It's not written that well, but y'know. It's all for fun. Here's the next chapter 
I'm not going to add the cast at the end this time around, since there's no one new in this chapter. The next time I'll add the cast will be a while from now, when we meet the rest of the fellowship
~*~
SEVEN
"What'cha thinking about?"
Cookie nearly jumped out of her chair at the sound of her cousin's cheerful voice. Irritated, she turned to face the younger girl. Winnie was standing behind her chair, her arms lying on its back with her head resting on both arms. The grin on her face told her that the poor girl was completely oblivious to the fact that she had nearly given her older cousin a heart attack at the worst of possible times. Cookie sighed, setting down the book she had been pretending to read, and trying to formulate an answer. The girl had caught her off guard. She had not been aware that anyone else had been awake before now, and was mildly surprised to see Winnie up this early. Usually, her youngest cousin was the last to rise and the last to sleep, complaining at the force of both.
"Nothing, really," she answered, faking a smile. She didn't need to worry the girl for nothing. She cared too much for both Winnie and Muri to bring either of them into anything that wasn't necessary. Even unloading some of her worries without an explanation would be dangerous. Although... when she thought about it, how could either of them really pick up anything from what she said? If she was vague and left out any sort of details, then... no. She couldn't risk it.
"Are you sure?" Winnie asked, bringing her back from her thoughts. "You look kinda sad."
Cookie let herself show a grim smile. That, at least, was true. All those who spoke of her baby cousin lacking any brains were idiots. She had found herself, on more than one occasion, proud of the girl's intuitiveness. She was only glad that, at the times when people dared to insult the girl to her face, Muri was there to defend her instead. Cookie had never been much of a fighter.
"I'm alright," she assured Winnie, placing a hand on her arm before rising and making her way to the table. Without a doubt, Winnie would be hungry. She and her other cousin ate more in a day than she thought possible. As she pulled a plate from the cabinet, she heard her cousin come up behind her. She felt the younger girl's eyes on her, and turned again to avoid meeting her gaze. It was hard, this business of secret-keeping. Especially when her dearest friends were involved.
"So, Cookie..."
The girl in question sighed, leaning briefly on the table for support. She wasn't ready to talk about anything right now. She had hoped to sit up well into the afternoon, thinking about the journey ahead of her and blocking out the world around her, if only for a while. The last thing she wanted was to be questioned by a beloved friend and relative who, although meaning well, was prying far too deep for her liking.
"Yes?" she answered finally, hoping that she didn't sound as weary as she felt. If she did, Winnie did not mention it.
"Are you... planning a trip somewhere?"
The question took Cookie entirely off guard, knocking the wind out of her like a punch to the stomach. Planning a trip? Was she being that obvious? She could have sworn that she had been taking every precaution to be secretive, and to keep her business her own. But if Winnie had somehow figured out what was going on... that would be the worst thing that could happen. If any of the others had managed to work out where she was going, then there would be no stopping them, and she knew it. And the last thing she wanted to do was to drag her best friends into danger like this.
"A-a trip?" she stammered, unable to compose herself before replying. She looked determinedly at the opposite wall, still refusing to look at her friend. If Winnie could see her face, then she would know. "How do you mean?"
When Winnie spoke next, she was much closer than Cookie had known, causing her to jump for the second time that morning. She really needed to keep up a better guard.
"Yeah," the girl said casually. "Y'know, leaving for a while? Muri and I have noticed you packing some things... talking like you're going away somewhere..." She paused, and though Cookie could not see it, her expression was unsure. Muri had told her not to let Cookie know that they knew anything, but... maybe if she gave her the chance, maybe she would let them come on her own. She stepped forward once more, placing a hand on her older cousin's shoulder.
"You know..." she began quietly, "if there's anything wrong, anything at all that you need to talk about... you can talk to me..."
The room was still for several moments, the tension hanging palpably in the air as the two cousins battled their will internally. At last, it was Cookie who broke the silence, finally bringing herself to turn and face her cousin.
"No," she answered in a low, defeated voice. Her eyes were tired, almost as broken as she had seemed when Winnie had overheard her conversation with Wan and Clare. "There's nothing wrong. Thank you."
And with that, Cookie shrugged off the hand on her shoulder, retreating to her bedroom. Winnie stayed where she stood, staring after her friend. She felt sad and frustrated. Why wouldn't she trust them? They had never done anything but help her, never done anything but stay by her side in bad times. Why was this time any different?
With a heavy sigh, Winnie moved back to where she had first found Cookie, taking the vacated chair and pulling her knees to her chest. They were leaving tomorrow, Cookie and Wan. And whether they liked it or not, Muri, Winnie, and Fruity were coming with them.
Great update, AA! 
