(Picture above is Violet's outfit)

Two months later...

"All right! I renewed her Netflix, and Crunchyroll accounts!" Kim says proudly, closing the computer. "That way, if she needs to keep her mind off of Aaron, she can default to just watching TV!"

"You mean the way you do when you're feeling sad and lonely?" Ghost challenges, laughing.

"NO ONE ASKED YOU!" Kim screeches.

I look up. "I just checked her Wattpad account. It's still going strong! People really like Romeow and Juliet."

Lucinda laughs. "Good job, Vi. And Kim. Thank you. It's really sweet of you." She turns to rifle through a horde of glass vials, each filled with different ingredients.

I glance to her, closing my computer as well from Aph's home page. "What'cha makin'?"

"Oh! Well, I thought I'd make a fireworks potion." Lucinda smiles, holding up a thick vial. "So when Aphmau arrives back to her house, we can make it extra special with a little flair."

Kim and I exchange a glance.

"Uh... uh..." Kim struggles for words. "Potion?"

"Yes, we can---" Lucinda stops dead, her face falling as it clicks. "Um, wait... I..." She tosses the potion on the ground, shattering it. "I--I'm so sorry, I--I didn't realize...I forgot." She glances at me in particular.

I stare at the shattered remains of the potion, thinking back to how Ein tossed potions at us just like that.

Kim puts a hand on my shoulder and I snap myself out of my daze. "It's all right, Lucinda." I squeak.

"No, no, it's not. I of all people should've... really thought more about that... Who knows how Aphmau will react if she sees a potion?" She sighs. "I'm sorry, Violet."

"You didn't mean it." I tell her, clearing the squeak from my throat.

"You've been working with potions ever since the incident." Kim breaks in. "It's been two months since we last saw her... Do you think her mom has helped her recover? From what happened?"

"I can only hope." Lucinda murmurs. "Last I heard about her was more than a month ago."

"I texted her last week." I supply. "I sent her the chubby-cheeks emoji to see how she'd respond, and she just sent back lol in all lower case."

Kim winces. "That bad?"

"Can you blame her?"

"Zane said Aphmau was staying in the house she grew up in with her mom." Lucinda says. "We can only hope that---since she's coming back---she has managed to recover just a little bit from everything that's happened at the lodge."

"Yeah..." Kim says sadly. Then she brightens. "And if not, we'll all be here to help her!"

"Yeah!" I cheer. "We've got her back! We've just got to think positive, and let her do things at her own pace!"

Lucinda laughs. "You're right. Forget the fireworks! Netflix and ice cream are good enough!"

"Right!" Kim agrees.

I look at the clock. "Oh! We should get going! We've got to make sure we prepare everyone for her arrival!"

"Right right!" Lucinda says, putting her stuff away. "Let's go!" She leaves the room, and Kim and I follow her outside to where Travis, Laurance, Garroth, Kawaii~Chan, Katelyn, and Dante are waiting. Garroth comes over to us so we can talk.

"Hi guys." He greets happily, all bubbles as usual. "Zane's inside, setting things up, but he'll be out soon."

"Hi, big brother." I say. "Thanks. I hope she gets here soon. I really missed Aph."

He hugs me. "I'm sure she's on her way right now."

Aaron and Aphmau's house door opens up and Zane walks out. "All right, everything's looking great inside."

"Great!" Lucinda says. I've noticed she and Zane have been friendlier lately. The lodge has kinda made us our own little group, a group that none of the others understand. Though the reasons behind it really suck... I like having my own little family within my friends. It helps us get through everything that happened.

"She's set then!" Lucinda continues. "But... We can't just leave her alone in that house. Not until we know she's okay."

"I agree!" I chime in. "But, at the same time, we need to give her space."

"How about we all take turns checking in on her each day?" Garroth suggests.

"That's a great idea, Garroth!" Kim says.

"Absolutely. But, someone should be with her while she's adjusting with being back home, too..." Lucinda says.

"I'll do it!" Zane jumps in.

"Zane?" Garroth asks.

"I want to make sure she's okay." Zane explains.

"I understand." Lucinda says. "All right, Zane has first shift. Now... let's get back to everyone before they start asking questions."

"Agreed." I say. We all turn to go, but find Katelyn and Kawaii~Chan already heading our way. They stop in front of us.

"Hey Lucinda, I wanted to ask you a question." Katelyn says.

We all freeze and go white.

"I---A---uh---Question?" Lucinda stutters.

"Yeah." Katelyn says. "Well, I guess we all have this question, but... why are we here, exactly? It's just Aphmau comin' home. As much as I love her, I don't know if doing this 'just because' is her style."

"Yeah, is it a special event?" Kawaii~Chan asks.

"N-no!" I squeak.

"I-it's just, we wanted to show her that we're here for her!" Garroth says, his voice gaining altitude with each word.

"Yeah, since Aaron is taking a whole year to work with his parents on..." Zane starts. And stops. "With his parents on..."

"Uhhhhh----Business!" Kim squeals. "To work with his parents on their business for a year!"

"I mean, it's kinda weird though." Katelyn says.

Lucinda takes a deep breath, calming down. "They need the money. After going to the lodge, Aaron realized he had to take care of a few things with his family. Aphmau supported him, so they both agreed to take a year."

"That's just... so weird." Katelyn says. "It's not like them."

"Katelyn, please. She just...needs everyone here." Lucinda murmurs.

"They aren't broken up, are they?" Kawaii~Chan pleads.

"No!" Lucinda assures her. "No, it's just a break. Please. It's hard enough on them already. All we're doing here is letting them know we're here."

"Well, we're here to help." Katelyn says, looking from herself to KC.

"Yeah, is there anything we can do to help?" Kawaii~Chan asks.

"Thank you, guys." Lucinda smiles. "And right now, there's not much aside from this little welcome wagon. Zane is going to go inside the house with Aphmau and make sure she's okay for the first couple hours. I don't think that everyone should go inside."

"Zane?" Katelyn asks. "Hmm... Maybe someone else should stay with them as well."

"Oh, ummm..." Lucinda turns to look at Zane, who automatically shakes his head. Hard.

Lucinda turns back to Katelyn. "I-it might be too crowded!"

"We just wanna help." Katelyn says. "I know, I'm not the best with words, and emotions, but Kawaii~Chan here is!" Katelyn gestures to KC. "Maybe she could stay with Aphmau as well for the first few hours."

"Kawaii~Chan would be happy to help!" KC cheers. "I can bake her some sweets and even dinner!"

"Oh, wow, a home-cooked meal from Kawaii~Chan would be wonderful!" Lucinda laughs.

Garroth, Kim and I all turn to look at Zane, who again shakes his head like his life depends on it.

"All right!" Lucinda says cheerfully. "Kawaii~Chan can stay as well."

"Great!" KC squeals. "Kawaii~Chan will run back home and grab a few things after Aphmau gets here."

"I'll help you." Katelyn offers. "Comfort food is always awesome. C'mon, let's make a list." She and KC turn and run back to the big group, discussing meal plans. Lucinda rejoins us.

"LUCINDA!!!" Zane complains. "What was that??"

"Zane, we have to allow other people to help us with Aphmau. If we don't everyone will start to ask questions."

"She's got a point, you know." I tell Zane. "Plus... Aph might really need KC's sparkles right now."

"If Aphmau is just around us, she could start remembering the events, and it could cause her emotional damage." Kim adds. "Kawaii~Chan is spunky and energetic! Maybe she can help soothe her mind."

"We have to keep Aaron's secret, Zane." Garroth says. Zane sighs, his walls crumbling.

"I understand. I'll do my best for Aph." He promises. But I hear a car pulling up, and turn around to see a white automobile stopping by the house.

"She's here!" I squeal.

"Everyone---Places!" Lucinda commands, gathering everybody near the car in a big group.

We're all crowding around, only I see when Aph gets out of the car, looking kind of... plain. Simple black pants and white shirt. The only splash of color is the red band of cloth tied around her eyes.

Oh my Irene.

This headband really does keep coming back.

Aphmau stumbles around, bonking into the fence once before her mom comes and helps her towards the driveway. By now we're all in our spots, and as one we scream, "WELCOME HOME!!!" I can feel Garroth behind me, jumping up above Zane so she can see him.

Aphmau jerks backward in surprise. "E--Everyone..." She mumbles.

Sylvanna laughs. "Your friends wanted to welcome you home."

"We really missed you, Aph!" Katelyn says. She and Kawaii~Chan run forward to hug her simultaneously.

"After you left, things have been quiet around here." Laurance tells her.

"Yeah!" Travis chimes in. "We really missed you."

KC and Katelyn pull back to reveal Aph sniffling. "Thank you, everyone. But... I don't know if I can..."

"Aphmau, don't worry." Lucinda says softly. "This isn't a huge party."

"We just wanted to let you know that... we're all here for you." I say, going forward and hugging her. She sniffles some more.

"That's right!" Dante agrees. "If you need anything, we can help you."

"All of you are too sweet." Sylvanna says, delighted. "I'm so glad my mija has wonderful friends."

"Huehuehue! We try." Garroth giggles. "Oh! Aph! Why don't you and your mom go inside? We don't want to keep you from settling in."

"RIght." Zane agrees. "Kawaii~Chan and I are going to help you out today, so go ahead and get settled in."

"Thank you everyone." Aph chokes out. "I'm... just... So grateful. Thank you."

"This way, mija." Sylvanna says, leading Aph to her house.

"Let her have a few moments before you guys go in." Lucinda suggests.

"Right." Zane says.

"Come on, Katelyn~Sama, let's go get the food for her!" KC says happily. She and Katelyn run off.

"Let's clean up a bit, Lucinda." Kim suggests.

"Right. You too, Violet!" Lucinda says, catching me as I try to sneak after Katelyn and Kawaii~Chan.

"Awww, maaan!" I groan. But I help them gather balloons all the same. Zane runs towards the house. We follow him and leave Travis, Dante and Laurance behind. Lucinda, Kim and I talk with Zane about what he might say to Aph, and what he's not allowed to mention, and what he HAS to make sure Kawaii~Chan doesn't say. Then Lucinda, Kim and I go to Lucinda's house and make sure Lucinda still has that book hidden.

Kim pulls it from its spot. "This thing is heavier than I remember." Kim comments, putting it back.

I feel the sudden urge to throw up every time I look at it, so instead I trace my fingers along Lucinda's many potions and spellbooks. Safe ones. 

"Lucy, you've got quite the arrangement." I laugh, pulling a shape-shift potion out. "What would this do?"

Lucinda smiles, pulling it away from me and putting it back. "It would change your appearance, but I wouldn't recommend it. The results are unexpected, and it only lasts for a few minutes, tops. Same with spells. And the side effects can sometimes mean being in a very strange circumstance where you have to explain why your voice sounds like someone else's."

I laugh. "Good thing we'll never have to use them, right?"

Kim laughs too. "Imagine---us using those! And my voice is pretty recognizable, too!"

___________________________

IDK why I love this series so much, honestly. :) I just do! Plus, Starlight is really light and heartfelt, and it kinda feels like the world (at least my country) needs that right now. So if I make at least one person smile, it'll be worth it.