THE EXCITEMENT FOR THE test of courage was almost palpable. They had spent most of the day lazing away, but even Luca and Milo seemed somewhat eager to start. The ones which got Gabriela's attention were Jay and Mateo though, both of them whispering away ever since Jay had pulled Mateo aside. She wasn't sure what kind of weird plan they were thinking of, but whatever it was, she already knew it was way too dramatic.

One glance at Sahar, who was happily talking with Penelope about how often Jay smiled now, was enough to know that whatever plan he had was too elaborate. If he asked her out here and now, Gabriela knew Sahar would say yes. Still, the fact he was going all out for her was good, especially because the girl deserved nothing but the best.

Night had dawned on the forest like a blanket, the sky saturated in a soft navy, speckled with stars and clouds. From far away the rumblings of a storm could be heard, the trees only shadows now, with their only source of light the bonfire crackling in the middle of the clearing. All around it teenagers were laughing and talking, the principal stopping to talk to a few as he passed through. Once he got to the edge he held out the cardboard box in his hands and shook it, the paper lots inside rustling.

"The test of courage begins now, my lovely students," he boomed," get in line and draw your lot to see if you're a ghost or a participant. If you're a ghost you will always be paired with three, so no worries, raise your hand and the teachers will bring you to your assigned spot."

"What about if you're not a ghost, sir?" Mateo called out," can you decide your own partner then?"

"Of course," Clarkson smiled," you can pair up with whomever you want to, son. I want this to be fun for you all."

A few kids cheered and the principal beamed at them. When they all got in line Gabriela's gaze was drawn to the shadows behind him. The forest was large and quiet, but despite the lack of light it somehow didn't feel eery at all. Clarkson had stuck paper arrows to guide them on the trees, all the same neon yellow as his tracksuit, and the first tree donned a big cartoon ghost, the text bubble by it's head welcoming them to the test of courage.

"So, how will we pair up?" Penelope said," do you want to do this couple style or -"

Jay tapped on Sahar's shoulder then, cheeks red but voice steady. "Hey Sahar."

"Couple style it is," Penelope nodded amusedly, before making her way to Imani.

"Hey Jae-Soo," Sahar smiled at him.

Though Gabriela knew how quickly his face contorted at his name, whenever Sahar said it he seemed at ease. His lips tugged up slightly and he stared at her like she carried the world in her eyes, traveling all the way to her lips and back.

"Do you want to do the test of courage together?" he said.

Sahar's expression lit up and she flashed her teeth at him. "Of course! I'd love to."

Mateo appeared from beside Gabriela, seeming to have sneakily blended in with the background to watch his friend. She wasn't even surprised, it was a miracle already that he hadn't been cheering Jay on right beside him. Still, the amusement flickered in her eyes, only fading into something warmer when he took her hand in his.

"It seems that just leaves us two," Mateo grinned. His eyes sparkled as he looked at the forest. "I'm really excited, this seems like so much fun."

"Did you forget about me, Mateo?" Chase said, standing beside them and looking hurt.

Mateo spun around, lips already parting for whatever speech he was to give, but Gabriela didn't wait around for it. The principal called her and she took her lot, unfolding it to see her fate. When she deciphered the word ghost out of the scribbly handwriting she turned around to Mateo, holding it up.

"It seems that just leaves you and Chase," she said," I'm a ghost."

She didn't know why it hadn't occurred to Mateo that her not being able to participate had been a very real possibility, but when he heard her he seemed to be going through several stages of shock. Only when she turned around to walk towards the teacher did he seem to have processed it, grabbing her by the wrist.

"Sir," he said to the principal," let me be a ghost as well. I am ready to scare people. In fact, I was born for it."

"Draw your lot first, son," the principal said amusedly," we can see after."

Mateo grabbed one and hurriedly unfolded it, displeasure visible on his face when he read the word participant. He parted his lips to protest, but Gabriela took his hand in hers and squeezed it.

"We'll see each other after this," she said," you know you adore these kinds of things, so just go and enjoy yourself. I'll make sure to scare you well."

"But I want to do it with you, Nena," he sulked.

"Again, why do you keep forgetting me, Mateo?" Chase said, holding up his own lot," we can pair up together."

"Partners it is," Mateo drawled," besides, we both know you get scared easily, so if need be, you can always grab my arm. I'm a taken man, but I can make an exception for you."

"That's what I like to hear," Chase grinned.

Mateo raised Gabriela's hand to his lips then and pressed a kiss on the back of it, flashing her a cheeky smile.

"Make me scream," he said.

"It's a promise," she said, waving him off with a hand after.

"Looks like we're ghosts together."

Gabriela looked up at the voice, nodding at Milo. Though they hadn't started off in the best way, he didn't give her any weird vibes. Mateo had looked up too, but she was glad to see that he didn't even tense, his smile widening instead. Somehow Milo had gotten involved in Jay's plan and whatever they had talked about together, it had caused Mateo's animosity to disappear. Not like that was a strange thing to happen; honestly, Mateo never could be angry for long.

"This will be an amazing test of courage with the two of you scaring us," Mateo said.

"I promise not to hold Gabriela's hand when I'm frightened," Milo drawled.

Gabriela half expected Mateo to react, but instead he shook his head, slowly tilting his head to the right.

"I know you won't," he grinned," but if it gets too much for you, we can always swap roles."

"I'll keep that in mind," Milo said, amusement flashing in his eyes.

The both of them stared at each other for a moment, before bursting out in laughter. She wasn't sure what kind of weird friendship they had formed over the past few hours, but obviously they were clicking and she was glad for that. Mateo deserved every bit of love this world had, but she would settle for all she could give for now.

"Where's our third partner in crime?" Milo said, putting his hands in his pockets as he looked around.

"Just a second," the principal said, holding the box out to two girls.

Milo glanced at the one taking the lot first, her smile liquid sugar, before looking back at Gabriela. "Who's that? She seems out of place."

"Amelia Gray," Gabriela said," she has the second highest grades in the year."

"Who has the highest?" Milo said.

"Me," Gabriela said.

Milo whistled and Mateo smiled at her proudly, his attention quickly flicking to Chase then. His best friend was staring at Amelia in a way that only could be described as starstruck, voice a whisper as he leaned towards Mateo.

"I've never seen her before," he said.

"I know her from our Latin class together," Gabriela said," but she keeps mostly to herself. Doesn't come to school a lot."

Chase nodded slowly, though he didn't seem to be listening that intently. All his thoughts seemed to be on Amelia now, who was chuckling at something her friend said. Gabriela understood his infatuation somewhere, Amelia was beautiful, a daisy dream of elegance and warmth, silk ribbons tied in her honey hair and her long skirts dotted with flowers and butterflies. She was however also one of the biggest paradoxes Gabriela knew, her hands calloused and her nose crooked from where it had been broken before.

Though the girl attended St Joseph, she mostly stayed at home and watched the lessons from there. At first Gabriela had thought it was because her parents were too protective to let the sweet girl go to St Joseph, but apparently it was because she was competing at national level for baseball. Her going to St Joseph had been a mandatory punishment after she had broken a guy's hand with her bat when he had gotten too flirty at an afterparty of her game, one she didn't seem to care too much about.

"St Joseph is filled with unique characters," she had told Gabriela.

"Weird, you mean," Gabriela had corrected her.

As if hearing her thoughts, Amelia looked at her then, smiling at Gabriela. She looked back at her friend after, holding up her lot.

"I'm not a ghost. How about you, Allie?"

Her friend giggled and Gabriela noticed how dilated her pupils were all too quickly as she held up her card. Amelia may have been all grace, but her closest friend was mostly just high, her pupils always so dilated Gabriela could only wonder what she looked like sober. The girl locked eyes with her, holding up her lot as she smiled, lips tugging up.

"I'm a ghost," she said.

"And who's that?" Milo said, looking genuinely amused.

Gabriela's gaze lingered on the girl's eyes a moment longer, before shaking her head slowly.

"Alina Peterson," she said.