Edna and I searched for the blade, while Dejah stayed where she was and guarded the magical box. It did not take us long to locate the blade.

"Found it!" I yelled as I scooped the blade up and examined it. There were some dirt marks, not a lot, on it.

I rushed back to Dejah, Edna following behind, and held up the blade.

"Good job on finding it so easily," my friend complimented.

"Well, it would have been harder to find it if the blue jewel that is on the handle was not so shiny."

As I said that, the blue stone loosened and fell. It landed on the green grass. I lowered the blade and examined the handle. There was now a hole where the blue stone had been.

Oh, no. I had ruined Edna's blade.

I picked up the stone, and the old woman rushed up next to me.

"What is the hold up?" she asked. "Stick the blade in Chad's grave." Before Dejah or I could tell her of her blade, she looked at the magical box that contained James and his ghostly friends and added, "You know what? Never mind. After hearing the story that you guys told me, which I absolutely believe, there is no reason now to do it because it seems that we have more than one culprit."

I had the feeling that she was now looking at her granddaughter because of what she commented next.

"She is no longer my granddaughter. The granddaughter whom I came to know and love was amazing. This one is just a psycho."

My face saddened a bit when she compared Jennifer to what she had become. I felt bad for the old lady.

And Layla.

Speaking of Layla...

"Dejah," I said. "We have to find Layla."

"Layla? Layla Lakes?" the old woman questioned. "I remember her. She was a sweetheart."

"Until she bullied us," my best friend admitted. "Especially me. But I do agree with you, Eleanor. We have to find her before it is too late. Who knows what she could do?"

"Go right ahead, girls." Edna picked up the magical box. To her, it was not heavy. "I will take these five back to my house and...do something."

I did not question what that 'something' was, for I trusted her enough to take care of them.

"Thank you," Dejah thanked.

Edna nodded, saying that you are welcome. "I will also take into consideration meeting with the parents of the James kid and tell them everything."

"Good," I said happily. "It makes me glad that he will not be getting away with this."

"Neither will my granddaughter. I am very disappointed in her. She and I will have a long discussion, and I will try to help her. Maybe...maybe I can reach her wonderful side."

I let my fingers play with the blue stone. "As long as she and her darn friends never haunt me ever again."

"I can assure you. They will not." She eyed the blade. "What happened to my blade?"

Sweat poured from my forehead. "Gosh, I am sorry. I did not mean to break it. I—"

The old lady giggled. "Hon, you did not break it. The stone always falls out of the handle. It is a real pain."

"Oh..." I giggled nervously, feeling embarrassed, and handed her both the blade and stone. "Here."

She took the blade, but not the stone. "You may keep the stone."

I was surprised. "R-really? But it is yours."

"That blue stone has been nothing but a nuisance to me. Shoving it back in the handle and all that." She smiled and folded my fingers, covering the stone. "It is yours now. Consider it as a souvenir to remember how brave you and your friend were on this very night."

"Oh. Um..."

I continued attempting to give the blue stone back to her, but she kept insisting that it was mine.

I let out a sigh of defeat and decided to keep the stone.

For now.

Edna patted the top of my head. "Have a marvelous time at your dance. And you might want to change dresses."

I took her advice, and Dejah and I soon were walking down the sidewalk, heading to the school. We had changed at my house. I left the blue stone in my bedroom and was wearing a blue dress that covered my legs and feet. I let my best friend borrow one of my dresses, the purple one that also covered her legs and feet.

"Where could Layla be?" I wondered.

"I do not know. Probably at her house?" Dejah suggested.

As we discussed where she might be, we saw Layla perching herself on a rock and chatting with someone. Another girl.

"Should we go over there and see how she is doing?" I asked.

Dejah shook her head. "I do not think so. She seems to be doing alright. And she is talking with somebody. Perhaps a friend of hers."

I agreed with her. We were just relieved that Layla was okay and not hurting herself.

To the dance!

We entered the school and made our way down the hall and to the gym where the dance was being held.

"Hey," I said. "You did not tell me who framed me."

"Framed you?"

"Yes. The person who wrote the article."

"...right. Uh..." She rubbed the back of her neck. "...about that..."

We entered the gym - and Dejah's parents were there.

They were looking all around and soon laid eyes on Dejah.

"There you are!" Mr. Danos shouted.

"What the heck are you doing here?" Mrs. Danos demanded. "I thought that your father and I writing that article would help you keep away from Eleanor."