A/N: Sorry about the long hiatus between chapters. Things got a little out of control on my end and I had to take care of that. Everything is fine now, so hopefully there won't be much wait between chapters again.

This was actually supposed to be the climax of the story, but there was a part with David I needed to do before that. So unless I get any other ideas, the next two parts will be the climax of what I call the "Kate Marsh Arc" of the story.

As always, leave a comment on what you think so far and what you'd like to see next. Now, Enjoy!

…...

Step-Father

Maximilian's phone rang.

"Nothing," Max said without waiting for him to talk. "I searched every dorm in the building but there's no sign of her

"How are things on your end?"

"Nothing either," he looked at Chloe. "We looked through every room in the boys' dorm and around it."

"What do we do now?" there was a not of desperation in the girl's voice. A desperation he was starting to share. Kate's words, and that smile, were worrying him. "Do we ask Mr. Jefferson for help?"

"Yeah, and we'll see who we can get," he said. "See you in the fountain in thirty."

"What happened?" the blue-haired girl asked.

"Nothing," he sighed. "We need help. Someone who can find her if she's in campus."

"Then we're shit out of luck," Chloe shrugged. "Between Principal Wells and step-douche you guys might as well be by yourselves.

"Probably the only one who can help is that teacher girl Max has a lady boner for."

"Mr. Jefferson, yeah..." he was about to comment on the tone her voice took when she talked about the teacher when the idea hit him. "We need to talk to David."

"What."

"David, he's the one with access to the entire campus," he elaborated, ignoring his message alert. "If anyone can find Kate is him."

"Dude you know it's useless," she shook her head. "David is an ass who only cares about himself."

"I know," he admitted. "But he's also our one shot. Maybe we can use the fact he thinks of himself as the school's savior?"

"I guess," Chloe shrugged again. "Let's go find the ass."

The two took off running, and eventually found him behind a building, walking as if he were searching for clues.

"David!" Maximilian panted. "We need your help."

"What are you doing here, Chloe?" the man completely ignored him. "You were expelled from Blackwell."

"I didn't know," she replied with as much sarcasm as she could before Maximilian elbowed her in the ribs. "I mean, yes, but right now we need your security guard superpowers."

"Chloe, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave the premis-"

"Kate Marsh is missing and we think something's gonna happen to her tonight," the boy cut him off.

David stared at the two, weighting his dislike of the two against his duties. Finally he took out a notepad, and when he spoke his voice was all business. "Why do you believe that?"

"She's been very depressed since last week, then went missing for two days and when she comes back is super cheerful," Maximilian explained, ignoring his phone again.

"So? Could be she's trying to move on," David said, though he kept writing.

"Did you know she tried to kill herself?!" he said before the girl elbowed him back. He thanked her silently and took a deep breath. If you snap he won't help us.

"There were rumors," he nodded, a note of guilt showing in his voice. "We went ahead and checked every roof access door."

"Then you see why she being happy out of nowhere is weird, right?" Chloe asked him. "Look, I know you don't like us, but we wouldn't be asking you if it wasn't serious. I wouldn't be asking you."

"I know," he nodded again. "What else do you have?"

"Thank you, David," she said, no trace of sarcasm or anger in her voice. Maximilian's phone rang again, and while the blue-haired girl talked to David he decided to see who it was.

There was a multitude of messages, but each said more of less the same thing. Without noticing he covered his mouth, and looked at the other two.

"Shit, what is it?" Chloe asked him.

"It's Victoria," he showed them the message. "She says there's something happening at the End of the World Party."

"What?" she asked, before the color drained from her face. "Fuck."

"We need to go."

"You search the party, and I'll search the buildings you haven't checked yet," David told them. "Chloe, call me if you find something, all right?"

"Yes sir."