Chase is dead, school's almost out, and Tyler's ascension approaches. As Tyler's anxiety builds, his nightmares are replaced by soothing dreams featuring the mysterious girl who has captured his attention. When a full-moon murder take the boys on yet another supernatural adventure, Tyler's courage, Reid's loyalties, Pogue's dedication, and Caleb's control are put to the test.

Same Old Song and Dance

It's the same old story…

"We've got three months until you move to Boston to go to Harvard, Mr. Big Shot. This summer had better freakin' rock it."

Reid Garwin threw a couple of pebbles off the roof of the dormitory and lightly kicked his friend Caleb in the leg.

"Are you even listening to me?"

"No," Caleb replied, not looking up from the stack of papers he was filling out. "Sorry, man. I gotta finish this paperwork."

"Yeah, yeah," Reid said, waving a hand in dismissal.

He sighed, looking over the campus that had been his home for the past five years. They had all been scrawny little 8th graders when they first arrived at Spenser. Now they were graduating and getting ready for college? What the hell?

"Where's Tyler?" Samantha McGovern asked.

Sam hadn't joined their little party until March of this year, but she was a full-fledged member of the group now. Aside from helping Caleb break a curse and rejoin his spirit with his body, she had some kick-ass skills in magic. She had been possessed or whatever by that douche bag, Chase, but even then she managed to help them get rid of him. Oh, and she and Pogue Parry had been going so steady it seemed like they had known each other for freakin' ever.

Reid turned to the girl and shrugged. "I dunno," he said. "Taking a nap maybe? He hasn't been sleeping much at night."

"He's still having nightmares?" Caleb asked, sitting up.

The blonde nodded, tucking his hands in his pockets.

Tyler was the last to ascend. The others had hit the big 18 and gotten their power influx, but even Reid had been keeping it kind of to himself. He had used freely when they were tweeners—ages 13 to 18—but the truth was, his new power terrified him. Regardless of what they said, deep down they were all scared shitless that they were gonna end up like their dads.

Reid shook himself off that trail of thought and looked at Caleb.

"You know how Tyler is, dude. His dad was the first to...He's just a little freaked, ya know?"

Pogue stepped forward and sat on the ledge next to where Reid was standing. He shook back his shoulder-length hair and squinted against the late-afternoon sun as he looked at Reid.

"How do you think he'll handle it?" Pogue asked. He saw Reid's brow furrow with concern before he shrugged.

"He'll be alright," Reid said, bending to tear a piece of paper out of his notebook and pop it into his mouth.

"Dude," Pogue said, but it was too late.

Reid had leaned over the side of the building and let the spitball fly, grinning like an idiot as it dotted the top of Martin Schultz's brand new black Charger.

"I'mona kick your ass, Garwin," Schultz called.

"Hey, you wish, man!"

Pogue looked at Caleb and they both shook their heads, knowing that it was no use trying to talk to Reid about anything that made him uncomfortable. He was worried for Tyler and they both knew it.

Tyler and Reid were close. As with any high school, kids talked about their friendship and tried to make it trashy, but the truth was that Reid felt responsible for Tyler; he followed Reid in just about everything. Reid needed Tyler in order to stay grounded. The two balanced each other out.

It was a bond that had been formed when they were little kids, and one that neither Pogue nor Caleb understood completely.

"So graduation is next week," Sam said, changing the subject. "What's doing? Anything celebratory?"

"I can think of a few things," Pogue said, tossing her a wolfish grin.

"Psh. Bitch, please," Reid said, giving Pogue's shoulder a good-natured shove. "Like Sam wants to get all cuddly with you when it is hot as balls outside. Summer sucks, man."

"I was thinking we could maybe go to Boston or something for the weekend," Sam said. "We could use some out-of-Ipswich party time."

"Maybe," Caleb said. "It depends on whether or not my mom has something planned."

"That's the thing with the well-off, baby," Reid said, stepping close to Sam. "They have boring parties for everything. I'm sure one of our moms will have something stuffy booked for us."

"Well, hell," Sam muttered, sinking onto the roof next to Caleb. "I need some poor friends. I never get invited to snazzy things."

"Consider this an open invitation to whatever boring crap we have to do," Caleb said with a smile.

"Hey, are you guys going to Nicky's tonight?" Reid asked suddenly.

"It's Friday, isn't it?" Pogue drawled. "What else are we supposed to do?"

Reid nodded and shrugged, then peeped back over the building.

"I'll catch up with you there," he said, walking toward the door that led to the stairs.

"Where're you going?" Pogue asked.

"No offense—not that you guys aren't delightful—but Kalista Rodriguez is wearing that red halter that makes me sweat."

"Dude, you're gonna get shut down," Caleb predicted with a laugh.

"I might get broke down, but this don't get shut down, true?"

Sam threw a pebble at the door as it swung shut. "You're incorrigible!" she called.

Reid stuck his head back through the door and grinned. "It's part of my charm," he said before heading downstairs.

-

Tyler was alone in the dark with nothing but the wind and the rain to keep him company. He knew he was dreaming, but exhaustion forced him to stay asleep.

There was an odor on the wind; something strong and pungent. The smell was blood—the blood of those of the four families that had been lost to the Power.

Tyler spun to look behind him as lightning split the sky. The faces of the others were visible shapes in the thick black fog that rolled toward them. Those who had fallen to the Power were coming for him.

His father led them.

He turned and started to run, but the fog wrapped around his legs and consumed him.

Tyler sat up in bed and ran a shaking hand over his face. His body was slick with sweat, though Reid had the thermostat in the room set to freezing.

With a vicious curse, he threw out his hand and everything on the desk across from him went flying through the air. Burying his hands in his dark hair, he breathed deep. When he had regained control, he swung his legs over the side of his bed and pulled a pair of cargo shorts over his boxers.

He saw the note from Reid tacked to the door.

Going to hook up with K-Rod. Be at Nicky's tonight.

Tyler tossed the note down and ran his fingers through his hair. He had to get out for a while. He would go mad if he didn't.

Taking out his phone, he dialed Pogue's number.

"What's doing Baby Boy?"

"Nothin' much. Where you guys at?" Tyler asked.

"On the roof. Get your lazy butt up. We're making party plans for next weekend," Pogue said.

Tyler clipped his phone shut and grabbed a t-shirt, pulling it over his head as he started down the hall.