Step by Step
Step 5—don't you know that the time has arrived…
Graduation went off without a hitch, and aside from the catcalls when one of the others' name was called, even Reid was relatively well behaved.
Sam wrapped her arms around Pogue and laughed as he dipped her back and kissed her.
"My very own delinquent," Pogue said as they straightened.
"Yeah, you should be flattered. I don't skip school for just anyone, you know."
"Unless you're possessed," Peg chimed in, slugging Tyler in the arm. "Congratulations, loser."
"Oh, Peggy, you always know how to make a guy feel special," Reid said, bending and patting the 13 year-old on the head.
The teen batted his hand away and left to join her friends in pursuit of some Spenser freshmen.
-
The boys' families had planned an extravagant party, and Pogue surprised Sam with a glamorous dress that he knew she wouldn't consider too froofy. Tyler waited beside Jamie's Sunfire outside the Ipswich public until she came out.
"Weeell. You look nice," she said with a smile as she eyed him. His white dress shirt was rolled up to the elbows and untucked, his blue tie loosened, and he held his jacket slung over his shoulder.
"Thanks," he said. "You too."
Jamie rolled her eyes and wished she were wearing something other than Casey's White Stripes t-shirt and denim shorts.
"I, uh, was wondering if you wanted to come to our party," Tyler said. "It's a parent thing and we have to be there or otherwise we'd do something else, but—"
"I'd really like to, Tyler, but I've got some stuff to do tonight."
"Oh. Ok, no worries then," Tyler said as he rounded the car and started to walk off. He stopped and looked back. "Uh, Reid said to ask Casey too. Party starts at six. You might want to mention that he hasn't shut up about their date the other day. She should give him a call back."
As she watched him walk away, she silently cursed, knowing that she was missing a great thing by not going to that party, but also realizing that it couldn't be helped.
-
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The beast stalked the bushes. Through the wispy clouds in the velvet sky above, the almost-full moon shone down like God's flashlight, pointing the path for it to take.
It lifted its snout and sniffed the air; the scent of warm human flesh filled the night, and the monster smiled. Following the scent, it came out of the trees and stopped as it spotted its prey.
A woman was taking grocery bags from her trunk. She turned and saw the beast, and a gnarled hand clutched at her throat. Now the scent of terror perfumed the air, and again the beast smiled. Before the old woman could expel a scream, it was on her. Biting, tearing, feasting until the struggle stopped and the old lady's blood ran cold on the sidewalk.
