It was one of those nights, right at the end of summer, where the darkness holds a lavish celebration for the weather it is about to lose to the fall. 

Outside, a gentle wind sifted its fingers through the heather flowers. The last string of fireflies dipped and flickered between the trees. The heat didn't feel stifling, but warm, like a luxurious, golden bath. 

A perfect night for getting into trouble. 

"What was it you said they were doing tonight?" You whispered to Enid, a rebellious thrill surging through you as you both crept down the grand Nevermore staircase. Weems could fuss about her stupid midnight curfew, but only if she caught you. 

"I literally have no idea, but I know it's risky," Enid breathlessly cheered, flashing her trademark grin. "I can't believe we're sneaking out to spy on Bianca's group. This is, like, so exciting!" She bounced forward onto her toes, and her shoulder accidentally bumped into Weems' dark oak bookshelf, lined with past Nevermore yearbooks.

You seamlessly caught the dusty old yearbook with your telekinesis, feeling its weight displace the air in your mind. Heavier than you'd expected, it bobbed once in the air before you floated it back to the shelf. A monochrome page glided down in lazy descent. 

"You're pretty good," Enid complimented, sheepishly smiling as she bent down to pick up the fallen page. 

"I'm not really supposed to use my telekinesis around people," you guiltily remembered, taking the page and stuffing it back in place. It was a stereotypical yearbook page with rectangular pictures and typed out quotes. Someone had messily scribbled over one girl's picture, "Morticia Addams," with a fat, black sharpie. Huh. Weird. 

"Still, you have much better control than Rowan," Enid shrugged, jerking the knob of the castle-like door open with both hands. You slipped out after her, silently grateful that she hadn't pressed the issue. You could tell from the curiosity dancing in her eyes that Nevermore's gossip queen desperately wanted to pry. 

Once you'd pressed the door shut, making sure it was left unlocked, Enid grabbed your hand and pelted across the grass to the forest. The summery stars exploded overhead as you both giggled so hard you gasped for breath. You stumbled to a slow stop at the edge of the forest, and Enid widened her eyes significantly with a burst of enthusiasm. 

"I heard Ajax bragging that they were meeting in the forest by Crackstone's Crypt," Enid said in a hushed tone, "It's this old stone place that's totally creepy." She grimaced, picking her way over stray sticks and moss littering the forest floor. 

"What's a crackstone?" You wondered aloud, wrinkling your nose. 

"I think it's a pilgrim."

You wove through the black stems of tree trunks, thankful for the bluish moonlight filtering down through the overhead silhouettes of leaves. Enid's bright-yellow-manicured hands suddenly flapped in an urgent gesture. Heartbeat quickening, you ducked behind a tree just before you saw them. 

"The forest is ours!" A deep, masculine voice howled. Into the moonlight burst a siren with glossy, chestnut hair that fell in almost girlish ringlets. 

"Shut up, Kent," a cat-like siren girl said behind him, but she was grinning. 

"She's right, someone could hear us," a girl with composed posture and perfectly shaped eyebrows declared, her shaded eyes skirting the forest. 

Yoko. Enid mouthed to you, keeping her lips open on the final "o" of her name in surprise. 

"Why, are you scared of Crackstone?" You recognized Ajax's loose, energetic gait as he playfully rammed into Kent's shoulder. 

"He's dead, nothing to worry about," Bianca announced jokingly, her Caribbean-ocean-blue eyes gleaming. Her carefree, relaxed half-smile startled you. She looked genuinely happy. It made you feel a little bad. 

"I'm Joseph Crackstone, back from the dead," Ajax whispered in a mocking, spooky voice, "And I have come back for Bianca Barclay!" Ajax tackled Bianca to the ground, and she let out a delighted shriek. 

"You guys are so stupid," Yoko sighed, but her lips twitched upward. To an obscured shadow hiding behind the trees, she half-heartedly called, "Aren't you going to come save your girlfriend?" 

"When does my girlfriend ever need saving?" The shadow chuckled, and out into the moonlight, arms crossed casually, strolled Xavier. 

"What is my roommate doing here?" You hissed to Enid. "Do you think he saw me leave the room?" You supposed it did made sense for Bianca to absorb Xavier into her clique; he was dating her, after all. 

Bianca brightened, jumping to her feet with a graceful eagerness of a cat at lunchtime. She stalked right up to Xavier and kissed him on the mouth. Ugh. Enid mimed puking, rolling her eyes at you. 

Xavier's hands, still stained with smudges of red and white paint, tightened around her shoulders. He took a slight step back, giving her a quiet smile. Then his eyes slipped up, unfocused behind the trees. 

You froze, horrified. 

Xavier's eyes sharpened as they landed on you.