Part 1: Chapter 4

I slumped against the gym wall, waiting for Daniel to show up for our ghost tour. After a few minutes, a pink wannabe Barbie doll strutted over to me. Just what I needed.

"Stay away from Daniel or you'll regret it," Nancy warned, eyes flashing, fists clenched at her sides.

"Don't you have a boyfriend? Wonder what he'd think about your little crush on his friend," I shot back.

"You wouldn't dare," she shrieked, knuckles whitening.

"Try me. Keep threatening me and find out. I don't do well with threats," I said, staring her down despite my height disadvantage.

"You don't deserve him," Nancy muttered, her fists loosening slightly.

"Neither do you. You're not even his type," I fired back. Her face flushed red and those fists balled up again.

"How would you know what his type is?" she hissed, stepping forward. Daniel appeared behind her, silent and watching.

"Because he told me you weren't it," I replied. Daniel's presence made me feel safe—maybe even bold.

"Liar," she spat. "He loves me. He just fears Bobby."

"Seems like you do too. But hey, don't take my word for it—why not ask Daniel yourself? He's right behind you." I smiled as Nancy whirled around to find Daniel towering over her, easily six-two.

"Daniel!" Her voice transformed into honey.

"You wanted to ask me something?" Daniel asked, blue-gray eyes crinkling.

"Yes, when does your party start?" Nancy recovered.

"It's in the invitation I handed out," Daniel replied flatly.

"I was hoping to come early," she pressed, eyes glowing as she gazed up at him. My stomach churned.

"Aren't you coming with Bobby?" Daniel asked.

"Probably, but I could always come earlier," she purred, leaning toward him with a seductive smile.

"Slut," I fake-coughed. Nancy shot me a death glare while I smiled innocently. She spun back around when Daniel spoke.

"Nah, you should stick with Bobby," Daniel suggested.

"Fine, I need to go anyway. Walk me out?" she asked. God, she irritated me. I wanted this tour over with. I needed to check out this school and get home before Bert—and away from Daniel with those stupidly perfect blue-gray eyes that I somehow kept getting lost in. I shook my head to clear it.

"What are you, a dog that needs someone to take you outside?" I asked impulsively. Nancy whipped around, fury blazing in her eyes. Daniel laid a hand on her shoulder, and she froze.

"Catherine," Daniel warned, his eyes hardening to steel.

Fine, take the bitch out, I wanted to say, but instead: "Fine, walk her out, but when you come back, I won't be here. I'll be somewhere around the school."

"Catherine, please just wait," Daniel said, catching my gaze. I looked away.

"I want to get home before Bert. So I'm starting my search now," I said, already backing away.

"Catherine, you don't know how dangerous this school can be," Daniel said. I paused at his words. His fingers brushed my elbow, sending an unexpected shiver up my arm.

"I don't need your protection. I can handle myself," I replied stubbornly, refusing to meet his eyes.

Nancy cut in, "Just let her go, Daniel. Let her see our school alone. She'll learn soon enough." I could hear the smirk in her voice but kept my eyes down, feeling Daniel's stare burning into me.

Daniel sighed. "I guess I can't change your mind, can I?"

"Nope," I said, taking a deep breath before turning to face him defiantly.

"Alright Nancy, I'll walk you outside," Daniel offered. Her eyes lit up. "Tomorrow." The light vanished instantly.

"Fine!" she practically shouted, glaring at me before stomping out of the school.

Daniel looked at me, amusement playing across his face.

"What?" I asked innocently.

"You acted jealous," he said, smiling.

"I am not jealous," I snapped, glaring at him.

"Are you sure?" His smirk made me want to smack him.

"Yes. Now come on, let's check out the auditorium," I said, walking away. Hmm, was I jealous? No way. I just met the guy.

"Why do you agitate her so much?" Daniel asked, falling into step beside me.

"Because she started it," I replied, feeling childish even as I said it.

"So you had to finish it?"

"Exactly. She threatened me. I don't take that lying down."

"Hmm," he said thoughtfully before changing the subject. "Why the auditorium?"

"I want to check something out."

"Like what?" he asked, glancing over.

"Not sure exactly. I'll know when I see it," I said, giving him a sideways look. He seemed deep in thought.

"Do you fear Bert?" Daniel asked suddenly. I stopped dead while he kept walking. The question came so out of nowhere I thought I'd misheard.

"What?" He stopped and turned to face me.

"Do you fear Bert?" he repeated, his eyes capturing mine.

"No. Why would you think that?"

"Why do you want to get home so quickly?" We were just trading questions now.

"Because I kind of made him... wait, it's none of your business," I said boldly.

"Sorry, I was just curious," Daniel apologized, breaking eye contact.

"It's fine." I shrugged. "Doesn't matter anyway. I just made him mad this morning, and I don't want another argument. I just want to lock myself in my room, write, and listen to music."

"You're a writer?" Daniel asked, his interest seeming genuine.

"Hope to be," I answered with a smug smile.

"Cool. You'll have to let me read your stuff sometime," he said as we started walking again.

"You can read it when it's published and you buy it," I declared.

"What, no free copies?" He grinned, which made me smile despite myself.

"No," I fought to keep a straight face. "I'm going to have to make a living somehow."

"Fine, but I'll be first in line at your book signings," Daniel promised. Something about the way he said it made me blush. I needed to change topics. Fast.

"Daniel?" I asked, trying to recover my composure until he glanced over, still beaming.

"Yes?"

I hesitated before asking, "If the school is so dangerous, why doesn't the board just shut it down or build a new one? Or at least set up some actual restrictions?"

"Few reasons," Daniel replied. "They don't want to believe in ghosts, rebuilding would cost too much, and the ghosts haven't actually hurt anyone... yet."

"Then why wouldn't you let me explore alone?" I asked. "If it's that bad, why aren't teachers stopping us from wandering around?"

"Partly because I wanted your company," he admitted. "But also, after their performance today, the ghosts might try something new. And it's not just the ghosts that make this place haunted—it's the school itself."

"What do you mean?" I asked slowly, watching him.

"Hard to explain. Rooms and hallways seem to... move. You might see for yourself later," Daniel said, stopping in front of the auditorium doors. He opened them, and everything went black.