Cricket wasn't looking forward to visiting her grandmother. Grandma Cadelle was harsh, mean, and judgemental. Cricket always sighed reading fairytales and stories with all the happy, generous, and kind grandmothers in them, wishing her's could be in any way similar.

They only lived an hour away from Cadelle's house, so they wouldn't be there for long, just the day. Cricket had a feeling that Katydid didn't like visiting her mom any more than Cricket liked visiting her grandmother, and the only reason they did was out of the goodwill of family, or to stay in the will, Cricket couldn't decide which was more likely.

"That should be enough for just the day." Katydid dropped Bumblebee's baby bag on the seet next to Bumblebee's car seat, which she was gurgling happily in. "Baby bag, check. Car snacks?"

"Check." Cricket nodded at the bag of granola bars, beef jerky, and dried mango inbetween the two front seats.

"Car books?"

Cricket looked in the pockets behind the two front seats at the few family favourites. "Check."

"Alibi for not visiting sooner?"

"School has been taking most of my time, and between working and drivers ed. it left our minds." Cricket rehearsed.

Katydid smiled. "Check. This should be fun."

"It always is." Cricket mirrored her smile. The only thing different about this trip is that Cricket had Blue and Sundew to text to the whole time.

Her mind dozed as she thought about Blue and the night he held her hand. Did that mean he liked her? Surely not. He was probably just being nice. But Blue was the type to wear his heart on his sleeve, that was one reason she liked him so much. She liked his kind nature, his gentle protection, the way he saw the best in everyone, and his lovely face.

Cricket blinked and shook her head, dark curls bouncing around her shoulders. Blue probably didn't actually like her. He was kind to everyone, and probably only saw her as a friend. But he didn't act like this with Sundew, but Sundew would probably rip his hand off if he tried.

Cricket opened the front passenger door and sat down, trying to clear the haze from her head.

The school dance is in a week, what if I ask him to come with me? But what if he says no, or doesn't even care about dances?

She sent a text to the Trio's groupchat.

A moment later came the reply.

Cricket froze when she saw Blue's text. What had he meant by that? Cricket's head was spinning by the time Katydid had started driving and had turned the radio on.

So where'd you want to go?

How much do you wanna risk?

I'm not looking for somebody with some super human gifts!

Some superhero, some fairytale bliss!

Just want someone to talk to, somebody I can kiss!

I want something just like this!

🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

The radio sang and Katydid hummed along, but Cricket just stared out the window, trying to work out the complications of having a crush. A crush? 'Having a crush' always makes it sound weird. Was it even a crush?

The music wasn't helping her think, so she gave up the whole befuddle. Blue probably meant that heart in a platonic way, maybe to balance Sundew.

Shaking her head again, she gave Bumblebee a piece of dried mango and the toddler rewarded her with a happy toddler grin. "Bes sisser, eva!" She cried.

"Aw, she really is." Katydid smiled at Cricket. Cricket smiled back, and then started singing along to the music. The song had changed but she still knew it.

Lady, running down to the riptide

Taking away to the darkside

I wanna be your left hand man.

I love you, when your singing that song

But I got a lump in my throat cause

Your gonna sing the words wrong.

And Cricket let everything confusing and worrying go as she gave herself up to the joy of music.