"Hmm. I guess its slippery, thanks for the heads-up Star." With that, Paulina daintily picked her way through the goop-clear area where Star had slid.

Star got up spluttering and spitting out ecto-goop, "Phh! Ptooey! What *ptgeh* was that for?" Paulina walked carefully up to her,

"Hmm… I'm not quite sure. But hey, at least now there's a path." Then she looked over Star at the desk, "Papers, pens, books… Ah! Here we go! A, uh, umm…" Star looked up from picking the goop off irritably,

"It's a hockey-stick!" Paulina raised her eyebrows then turned back to the room,

"I wonder why he has a hockey-stick in his room. It's not like he plays sports. And we don't even have an ice-rink in Amity Park. The nearest one is in Emlenton."

"You're right, but you have to remember who he hangs out with."

"True. But where'd he go? If he'd left through the front door we would've seen him…"

"Hey, is the window open?"

"I'm not sure. Let's check. If he snuck out on us…" Paulina let the threat hang and Star once again felt uncharacteristically sorry for the boy. Paulina went front as usual, sweeping the goop away from in front of her with the stick to form a crude path for them to walk on.

"Ugh. This stuff is so gross!" Star complained,

"Yeah well you're not the only one walking through it, so be quiet."

"Humph, fine."

"Good." When they got to the window Paulina used the stick to push the slimy, dripping curtains off to the side. They both stared for a moment before a frown appeared on Star's face,

"Uhhh, are those bars?"

"…Yeah. But why does he have them in here?"

"Maybe his parents put them here 'cause he sneaks out."

"Why would Danny sneak out?" Paulina started counting on her fingers, "He's not invited to parties, he doesn't have a girlfriend because he and the creepy bat girl are so clueless, he's not a juvie, he's not popular… This just doesn't make sense."

"Maybe they're to keep someone from coming in."

"Huh, maybe they don't want the bat girl to sneak in and drink his blood."

"Eww! That's gross Paulina!"

"Gross but a possibility."

"True."

"Wait a minute, hold the stick. I'm gonna see if the bars can be unscrewed."

"How would you know anything about that?"

"…Uh, informative television."

"Wait, didn't your parents put bars in your room?"

"No! Where'd you get that idea?"

"When I came to your house the other night so we could sneak out to Dash's party you shined the flashlight out through some."

"Really? You must have been mistaken. It was probably just of the, uh,, bead strings I hung from my windowsill."

"Oh. Never mind then. Since when have you been interested in bead strings?"

"Five minutes ago…" Paulina whispered to herself,

"What?"

"Five months ago when I, uh, saw some cute ones at the store? Anyways, keep the stick still. I don't want any more dripping on me." Paulina pushed her hair behind her ear and bent over to look closely at the windowsill. "Hmm… It is possible, but he hasn't seemed to do it yet." Star raised her eyebrow,

"Yet?"

"Er, did I say yet? I meant…at all." Paulina stood up, "He hasn't gone through here. Maybe he snuck past us when I used the thermosey thingy. Let's go look downstairs, hand me the stick." Paulina was 'cleaning' a path through to the door when Star said something that caught her attention.

"What do you think is in that room downstairs? After all, he did lock it." Paulina paused and leaned on the stick,

"You're right. Maybe he's hiding down there. If he played an instrument he might have a sound-proof recording studio, but he doesn't. So there goes that theory. Let's go check." Paulina got back to sweeping the goop in front of her with renewed fervor and soon they were out. Star closed the door behind them, careful to keep the goop from getting out.

"Here Paulina, wipe off your shoes with this." Star handed her a t-shirt with a bit of goop on it, "I think it would be better if he didn't know we were in there.

"Okay Star, but there's only one problem with your plan," Star looked at her questioningly, "We're covered in goop!"

"Oh, right. But if we leave before he gets back he won't know, at least we won't have a trail of neon footprints following us." Paulina consented and wiped off her shoes. Star then effectively shoved the dirty shirt under the door and they headed downstairs. They turned into the living room and headed straight for the door,

"If he's in here he might have left the door unlocked." Paulina couldn't wait to see what was so important that he ignored them. They got to the door and looked at each other before Paulina stretched her hand out and tested the door…

Oh, I was hoping that this chapter would be longer… oh well… I have a few ideas for future chapters, I'm thinking maybe three more… I you like it or have any ideas, PLEASE REVIEW!!!