Around 7:45, Gena threw on her pajamas and got her room ready for the party. She made her bed so that its crimson comforter was smooth and crisp. She got out all the essentials, including blankets, pillows, candles for a séance, and of course, the food. The party was going to be fun and relaxing. She thought that it would be able to take mind off of everything, including her boyfriend. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Gena went to open it, hoping that it was one of the girls; she was wrong.

"Hey babe, what's happening," Philip said. He then grabbed her close and hugged her tightly. "I haven't seen you around lately. Were have you been?"

"School, ballet, and occasionally ice-skating at the rink. That's about it, but it takes up most of my time," Gena said, while trying to politely wiggle from his grasp.

"So, what's with the PJ's? Were you expecting me tonight?" Philip said, with an anxious glow in his eye.

"No, I wasn't. The girls and I are having a slumber party. No boys allowed. They'll be here any minute now, so you should probably get going."

"OK, I get the hint. I'll leave. Just have fun tonight ok. See ya later." He pulled her closer again and kissed her softly. Philip then headed down the hall back to his room, passing the other girls who were on their way down.

"Hey Gena, what is prince charming so unhappy about? Is there trouble in paradise," Em said as she entered the room with three bags full of junk food. Gena looked at the bag with a feeling of nausea, she wished she had gone out and fed before the party.

"It's nothing, really," Gena said quickly. She grabbed a Dr. Pepper from the fridge.

"Oh come on, Salvatore," Zoë said from her seat on the floor, as she ripped opened a bag of Doritos, spilling one fourth of the bag. "Ah, shit. Sorry about the nacho cheese stains. Anyways something has to be the matter. You've been going out for two years. You were all lovey dovey and shit in the beginning, but now you don't even go and see him. What's with that?"

"It's complicated. I just don't know," Gena said, as she sat on her couch.

"Try me," Hannah said. Hannah had a history of bad relationships.

"Ok. How do I explain this...I just don't feel that spark anymore, you know? I keep on thinking that I'm missing out on something. I really just want to end this one."

"After two years? Are you crazy?" Em said with a mouth full of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. She looked at Gena as if she was insane.

"It happens," Hannah said as she sat cross-legged on the floor. She grabbed for more Milk Duds, "Look at me. I was engaged after I dated a guy for three years. You just get this feeling when it isn't right. I got it too, so I broke it off. And I'm not going to lie to you and tell you it was easy, because it was hard to do. But I will tell you this; Gena, if you feel that way, it's better to do it sooner than later. You wouldn't want the next opportunity to pass by and you don't want to leave Philip in the dark."

"I know," Gena replied, "I just have to figure out how to break to him."

"How about, 'Hi Philip. We'll after a few months of deliberation I have found out that I am attracted to Zo and not you. I'm gay.' That would work," Zoë said with smile. Gena laughed.

"I wish that would work. You know how many guys like girl-on-girl action. He'd NEVER leave!" Gena said, causing the whole room to be engulfed with laughter. After all the giggling subsided, they looked around at each other trying to read each other.

Gena reached for her guitar and started to play. It always calmed her nerves to play any of the instruments she knew so well. But, she had to admit, the guitar was her favorite to play. Maybe it was because women weren't allowed to play it in the old days.

"Hey, I know that song," Zoë said as she began to sing.

The phone began to ring.

"Hello," Gena said, "Yes, I understand...I forgot...it won't happen again." She hung up the phone and looked at the others. "Sorry guys, quiet hours for finals week, no more singing tonight."

"So gang, what are we going to do next? Besides getting fat from all this food I mean," Em asked.

"How about 'Truth or Dare'," Zo suggested. They all nodded and took their places in the room. "I am going to ask the first question since it was my brilliant idea," she pauses to clear her throat, "My dear Salvatore, I must ask you first. Truth or Dare."

Gena had to think about it. If she did a dare that could get her hurt, she knew she wouldn't get hurt, thus making everyone think she is different. Plus, she never did feel like guzzling down a whole bunch of human food at one time. She picked her poison.

"Truth," Gena said.

"Alright, since I really want to know...um...describe your first kiss and details please. What age were you? Who was it with? Where? Was there tongue? Stuff like that."

The memories came flooding back to Gena's mind all at once; soft lips, strong arms, loving eyes, tears, blood, pain, and darkness. She'd been able to keep them out of her head for years now, but one mention of that kiss brought them all back. She felt like she had gone into shock. Frozen. Her friends stared at her with questioning glances.

"Geez, Gena. You look so flush. Are you feeling alright," Hannah asked.

"I'm fine...it's just...this brings up bad memories."

"You know," Zoë said maternally, "You don't have to answer. I could ask you a different one if you'd like."

"No, it's ok Zo," Gena paused, "It's ok. I can tell you...my first kiss was when I was seventeen."

"Seventeen! I didn't expect that...I had mine when I was fourteen. What took you so long? ," Zo said in disbelief.

"My house was very strict. Anyway...his name was William," the very thought of his name brought tears to her eyes. She missed him so much. "My father wasn't too keen of Will, so I snuck out one night and met him at Rose Park. We talked and joked around...and then we just stopped and looked at each other. He leaned in and kissed me just as the sun was going down over the horizon."

"Aww...," Hannah and Em sighed. "So...was there tongue," Zo asked.

"No, not that time. It was a passionate kiss, but there was no tongue. Will was a true gentleman," Gena said with a laugh and a slight sigh.

"Ok, my turn to ask. Em, truth or dare?"

"Um...truth," Em said nervously. "If you could have one boy on campus, who would you want?" "Actually, if you want me to be completely truthful...Philip."

"What!? You want my boyfriend?"

"You said that you were going to break up with him, right? So he's fair game," Em said defensively.

"But friends don't date other friend's ex-boyfriends! That's just wrong!"

"You asked, not me, and I did what I was supposed to do and I told the truth!"

"Woo...hold on guys. Maybe this wasn't the best game to play right now. Let's change the subject right now, ok. No fighting tonight. Let's just do something else," Hannah interjected.

The tension in the air was volatile and someone had to break it; enter Zo stage left.

"Yeah, like, let's have a séance, or play the Ouija board or some shit like that. I love tampering with the spirits. It's cool."

"Ok, that sounds fine...now Zo, did you actually remember to bring your Ouija board today," Gena asked, raising her eyebrow.

"Oh shit, I'll be right back," Zo said, as she ran out the door and back to her room.

"So, how do we get this thing to work," Hannah asked. "I can hardly see the board with just these candles on in the room!"

"It's for atmosphere, dumb ass. The spirits will be more likely to show up this way. Spirits can only see natural light, so candles work," Zoë explained. She was an expert on anything having to do with the paranormal. "So that means that if we had the lights on in the room, the spirits still wouldn't be able to see the board."

"I don't believe in this spirit stuff," Em responded defensively. "It's all crap to me."

"Well, la dee da. None of us asked for your opinion, Em. So, if you want to do this with us, you are going to have to make an effort and try to concentrate. Other wise, it won't work. Then I'd have to kick you out of the room," Zoë said, staring Em down so that she knew she meant. "Alright, some rules before we start. Number one; never ask when you are going to die."

"Well, if the spirits know all, wouldn't they know that," Em asked sarcastically.

"Yes, Em, they would know. But, who wants to know that. So NO one asks that question," Zoë paused to look at Em. "And by the way, don't interrupt me again, Em. Just let me finish my rules. Ok, where was I...rule number two, never ask a spirit to prove its self. For example, don't ever ask 'if you're really here, move that chair' or something like that. It's stupid. It opens the portal for the spirit to come into the mortal world. Poltergeist stuff. Ok. Rule number three, if the board starts counting down numbers, like going from 0 to 9 to 8, or starts doing the alphabet backwards, take your hands off the planchett."

"What's the planchett," Hannah interrupted. Zoë started to look frustrated.

"The pointer thingy-ma-bob. Anyways, take your hand off of it. The spirits count down to try to escape the board. Now, we'll start with a prayer and end with one too. For good luck," Zoë said. She looked around to everyone who, besides Gena, looked fairly nervous. She must have scared the crap out of them. "It's ok guys. I've done this plenty of times. No worries. Hakuna Matata."

"Ok, let's start," Gena said. The four girls placed their hands on the board.

"Ok, I'll say the prayer," Zoë said, closing her eyes and bowing her head. "Oh dear God, or Goddess, please protect us as we delve into the spirit world. Amen."

"Some prayer," Em said under her breath.

"Alright, what do we want to do first? What do we want to ask...hmm," Zoë said, trying to think of something.

"I have an idea," Gena said. "Why don't we ask about that room next door? The one that is supposedly not there even though there is a window and a door that's plastered over. Let's find out what happened with that."

"Hey, that's a good idea, Salvatore. You're not as stupid as you look," Zoë said playfully. Gena punched her in the arm. "Ouch! Ok, I guess I deserved that. All right, we all have to concentrate. I'll ask the questions...hello, is anyone there? We are looking for someone who could tell us about the room next door to us...the one that is boarded up."

The board responds back as the planchett moves to YES.

"What's your name?'

The board begins to move and Gena reads the letters aloud. "L-I-L-E- A. Lilea."

"Ok, Lilea...we just want to ask you some questions. Is that ok?"

The point on the planchett moved back up to YES. "Ok. Lilea, what was this house once used as?" Zoë stopped to look at Gena. "Gena, you read the letters allowed, you're obviously much faster and better at catching the letters than the rest of us."

Gena looked at the board and she began to repeat the letters. "M-A-G- N-O-L-I-A P-L-A-N-T-A-T-A-I-O-N. Magnolia Plantation."

"Alright...how do you know this?"

"I-L-I-V-E-D-H-E-R-E. I lived here." Everyone felt a slight uncomfortable chill in the air. Zoë looked up at the group, with a look of curiosity on her face before she continued.

"When were you born?"

"M-A-Y-2-1-8-1-0. May 2nd, 1810."

"When did you die?"

"Hey!" Em interjected, "I thought you said that we couldn't ask anything about death dates?"

"Only if it's our own. And, if you don't stop interrupting with stupid questions, you won't need a board to tell you when you're going to die. Ok, let's concentrate. I'll ask again...Lilea, when did you die?"

"M-A-Y-3-1-8-2-7. May 3rd, 1827." Gena did the math in her head. "So, she had just turned seventeen." A thought quickly passed through her mind, 'I was the same age.'

Everyone subconsciously knew the next question that would be asked. "How did you die?"

"M-U-R-D-E-R...Murder." Everyone looked around the room. The feeling in the room became colder and everyone showed they were extremely nervous.

"How...What happened? Can you tell us?"

"L-O-C-K-E-D-U-P-T-R-Y-G-E-T-O-U-T-J-U-M-P-F-E-L-L-I-C-A-N-T-G-E-T."

"Did you get all the, Salvatore? She was going WAY too fast for me," Zoë said.

"Yeah, she said she was locked up. I guess she tried to get out, via the window. She jumped to get to the ground and fell. She said she can't get out. It's like she's still stuck in there or on campus in general. "

"Yeah, I've heard stories about a girl in white seen by the side garden," Em stated enthusiastically.

Then it hit them...she had been locked in a room. The room that was boarded up, the one right next to Gena's used to be Lilea's. The reason it was boarded up was to keep her in.

"Ok, who did this to you?"

"F-A-T-H-E-R. Her father did this to her."

"But why? Why did he do this to you?" Zoë asked anxiously.

"N-O-H-U-R-T-X-V-P-L-O...all I can get so far is 'no hurt'. The rest of it is garbled." The board continued to spew out words that made no sense. Then, all of a sudden, there was a knock from inside the walled off room. They all screamed.

"Oh shit!! Everyone, take your hand off the board! ," Zoë commanded. They were all frantic, trying to figure out what just happened, where to go, and what to do. Gena tried to take her hands off the planchett, but something came over her. She felt her hands being guided over the board.

"Gena, for the love of Mike, take your hands off!" Em screamed. But, she couldn't. She began to read the message aloud, "G-E-N-A-G-A-V-I-N- I-S-T-H-E-O-N-E." Then, all at once, Gena felt the presence leave; she jerked her hands off the board. Zoë grabbed the cursed board, flipped it over, and then inserted the medium back in its ancient box.

"Ok...," Hannah said between spurted breaths, "What the hell was that?"

"Gena, what did it say at the end," Zoë asked cautiously.

"Is anyone going to die?" Em asked.

"No, it was a message to me...it said Gena, Gavin is the one."

"Gavin, who's Gavin? Do you know one? ," Hannah asked.

"No, I have no idea."