"Hello, Jacob." I kept my voice surprisingly steady so that he couldn't tell the shock it was to have him standing before me.

It surprised him as he paused for a moment before continuing with, "how have you been?"

Pleasantries, Jacob Rigby was exchanging pleasantries with me. I muffled a sigh and gave him a "fine. May I help you with something?"

He covered his smile with a purse of his lips. "I'm also doing well." His head slightly bowed as he returned a question I hadn't asked.

I didn't respond; I just continued to gaze at him.

"You haven't been back to the house," he continued.

"I haven't. I didn't receive the warmest of welcomes last time."

Not receiving a warm welcome was the understatement of the century. From the moment Joey, Matt, and I approached Rigby, it left me unsettled.

An inky blackness blanketed our path to Rigby that late summer evening. The gray clouds rolled ominously above us, strangled the moon's light and even the smaller glimmers of the stars.

"Do you know where you're going? This scene is totally dueling banjos," Matt said from the back seat as we drove to the address Jackson had provided.

"Hey, I'm just following the GPS. Nadia has never steered me wrong," Joey argued as he continued down the winding road.

"It's sad that you've named your GPS voice," I murmured.

"Jealous?" Joey smiled without taking his eyes off the road. He put a hand on my knee, causing me to jump a little. "You okay?"

"Yeah, you just surprised me." I smiled.

Without warning, a mansion rose from the night like a ghost ship.

"Whoa," Matt spoke for all of us.

I couldn't take my eyes off it. Its gothic stone facade rose unsettlingly quick as though it had just appeared by magic.

"Are you sure this is the right place? There aren't any other cars." My tone was hushed, as though the house may hear me and attack.

"What did I just say about Nadia?" Joey spoke without taking his eyes off the mansion. He turned off the car as we all silently sat for a few moments.

Matt was the first to break. "Well, sitting here won't tell us if we're in the right place or not."

He popped out of the car and began to move to the front door. Joey and I reluctantly followed his lead, but we all lost our nerve when we arrived on the steps.

"Scaredy cats," I teased as I rang the bell, but I'm sure they noticed my hand shake.

At least five long minutes passed, and just as we were about to leave, the door slowly opened. There, standing in the doorway, lined by the light of the house behind him, stood the most captivating person I had ever seen. His hair was long and chaotic. The dark brown color highlighted his skin's pale tone, as though he hadn't seen the sun in years. I would consider his eyes blue, but they looked grayer in the absence of moonlight. The features of his face were as perfect as a Greek statue, except for his nose. His nose looked like it had been broken at some point and was still flattened from the trauma.

"May I help you?" he eloquently spoke, enunciating each letter as it should be pronounced. The low, velvety voice that escaped from his crimson lips took me aback.

"I'm looking for Jackson Small." My voice came meekly as sudden self-consciousness seeped through me as this guy looked me up and down with a bored expression on his face.

"Is your name Riley?" His tone was even and rhythmic like he was singing them to a mysterious tune in his head.

"Yes, and these are my friends Matt and Joey," I nervously offered.

"I don't care," he quickly spoke in a cold tone without even looking at them. "You can cut through the house tonight, but park out back next time."

Without another word, he turned and led us through a kitchen, then continued into a dining area. As I followed him up a staircase, my eyes clung to his pale blue button-down shirt strained over his back and shoulder muscles. I barely noticed the house, but the oppressive stench of cigarettes and stale alcohol attacked my nose. The stairs led to a long door-lined hallway. We preceded by each door to the opposite end of the hall, where another staircase descended to the party's volume. The hypnotic figure before me stopped at the door.

"He's the one on stage," he dryly directed.

"Thanks," I managed. "I didn't catch your name."

"I'm aware." He opened the door to a room filled with people and music, an actual club in a ritzy suburb. "This door will lock behind you. You'll have to leave the club like everyone else." He sounded thoroughly annoyed before turning to a burly man at the door. "Chris, how goes it tonight?"

"Fine," Chris grunted back.

As Matt, Joey, and I moved into the room, I could no longer hear the smooth voice. In a last attempt to steal one final moment from him, I glanced back. His lips moved as he continued to speak to the door security, but he trained his eyes on me, causing my heartbeat to push boiling blood through my veins.

"Well, he was a pleasure." Matt ripped me from the moment with his words.

"I think we met our first ghost." Joey let his fingers dance on my shoulders as we moved deeper into the crowd.

It was easy to tell that a club wasn't the original intention of the space. It appeared to be a gutted library. Instead of rows of books, a few small round tables and stools along the walls, and a stage crowded with instruments, amps, and stools. Sitting right in front of the stage was one sad-looking couch. Jackson sat on a stool center stage. Even with everyone in the room, hearing his acoustic guitar and low voice was easy. He smiled when he saw me and nodded to the couch before him. Two guys were already sitting on it, and as Joey, Matt, and I moved closer, we realized only two of us would fit.

"You guys sit; I want to take a look around." A pretty blond already distracted Matt.

I settled in next to a muscular blond man with piercing blue eyes.

"If your other friend would like to sit as well, I have a spot available for you on my lap." The guy's forwardness seemed funny coming from his mischievous face, and I struggled not to laugh.

"We're good. Thanks." I brushed him off.

"Suit yourself. Open invitation. If you change your mind, I'm happy to be of service." He shrugged and sat deeper into the couch.

Joey settled next to me and protectively put an arm around my shoulders.

The blond bowed his head to my ear again and murmured, "I don't think your boyfriend likes me."

"He's not my boyfriend," I whispered back.

He smiled to himself as he nodded. "I have to ask; does he know he's not your boyfriend?"

I decided not to engage further and instead directed my attention to Jackson. He continued his set and impressed me with his ability, but my mind kept wandering back to the captivating boy that led me through the house. Was that one of the elusive Rigby brothers?

Finally, with a low "thank you," Jackson finished and hopped off the stage to stand before me.

"You made it." He smiled as he leaned in to kiss me on the cheek as though we were old friends. "Joey, good to see you again," he added, extending a hand to him.

Joey silently stood and shook his hand.

"So, have you met Jess and Michael?" Jackson ignored the chill from Joey. He motioned to the blond and an awkward boy that was with him.

"Not formally," the blond said as he stood. "Hello, I'm Jess Rigby." He let a broad, playful smile spread across his face, acknowledging the lore of his name preceding him. "This is Michael Preston."

"Good evening," Michael said with a shy nod.

"This is my friend Joey and, somewhere around here, is my friend Matt." I glanced around the crowd but didn't see Matt's gangly presence.

Jackson, Jess, and Michael absently nodded and obviously cared about Matt and Joey as much as the boy who led us through the house. Although, they weren't quite as blunt about it.

"So," Jess continued. "Shall we retire to the living room for a while?"

Michael and Jackson quickly agreed. Jackson grabbed his guitar from the stage and returned to my side. His hand landed on the small of my back as he neared.

"You'll join us, right?" He dropped his face closer than he needed to whisper into my ear.

"Sure, I just need to find Matt." I continued to scan the room.

"You can find him later; it'll be easier when the crowd has thinned a bit." Annoyance saturated his words. It was apparent that my lack of focus on his greatness was wearing on him.

"We can find him and go together, or I can find him and leave." I let my tone match his level of frustration.

"Problem?" Jess said as my pitch caught his ear.

"Riley would like to find her friend before we head out," Jackson answered for me, flaring further annoyance.

"Fair enough." Every word from Jess' mouth came out confidently. "I can solve that problem with a little magic." He wiggled a few jazz fingers through the air for effect. "What's Matt's last name?"

"Mackenzie," I answered, curious to see Jess' magic.

"Mackenzie," he repeated back to me. "Right then, everyone, focus on the name Matt Mackenzie, and he will appear. A mind is a powerful tool," he said, theatrically tapping his temple with one finger.

I watched as he slipped away from the group and hopped onstage.

"Matt Mackenzie, your beautiful friend is waiting to leave. Matt Mackenzie, return to your lovely party before I get bored." He spoke into the stage mic as he smiled impishly at me. His voice echoed through the speakers, and several people laughed at the ridiculousness of the announcement.

"Some magic trick," I muttered as Jess returned to the group.

"For my next trick," he said as he brought his hands to his head as though he were focusing painfully hard. "Mr. Matt Mackenzie is a tall, lanky kid with brown hair and green eyes," Jess spoke in a distant, mystical voice.

"He's standing right behind me, isn't he?" I said to Michael.

Michael stifled a laugh. "Yes, I believe he is."

"It's magic," Jess said as he clapped my shoulders. "Do not try to unravel the mysteries of the unknown. Now," he continued, "are we ready?"

I caught Matt's and Joey's gazes, and they both shrugged.

"Sure," I offered, adding my own shrug.

I followed Jackson and Jess to the door we had entered. Jess nodded to Chris, who unlocked it and held it open for the rest of us to exit. I walked close beside Michael, offering him a smile. His shy demeanor was soothing compared to that of Jess and Jackson. It was undoubtedly far less abrasive than the unnamed boy that answered the door.

"He's harmless," Michael mumbled with a nod to Jess as we climbed the stairs. "He talks a big game, but if the place went up in flames, he'd be the one running back in to save the screaming child."

I silently smiled back at Michael. He was older than I had first thought, probably early twenties. He had a calming presence, and his hazel eyes were warm and friendly. In many ways, he reminded me of Matt.

"So, is this your first time at Rigby?" Michael quietly continued.

"Yeah, I had never even heard of it," I admitted.

He nodded in silence. Something about him seemed so recognizable.

"Have we met before? You seem familiar."

"I've been into the store you work at a few times," he acknowledged.

"Oh, that would make sense." I spun through some of the familiar faces from work, but didn't place any of the ones I had seen at Rigby.

Just as we were about to descend the second staircase, Jess stopped at a door and loudly banged. "Jacob!" He yelled before pounding on the door again.

After a few minutes, the captivating boy yanked open the door. "What the hell do you want, Jess?" As he buttoned his pants, the words darted from his lips in a growl of displeasure.

I stared at his shirtless chest in awe. His pale skin continued down his neck, but along one side of his chest and torso were a series of scars; a few even leaped from his chest to his right arm. He glistened with sweat, and I blushed as I realized what Jess had interrupted.

"Sorry, little brother, I didn't realize you were entertaining." Jess laughed.

Jacob's eyes slipped to me for a moment; then, without a word, he slammed the door in Jess' face.

"He's so touchy," Jess said as he continued to the staircase.

"Maybe that is because you pound on his door every night, and every night he stays in his room," Michael offered quietly.

"I like to include everyone." Jess shrugged. "So, any of you play video games?" He casually shot over his shoulder.

"Yeah, Joey and I do. Riley has absolutely no skills." Matt said as he playfully poked me in the ribs.

"Oh, I strongly doubt that," Jess murmured luridly.

I blushed and tried to divert the comment back to Matt. "I have no desire to have any video game skills," I corrected.

"Excellent, grab a controller if you're in," Jess said as we turned into the living room that was connected to the dining area and kitchen that I had completely ignored my first time through.

The living room was comfortable with a couch, a love seat, and an oversized chair, all in white leather. A large square coffee table in the center was crowded with empty beer bottles, guitar picks, and video game controllers. Behind the couch, the room morphed into a small dining area. The carpeting stopped and merged into cheesy linoleum. A small round table with four chairs pitifully sat in the space. The room then transitioned again into the kitchen with a large island in the center. Dirty dishes, more beer bottles, and empty cereal boxes cluttered the island. I couldn't help but second guess the rumor that the Rigby brothers were wealthy. The room felt utterly middle-class, as if it was a replica of a 1980s sitcom set.

"Can I get you anything?" Jess said in a low voice beside me.

"Do you have a Coke?" I asked.

"Dry or wet?" He questioned without hesitation.

The bluntness of the question made me laugh awkwardly. "Wet, please."

"Just how I like my women," he said to himself as I followed him to the kitchen.

"Ew," instinctively fell from my lips, causing his shoulders to rise and fall with a silent laugh.

From the living room, I saw Jackson and Joey talking in low voices. To hear their conversation, I had to strain.

"So, what's the deal with Riley?" Jackson murmured.

"Deal?" Joey absently returned.

"Yeah, is she single?"

"You'll have to ask her yourself."

"You do realize that guy, Joey, is in love with you, right?" Jess teased.

"No, he's not. We're just friends. Matt's the one I used to date."

"Really?" Jess scanned my face. "Maybe I'm wrong." He shrugged.

I let my mind wander to my relationships with Matt and Joey. If only Jess' revelation that Joey was in love with me had been the most memorable part of the night.