Wish I Were - Qinter (Human) AU

5

Winter PoV:

I sat alone at the lunch table, ignoring my food and scrolling through Twitter. I was hoping someone would come sit down next to me, preferably one of my friends, but at the same time I kind of wanted to be alone. What with Kinkajou scrutinizing my every move, Turtle not meeting my eye (not that he ever did to be honest), and Qibli devolving into flustered nonsense every time I came a little too close to him, it was all becoming a bit much.

And that's not even mentioning Moon-

Speaking of which.

Moon gently slid her tray next to mine and took my hand, giving me a peck on the cheek. I grimaced at the contact but didn't say anything about it.

I put down my phone and said with a smile,"Hi Moon."

"Hi." she grinned and leaned her head onto my shoulder.

"Quit the PDA, you two, we got things to discuss." Turtle said, showing up out of nowhere, dropping his bag onto the table and taking a manilla folder out. "Kink and Qib should be showing up any minute."
"What's all this?" I asked.

"Oh, the folder is just storage for random pamphlets." Turtle said. "Our problem is this." He took out a bright pink paper with words and such in black ink.

"Not the best design, is it?" Moon squinted at it.

"It was made by the students, what do you expect?" Turtle scoffed. "Oh hey, the himbos are here."

"ExCUSE me but did you just calleth ME a himbo?" Kinkajou said with mock annoyance.

"Yes I did, sit down we've got things to discuss."

"Yeah, I saw your text." Kinkajou rolled her eyes and sat next to Turtle. Qibli walked a bit farther and sat opposite me. I nudged his foot with mine and gave him a small smile, which he returned (thankfully) before turning his attention to Turtle.

"Alright so as you all know my gosh damn sister is on the School Committee." Turtle said unenthusiastically. "And so she gave me this hot off the press." He shook the pink paper.

"Ok ok so what is it?" Kinkajou slapped his wrist.

"It's a flyer for a end-of-school Senior 'prom,' BYOB, text Anemone to RSVP. And has her phone number underneath a very low quality picture that I think is supposed to be a stock image dance party."

"A Prom??" Moon brightened. "That sounds like fun!"

"I guess it could be nice." Kinkajou tried to sound disinterested but it was obvious she was interested.

"I dunno if parties are really my thing but if you guys are going I'll go." Qibli shrugged.

"Re-eally? I would have expected you to be some sort of party animal, Qibli." Moon scoffed, staring him down.

"No I- I really don't like crowds. Or.. beer."

"That's understandable." I replied looking between Moon and Qibli. Moon was skeptically staring at Qibli, who bit his lip, looking uncomfortable, and averted his gaze.

"Yeah, only problem is you need a date to attend, and there's an odd number of us." Turtle's eyes skimmed the paper again. "I mean, calculating the most likely choices you guys'll make, Kinkajou will need a 'date.'"

"I'll just take Tamarin." Kinkajou said quickly.

"I'm pretty sure Anemone will be taking Tamarin." Turtle said.

"Dammit." Kinkajou huffed. "Why can't I take you?"

"Because I'm taking Qibli."

"You are??" Qibli blinked.

"As friends." Turtle smiled with all teeth. I ignored the spark of jealousy trying to poke it's way into my consciousness.

"So- so I'll take- I dunno! I don't know a lot of people!" Kinkajou exclaimed.

"Isn't Coconut like- basically your brother?"

"Just because you're both orphans who JUST SO HAPPEN to come from the same orphanage does NOT make Coconut my brother. Besides, he's prolly taking Marsh. Yknow, his boyfriend."

"Does the pamphlet say anything about plus ones also having plus ones?" I asked.

"No, but I can text 'Mone about it." Turtle said, tapping the screen of his phone repeatedly.

Kinkajou drummed her fingers on the table in anticipation.

"She said it's fine and that she wasn't the one who came up with the 'bring a date' thing and she thinks its stupid." Turtle said finally.

"YES okay so officially I'll go with Moon." Kinkajou said, leaning across the table to pat Moon's arm.

"Cool okay that's all I wanted to discuss." Turtle stuck the flyer back into his folder and snapped it shut.

I needed context for future chapters and that's the only reason this chapter exists :)