#book references

Stephanie suddenly grew silent, her eyes tracing the scant blades of dried grass in the backyard, which was as shriveled as its owners.

“Course I can,” Alexis replied, interrupting the silence. “What about you, Sleeping Beauty? Can you drive, or were you counting on Miss Prince Charming?”

Stephanie didn’t look up, but redness dotted her cheeks.

I felt my stomach churn. “Alexis, stop,” I ordered, shooting him the glare that had made most quail.

The teasing grin thankfully slid off his face, but he didn’t stop talking. “That kiss happened, you know.”

“And I am sorry about that. Had there been any other way to wake Stephanie up, to wake you up,” I turned to her, “I would’ve done it instead.”

‘You’re sorry?” Stephanie whispered, finally looking up. Her hazel eyes had a wet sheen. “You—you regret it?”

“Stephanie,” Alexis said, laying a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. He turned to me and said, “Adelyn,” gesturing wildly.

I remained silent.

Stephanie opened her mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again. She brushed off Alexis’ hand and stormed off, tears streaming down her face.

I felt something in my chest tighten, but I trampled it, letting my irritation and anger surface instead.

“We don’t have time for this. We need to leave.”

We did. We’d already spent five hours here. If Julius and Katy came back, or if anything else caught up with us, we’d be too drained to fight them off.

 Alexis said nothing for about a minute. The tension in the air was thick enough to be sliced off with a butter knife and spread on a slice of bread—though, I didn’t think anyone would choke it down unless they wanted a heart-attack.

Finally, he said, “Tell me, Lunatic, what the hell is wrong with you!” His eyes glowed golden.

I glared back, crossing my arms. “The only wrong thing here is that you both seem to think you can force me to reciprocate her ridiculous feelings, when I don’t! I can’t! All I felt when I kissed her was awkward. And even if I had felt something, I still wouldn’t have gone out with her, of all people.”

He blinked, staring at me for a few minutes. “Why not?”

“I value her,” I admitted, and paused, because it wasn’t a lie to get Alexis to calm down. It was true. I meant it.

“But she’s spent years fighting me. Before you say anything, I minded my own business until it got too much for me to bear. And yes, she has crossed lines before. I don’t care if this was jealousy, or a classic pulling the pigtails case.” 

I didn’t know why I defended my actions—I was beholden to nobody. Maybe to strengthen my case?

He opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. 

“I know people who are ready to tear me down, Alexis, and I've thrived despite them, not because of them. And I’m okay with it; I can fight back. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t want people who’ll build me up. Like you do. Whether it's in a romantic or platonic relationship.”

He looked at me for a moment, and then his lips stretched into a grin. “Well, I guess daddy issues doesn’t always mean mental issues.”

I stared at him, trying to process what he’d just said, when a laugh escaped my throat without my permission. And it didn’t stop. I threw my head back and laughed as I’d never laughed before, a weight draining from my shoulders. My heart was lighter, and any lingering aches seemed to vanish.

My stomach hurt, and so did my cheeks, but I felt better than I had in years.

Alexis just watched me with a smile that was as bright as the sun, until my laughter died out, which was when his smile softened.

“You know what, Adz?”

I hummed.

“I’m glad that I helped you see that, even though I’ve got no clue what I did. And I’m sorry for pressurizing you—that wasn’t my intention. And for the record, you and Stephanie would make a terrible couple”

“Thank you.” 

He deserved gratitude. He might have overlooked my feelings, but he had apologized for it. It was beyond what anyone had bothered to do before.

“But you could be good friends.”

I shrugged. “Maybe.”

He smiled. “I’ll go find Stephanie. Will you come?”

I shook my head.

He left without another word, calling for her.

I made this piece on Krita and I have been working on it for a month ATLEAST. I am legitimately so proud of this art. I have a new perspective of Moon and Winters relationship. so I decided to bring this scene to life.

"""All right," Moon said. She hesitated, then took a step closer to Winter so that their wings were nearly touching. He felt his breath catch in his throat. She was made for moonlight, all silver and ebony, or moonlight was made for her. He could imagine her in the Ice Kingdom, silhouetted against the vast whiteness, dark as the ocean and glittering like the moonlit snow."" - Tui. T. Sutherland (Winter Turning book 7) pg. 158, chp. 12..

5 hours and 51 minutes

yall pls appreciate this because it was a nightmare to try and upload cuz it was massive TwT

and it stripped some quality

Oh yeah??😩👀