Actress: Naomi Scott

"Should I get him flowers?" Pisces asked Libra. He paced around their room nervously. What should he do? Did he look alright? He breathed in Libra's face. "Is my breath alright?"

Libra made a gagging motion and handed him a breath mint. She scrunched up her nose. "Get him chocolates or something. He grew up in a bakery, he outta have a sweet tooth."

Pisces shook his head. "Not grew up. He lived there a while, but he grew up on the streets."

"You nerd," Libra snickered. She took a glop of gel in her hands and slicked Pisces hair back. He wore a rather fancy suit.

Pisces pouted. "What'll happen to our friendship if it goes sour?"

Libra sighed, and a sad looked washed over her face. "Well, then I owe Nebula ten bucks."

Pisces looked down at his hands at the mention of his sisters name. He pursed his lips before looking up. "She bet that I wouldn't work out with Aries?"

"She bet that anyone who dates you would somehow blow up or die," Libra corrected. "She claimed that's how bad of a cook you were."

Pisces wiped a tear from his eye and let out a weak laugh. "She was always right, wasn't she?"

Libra sat down on the bed, bringing Pisces with
her. She brought him close to her and cuddled him a bit. "She loved you so much."

Pisces' forehead creased as he cuddled up to Libra further. He shut his eyes tight and let out a slight whimper. "If she loved me so much, then why did she leave?"

Libra scooted closer to her fiancé. She let out a small sigh. "Sometimes, it's the only thing left to do."

—————————

Leaves blew by briskly. The air had a bite to it without compare. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. A girl looks up at the home she once knew. Her black hair flew behind her from the breeze. Her sunken eyes had a melancholy glow. Her pale blue, satin dress danced in the wind as her heels tapped down the staircase. Her hands gripped her bags tightly. Her overbite bit her lip in worry. She didn't even say goodbye.

This was Cancer's exit.

She was leaving. Today was her final day at the castle. Cancer's mother was forcing her into a marriage with a boy she hardly knew. Cancer did not want this. Forcing marriage is very outdated, especially in Solis. But her mother was sick, and she wished her to be happy.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

Cancer furrowed her eyebrows. Her eyes searched in front of her. She wasn't moving. What was that noise?

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

Cancer ignored it. Perhaps it was some boys playing tag. She walked forward. If she looked back now, she may not leave. If she doesn't leave, then she can't make her mother happy.

"Wait!" A voice called out. It painted and cried as if it had been running. "Please, don't go."

"No," Cancer replied. She knew who the voice was. It was high, but sweet. It was like a bird humming a melody. It was Scorpio's. "I can't."

"You didn't even say goodbye," Scorpio said meekly. Her eyes went wide and her brows furrowed. "Please, at least do that."

"If I saw goodbye, I might not leave," Cancer firmly stated, looking ahead.

Scorpio's eyes lit up, and she beamed. "Then stay. I don't know where you're going, but you should stay."

"I'm getting married," Cancer informed her. A tear slipped down. "My mother's request. I'm doing it. I want her happy before she dies."

"I want you happy before you die," Scorpio pleaded, her voice cracking. The air bit at her throat and threatened her to keep talking.

"You don't understand," Cancer said, ensuring to leave no trace of emotion in her life. "This man is a good one. He will take good care of me for—"

"I can take good care of you!" Scorpio screamed, her voice shattering as she did so. Her light pink dress refused to keep her warm. "What can he do that I can't?"

Cancer turned around to face Scorpio, tears streaming down her face. "Scorpio, it's not up for discussion. I can live with this."

"What if I can't?" Scorpio's voice strained. She's lost it. It had gotten deeper and more painful. "You will regret not marrying for love."

"What will you regret?" Cancer asked her, her voice raising to a snarl. Her lip curled up. "What do you lose out of this?"

"I lose you," Scorpio informed, looking up at her. "You're a lot to lose."

"I'll be fine, Scorpio," Cancer told her. "I can take care of myself."

"You don't have too," Scorpio coughed. "We could take care of each other."

"I don't have time for this, Scorpio," Cancer said, rolling her eyes. Why now? She could've dealt with this any other day. Why today? Why did she get clingy today? "I've got a date. I'm meeting him."

"You haven't even met him?" Scorpio asked, her voice breaking. She looked taken aback. "You're willing to marry a guy you haven't even met?"

"My mother wishes to see me married-or at least engaged-before she dies," Cancer said. "She set this up to ensure it."

"But you don't have too—" Scorpio fought back.

"But I will," Cancer replied. Her responses were getting louder and madder. "I love my mom so much that I'd do anything to see it happen."

"I loved my mom that much too," Scorpio replied. "There's other ways, though."

"I can't get out of this one, Scorpio," Cancer told her mournfully. "I just can't."

Cancer turned back around, wiping tears from her cheeks. She walked back down to the carriage. It was all for the best. Scorpio screeched in the background. By the time the carriage was moving, the queen was chasing it down.

"Stop! Please, stop!" Scorpio yelled, running after her. Her heels were left behind on the pavement as the sick, cold, and heartbroken queen ran on.

"What's she doing?" One guard asked. "I thought she's been sick all week."

Cancer looked at him with puzzled thoughts. Why would she come out here sick for me? What the hell is she doing? She's sick! She's running barefoot! She cold as hell!

"Stop the carriage," Cancer demanded, leaning out the window.

The guards looked confused and glanced at the girl. Cancer flared at them and said, "Do it. Now!"

The moment the carriage stopped, Cancer jumped out of the window. They were a few blocks away from her parents house. Scorpio was still running after them.

Cancer ran towards her. "What the hell? You're sick! You shouldn't even be outside."

Scorpio's face had turned a sickly pale shade. She coughed a lot. "Worth every second."

"What's this all about, Scorp? What aren't you telling me?" Cancer asked, searching Scorpio's eyes for clues.

"I made my mom a promise before she died, yeah?" Scorpio coughed. Cancer nodded. Scorpio continued, "I promised her I'd find someone to love. I can't let her down. I haven't. Because I found you."

"What are you saying?" Cancer asked her, gripping her shoulders.

Scorpio smiled. She steadied herself on Cancer's shoulder. "I've fallen for you. You're the most wonderful person I've ever met. And even if you don't love me back, I want you to end up with someone you do love."

Cancer pulled Scorpio into a tight hug. "Why the hell didn't you say so earlier? I would've stayed in a heartbeat."

"I can feel your heartbeat," Scorpio murmured. "I like it."

Scorpio buried herself deep into Cancers shoulder, closing her eyes. She was finally okay. She was alright.

"Let's get you to my parents house," Cancer said softly. "We need to fix you up. And explain a lot."

"Meet your mama?" Scorpio asked, half asleep.

Cancer picked her up bridal style. "Mmhm, And my fiancée."

Scorpio's eyes started to droop. She started to pour. "No. Not him. He's evil."

"I'm aware of that," Cancer said, cradling her. "You realize we'll have to tell Aqua about us, right?"

"He doesn't need to know a thing," Scorpio replied, "hell just make fun."

"What? Are we gonna get married and not tell
him?" Cancer asked with a chuckle, as she started walking down towards her mothers house.

"Yes."

Crunch. Crunch, crunch.

All was well.

————————

Flowers in hand? Check.

Hair slicked back? Check.

Speech prepared? Check.

Bravery? Not check.

Pisces ran through possibilities in his head. Aries could reject him. Aries could have moved on. Aries could be secretly straight. Aries could die of a sudden heart attack, spontaneously combust, Tell Pisces it was his fault.

All likely situations.

This would make or break Pisces. Damn. Why couldn't he have stayed straight? His life would've been easier. He wouldn't have set himself up for possible heartbreak. He could've lived with being constantly rejected by Gemini and being forced to marry Libra it it wasn't for Aries.

His best friend. Except, he wanted more than that. He wanted to kiss him and love him. Pisces wanted to cuddle him and hiss when other boys came his way.

Pisces wiped away the sweat from his palms. Deep breaths. He straightened up his clothes. Deep breaths. He slicked back his hair again. Deep breaths. He could do this. He could ask Aries out on a date. Or at least admit his feelings. Not too hard, right?

Yeah, not too hard.

Pisces started walking.

Ten steps away. Pisces took a deep breath.

Nine steps away. Pisces slicked back his hair.

Eight steps away. Pisces fixes the flowers.

Seven steps away. Gemini believes in me.

Six steps away. Libra knows I can do this.

Five steps away. If I can't do this, Aqua will tease me forever.

Four steps away. Give Jaden a much hotter brother.

Three steps away. Virgo believes in me.

Two steps away. Remember Nebula.

One step away. Shit.

Pisces turned the corner to see Aries, the small dark skinned boy in all of his adorable glory. Pisces immediately wanted to start talking. Except, someone was sitting next to him. Pisces did not know this boy. He had short, messy, black hair with blue eyes and a small nose. He was about their age, and rather good looking. And sitting next to Aries.

Pisces instantly hated him.

Of course, when Aries said, "Hey, Pisces. This is my boyfriend, Darrel. Hope you're okay with me bringing him to the wedding." That didn't help.

Pisces looked at him in surprise. He managed to sputter our, "Um, yeah, um, sure."

"What's with the flowers?" Aries asked, looking them over.

"They're for Libra," Pisces said, clearing his throat. "She asked me to pick out a couple samples for wedding planning. This is all I got so far."

Aries patted Pisces on the back. "Well, I know Gem's favorite is snap dragons if you're low on ideas."

"Thanks, I'll, uh, check it out," Pisces said, fighting back tears. "By the way, Gem said to visit soon or die."

Aries looked at him and shrugged. "That's probably not an empty threat. I'll visit tomorrow."

Pisces nodded weakly. "I've gotta get to Libra. I'll see you around."

"Sounds good," Aries said awkwardly. Pisces walked away, fighting back tears.

As soon as he was gone, Darrel said, "That's him? The one you're trying to make jealous?"

Aries stared after him longingly. "That's him."

"I don't think he's jealous, I think he's heartbroken," Darrel mentioned.

Aries spun around to face him. "What?"

"That kids obviously a lover, not a fighter," Darrel told him. "So long as he thinks you're happy, he won't fight you on it."

Aries' eyes widened. "I've made a terrible mistake."

————

Hello~ it's been awhile. Very sorry about that. I had tons of fun writing this chapter. Shit in this book is abt to go dowwwwwwn. Anyways, what's one character type that you can't stand? See you on the Flip side!