Twelve Months Later...

"Are you all packed, baby sister?" Garroth's voice jarrs me out of my sleep.

I crack an eye open lazily. "MMM... Jus' wait a few more hours, Gar... Gar..."

He gives an adorable giggle. "Huehuehue! Come on, baby sister, you need to get up! We're leaving soon!"

I pull my pillow over my head. "I regret agreeing to a sibling sleepover last night." I complain.

Zane's masked face appears in my vision through the slit between my pillow and the floor. "So do I." He agrees. "But for once I have to side with Garroth. We're leaving in less than a few hours, and I know for a fact you haven't finished packing because you're too busy trying to sneak Lilili into your bag."

I whip my pillow off my head and sit up to glare at Zane, feeling my face flame as Garroth giggles. "THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"

Zane snickers. "Suuuuure."

I toss my pillow at his head. "FINE! I'm up." I pull my stuffed bunny from my sleeping bag where I'd oh-so-carefully hidden her the night before. "And I guess I can pack her now."

They both snicker. I turn around, putting my hands on my hips. "Oh, shut up! It's not my fault I'll need something to hold onto when I see Aaron for the first time in a stinking year!" I snap.

They both stop. Garroth, being Garroth, puts his arms out and inches towards me. "Awww... baby sister, you can always snuggle with me! I'll be your cuddle buddy!"

I giggle despite myself. "You dope."

He grins. "I try."

Zane cracks a smile too. "You better get packed, Vi. Mr. Lycan will be here soon to get us."

I sigh dreamily. "Starlight Wonderland... I can't believe it. I really can't."

"We're not there for ourselves." Garroth reminds me. "We're gonna be there for Aaron and Aphmau."

"But also for ourselves." I giggle, putting my new swimsuit into my bag. "Just a little bit."

"Maybe a bit." Zane agrees, helping me zip my stuffed bag closed. "I gotta go check on something. Be right back!" He leaves the room and I look at Garroth.

"Is he going to FEED HIS CAT?" I ask, snickering.

Garroth gives me a look. "I told you, I didn't want anyone to know about the hula lessons!"

I snicker some more. "Maybe so... but what if his cat is... SPRINKLES!"

Garroth's eyes fill with tears. "SPRINKLES!!!!!!" He cries, fleeing from my bedroom, bawling. I crack up laughing and lug my bag downstairs. After leaving it next to Garroth and Zane's, and saying good morning to Laurance, I brush the bed-head me away and pull my hair back into its normal down-up-wavy-curly-whatever-my-hair-is and get dressed for the plane ride.

After all my bags are packed, I open my carry-on smaller bag and stare at Lilili, who is sitting on top, giving me as bright a smile as always.

I gently take her out and go to Katelyn, Kawaii~Chan and my house, where I prop Lilili up on my pillow. She'll be waiting for me when I get back. I'll have all the support I need on Starlight. All my friends, and my family.

And I think I'll finally stop being afraid. Stop being so terrified of what happened. Nothing can ever erase what went on while we were there, but we can heal. We can be happy.

So much is riding on this trip.

But I have a feeling that nothing can possibly go wrong.

Nothing.

And so when Mr. Lycan comes to pick us up, I go from the house with bright spirits, giggly feelings overflowing me as we load into the plane that will take us to what will surely be the best summer of our lives. 

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That's what you think. Mwahaha.