2

October Winds

Donna climbed the few short steps to her new house. It was definitely taller than some of the surrounding houses but it was just the right size for everyone. The door opened up into a small hallway. Straight ahead was a doorway (minus the door) that lead into the living area. To the left wall was the kitchen that led into the dining room and in turn the living area. To the right were stairs that led to the kid's rooms. And next to the stairs was the door that led into the compact needless room that opened into Donna's parents bedroom and their bathroom was tucked neatly under the stairs deep in their room.

Donna quickly climbed the stairs that were still littered with boxes, most unpacked and others with lingering items that if they weren't careful would get thrown away. The house was quiet except for her mother downstairs putting things in their place.

Donna reached for a leather strap attached to the ceiling at the end of the second floor hall and a dusty makeshift staircase fell before her. Bits of plaster fell into her hair but she dusted it away with her hand. She threw her bag into the corner of her room; AKA the attic.

Donna felt the lamp she had placed on the counter that wrapped around the side walls and the back wall. She didn't turn it on, but instead decided to let natural light into her room. She stood in front of the mirror that reflected her. Donna ran her hand along the edge of the right wall and when she found the switch, a click sounded. The mirror faded from her reflection to reveal the small town of Bathory. Donna smiled at her view.

From here she could see the entire town. Her house was the same height as the school but towered above every other. It was initially the mayor's home, hence the looking glass. But after time, it became abandoned and went up for sale. That was when Donna's parents jumped for the opportunity. It worked out perfectly actually. The house became available right around the same time Donna's dad got a job as a patrolling sheriff in Stokerton.

Donna took a seat next to her looking glass and gazed upon the small town. Her new home. She felt content in this place. Maybe this was for the best. Or for the worst. But all she cared about was right now and at the moment, she was looking forward to seeing Psycho Slasher Chain-saw Guy From Hell with her new friends. Forced friends if you count the fact that she wouldn't have been invited if it weren't for Henry bugging her to talk. A small smile crept across her lips.

"Donna?" her mother called from the bottom of the stairs.

"Hmm?" she replied, relaxed.

"Come down here! I'm going to pick up Mike, Dan, Luke, and John from school!"

"Why do I have to go?" Donna called back.

"Because, I'm tired of being alone! I've been alone in this house all day!" her mother said.

She groaned and then hit the mechanism that returned the looking glass back to it's mirror like self. Donna made her way down the stairs and into the truck, slumping in the front seat.

"So how was your day, hun?" her mom asked as they pulled out onto the road.

"Okay." Donna replied.

"Just okay? Care to elaborate?"

"Well, there's this guy in all my classes but one who bugged the crap out of me." she began, waiting for her mother to ask another question. There always was.

"What's his name? Is he cute? Did he seem to like you?" her mom winked.

"Forget it mom, he's obviously interested in every other girl in the school. I doubt he has eyes for me. Besides, from what I hear he's a McMillan and he's super popular."

"So? What does being popular have to do with liking you?" her mother asked.

"Popular and unpopular people don't exactly meld well together. Except for his friend, Vlad." Donna explained the structure of the high school food chain.

"Who's this Vlad?"

"He's his friend. He dresses in dark clothes, pretty pale, black hair and looks like he's pretty unpopular himself." the words were already out before Donna could get a chance to stop herself. The odd detailed description had flowed from her mouth so freely. She knew her mother would read too much into this.

"Sounds like you fancy this fellow?" she wondered.

"I don't even know him. I only have one class with him. Plus, his friend Joss sounds like more my type. Quiet, unpopular but has more than one friend." her mother raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Why am I even having this conversation with you mother? I barely know these people."

"Just wondering. By the way, is this going to be one of those times when you surround yourself with only boys for friends?" they pulled into the car loop at the middle school.

"No!" Donna looked at her mother accusingly. Mike, Dan, Luke and John got into the truck and began chattering away to their mom about their day and Donna gave this time to think about the previous discussion. The last time she surrounded herself with boys didn't exactly turn out too great she had to admit. But if she had one girl friend maybe her mom wouldn't bug her about it.

That's what she would do. She would find a girl and befriend her. But now the challenge of finding a girl willing to be friends with Donna.

Joss and Vlad met Donna in front of the school. "Hey," she said giving a slight wave of her hand.

"Hi." they said together.

"Henry's not here?" she asked out of curiosity. She thought it had been a personal goal of his to bug the crap out of her.

Vlad pointed behind him with his thumb and Donna followed it. Against the brick wall was Henry kissing a random girl. "He does this often?"

"Yep, better keep your lips sealed." Joss joked.

Donna made a motion of zipping her lips and then throwing away the key. They laughed together. Just then, the bell rang and they were off to class. Vlad and Joss said goodbye to Donna until lunch and Henry caught up with her, his hair ruffled.

"Might wanna…" she ran a hand through her hair and he did the same, nodding to her in thanks. They walked through the door and sat in the same seats.

Classes went on the same as the day before, growing longer with each hour and Henry making jokes at every chance. Finally the magic bell signaled a teenagers greatest love during the school day: lunch.

Donna and Henry made their way to the cafeteria and took their seats by Vlad and Joss. The three boys began conversing about the day so far and future plans and parties while Donna examined the room around her for a girl that she could confront.

Her vision passed by the blinding pink table and then the wanna-be-popular kids table. Regular kids table, regular, regular, regular, then the what Donna assumed to be the goth table. A boy with silver hair laughed next to an energetic kid who seemed to have trouble staying in his seat. But the boys weren't what caught Donna's attention. It was the girl staring at her even before she saw them. The girl with a friendly face and not to mention awesome hair.

She waved and Donna gave a small wave back. This would be who she would talk to later. But in the meantime, she needed to get back to her table that was waving for her to come back.

"Hellooo?" Henry shook his hand before Donna's face, "You there? Who were you waving at?"

"Hmm?" she snapped back to her table, "Oh, no one. Just someone that waved at me."

"Sure…" he tried to sound suspicious. The conversation continued but Donna's mind remained hard at work. The cogs in her brain turned fiercely as she thought of a tactic to get the girl to be her friend.

Vlad and Donna exited their last class and Henry and Joss met them outside again. "So let me tell you about I heard about the theme for this year's Halloween party at Matthew's…" Henry was cut off by Donna.

"Hey guys. I gotta get home early today, helping my mom with someone. I'll catch you later." she excused herself from them and they quickly bid her goodbye and Henry continued with his story.

She made her way to the door which was gushing out students by the second. Donna searched for the Goths knowing that that girl would most likely be with them. Once through the front doors, she scanned the crowd of kids for the Goths. Her search was for naught though since Donna found no one that she saw in that group. Not even the girl. Oh well, she'd just go up to her tomorrow.

Donna sat up in bed and stared around her dark room. Sleep was not coming easy to her for some reason tonight. Maybe a quick look over Bathory would get her to sleep. With that thought in mind, Donna walked over to the cushioned sill and hit the switch. She stared at the belfry of the school and swore she saw a light on inside of it.

Donna squinted her eyes and ruled out the light as a security measure. Her gaze fell to the stairs and she saw something that made her spring into action. Lounging on the steps of Bathory High School were the Goths and the girl was with them.

Donna threw on some clothes and took a jacket just in case. She pushed down ever so slightly on the stair case and it fell slowly with little sound. She made her way down the stairs, trying to be as light as possible.

She unlocked and opened the door and stood outside, gently closing the door. This was a safe neighborhood so Donna didn't worry about taking a key to unlock the door again. That would only make more noise. When the cool wind hit her face, she was glad she brought the jacket and wrapped it around her.

Donna bound down the sidewalk and toward the school, glad she could get this opportunity to talk to the girl. Halfway down the street, she wondered to herself if doing this was crazy and she should just go back. But she was already coming up to the school when she decided to head back.

One of the Goths pointed her out and there was no going back now. Donna crossed the street to them and the girl greeted her, "Hi!"

"Hi," Donna said and waved through her jacket pocket.

"What are you doing out here so late, night owl?" the silver haired boy asked.

"I uh- just wanted to talk to- you…" she struggled to get the words out.

"Me?" he asked in disbelief, "Shoot."

"No, I mean her." she pointed to the girl and a grin crossed her face.

"Okay!" the girl walked closer to Donna and waited for her to say something.

"Would you like to… be-uh… friends?" Donna forced out.

There was a momentary pause and then an excited, "Sure!" A feeling of relief spread across Donna and then she waved goodnight and headed home. But not before staring once more up at the strange light in the belfry.