Clawdeen wove through the throng of students rushing for the doors as the bell rang. "I don't know, Frankie.. it's always so crowded at my place. I was kinda hoping we could fang out at yours."

"Yeah, which would be great, except my dad's all 'oh no, normie mobs'. Seriously, do you want to know how many times I heard the phrase 'fire bad' last night? And I don't even know what it means."

She snorted laughter. "Maybe he's warning you not to go out with Holt."

"Yeah, or Heath. Right?"

"Right! Okay, well, I'm going to call Lala and see if we can crash at her place then, OK? Call you back."

"OK. Later."

The werewolf girl grunted as she was shoved into the corridor wall. "Excuse me!" she barked, turning. "Rude much?"

It was that creepy boy, the one with poofy dark hair and sparkling eyes. He gave her a smirk over his shoulder. "You're excused."

Clawdeen stood still a moment, debating whether to chase him, but her phone rang. Draculaura. She answered it in a snarl. "Hello?"

"Whoa, Clawdeen, is this a bad time?"

"No, I just ran into that little creep again. He shoved me."

"What a jerk! Listen, I know you wanted to fang out tonight, but I totally can't."

Clawdeen groaned. "Don't tell me Rotter gave you two pounds of homework, too."

"No, not really, it's just.. Dad's got his cape in a bunch. Like, seriously. He even came and got me from school early."

She grunted. She'd been wondering where Lala was in Mad Science.

"He's all 'they always blame the vampires' and 'why didn't I put in a moat'. He says I have to go nocturnal, can you believe it? Oh my ghoul. Like Old World weirdness."

"Oh, Lala, I'm sorry. Are you going to be OK?"

"Oh, sure. He's just my dad, silly. Besides, this whole thing will blow over soon, I hope. Ugh, why did that normie boy have to go and get murdered? It's totally killing my social life."

"D, doesn't your dad.. you know.. feed on normies? Probably from New Salem?"

"Shoot, I gotta go. Dad's waking up. Laters!"

Clawdeen tucked the phone into her pocket, scanning the trickle of students for Puck, but he was nowhere to be seen. Just as she rounded the corner, she bumped into Frankie and Jackson, standing beside the boy's locker.

"Hey. Lala's a no-go. Her dad's got a major fang-ache over this whole ordeal."

"Shoot." Frankie chewed her lower lip, watching Jackson stuff books into his backpack. "What are you doing tonight, Jackson?"

"Oh, actually, uh, I have a ton of schoolwork to catch up on.."

Clawdeen made urgent gestures of NO! at her friend, who pretended to ignore them. "Is this real schoolwork, or is this, like, 'I have to read the whole physics textbook before everyone else in class' schoolwork?"

Jackson blushed, tugging at the straps of his backpack. "You know me so well, Frankie."

"Hey! Jekyll! My man!" Heath burst into their cluster, throwing one arm around his cousin's shoulders. "You busy tonight?"

"It's a busy night for everyone," Jackson said, confused.

"Me and the guys are going over to Clawd's. Gonna play some 'Grand Guignol 5', eat pizza, chill, you know."

"Oh my ghoul," Clawdeen groaned, putting her face in her hands. "I thought my night couldn't get any worse!" She grabbed at the front of Frankie's shirt, pleading. "Don't leave me alone with them. Come over. I'll cook your favorite dinner, I swear."

Frankie grinned, apologetic. "I should really just go home. I don't want my parents to worry, you know?"

"Take me with you!"

"I can't." Frankie hitched up her backpack, heading for the doors. "Sorry, Clawdeen. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"If I survive!" She turned to glare at the boys. "Invasion of the dweebs. Ugh. May as well get home and lock my door early." She stormed down the steps, following the path Frankie took, radiating fury.

Jackson turned to Heath. "I can't, either. I have a literal ton of homework tonight."

"Like I don't? Skip it. Tonight's guy night! Party night! Come on!"

Jackson raised an eyebrow, stepping out from under Heath's arm. " 'Party night'," he said, his tone thick with distaste. "So, um.. are you inviting me, or Holt?"

Heath shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Both? Either? You, man, I am inviting you."

"Well, I am both of.. of us, so.."

Heath sighed. "All right, maybe I was hoping to see Holt. I love that guy. But I like fanging out with you, too, dude."

"Right."

"I do," Heath said. "You can be fun, sometimes."

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint, but I have a prior engagement."

Heath blinked.

Jackson gave a sigh. "I'm busy. I can't go. Sorry. Have fun, and I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow, huh?"

"Aw, man, come on." Heath kicked at the lockers, disappointed.