(Pic above is Violet's outfit for pretty much this entire book :D )

I press my nose against the window, watching the beautiful islands creep into view. My breath fogs the window quickly, and I rub it away a thousand times before I finally stop just to watch Starlight approach.

"I cun't be'ive we'we 'ewe!" I squeal with my face still pressed against the glass.

Mr. Lycan watches me, amused. "I can see why Aphmau is friends with you." He says, chuckling.

I pull my face away, grinning. "We do share some qualities. She's probably going to smash her face against the window too."

Zane chuckles. "You know she will."

I put my hands on the window this time, watching the island grow closer beneath us. "I can't believe we're actually here." I whisper, enchanted. "It's bigger and brighter than I ever imagined!"

Garroth giggles. "Baby sister, you haven't even touched the ground yet!"

"I KNOW!" I sit back in my seat, not taking my eyes off the flowing teal water. "But I've wanted to come here for all my life. I can't believe---"

"---we're here!" Every single person on the plane finishes.

I flush red. "I guess I have been saying it for a while, haven't I?"

"YES!" Everyone says. Even Ghost repeats it in Kim!

"Ghost!" I complain. "Even you?"

She just laughs.

"We'll be arriving soon." Mr. Lycan informs us. "Just sit back and let the turbulence go away. It will stop momentarily."

We all nod and seatbelt ourselves in. Now with nothing to do, I pull my phone out and slide earbuds in, grinning when a song I love comes on.

1, 2, 1, 2, 3. I've been feeling so small... watch the clock ticking on the wall... but tonight I'm letting it go... spend my coin for show. I'm gonna be myself, or I could be someone else. No one's stoppin' me now---

Garroth pulls my earbuds out. "We're almost done landing. Start packing up!" He says excitedly. I laugh.

"Wow, that didn't take long." But I do as he says and gather my stuff together. Soon we land, and Mr. Lycan takes us to an extravagant house, which he informs us we'll be sharing with our entire group.

"I CALL LUCINDA AND VIOLET!" Kim hollers, then flushes. "Sorry. I just want to share with them instead of Garroth or someone."

"Is it because I snore?"

"THANK IRENE I BROUGHT EARPLUGS!" Zane screams.

Mr. Lycan laughs. "Don't worry. The boys will be over here," he points. "And the girls over there." He points again. "And Aaron and Aphmau will be upstairs should anyone need to interrupt their reuniting."

He gives us a look that suggests we better not interrupt.

Mrs. Lycan comes inside. "Dear, stop scaring them. They need to welcome Aphmau and Aaron."

"Where is Aaron, anyway?" I ask. "Is he going to arrive with Aphmau and Melissa?"

"No, he's already here." Mr. Lycan says. "He's somewhere on the island. Getting ready for his last session. Or possibly trying to sneak away so he can greet Aphmau when she gets here."

"Probably the latter." Mrs. Lycan says. "Why don't we go find him?" She leaves the house and we all file in behind her, leaving our stuff behind. After roaming around the bright sunshine for a few minutes, Mrs. Lycan stops. "Aaron! Your friends are here!"

I see a werewolf boy with familiar red-tipped ears and tail stop walking. And then Aaron Lycan turns around.

Oh my Irene.

I hadn't seen Aaron in a year, but I didn't expect him to look so... the same. I guess I expected something to have changed. But nothing has.

And everything has.

He's wearing a purple sweatshirt and black swim shorts, and his red-tipped ears and tail are poking out freely for the first time since that day in the snow. But my eyes are drawn to the multitude of scars on his chest.

Aphmau... She'll kill herself over this.

But Aaron's grinning. "You guys!"

"Aaron!" Garroth yelps, holding his arms out like he wants a hug. "Y-you..." he drops his arms. "Sorry."

But Aaron just laughs. "I've missed you guys."

"We've missed you, too!" Kim says happily.

"A lot!" I chime in. "And, I know Melissa said you told her to say, um, but----I just----I---"

"Please don't apologize, you guys." Aaron says while I wind my hair around my fingers. "You have nothing to apologize for. ANY of you."

Lucinda shuffles her feet. "But I---"

"But we---" Zane starts.

"We did so much---" I break in as well.

"YOU GUYS!" Kim, Garroth, and Aaron all yell. Aaron grins, his fuzzy ears twitching. "You have NOTHING to apologize for. Violet, Zane, Lucinda, it was a potion. Not you."

"But I hurt you." I say, hugging myself. "Not as much as Aphmau did, I guess, but I couldn't stop myself, I could only watch..."

Aaron comes over all the way and does something that surprises me. He actually hugs me. Quickly, and then he backs away again, but still. "The fact that you guys helped Aph through this all, and that you're here even now, is enough to say about your character."

I have to sniff a little. "It's good to see you up and around." I finally say.

Mr. Lycan smiles proudly at Aaron. "Good for all of us." He agrees.

"Dear, you do need to be getting ready for your therapy session now." Mrs. Lycan says, prodding Aaron towards the house. He plants his legs, turning his big puppy-dog eyes on his mother.

"But---But---"

"Aaron, I know you want to wait for Aphmau to arrive," Mr. Lycan says sternly. "But she's late, and you can't miss your session. It's not an option."

"But I want to be here when---"

Mr. Lycan takes Aaron by his wrist and the literally tosses him into the sky. I yelp with Kim and watch as Aaron's tiny dot of a person falls straight through our house's roof with a complaining shout.

Mr. Lycan turns back, easygoing as before. "That got him there."

"Dear..." Mrs. Lycan sighs.

"Um, is nobody worried that the recovering guy was just thrown like two miles?" I wonder aloud.

Mr. Lycan laughs. "Don't worry. Werewolves are a lot tougher than humans are."

I give a shaky laugh in return. "So... Aphmau isn't here yet?"

"Melissa texted to tell me she'd be here within the hour." Mr. Lycan informs us. "So Aaron should be at his session by then, and we need to be back at the house."

Kim flinches away from him. "You're not going to throw us, are you!?"

Mr. Lycan barks a laugh. "No, I'm not going to throw you all! Unless you would like me to." He asks, almost playfully. I never imagined Aaron's strict dad could tease!

Garroth reaches his arms out like he wants to try.

"GARROTH, NO!" Zane and I shout.

Mrs. Lycan smiles, amused, and heads back towards the house. "We really should get going, though. I need to finish fixing the bedroom for Aphmau and Aaron. It will be perfect for them to---"

"RACHEL!" Mr. Lycan exclaims, clapping his hand over her mouth. She just shrugs, unashamed.

Mr. Lycan shakes his head. "Ignore her. We do need to get back, however, I will not be joining you."

"You won't?" Lucinda asks.

"No." He pulls out his phone. "As I said, Melissa and Aphmau should be arriving soon. I need to be waiting for them. Get to the house---and stay on the roof where she can't see you!"

"RACE YA!" Garroth crows, sprinting for the house. Kim, Zane, Lucinda and I all exchange a glance and shrug, chasing after him. Even Mrs. Lycan gets in on it, leaving us all in her dust. By the time we're back, we're panting and she's already inside, pulling a fluffy purple blanket from a closet.

"Go to those stairs, dears." She points. "There should be a couple people up there already."

"Really? Who?" Zane asks. I mentally run through a list of people in my head. But when we go up the stairs, we're met with---

"OH, GARROTH! ZANE! VIOLET!"

Next thing I know, Mummy's friend and Aphmau's mother, Sylvanna, is hugging us tight.

"All, right, let 'em go, Sylvanna!" Erik, Katelyn's dad, chuckles.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, then shake my head. "Nevermind. You're here for Aph."

"Of course, girl, what else we be here for?" Sylvanna says happily. "Oh, I can't wait to see my mija's face when she sees me here!"

"And us." Zane points out.

"Yes, yes, you too." Sylvanna says airily. I notice a dark fur-blob zipping around and kneel down to catch Celestia.

"Hi, girl!" I say, rubbing her soft nose. She barks a couple times then wiggles away from me, heading downstairs.

I stand up. "She probably smells Aphmau. You think she's here?"

"Probably. Places!" Sylvanna sings, shoving us in a line. I'm squished in between Kim and Garroth when Aphmau suddenly crosses in front of us and jerks back in surprise.

"SURPRISE!" We all shout, waving in ecstasy.

"MOM!?" Aph yelps. "Wh--what are you guys doing here?"
Mr. Lycan, Mrs. Lycan, and Melissa come up behind her. Mr. Lycan laughs. "We invited them. Like I said, there's a reason this place is so big. There's room here for all your friends!"

"We wanted you to be comfortable here." Mrs. Lycan chimes in. "And be around those you love."

Melissa giggles. "It's our surprise for you and Aaron!"

"After everything that happened back at the lodge, we felt terrible." Mr. Lycan says. "We were the reason why everyone was sent there. You all could have been seriously---"

Sylvanna gives a loud, obnoxious laugh. "Let's try not to think about that, SHALL WE? Those are sad times that we're all getting through together."

Aph sniffles back happy tears. "This is wonderful. But wait---I thought you guys were all going on a camping trip."

"Well, it wouldn't be much of a surprise if you knew we were coming, now would it?" Lucinda asks.

"Exactly!" Garroth says happily. "Besides, we all wanted to come to Starlight, too!" I hit him hard. "Ow!"

"We wanted to be here to support you and Aaron." Kim says.

"Yeah!" I chime in. "We thought you might still need support."

"Plus, be here with Zane!" Ghost says.

I inch Zane away from Ghost, back in baby-bear-protective mode.

"Ohhh, mija, you look so beautiful!" Sylvanna coos. Aph does look pretty good in her red outfit and matching headband.

Wait.

Don't tell me...

I peer closer at it and see that, yes, it's still THE headband.

"Come, come on!" Sylvanna says. "Let's get you something to eat." She starts shoving Aphmau towards the food.

"But---But, but I---" Aphmau complains.

"Ah!" Zane exclaims. "That reminds me. Be right back. I gotta go... feed my cat!"

"Cat?" Garroth asks suspiciously. Zane grabs a bowl of food and runs off. "Hey, my food! Stupid cat!" He curses.

I sigh. Boob head. Part of me REALLY wants to follow Zane, but... Aphmau is more important right now.

____________________________

"Y'know, the point of the party is for you to be here with us." I tell Aphmau, startling her from staring at the ground on her perch. "Are you okay?"

"I haven't seen Aaron in a year." She admits sadly. "And now, he can walk in at ANY MOMENT! I'm a nervous wreck!"

"Mija..." Sylvanna walks over. "Nervous? What are you nervous about?"

"Just---I guess... I wonder if he's... changed." Aphmau says slowly.

"Huh?" Sylvanna and I say. Melissa joins us.

"Hey Aphmau. Can I steal you for a sec?"

"Hm?" Aph asks. "Su-sure!" She walks off with Melissa and Sylvanna turns to me.

"First second she leaves, I expect you to follow her." She mutters from the side of her mouth.

I fight a grin. "Don't worry. All of us planned ahead. Knowing Aph, she's not listening to ANY of Melissa's directions right now, and will wander until she and Aaron happen upon each other, or we tell Aaron where Aphmau is."

Sylvanna beams at me. "That's Zianna's girl poking out!" She says happily. "See ya later, my gurl!" She makes a weird sign with her hands, probably something that meant something when she was my age, and walks away. Aphmau runs from Melissa, and I signal Garroth, Zane, Lucinda and Kim. They all perk up and chase after Aphmau with me.

"What is she doing?" Kim hisses after 20 minutes or so. Aphmau is literally just wandering everywhere.

"She didn't listen to Melissa." I mutter sadly. "Garroth, you go tell Aaron she's heading for the beaches. We'll try and steer her that way, since Celestia knows our scents and might follow us."

"Gotcha!" Garroth runs off and we jump ahead of Aph, who now looks ready to cry. By the time we've gotten her to the beach, and we're hidden above her on the cliffs, she sits down hard and starts crying. My heart breaks watching her, until...

Garroth comes up behind me. "He's here." Garroth murmurs. He puts a hand on my shoulder and we all watch as Celestia starts barking excitedly and runs towards a familiar purple-hoodied figure. Aph looks up slowly, following Celestia's run until her eyes grow wide when she finally sees Aaron.

Aphmau slowly stands up, and they stare at each other for a few seconds, not believing it. My heart pounds in my ears, tears threatening to choke me as I clutch Garroth's hand on my shoulder.

And then, Aaron opens his arms.

Aphmau gives a tiny gasp, but she doesn't hesitate. She runs for him, and he catches her easily and spins her in a circle before setting her down. His tail goes still for the first time when she reaches for his face, tears spilling down both their cheeks as they don't say anything, just watch each other.

I feel tears streak down my cheeks as well, and glance to my friends to see all of them tearing up as well. Even Zane, who is turned away in an effort to not watch, has a single tear in his visible eye. But Garroth and I meet each other's eyes and both give wild grins.

Lucinda notices and seems to realize we're inruding just a bit, so she moves behind Garroth and starts pushing us away. We don't argue, just letting her move us from the cliff. I notice Zane left behind and reach back to grab him, dragging him along with us. We all start giggling, even Zane, the second we're out of Aaron and Aphmau's earshot. Not that they'd've heard us anyway, since they're so focused in each other.

I glance back just once, to see Aphmau unexpectedly closing her eyes in pain, and Aaron giving her such a loving look my heart melts inside. I hope someday, somebody will look at me like that.

Oh, well.

I've got my whole life ahead of me.

Besides, this is Starlight! Who knows what this summer may bring?

__________________________________

You probably don't want to know the answer to that question, Violet...

But woot-woot! Starlight is out, so thanks to the people reading this for taking the time! :D Hope you'll enjoy it!