tyler finally made it home and trudged up the stairs, gripping the small box tightly in her hand. Once she reached her room, she sat on the edge of the bed and carefully set the box down beside her. She untied the ribbon, lifted the lid, and there it was: the sun and moon pendant.

It glinted softly under the light, and Tyler couldn't help but smile as her fingers traced the smooth curves. The gift wasn't just thoughtful; it was something more. She'd known she liked Nat, but now... now she realized she wanted to be with her.

Tyler gently placed the pendant back in the box, her fingers lingering for a moment. With a deep breath, she grabbed her phone and dialed Mac's number.

When Mac picked up, Tyler exhaled and said quietly, "Mac, there's something important we need to discuss."

~

Note:

Help this year is going way too fast!!

21/9/24