The girl I did not know the name of. What would her name be? It would fit her just right; something sharp, to the point, but mysterious as well.

I had to talk to her, one on one. I had to find out what she was all about, what her favorite things were, what she liked to do for fun. How she met someone like Mutt.

If my running theory about Mutt being bullied was right she might have met him in a similar way to how she met me. A defender, someone who stood up for others. I didn't think those kinds of people existed.

It was as if I had been shot. Sudden, violent, impossible to ignore. I almost felt sick thinking about seeing her again. But I had to. By the end of my last class I was practically running out of the school. More students sent their probing gazes my way as they made their way home in the opposite direction, but they were more of an afterthought. I was feeling lighter than air.

Along the way I used my cell phone's camera to practice my faces. Happy, interested, apologetic, encouraging. I had to cover all of my bases in case my conversations with the girl transitioned to interesting territory.

I was in the middle of a pretty good eager face when a new, unfamiliar, face joined mine in the camera. It was large, good looking, and dark skinned and smiled when I noticed it.

"Hey beautiful."

I lurched away from him, almost dropping my phone in the process. He laughed at my antics but stopped after getting a good look at me.

"Wait..."

I grimaced.

"You're a guy?!"

He was big, and not only in the face. I could see, even through his sport jersey and baggy sweat pants, that he was built. Bigger than a highschooler should be built. He wore a baseball cap with the bill angled towards the left side of his head, another cool fashion of the time, and had piercings in both his ears.

If it wasn't for the school jersey I would have assumed he was an adult. Still, I was about to tell him off, just a little, but was cut short by another one of his loud laughs. "Man, you should consider a haircut and a change of clothes. That face leaves way too much to the imagination!"

I opened my mouth but all that came out was empty air. My stomach felt tight. Did all of the kids think that way? Or did I just happen to run into the few assholes? As I thought this the guy stopped his laughing and, still smiling, said: "Sorry man, I'm just giving you a hard time. You're the new kid right?"

He stuck out a large hand to me, much in the same manner Mutt had, and waited for me to hesitantly grasp it before continuing. "Pleased to meet you new kid. You're joining Tea Drinkers right?"

We released hands as I took a moment to take in the new announcement. First a beautiful woman and now a sports guy? Was Mutt on some top level of social ascension I hadn't even heard of? How did he get people like them to join his club?

I nodded to his question before he could come up with a joke about me being too quiet. "Looks like it," I said, taking a moment to clear my throat. My voice had become weak after not talking nearly all day.

"Great!" he said, smiling wide and revealing large, white teeth. "Be sure to call me Stallion then."

I guessed it was a nickname of his from his sport. He must have felt comfortable enough with me to let me use that name. I returned his genuine smile as we resumed walking towards the back of school, Stallion making sure to keep pace with me.

We didn't speak any further as we waited outside. It was nice, more so because it gave me time to think about what I would say to the girl with no name.

She couldn't be the type to go for someone who was too eager or excitable. Her disdain for Mutt's attitude was evidence enough. And while in the middle of being the victim of bullying wasn't how I would have chosen us to first meet, it was somewhat fortunate our encounter threw me off so much.

I was almost a blank slate. If I did and said the right things I could, for all intents and purposes, be a pretty alright guy in her eyes - which would be a good start.

I stood there in pretty deep thought for awhile, glancing at Stallion occasionally. He kept his eyes closed for the most part, his head tilted back so his face could catch the sun. The studs in his ears reflected the light every now and then.

The fog was still gone. It was nothing more than a bad memory for most people.

The forest was in plain sight, however. I knew the stories were just dumb rumors, I knew it was just a bunch of trees. Still, I chose not to stare into the darkened wood for too long in case I saw the smiling dog again, or the bodies of those missing students.

"Yo! You guys got here early!"

I nearly jumped out of my skin when Mutt called out to us. Not even a full day at school had dialed down his enthusiasm. I turned with Stallion to see him running in our direction, waving a hand as the flaps on his hat bounced against his head.

"Yo, yourself," Stallion greeted, hi-fiving Mutt once he reached us. "I snuck out of practice early so I could meet the new kid." He nudged me playfully as he said it.

"Yeah, how about that..." was all I could manage to murmur. Seriously, what was I supposed to say to that?

"You sure that's okay?" Mutt asked. His smile diminished as his eyebrows wrinkled and his eyes grew watery.

I had to look away from his face. He was an open book, it almost made me worry.

"It's cool, they can deal," Stallion said with a shrug, but looking away as well. "So, where are Kat and Mr. Mallard?"

"They told me that we can wait here. Mr. Mallard said he'd pick us up." Mutt looked to me, his face relaxed and smile back in full force. "So, did Stallion give away anything about the stuff we do?"

"I thought you had already told him," Stallion said. Mutt's smile widened as he giggled and bounced on the heels of his feet.

"No, no, no. This is good. I want it to be a surprise!"

Stallion shook his head and gave me a helpless grin. I glanced nervously between the two, a question bubbling up my throat.

A surprise? What did he mean by that?

I was but moments away from asking when she rolled up in a car beside us.

It was an old and white car. The girl with no name, which I now knew was Kat, sat in the driver's seat, window rolled down, with one of her arms hanging out all casual like and the radio blaring some hip jazz number.

It was by far the coolest thing I had ever seen. I was falling in love all over again.

"Aw, no fair. Mr. Mallard let you drive?!" Mutt exclaimed, running up to the car and ruining the perfect picture. "Why do you get to drive?"

"Cause I'm mature," Kat said. She looked past him so she could smile a greeting at Stallion and then frown one at me. "So you came after all."

While the frown wasn't exactly encouraging, I felt a little spark at the note of surprise in her voice. I was about to follow up with something very cool and impressive to say back to her when a new voice cut in: "Is that the new child?"

I looked to the passenger seat and saw a small, plump, elderly man. He was dressed in a colorful sweater vest and was staring at me, straight in the face, through thick-rimmed glasses. A flush of heat ran through me as he continued his unbroken examination of me.

Everyone else had fallen silent. I wanted to see what they were all doing but I couldn't tear myself from his eyes. They were so much like Kat's in their brightness.

Finally, a smile broke out and he leaned across Kat slightly and said: "Well tell me, young lady, what is your name?"

Despite the new tightness in my chest, I felt almost compelled to go along with him as I looked into his bright blue eyes and grinning, waiting face. While his voice sounded old and his hair was snow white and thinning, he looked much younger with those eyes and that smile.

Thankfully Mutt cut in, after he and Stallion finished laughing, telling Mr. Mallard my name and saying how excited I was to join them this evening.

"A pleasure to meet you," the little old man said after Mutt finished his tangent, shifting his focus to me. "I am Mr. Mallard, the, ah, sponsor for this little club."

"I-It's nice to meet you," I stuttered. Stuttered? What was wrong with me today? I never stuttered!

Mr. Mallard nodded once before continuing. "As I am told, you are already well acquainted with the other members of our little gathering so, if you'll forgive the shortened introduction, we will be making haste to our personal...'stomping grounds' before it gets dark."

"So, the meeting isn't at school?" I ventured, finding my voice at last.

"I'm afraid the school grounds lacks the certain...'environment' we Tea Drinkers require," he answered, letting his words hang a bit in the air before chuckling. "I hope you'll forgive me as well, I like to have fun with the new initiates. If you don't mind humoring this old man I'd like to keep what we do a secret until we arrive."

"Er...sure..."

It was hard to keep up with what he was even saying. Through the big words and the 'clean and proper' way he spoke I was able to gather that we would be getting in a car and going somewhere 'more appropriate' for their club activities. And that those club activities would be a mystery to me until we were there.

"Splendid," Mr. Mallard said, sitting back into his seat. "Let us be off then."

I stole a glance at Kat. She sat pretty rigid in her seat, both her pale hands gripping the steering wheel. Though I was pretty wrapped up in Mr. Mallard's words I was almost positive she didn't look my way once.

Mr. Mallard's car was only meant to sit four people, so Mutt and I found ourselves pretty firmly pressed against the doors since Stallion needed the most leg room. The abnormally large teen apologized but I waved him off.

What bothered me was having to sit right behind Kat - the worst possible seat to be in with the blasting music and the Mutt's constant talking. Still, I licked my lips and leaned over to try and say something to her anyways.

I stopped when I saw how focused she was on the road - how separated she was from the conversations going on in the car. I thought back to her fierce eyes glaring at me and sat back with a sigh. Next time.

I sat there in silence listening to the radio or to what Mutt was saying, whichever was the loudest at the time. I looked out the window most of the car ride. Mutt would sometimes hang his head out of his open window and comment on all of the 'cool' shops and people he would see as we drove past.

The jazz was pretty soothing, despite how loud Kat liked to have it. There was also the smell of something, similar to herbs, which lingered in the car even though Mutt had his window rolled down.

I pressed my forehead against the cold glass as the music and the voices turned to static.

...

I didn't come back to reality until I noticed two things. One being the return of the fog, obscuring my view from the window. It took me longer to realize the other. The music was off, Mutt wasn't talking, and there was a stillness in the air.

Absolute silence.

I looked around to the others. Mutt still had his head out but he was frozen in place, almost as if he was searching through the fog. Stallion had stiffened up and his hands were curled into fists against his knees. Kat had slowed the car to a crawl.

"No need to fret. Nothing shall happen as long as we remain at this speed," Mr. Mallard assured us as he continued to face the front. "Just remain calm, all of you."

He said the words so quietly I almost didn't hear him. I peered back out the window and a chill took hold of my body.

It was the dog. The German Shepherd was sitting on the side of the street, less than a few feet from me, staring at me.

I covered my mouth and stifled a scream.

Don't scream.

The car continued its crawl and the dog turned its head to keep its eyes on me - a mirror of what it had done weeks ago. Then, before it disappeared into the fog, it smiled at me one more time.

The slow pace extended our trip but eventually the fog faded away and we were back to our previous pace.

Should I tell them what I saw?

No, don't acknowledge it. Don't say it aloud.

Don't say the words: a dog is stalking me.

They had to think I was normal. Kat had to think I was normal. I had to keep pretending it wasn't real.

So I said nothing. Once the fog vanished everyone loosened up, Kat turned up her music and Mutt went back to commenting on our surroundings. I tucked my shaking hands into my jacket pockets and stared down at the floor of the car.

I didn't look up again until the car came to a stop.

We were parked beside a large iron gateway. Mutt let out a cry of excitement as he bolted out of his side of the car, Stallion following out after him with a laugh. Kat turned off the ignition and stepped out. Mr. Mallard smiled and gave me a wink before heading out himself, I shuddered before following suit.

The dark gate led to a graveyard; a massive one, with hills, sidewalks, benches, and large oak trees. It was more of a park, save for all the dead bodies buried in the ground.

"Stallion, would you please carry the china," Mr. Mallard said.

He walked towards the back of the car with the support of a cane, his steps slow and hobbled. Kat was already in the middle of unlocking the trunk.

"Be sure to be careful though, I have them on loan and I promised I wouldn't return them in any more pieces than what they gave me."

"Course Mr. Mallard, you can count on me," Stallion said with a serious expression and a nod.

As Kat unlocked the trunk and pulled out a dark red back pack Mutt began to bounce from one foot to the other, looking from the trunk to Mr. Mallard.

"You can carry the paper and charcoal, Mutt."

Mutt fist pumped the air and began digging in the trunk as soon as Stallion removed a large Tupperware container which contained things wrapped in newspaper.

After Mutt emerged from the trunk with a sizable stack of paper tied together by string and a pencil case the group made their way towards the cemetery entrance. I hung back a bit from them as I followed.

I glanced behind us. No fog and no dog.

Kat was leading the group with Mr. Mallard and they were having some sort of deep conversation. Still no progress there. Stallion was focused on walking slowly and keeping his burden still. When I looked to Mutt I held in my breath when our eyes met. He was looking back at me.

"Pretty confused so far?" he asked.

About more than one thing, I thought. But, even if it wasn't Kat I was talking to, it was time to start showing them I wasn't some shy nobody.

"Certainly not," I replied with a casual wave of the hand. "Graveyards, china sets, paper and charcoal? Seems standard fare to me."

"I thought it was kinda weird at first too, but its way fun! Trust me!" he said, slowing his pace to match mine, "So what do you think of Kat and Stallion? Pretty cool guys huh?"

"Yeah, way cool," I said.

I spotted Kat, still deep in conversation with Mr. Mallard. When Mutt gasped I mentally slapped myself for my carelessness.

"Mr. Mallard is way cool too," Mutt went on, misjudging my staring, "He didn't really think you were a girl, he just wanted to tease you, is all."

"It's alright," I said with another casual shrug, "It didn't bother me that much."

"Awesome," Mutt said with a laugh, "Super awesome, nothing bothers you too much right? Like, you're cool as ice, right?"

A strange thing to say. But I still had to resist high-fiving myself and ruining the image I was building up. It could be that Mutt was just easy to fool, but it was working. I was showing them what I wanted them to see.

I had to think a bit about what to say next though. It really was a strange thing for him to say out of the blue.

"Sure, I guess."

It seemed to be enough. Mutt's grin widened. "Perfect!"

"So what's all this for?" I asked, indicating the papers he was carrying, eager to change the subject.

Mutt winked at me. I felt the chill return and had to look away from him.

"You'll see," he said.

I kept my eyes closed until the goosebumps passed. What was with all the winking today?

...

*Author's Note*

Oh wow, you made it to Chapter Two? And read all the way to here? That's amazing! Really, thank you so much! If you made it this far why dont'cha go ahead and click that there vote button or leave a comment on what you thought so far.

So what do you guys think is up with these Tea Drinkers? They sure are friendly. Well, most of them anyways.

Dedicating this chapter to Frenzied_Flames and her awesome book club that I am proud to be a part of!