-ow ab-t now?

InvisiBilly cringed holding his head in his hands and disappearing for a moment.

Two rows behind him his girlfriend Scarah Screams frowned sinking into her chair with guilt. Upset she kept giving him headaches. Till she perked up hearing a loud and clear:

A bit better. I can hear you at least.

They were in Dead Languages in dead silence. However quietly reviewing her vocabulary for the class had proven to be far less interesting than testing her telepathy. She was always 'passing notes' mentally with her boy, so breaking the habit had proven to be annoying and difficult. Scarah felt the more she pushed through her own aching brain, the faster she was resuming her normal thought-speak. She wasn't completely sure on that theory but she certainly had less of a migraine than at the start of class.

Unfortunately every time she tried to mentally speak with her boyfriend she seemed to be sharing her sore mind with him too.

Trying to lock in on InvisiBilly so she could at least focus without a million different vocab lists ringing through her open channel.

Is it hurting you to listen? InvisiBilly asked, Scarah getting more of an impression off of him. He was looking through his contacts list on his iCoffin. Hunched over and still clearly rubbing his temple. Even if she was the only one who could mentally see it.

List-ning can always be a headache, wh-t about you. Loud and clear?

Mostly. But you're getting better than the start of class. He replied, but Scarah could sense his head aching from the strain, noting he hadn't reappeared yet. Then again he was about to text, so probably didn't' need to be seen at the moment.

Sorry to break radio silence I kn-w it's difficult to bear

Anything for my ghoul. He winked and she smiled softly knowing that action was just for her… then again it could have very well been habit of making motions others couldn't see, since he did that often too… but she preferred to think he was winking just for her.

Like how sweet it was that he was helping her reestablish communication.

Did you tell him I was sorry?

She could feel him flip the memory open.

Um.

I can tell if you lie.

It didn't really… come up. Then he grunted cringing as her mild annoyance seemed to increase the headache severity.

Ooh. Sorry… I was just a little annoyed.

He was Holt at the time and didn't remember. InvisiBilly found the right name in his contacts.

Then silence, and thoughts inward in an automated rhythm.

Reading. Sorry. Um. Like Holt didn't know, that we knew. Didn't seem to know he even came out during all of that.

Scarah slumped a bit pretending like she was writing to look busy.

That's not good… Well then again maybe it's normal... she put her pencil to her mouth resisting the urge to nibble at the end. I was messing around in there and they already have memory issues as is. I don't know InvisiBilly I don't usually do this sort of…

I know it's not exactly your practice sorry for pressuring you into that. She could feel him straining for opaqueness, momentarily losing focus on the conversation.

If you're going to start texting him, why are you trying to visify?

He blushed back to nothingness. That. Is a very good point. Still surprised I don't get in trouble for texting more often, I mean my phone is clearly active it doesn't take more than a glance to see that. I guess it's all in the body language.

You're lucky I'm not a teacher's aide or something. I can always tell who's texting in class.

I could always try lying to you and say I was checking the time, if you caught me then.

Scarah grimaced because complete honesty was something she'd had to live with for awhile, and it wasn't always the best. You can't lie to me. Sorry~

Attempting to sound cheerful about it.

Intrusive thoughts of guilt and pink and blue hair fluttered through their thought-stream.

Both forced silent as InvisiBilly focused all his energy on thinking what to say to Jackson, trying to dismiss

Black and white stripes. Sore back. Flashes of backstage.

You should ask him how he's doing. Text him asking for his status. I mean my migraine's disappearing; his might be as well.

InvisiBilly's thoughts soon turned to him more or less transcribing her suggestion into a text for Holt or Jackson. Whoever got it, she wasn't sure who's class it was but InvisiBilly saw Holt last so she assumed him.

Remind him I'm sorry too.

Well I mean they're… he's he decided on singular pronouns and kept on In class.

Could you find out the class?

Oh, I pretty much walked him there. Mad Science I think. Then stopped. Why? Are we meeting up with him?

Wouldn't mind checking on him in person.

Texts are probably fine. Scarah caught a partial thought that may have possibly been herself in a nurse's outfit, before InvisiBilly coughed loudly Follow up exam?

If he'll allow it, I'd rather speak to Jackson about this matter but, this isn't exactly something we can leave Holt out of. She scribbled mindlessly on her work, eyeballs and yinyang symbols, trying to think of stuff other than her headache Thing is we might both be too sore for it... I know you can feel my headache, I don't know if I can actually touch him again for awhile. Even to check up on him.

Well what's there to check up on anyway? He's got a headache, you've got a headache, they're both still wonk from their little experiment. Whatever you did, didn't work so…

So, I feel awful that I did that to them! I don't know WHAT I did to them. I hope it was just a headache…

The couple cringed in sync as her stress amped their linked up pain.

She cut the thought speak for a little bit feeling worse about that. Remembering Jackson looking shakey and sick when she left. It was just temporary she was sure though. Still in his condition she didn't want to risk screwing things up worse.

Trying to remind herself it wasn't really her problem, empathy for her peer was still present.

She didn't even know him that well, mostly just he was Frankie's friend. Or well more than friends maybe based on unintentional eavesdropping on both of them... the three of them?

Still. He didn't know her and they'd never really talked but, she probably knew him better than he knew.

Same could be said for a lot of her peers…

Are you listening?

What?! She sat up straight Oh sorry. Come again?

He texted back. Says

"still got a headache thanks to you" winky tongue emote "mostly gone. What exactly did your girlfriend to do the nerd anyway?"

So then I explained better how you tried to fix Jackson to him and he texted back.

"Nice try. Feels good that someone knows. If only I could tell everyone and get my rep back" then more winky emotes "Jk."

InvisiBilly sighed and kept reading mentally to Scarah

"If she can't fix it, know anyone who can? I'm starting to think Jackson has no idea what he's doing. I would ask Ghoulia but then she'd tell Frankie. Frankie is awesome but I think she'd make us tell mom or something."

Oh ok he just started sending me pictures of Frankie now…

InvisiBilly rolled his eyes.

You got all that?

I think so… Scarah rubbed her temples trying to keep track of the message. Easier if she could get away with texting in class too. Remind me why we're helping him again?

The kindness of our hearts and if he gets in trouble I do. InvisiBilly made a face Worse, my keys would be confiscated I bet.

What a tragedy... Scarah smirked sarcastically.

Um yeah? Then we couldn't make out where ever we wanted? Followed by a mental cackle that made Scarah hide her face in her hands.

You can shush

Then sat up straight looking over a few rows, trying to lock in on someone else suddenly. Checking.

Someone was definitely not working on their vocab and it was sticking out of the mental field like a sore thumb.

Uhm. I think we forgot to make a plan for someone. Incoming.

What's that supposed to mean? InvisiBilly asked. Scarah was weirdly silent. He looked behind him to see her staring straight at someone else in class, a look of concentration she got whenever she was trying to target someone unfamiliar.

Before he got a text. But nothing appeared on his chat with Holt. It was from…

He looked back at who Scarah was staring at, seeing the same tone of mint green nonchalantly staring at her lap.

How did he forget about Frankie?

-Any news on Jackson?

InvisiBilly stared at the text message from his other green classmate. Realising he'd sort of… made a mistake there.

In trying to figure out what was going on with Jackson he'd definitely set Frankie on his trail.

But what was he supposed to say back?

Give her an answer? Say he didn't know? Set her off the trail by saying

-yeah i checked in with him he s fine. just um… He typed a partial text out staring at the phone, then looked around the class, still no one noticed him blatantly texting

-nothing. its rlly nothing to worry about. we were just being paranoid. :P

Hitting send. Glad he could think about the things he said for more than a split second before they were sent out unlike thought speak.

You can't tell her NOTHING she knows something's up!

Ow. His girlfriend's thought train came in like a hammer to the back of the head. Ever since she strained herself with Jackson, all her thoughts felt like they were making his brain ring. Better not be permanent damage.

Are you listening to my texts?

Not just your texts. Your thoughts. Your texts. Frankie's texts. Frankie's thoughts. Some girl near you who's getting over a break up. A bored teacher. And about 25 vocab lists. But yeah, trying to just listen to your texts though if that's ok.

InvisiBilly tried not to feel annoyed by her passive aggressive answer, knowing she'd sense that too. She was probably sensing it right now even.

You know I am. Anyway Frankie doesn't believe you, you just sound suspicious. She's anywhere from sort of believing you to thinking you might be in on something. Which hey at least she's not to far off.

With his phone on silent he hadn't noticed she'd texted back.

-When did you check on him?

Well that one was easy, their whereabouts weren't something he'd get in trouble for, even if he hadn't discovered Jackson's new deep dark secret.

-Lunch he texted back

You still sound suspicious.

How does lunch sound suspicious?

I think she was looking for him at lunch. And we were what? Not eating to do what exactly?

InvisiBilly didn't need to think hard to figure out a cover story.

We're boyfriend and girlfriend I think Frankie can leave it up to her imagination.

William.

I just mean making out in the janitor's closet or something gosh.

You keep bringing up make outs are you trying to hint at something?

InvisiBilly allowed his mind open for that one, snickering to himself.

Somewhere behind him his girlfriend sunk into her seat with a hot face.

Frankie finally got back to him.

-Where were you during lunch, I couldn't find Jackson either

-oh u kno with Scarah~ i finally caught him and turns out he s fine.

An invisible finger hovered over send.

That sounds terrible.

What do you want me to text her?

Well she knows there's a problem, maybe tack on something vague?

InvisBilly rolled his eyes, adding -just u kno. gettin close to the end of the year. grades are more important… probably stressful for their situation.

Finally sending that one.

How was THAT?

I mean I would have gone with family problems or him just being a teenage boy being flustered around his crush but, it's alright I suppose.

You're hard to please.

She knows something's up with both of them, lad. I don't know… well she's reading it now. Ok I DO know she's not convinced Holt's acting so weird because of school. You know her suspicion is probably more Jackson's fault. She seems more worried Holt's sick or something than Jackson being extra confident.

I wonder if we could help him practice how to loosen up.

InvisiBilly publicly mused.

I've been in there. We can try but I think Jackson is really too embarrassed to even consider. Funny though every time he's around you his thoughts are all on

Wishing he could disappear. I can tell.

Though it was common for his friends to wish they had invisibility too. Their motives were usually for sneaking around or superpower reasons.

Jackson seemed to give off the impression he just didn't want to be noticed. Couldn't be easy with his normie skin being super obvious.

Oh Frankie had texted back already.

-You were with Scarah when you found him so? Do you KNOW he's troubled by school or is that just what he said.

This conversation wasn't going where he wanted at all.

He knew what she meant but didn't want to answer. Maybe he shouldn't have mentioned he was with his mind-reading girlfriend at the time.

-whatcha mean?

Frankie sat in the corner of class, nonchalantly holding her iCoffin under the table looking at InvisiBilly's text. She was pretty sure he knew exactly what she meant but she would play his game.

-You were with Scarah?

Unless he was lying about that.

-Did she confirm that's what his problem this week is or? I mean it's not exactly a secret she picks up on like everything.

Sending the message, squinting at the empty seat a few rows ahead of her, seeing his phone light up in response. Remembering that maybe she could ask Scarah herself?

Wasn't she in this class or something, subtly glancing around the room for her skintone. Seeing a pronouncedly studious Scarah looking incredibly intent on her vocab.

She could pick up on like everything right?

Scarah?

She mentally tested staring at her. Then texting her an alert but she didn't see her phone out, and didn't hear any buzz or ring.

SCARAH.

Could you change the volume on a mental message? Apparently not…?

Frankie bit her lip unnoticed trying not to look at her but was anxious. Scarah would know, she didn't know why she didn't think of this sooner. Wishing she had her around when their headmistress was being impersonated. Really she was probably the quickest person to figure out any evil plot at this school, and well…

With a history of imposters, replacements, and just general weirdness at this school she was worried Jackson and Holt were in that direction. He could be anywhere from sick to a body snatcher, and she didn't want to go on a date with someone that wasn't even the real deal.

Clinging worriedly to InvisiBilly's excuse it just didn't sound right. And she was really wishing she could figure it out sometime soon.

She pulled out a blank skullette shaped note from her purse, quickly writing

-Scarah I'm trying to "talk" look up or something.

Passing it to the student next to her and pointing to Scarah subtly before looking like she was back at work.

Noting she received another text from InvisiBilly.

-i asked her and she just said something about his privacy or something. im her bf but doesnt mean she tells me everything about what everyones thinkin

Hm… she wasn't sure how to interpret that one either. Could have been anything from Scarah was in on whatever this was too… to the truth, or wasn't even there to begin with. Or… she did know and maybe Frankie could ask.

Then again if it was something worrisome, wouldn't Scarah let someone know? Maybe if this was the truth then Jackson really was fine.

She could trust Scarah right?

She glanced at her equally pale green class mate, seeing the note reach her desk, and sit there. Scarah apparently not noticing or something. Man, for someone with an invisible boyfriend she certainly was unobservant. Frankie, looked at the teacher. Then looked for something to maybe throw at her.

Getting a great idea instead. As she popped off her trusted hand and let it do it's work. Vaguely guiding it but when it was off her it almost felt like it had a mind of its own.

Subtly bypassing classmates it crawled up to Scarah's desk and tapped her. The telepath gave it a withering stare as it pointed at her paper note.

Frankie sat up straight suddenly to a mental heavy sigh echo into her brain, along with the ache of a headache.

What do you want Frankie?

Scarah's annoyed voice slowly rang through. She looked over to see Scarah looking at her directly, a new hand in her grip.

Frankie gave a mental nervous giggle.

Hey there! I see you uh…! Got my note?

A second long mental sigh.

Frankie wondered why it was sort of giving her a headache, though maybe Scarah just had one and that's why she didn't want to talk. She didn't really know much about how that worked.

Yes. Scarah answered going back to doodling on her page What's your question?

Do you know why Jackson and Holt are acting so weird? Frankie asked concerned, deciding to go straight to the point.

Yes.

Frankie sparked excitedly, waiting for more of an answer. Then not recieving one.

Voltageous..! She tacked on nervously Mind telling me what?

Yes. I do mind.

Oh… Frankie pouted. She thought she could finally get to the bottom of this. Maybe she still could.

There was a silence while Scarah continued not to contact her. Frankie frowned, even if they weren't like super close they were still friends.

Scarah… Are you ok?

Just a headache, sorry if I don't sound super cheerful right now.

And… is Holt ok?

Your lads are fine don't worry about it.

Frankie twiddled with her bare wrist, wondering if she should call her hand back.

If they're fine, why can't I know?

Frankie, I can't go around telling everyone what I pick up on. It's his right to privacy. Imagine if I let anyone know what anyone was thinking?

She sounded all sighy, and exasperated so Frankie wasn't sure if she should press on, feeling kind of bad for asking her so much anyway when she seemed kind of tired or something.

She could see Scarah just staring at the desk now. Looking troubled from her brain ache and probably concentrating on projecting herself. Still something seemed up.

Though she was probably telling the truth… if she was in on it too

I'm not "in on" anything. Scarah interrupted her thoughts.

Frankie jolted up, feeling hot in the face, forgetting it wasn't just thoughts she was trying to send out, but Scarah could kind of pick up on whatever.

Denying it would be exactly what someone in on it would say though…

There's no conspiracy… Scarah looked directly over to her making a face of concern, and gently passing her hand to the students between them.

Holt's fine. Jackson's fine. I know you're concerned, I get that. I get that you two like eachother. I get that you're worried about him, but you don't have to save the school this time, lass.

Scarah gave a smile as Frankie received her hand back, popping it back into her wrist. Trusting her at least for now. But still biting her lip knowing something was up.

If you know how I feel then… is there anything I can do to help him?

Scarah blinked. Looking at the teacher. Then back to her notes, then to someone else in class.

She was silent for awhile. Leaving Frankie confused. Was she talking to someone else?

She waited quietly for a response, beginning to pack up her things as she heard the rustle of students preparing for the bell.

Frankie you still there?

She looked over to see Scarah closing her eyes with a hand to her head concentrating. Probably harder to broadcast and focus with the sudden activity in the room.

Totes. She listened closely.

Back off a little. Not to sound rude, that's the best way to put it. Walk a little lighter, focus on your own problems for now. If it's still bugging him in like a couple weeks, then maybe it's serious. But well. Frankie blushed at her chuckle You two aren't an item. Yet. Don't need to be so into his business.

Thought you weren't a fortuneteller. Frankie smirked.

Oi, even if I couldn't tell that you three have been day dreaming about your little Sunday date since 4th Period. I'd keep an eye on the "Romance of the Day" section of Ghostly Gossip, sounds like someone overheard.

Frankie hid her face in her hands. Wondering who in the friendgroup it was that let that detail slip.

The bell rang throughout the class, and Frankie took her time to stand up, mentally connecting with Scarah being weirdly exhausting sometimes.

But they're really ok? She pressed one last time, thinking about how off putting Holt being so quiet was.

I'm not going to say, nothing is wrong but. Scarah slowly put her own things away Nothing you need to worry about.

No shapeshifters?

Nor podpeople. Just. Stop. Investigating.

For some reason her command unsettled her. Frankie swallowed. Trying not to think about it.

She wasn't sure how far Scarah's range was but maybe she could think about it more if she left into the crowd.

Ok, thanks Scarah. It's a relief. See you later!

With that, she half rushed out of the room trying to do everything in her power to think of ghoulebrities and her Sunday date, until she hit the stream of the crowded hallway. Walking down the hall for good measure. Then sighing.

She didn't know who to trust. She knew she was being paranoid but whenever she trusted her gut she was right. Shadow people. Imposter Bloodgood. All of it.

Stressed she hurried into the ghouls bathroom, going to add a bit of water to hairbrush, working on trying to tame her static filled flyaways.

For once she wanted to believe she wouldn't have to save the school or anything but if a storm was brewing she wanted to be prepared.

Looking at her reflection from one blue eye to the green. Reminding her of her crush's duality.

Scarah was her friend but she could still be in on it. If there was an "it". Gosh she wanted there not to be an "it"!

If she was. If there was something up with her too or she just knew way more than she was letting on. She'd have to be more careful about what she thought, or more conscious about who was around her.

Or just…

Believe her.

Why was her instinct telling her Scarah was lying then…

Frankie could be the most naive girl in school but she was learning fast. People had tricked her before. Taken advantage of her lack of unlife experience… Well not this time.

She took a breath, going to touch up her lipstick.

Even if Scarah was telling the truth. She would find out whatever tiny problem Holt was having.

If Scarah was lying, then she'd find out whatever she was lying about.

She just had to be careful.

"What was that?" InvisiBilly approached his girlfriend who had rushed to the door and was looking worriedly out into the busy hallway. Still hovering in the empty classroom.

"I'm…" Scarah bit her lip "Not sure."

"I thought you were always sure."

"She ran off. Something was on her mind. She was trying to cover it, I only caught some of it. before she... " Scarah looked up at her boyfriend, pupiless eyes looking through him. Though not like she could tell where she was looking, he hadn't become opaque though. "InvisiBilly I'm worried. I don't think she completely believed me…"

"See, I told you it's hard to convince her…" he looked at his failed texts to her, pulling out a phone and suddenly popping into existance "She can be worse than Spectra when she gets whiff of something juicy."

"Come on. We should find Holt." Scarah took the crook of InvisiBilly's elbow towing him into the hall.

"What for?" InvisiBilly asked dodging a student who rudely brushed passed him in a hurry "Yo I'm not even see-through what is wrong with people!" he complained loudly for his bumper to hear and rant to Scarah, getting over the stumble.

"InvisiBilly." Scarah rerouted his attention.

"Right sorry. Why do we need to talk to him?" Nearly hiding behind his girflriend to cut them through the crowd.

"Frankie's still on his trail I want to warn him." Scarah huffed.

"And check up on him." her boyfriend added.

"That too. It's Jackson I want to talk to most though. It's him." She thought back to who Frankie was most worried about. "He's the problem. He doesn't know how to act outgoing. Being reserved is easy to fake but everyone notices when Mr. Announcer isn't announcing himself. That and…"

"And what?"

She made a face "I want to see if he's close to actually curing himself. He refuses to get an adult and that makes me worried. It's not just about getting in trouble, he could still hurt himself. Holt's not trusting Jackson's idea for self-fixing either and…"

Scarah paused, InvisiBilly bumping into her a bit as she tried to orient herself looking for Mad Science hallway, the crowd's collective chattering away in her tired skull.

"Not to get all psychologist but it could be a sign of self doubt."

"Self doubt?" InvisiBilly squinted "They aren't the same person though."

Scarah was quiet. Before finally speaking up, starting to walk more determinedly again "Jackson and Holt are complicated. More complicated than I think even they're aware of." she looked at InvisiBilly, her eyes gleaming a bit like a scientist as she smiled "Avoiding the fact that you'd get drug down with whatever charges he'd get for this whole mess… I don't mind getting this close to them. It's a fascinating opportunity."

"Too bad you can't cook up a cure."

"I'm a telepath not a chemist." she gave a sideways smile, holding InvisiBilly's hand. "Wonder if your family could help."

"I'm 90% sure all they know how to do is turn things invisible. Which isn't actually as hard as you'd think it would be." InvisiBilly gripped her hand, trusting her judgement though. "I know I'm the last person to snitch but maybe if we could tell just his mom and leave school authority out of it she could help. Isn't she a doctor?"

"That's an idea, but he seemed really against it for some reason." Scarah's mind suddenly flashed a blue female face that caught her offguard, something residual from her mental link from him. Her jaw clenched and she shook the proceeding headache away. InsiviBilly put his hand on her shoulder to steady her.

"We might need to tell someone eventually." InvisiBilly warned as he scanned the crowd for bright red, or mustard yellow.

"I know. For now we'll just watch. And help." Scarah slowed to look too, adding in mental relay too, sifting through voices in her head.

"If… it gets any worse though right?" InvisiBilly made sure to check for purple ghosts in their proximity. "We'll tell someone?"

"Aye... Till then though."

InvisiBilly would have preferred if she said 'If then' or something, 'till' made it sound so ominous.

"You don't think it could get any worse, right?"

Scarah was silent, catching sight of something. "I'll get back to you on that one, lad."