"Who is it that can't eat peanut butter?" Kylie O'Deel's mother asked for like the hundredth time that night. It was Friday evening, the third day of winter break, and Mrs. O'Deel sat at the kitchen counter, glasses perched on her nose, calmly preparing what appeared to be grilled cheese.

Kylie felt the Vanilla Coke she was drinking fizz up her nose.

"I ordered pizza for you guys, but I thought as a cute snack I could make grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, like in kindergarten!" Kylie's mom continued, excitedly.

Kylie rolled her eyes. "First of all, Ella is allergic to peanut butter, and second, this is not kindergarten, we're in eighth grade!"

Mrs. O'Deel nodded. "Okay, okay. I think I have some popcorn in the pantry down in the basement for you all. And soda is in the downstairs fridge. And limit Izzy to only two sodas, remember what happened last time?"

Kylie laughed at the memory of Izzy drinking five mountain dews and getting really hyper.

Mrs. O'Deel crossed her arms. "Kylie, I'm serious. I love Izzy to death, but keep her from bouncing off the walls, please."

Kylie stopped laughing and nodded.

Mrs. O'Deel pointed to a stack of old board games with a fine layer of dust atop each case. "I found these in the storage closet. Your father was going to give them away, but I convinced him to let me keep them. I used to play these games when I was little. You girls should play one of these."

Kylie shot her mom an are-you-kidding-me look.

Mrs. O'Deel frowned. "What? You guys would have fun."

"God, Mom, no," Kylie replied.

Mrs. O'Deel shrugged. "Fine, fine. You can go now. I just wanted your opinion."

Kylie hugged her mom. "I love you."

Her mom smiled. "I know. Now go finish setting up downstairs. Your friends are to be here at 7:30, and it's 7:25 already."

Kylie dashed out of the kitchen and swung open the small white door leading to the newly finished basement. The door of the basement was located in the hallway, and it was so camouflaged, you would miss it if you didn't know where to look. Kyle bounded down the grey carpeted steps. She walked over to the white fireplace mantel, which was decorated with pictures of her and her family, and lit the vanilla scented candles that were already laid out.

Kylie then grabbed her lavender-scented free breeze and sprayed it around the room. She arranged seven sleeping bags in between the chocolate lazy-boy duvet couch, and the plasma flat screen tv. She then sprayed lavender sheet spray inside the sleeping bags, too. She set a small nail polish bottle on each sleeping bag.

Next came the downstairs bathroom. She lit scented candles on the counter, and added a fresh roll of toilet paper on the holder. Kylie made sure the soap container was full, and brought in fresh hand towels.

The soft, brown rug carpeting the basement floor had just been vacuumed, and smelled like oranges. Kylie's basement was large and cozy, and had a big window that looked out to the O'Deel's back lawn. The basement smelled of lavender and burnt popcorn. Outside, lightning bugs had already begun to light up the purplish sky.

"Quite, Marbles!" Kylie snapped, even though her pet Pomeranian puppy was only playing with her bone squeaky toy. Kylie pressed Play on her ihome and "Loose My Breath", by Destiny's Child came blasting through her speakers.

Kylie's pajamas included puma short-shorts, a purple off the shoulder top, and slippers. Her auburn hair was thrown in a high ponytail, which dangled down her back.

Suddenly, the front door opened, and the familiar greetings exchanged between Kylie's friends and parents were heard. The girls were directed downstairs, where they all started talking at once.

"We're here, Kylie!" Izzy Kovek yelled, jumping down two steps at a time. She practically tackled Kylie. Kylie laughed.

"Whoa, there, Izzy. How much sugar did you have before you got here?"

Izzy grinned. "Only 143 grams." She was wearing a white "I Heart NY" shirt and black Nike shorts. Her raven hair was piled in a messy bun on top of her head.

Ella Menochi hugged Kylie next. "Omigod! You're here!" Kylie squealed. Ella had been in Italy for two weeks and had gotten really tan.

Ella laughed. "I know! I have so many things to tell you guys about my weird family in Italy." She wore white pajamas that had pictures of peace signs on them. Ella's dark brown hair were in high pigtails.

Julie Valentine ran down the stairs and hugged Kylie. She wore a New York Mets jersey and white pajama shorts, her chestnut colored hair in a long French braid down her back. "I brought candy!" She called. Izzy tackled her in a hug. Everyone laughed.

Zoe LeFanteyn dropped her sleep bag on the ground and hugged everyone. She had on an oversized grey v-neck and short-shorts. Her long blonde hair were in tow swiss-miss braids. "I learned how to play poker the other day, and I think I can finally beat Ella!"

Ella smiled. "Shut up! You don't know my poker strategies."

Everyone cracked up. Zoe and Ella then began shuffling cards.

Avery Hollis came down the stairs, her sister's lap top in her hands. She wore plaid boy shorts and a black shirt, her dirty blonde hair in a Katniss Everdeen side braid.

Sophie Woods came down behind her, her long blonde hair in two low pigtails. "Does Olivia know you stole that?"

Avery smiled evilly. "No, she's at a friends, so tell no one." Everyone cracked up again.

"Heya, blondie!" Kylie called out, hugging Sophie.

Julie smiled. "Yay! We're all in this together!"

"You watched High School Musical last night didn't you?" Avery asked Julie, mock punching her.

They all chattered happily as the claimed their spots on the couch. They all lived in Manhattan, New York, and had the accent to prove it.

"I can't believe we're all here!" Avery said. "This is going to be so fun."

"I know!" Ella added. "We should do something!"

Everyone turned to Kylie. "So... what are we doing first?" Asked Zoe.

Kylie smiled. "One thing first."

Sophie leaned in excitedly. "What?"

Izzy, looked up from the pile of candy in front of her. Even though she loved candy, you could not tell by her thin figure.

"Maybe a movie," Kylie suggested. The others agreed.

"Which movie?" Ella wondered.

Kylie grinned at her six best friends, who caught on and began smiling hysterically. Macy, Kylie's older sister, walked down the stairs, carrying three boxes of pizza in her hands. "Mom said to bring this down to you guys,"

"NEWSIES!" The girls shouted at the same time.

Macy rolled her eyes at her sister and her friends. "You guys are so lame. Kylie, you already watched newsies last week!"

Izzy jumped up and hugged Macy. "I love you Macy!"

Macy was like the all the girls' older sister. Macy pried Izzy off of her and laughed.

"So?" Ella said back to Macy.

"Newsies. Are. Life." Julie furthered.

"But-" Macy tried to retaliate, but it was to late. Avery had already put the DVD in and hit Play.

Macy shrugged and bounded up the stairs. When the movie showed the boys in the Lodging House, they heard Zoe squeal, "I love this movie so much!"

The others silent nodded in agreement.

When the first song started:

"Ah! Mush shirtless is way better than Skittles mixed with M&Ms!" Izzy exclaimed when he came on the screen.

"You're saying Mush is now a candy?" Julie teased.

Izzy glared lightly at her and said, "Yes, yes I am."

"Mush is cute," Kylie commented. "But he's not the hottest."

"Who?"

"Who is gorgeous, has beautiful eyes, and rhymes with hot?" Kylie told her smiling.

"Dot from the Animainiacs?" Ella asked, questioningly.

"Uh, duh!" Kylie said absent-mindedly. "I mean – what? No! Spot!

"Ha!" Ella continued. "Race is obviously the best."

"No! Have ya seen Blink? Hottie!" Julie argued. Soon, they were getting into an argument over which of the guys was the hottest.

"I love Race," Ella told them. "Being Italian, I must really like him."

"Um, no. Spot is better," Kylie commented.

"Please! Spot's two years old! Besides, Mush is adorable." Izzy argued.

"Nuh-uh! Zoe?." She looked to her friend for help but saw her looking indifferent. "Zo?"

"Um-"

"Spot's awesome, right?"

"No! I think Spot is cute and all, but... It's just…I don't like him that much anymore."

"What? Who do you like?"

"David Jacobs, maybe?" Zoe said hesitantly

"No, he's a geek!"

"Zoe just has a thing for guys who can debate anything," Julie teased. Zoe threw a pillow at her.

"Skittery," Sophie said in a dreamy voice. The others looked to her.

"Skittery mode," Kylie saw. "Snap out of it, kid."

When he left the screen, she looked shocked. "No! Skittery! No!"

"He's her new addiction," Ella chuckled.

"He's so innocently negative." Sophie argued

"And so is David!" Avery pointed out.

"Yeah, David's a nerd." Zoe glared at her Sophie.

"What?"

"Don't fight The David."

"Sorry."

"Shut up! It's Brooklyn come to save the day," Avery let them know.

Kylie sat up. "I LOVE Brooklyn!" All the girls stared at her. "...and all the other burrows." She said.

"Slingshots are in." Izzy told them. "I read it in Seventeen!"

"I would be too scared to audition for the Brooklyn newsies." Zoe said.

"I'm pretty sure you don't audition to be a Brooklyn newsie." Izzy answered sarcastically."You just show up and impress Spot.

"Skittery is not cool enough!" Kylie said, shocked.

"What? Yeah he is!" Sophie replied.

"You want to marry Skittery!" Kylie argued. "You're crazy."

"You're a kinda insane for that, Soph..." Ella said.

"Hey!" Sophie yelled, eating a slice of pizza.

"I bet Kylie wins this argument! Who's betting?" Ella yelled, channeling her inner Race.

"Yes!" Kylie yelled.

"Oh, look, how smart. Jack still at the boxing ring." Julie said, pointing to the screen.

"There goes Snyder..." Zoe added.

"NO! JACK! RUN!" Avery shouted, as Jack and David and Les made a run for it.

"I trusted Jack to keep my David and Les safe!" Zoe yelled to Avery, jokingly.

"Good one, Brooklyn. They just got fined. Maybe they should've dubbed Spot as the Walking Mouth." Ella said sarcastically during the court scene. She and Izzy fist bumped.

"Kylie would so say that," Julie laughed.

"Hey!"

"Does Skittery physiological problems? He's so negative." Asked Zoe.

"I think so..." Added Avery.

"Shut up, both of ya!" Sophie yelled, covering her ears.

"Racetrack is so cute. Is his accent real?" Asked Ella.

"Probably. He's the only one that sings the best in that accent anyway..." Izzy grabbed another slice of pizza.

"Slingshots are hardly intimidating!" Julie joked.

"Why is Spot so intimidating?" Zoe asked, painting her nails.

"Because he's gorgeous and has a cane." Kylie answered. "And I have a thing for guys with ocean blue eyes."

"And dog names." Avery stated, grabbing a handful of popcorn.

"You apparently have a thing for guys with preoccupations to go to New Mexico." Kylie smiled back.

"No..."

"We need more Spot time! Jack, beat it!" Kylie yelled at the screen.

"She doesn't mean it Jack, she doesn't mean it!" Yelled Avery, apologetically.

"Spot's important. Racetrack is not in this movie enough!" Ella complained.

"Spot's in no way important - he's a moron with good lines." Izzy added. "Mush is important."

"Mush's only good line was 'Jacky just got laid' in the background." Kylie pointed out.

"Jack was the one who got taken to the refuge before anyone else." Julie pointed out.

"Oooh. Spot didn't help Jack then! What a diss to his community!" Avery teased.

"Ok, first of all, Spot probably was in the refuge some time in his life. Two, Jack doesn't have his own community. And three, how would Jack take that as a diss?" Kylie protested, opening a new soda.

"So?"

"Racetrack was probably in the refuge." Ella said.

"True." Sophie added.

"Spot isn't part of the Racetrack and Jack friendship club. Fact!" Avery and Ella high-fived.

"I really think they cast Jack before this movie was a musical." Zoe said.

"Cover your ears, Jacky-boy!" Avery yelled to the screen.

"Do the newsies think last names are, like, not in style or something?" Sophie asked.

"Spot's cool with last names..." Kylie yelled through mouthfuls of pizza.

"So is Jack..." Avery said.

"The name Francis Sullivan does not actually sound like a leader of men." Kylie answered.

"Neither does a kid with the name 'Spot.'" Avery said, laughing.

"Spot doesn't count." Kylie readjusted her ponytail.

"Really? But Jack does?" Ella complained.

"Jack dominates all! You don't even know who Spot or Racetrack are until halfway through." Avery crossed her arms.

"Spot wanted it that way." Kylie said smiling.

"So did Racetrack." Ella and Kylie fist-pounded.

"Haha, Spot's 'thrown' is made up of crates? That's adorable." Julie asked.

"Yeah, he has to hop two feet down to get off." Sophie said.

"Lovey dovey baby? What the hell is this supposed to be some kind of sexy baby talk lullaby?" Izzy commented.

"It won Les over, he fainted..." Zoe said, looking confused.

"Spot is not a womanizer!" Kylie yelled.

"There's like only four girls. Medda, Mrs. Jacobs, Sarah, and the chick in the beginning who they take their hats off for." Julie corrected.

"Never fear Brooklyn is here!" Kylie yelled. "It's Brooklyn... And Mush has to announce it."

"Hey it's the cavalry! Oh, wait, it's just a bunch of cute adolescent boys with toy slingshots with no money. Oh well, I guess we should all go home..." Ella joked.

"Hey!" Kylie smiled.

"Aww, poor Mush!" Izzy sighed.

"He only has one line in this scene..." Inquired Sophie.

"He's got more lines at heart." Izzy said, dreamily.

"Yeah, like 'Man, I really want a pair of new shoes with matching laces. Oh, God, there's a scab running at me! Better go and hide...'." Avery said sarcastically.

"Hey it's Spot and his friends: Spit, Spat, and Spite." Izzy burst out laughing.

"Mush plays ball like a girl!" Kylie yelled, smirking .

"What the hell?" Izzy laughed. "Did you just quote The Sandlot?"

"I really can see Spot saying what Kylie just said." Ella laughed.

"Same!" Avery laughed as well.

"Is Blink's eye patch real?" Sophie asked, purposely shocking Julie.

"Of course not!" Julie yelled.

"Mush is on screen! Thank you!" Izzy jumped up.

"Spot says 'you're welcome'!" Kylie smirked again.

"Why?" Izzy asked, confused.

"Spot's in the movie, that's why." Kylie said with a straight face.

"I love Mush! I would so take that shaving cream Jack through at him!" Izzy sighed.

"He's a newsie, Izzy. He's not a baby squirrel." Ella pointed out.

"It would be doing the right thing." Izzy protested.

"Totally wrong. If you baby squirrel Mush, you're just taking away his nuts." Ella stated.

Izzy glared at her and laughed. "Okay, Spencer Hastings."

"Why is Davey so damn adorable?" Zoe asked.

Avery through a pillow at her. "Zoe, you have as much subtly as a hand grenade."

"Thank you, Oprah." Zoe smirked.

"Eww! The Delancy brothers!" Sophie covered her face with a pillow.

"I am done eating. Forever." Ella said putting her pizza done.

When it was done, Ella told them, "I would love to go into the movie."

"Love it!" Izzy agreed.

"Only girl newsies! Ahhh!" Julie added.

"Around all those guys." Kylie continued.

"Being at the strike," Zoe admitted. The others agreed.

"Hey, it's storming out. We should play a game!" Avery suggested.

"Yeah. Sure. What games you got, Ky?," they answered.

Kylie thought for a moment. "Well, I gave all my old board games away. But there are these, well, never mind."

Sophie looked puzzled. "Spit it out, Ky."

Kylie thought and thought. "Well, my mom has these old board games upstairs, and-"

The others were already up the stairs in an instant. Kylie shrugged and followed them. The lights upstairs were all off, so her parents and sister must have gone to bed. The girls quietly grabbed the three board games from the kitchen and went back downstairs. They sorted through them once they had resumed their spots on the couch.

"Let's see," Ella said. "We've got Candy Land, Shoots and Ladders, and what the hell is this?" She asked, holding up an old, dusty game box.

The others huddled over it. It had a dark blue cover and was torn in some corners. On the box it had the words 'The Tic Toc Game.' Kylie cautiously lifted the lid.

Dust flew out and the girls all coughed. "Gross! This probably hasn't been played in years!" Izzy said.

A torn, dusty game board lay inside. A spinner and one little game piece was included.

"Does anyone else find it strange that there's only one pon?" Julie asked.

Zoe stared at her. "Stop it, Julie. You're just trying to scare us!"

"What?" Julie asked. "I'm just saying."

Avery pulled out the game board and set it on the coffee table. Everyone gathered around. The pon was a small circle. The board looked more like a time line, if anything, but it was hard to tell what with all the dirt on it. There were what looked like playing cards to go with them. An intricate design was on the back of each card. The spinner was more like a clock, except with dates on them. A thin, brownish paper was at the bottom of the box.

"This must be the instructions." Sophie said.

Kylie picked it up. "I'll read it." She cleared her throat. "It says: Welcome to the 'Tic Toc Game.' We're so happy to have you."

Ella scrunched her eye brows. "It does not say that!" Kylie showed her the paper, and sure enough it did. "Go on," Ella said. Everyone waited, breathless.

Kylie continued reading. "Just a few little words of advice. Since many have never played, don't play alone. In fact, we recommend you playing with six others. You don't have to be scared, just be prepared. It's very important to pay attention to the rules of this game, especially the last two. A player must only play by their own will. And while playing, you must not lie, cheat, or steal, unless one really, really needs to. There are no opponents in this game, just allies, trust me on that. Try to help each other out in this game. Try not to become attached to this game, keep your priorities in order. So do yourself a favor, and pay attention to these rules. But above all, once you have begun to play this game, there is no going back. And remember, there are no losers. Tic Toc and good luck. Signed, the Game Creator."

The room was totally silent. Kylie turned the paper over and found the rules. In very small script, she read:

"Rules Regarding the Tic Toc Game:

1. Must have seven players

2. Lights must be off

3. It must be the designated time of 12:00

4. All must play at their own will

5. There are no opponents

6. All game pieces must be put properly back in the box when game is finished

6. No getting attached to this game's content

"Instructions:

1. Place the game board on a flat surface

2. Place the clock spinner in the center

3. Place the cards next to the spinner

4. Turn is played counterclockwise among the players

5. Player spins clock, and moves that many spaces

6. During the same turn, player reads card

7. All wait

"All wait? What the hell?" Izzy asked, scratching her neck.

"I think we should play," Ella said, looking down at the board.

"Are you crazy? This game is... weird." Izzy protested.

"I wanna play, too..." Julie said, brushing back a strand of hair.

"Me, too." Zoe scooted closer to the game.

"I think we should give it a try," offered Avery.

"But we've never played this game, and-" Izzy started.

"Please, what's the worst that can happen, we get a paper cut?" Sophie said sarcastically. "We should play."

"Okay, fine. I kinda wanna play, too." Izzy said, smiling.

"Kylie?" Ella looked to her friend. All eyes were on Kylie. "What do you say?"

Kylie looked thoughtful, then broke into a smirk. "I say, that what you say, is what I say."

Everyone smiled and turned back to the game.

"Okay, Ky, your house, so you spin." Izzy said, patting Kylie on the back.

"Um, okay," Kylie hesitantly reached out her hand and spun the clock. Everyone waited breathless in the dark room. Just enough light was coming in through the window for the girls to see the game board. The room was dark. All was silent. Then the hand on the spinner landed.

"Well?" Julie whispered.

Kylie leaned over the spinner. "It landed on the nine."

Zoe took the pon and moved it nine spaces on the game board. "Okay, what now?"

"We pick a card." Avery said, picking a card for the group. She read it, over, and over again to herself.

"Well? What does it say?" Sophie asked.

Kylie laughed. "What's the matter? Bad fortune?"

Ella smiled. "Yeah, the gods say to stop being such a drama queen."

The other girls laughed. Avery didn't, but instead had her eyes glued to the card.

"Avery, what's wrong?" Izzy asked, trying to read the card over her shoulder.

"Read it out loud." Julie said.

Avery took a deep breath. "It says: The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may have been, to see them as they were."

"What does that mean?" Zoe asked, really confused.

"Who knows, I don't speak genius." Avery said, shrugging.

"Now what?" Asked Sophie.

"Now, we apparently wait." Kylie said, shrugging.

"Wait for what?" Ella asked.

"It doesn't say," Izzy said, glaring at the directions.

"Um, you guys." Zoe said uneasily.

"It can't just say to wait. Let me see the directions." Avery said, trying to grab them from Izzy.

"Guys?" Zoe said again.

"Just chill out!" Sophie said to Avery and Izzy.

"GUYS!" Zoe yelled. Everyone stopped arguing and turned to the usually quiet one. They all looked at her expectantly.

"Well, what is it, Zo?" Kylie asked.

Zoe was staring at the game board. Everyone followed her gaze.

"You guys, we forgot to read what our game piece landed on." Zoe said in a distant voice.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that. What does it say?" Asked Ella, curious.

Izzy and Julie leaned in towards the game piece. Avery put down the directions and moved the game piece slightly to the side.

Sophie gasped. "I don't believe it."

Izzy looked. "Okay, now I've officially peed my pants."

"This can't be right, can it?" Asked Ella.

"That's impossible..." Julie started, but never finished.

"What does it mean?" Zoe asked, crinkling up her nose.

"Putting two and two together..." Avery said, thinking.

Kylie stared at where the pon had landed. "It says: 1899."

The window blew open. They all turned towards it. Kylie got up and went to close it.

She was having some trouble. "Guys, a little help?" she called. The others got up and went to help her. With all seven of them pushing, they were able to finally close it.

"Odd" Ella stated as they walked back to the couch.

No sooner had they all sat down when the room started to shake.

"What the hell is going on?" Izzy yelled out over the noise.

"I think we're having an earthquake!" Kylie yelled back.

They huddled together, eyes closed, screaming. A blinding light engulfed them in a flash, and their minds went blank. They felt like they were falling. Then, BOOM! Total darkness. Everything was absolutely still. No one made a sound.