Homework.

Was.

The.

Worst.

Sundew moaned into her history textbook and dropped it onto the table. "Why do we need to study history?"

Blue looked up at her. They were sitting around the kitchen table at his house to work on homework. Cricket wasn't there, do to some early-afternoon babysitting, and Sundew was surprised by how much she wished she was there. Cricket was the smart one in their group and the one who often helped with homework.

Luna spoke up from the living room couch. "History is very important, I know because my highschool history teacher explained why to me, and I would explain to you if I could remember why." She was texting someone on her phone. Probably Swordtail.

Sundew had been introduced to Blue's family the day prior, and she liked his moms. She wished her mom was anything like either of Blue's.

"We need to study history to learn what worked and what didn't in the past." Blue said patiently.

"Like battle strategies?" Sundew asked. "If I wanted to defeat your army," she arranged the grapes on the table they had been snacking on into two lines. "I'd want to have the high ground." She put her line of grapes on top of her history book. "Attack quickly and precisely, surround with the cavalry from the side, divide and conquer." She arranged the grapes more until they were indisputably defeated, and ate them.

"Well, yeah I guess battle is a part of it." Blue said, eyeing the scene with hesitation.

"Are you kidding? All history is is battles! And war and invasion." Sundew tipped back her chair until it stood on two legs.

"Don't forget sickness and disease." Luna called over her shoulder. "Add that with corrupt rulers and you've got yourself your average history book."

"And laziness." Sundew mentioned. "Lot's of history came from laziness."

"I'm sure that's not all." Blue protested. "If Cricket were here she could tell us about famous explorers and inventors."

"And why would they invent?" Sundew asked. "Necessity is the mother of invention. They invent weapons for war, they invent medicine for sickness, and they invent toasters for laziness!"

"How are toasters lazy?" Blue asked dubiously.

"Because they didn't want to toast their bread by hand anymore!" Sundew dropped her chair back onto four legs.

"That's called progress." Blue pointed out.

Sundew shook her head. "It's just plain laziness."

"When was the last time you toasted bread by hand?"

Before Sundew could make an indignant reply, Luna stood up. "Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I'm heading out. Mom sent me the grocery list." She waved and left the house, swiping some grapes from the table as she left.

"How do you differentiate between your moms?" Sumdew asked curiously.

"Oh, Silverspot, Luna's birth mom, goes by Mom, and Burnet, my birth mom, goes by Mama." Blue said.

"Cool." Sundew nodded. "I don't always call my mom 'Mom'. When I'm upset at her, I call her Belladonna."

"How is your mom?" Blue asked. "Have you talked since you left?"

"A bit." Sundew scowled at the school books again. "After Willow's mom gave me an old phone to use, I've been able to text people again. She has no way of tracking me through it and I've been careful that she doesn't know where I am. She's pretty upset." Sundew laughed weakly. "But talking with my dad has been harder. We aren't really close, but he tries to care. He keeps asking if I'm coming back and if I'm ok." She sighed.

"I'm really sorry." Blue said gently. They were quiet for a minute.

"So how are things with Cricket?" Sundew asked.

Blue jumped awkwardly. "What do you mean?"

"Oh you know!" Sundew teased. "You couldn't be more obvious if you wore a shirt with it plastered on it in big red letters: I HAVE A BIG GOOFY CRUSH ON CRICKET!"

Blue turned pink. "Well, maybe a small one..."

"Ha!" Sundew laughed in triumph, almost tipping her chair over. "Of course you do!"

"Do you need to be so loud?" He asked, embarrassed. "It's not newsworthy."

"Oh, but it is." She grinned at him. "The school dance is in six days. You're going to ask her to it, right?"

"Well, I was thinking about it." Blue said. "But I don't know if I can do it. I don't even think she likes me back-"

"Pff! I wouldn't worry if I were you. Cricket is almost as obvious as you. And I'll help you. Suiter needs a wingman."

Blue turned red again. "Please don't say it like that."

"I've been waiting so long for one of you to make a move and move the ship forward." Sundew said, not trying to hide her grin.

"Ship?" Blue asked.

Sundew hit her forehead with her palm. "You don't know what a ship is?"

"You mean like a boat?"

"Yes, but in this context no. Ship as in relationship. As in you and Cricket." Sundew explained.

"We aren't in a relationship." Blue protested. "We're friends!"

"Well, your faces say otherwise." Sundew rolled her eyes. "When are you going to ask her?"

"Well, that's the problem. I have no idea." Blue sank down into his chair. "She probably already has a date." He said gloomily.

"I doubt it." Sundew said simply. "And even so, it's nothing a little arsenic can't handle."

"What?"

"Nothing. If you're going to ask her, you should have some sort of plan." Sundew stared at the pile of forgotten homework. "You could ask her after school. Maybe with some flowers."

"Does Cricket like flowers?"

"I don't know. But all girls like flowers enough to recognize the gesture." Sundew said, thinking. "We're probably overthinking this."

"Maybe." Blue said. They heard the front door open and Burnet walked in, her hands ladden with grocery bags.

"Hello, dear. Hello, you must be Sundew, Blue's friend. Do you know where Luna is?" The pink haired woman asked as she heaved the sacks onto the kitchen counter.

"She went out to go grocery shopping." Blue said. "Mom sent her a list.

"Oh, I forgot!" Burnet laughed. "She did say she would take care of those, did she? Oh well. Now we don't need to go shopping for quite awhile." She smiled goodnaturedly.