"You know Tara Jones is gonna be there." Harry spoke in the locker room, speaking about his party.

"Mate, she is fit!" a boy from his other side gushed, Romeo hid a laugh with his back turned their way.

"Nick is gonna have his pick of two girls." Harry gave a giggle, making Romeo look back at a sulking Charlie.

"Who's the other girl?" the boy asked him.

"Imogen, obviously. Everyone knows she fancies him." Harry's words had Romeo spinning around to face him, immediately scolding himself for doing so. "All right, Mate?"

"Huh?" Romeo blinked. "Wh- yeah! Duh."

"So cool of your Dad to rent out the place." Harry went on, now on the topic of Romeo. He cringed when he slung his arm around his shoulder. "If you need the extra money, I can always spot you."

The words made a few of the guys laugh, Romeo forced a laugh as he pushed Harry's arm off. "Believe me, we're doing just fine."

"What?" Nick got into the conversation when he realized that it went from talking about him to talking about Romeo, determined to save him from it.

"Just talking about Tara Jones. Thought you might be interested, mate." Harry grinned up at him from how he now sat on the bench.

"Didn't you have some childhood romance with her?" another boy stood up, clearly eavesdropping.

"We don't have a thing." Nick tried to shut the laughter down. "We just kissed at a party one time."

"Yeah, that was like, three years ago." the boy went on, Romeo frowned his eyebrows as he laced his shoes up. "Nicks got a thing with Imogen now."

Everyone started to oooh and ahh once again as Nick looked up. "No, no, I don't."

"He has two proper fit girls trying to get with him, and he's not even bothered." the boy next to Romeo pointed out the obvious.

"Maybe Nick doesn't want to talk about his love life with the rest of you?" Romeo suggested as a few of the others laughed at his 'joke'. Nick was thankful for him, but Harry didn't seem to catch on.

"If you're not into Imogen then Saturday nights your chance with Tara." the boy grinned over at him. "That's all i'm saying."

More hollers went through the room as Nick sighed. "Yeah. Maybe."

"You're really not into Imogen then?" Romeo dropped his voice to a whisper as he moved in next to Nick. "She's wild for you, you know."

"She's great." Nick nodded. "It's just...not like that."

"Don't worry." Romeo gave a nod. "Just, let her down easy. She's a sweet one. Don't want to see her hurt."

Nick nodded. "Totally."

"Charlie." Romeo made his way through the crowd of people, grinning at him. "You're at a party!"

"Yeah." Charlie almost laughed. "Nick invited me."

"Where's the lucky lad then?" Romeo looked around, holding his mango and apple J20 in his right hand.

"I was just headed for the bathroom." Charlie forced a smile, one Romeo saw straight through, even under the multi colour lights. "I'll meet up with you after."

"Charlie." Romeo spoke, watching him go up the stairs. He sighed, looking around to try and find Nick to encourage him to go after his friend. It didn't take long to find the Nelson boy, standing very awkwardly as Imogen attempted a dance infront of him. Romeo headed in their direction, moving through the dancing groups and trying to fit in.

"I really like you." Imogens words made him pause, keeping his distanced. "You don't have to say anything right now. I just wanted you to know."

Nick cleared his throat. "Okay. I'm gonna go...find my friend."

Romeo jumped in quickly, latching onto Imogens wrist before she could react. "Wanna dance off?"

"What?" she laughed, Nick far from them now as she focused on the boy infront of him. "Is this year two?"

"Come on, we'll make it interesting." he shrugged back and forward, his hands on her wrist causing her to do the same thing. "Your friends will judge."

"I have to warn you, I always win these." her face lit up, even prettier then usual under the lights of the party.

"First time for everything." he gave her a sudden spin. "You go first, let me see what i'm dealing with here."

Imogen wasn't a great dancer, but Romeo liked it. She waved her hands infront of her face, attempting a scuba diving motion. Romeo nodded his head, crossing his arms. "That all you got?"

Imogen scoffed in disbelief. "Ugh, rude. I don't see you dancing."

"Don't fall in love with me." he held his hands up, spinning around on his heels before falling into a disco motion. Imogen laughed loudly, clapping her hands. "I told you."

"That was terrible." she fell into him slightly, they laughed and stumbled to the side. Imogen bumped into Harry. "Oh, sorry."

"You entered The Kill Zone!" he announced loudly, spilling his drink slightly as he held his arms up. "First two of the night!"

"The Kill Zone?" Romeo gave an odd look, looking down at the mess he knew his Dad, or the very few maids they had, would have to clean up.

"It's a family thing." Harry sat the rest of his drink down. "You enter the Kill Zone, you follow rules or face what follows."

"You're so full of shit." Romeo rolled his eyes.

"I'm serious! My sister nearly died when she didn't follow the rules last time!" Harry held his hands up.

"Died?" Imogen gave a frightened look.

"He's clearly lying. How does a new Kill Zone each year suddenly reveal if you're cursed or not." Romeo rolled his eyes, clearing his throat. "You're a wizard, Harry."

"Hilarious." Harry rolled his eyes at the Hagrid impression. "Fine, walk away and live out your short lives. The curse will catch up with both of you."

Imogen gave Romeo a look as he tried to walk away, groaning when he realized he'd freaked her out now. "Get on with it then."

"Rules are simple." Harry grinned, glad they had stayed. "All the two of you have to do is make it a point to talk to each day. The legend is all about who you fell into the Kill Zone with, suppose to bond you or something. As long as the two of you communicate each day for rest of term, you'll be fine."

"Do you have any clue how ridiculous you sound?" Romeo nodded his head. "I'd genuinely laugh so hard right now if I wasn't so embarrassed for you."

"Im serious, Mate!" Harry called, grabbing his shoulders. "What's the matter? You don't wanna talk to Imogen after tonight? It's one of those thing?"

A few boys around them laughed, Imogen looked over. Romeos eyes widened in panic. "Are you joking? No. No! I'd be happy to talk to Imogen every day. If anything, the Kill Zone Curse is a blessing."

It made her feel good, smiling to herself.

•

kylie speaks

the only good thing harry
greene has ever done was
make a kill zone for imogen
and romeo to fall in love
in.