Hello my fellow travellers! I hope you enjoy this chapter, let me know what you think, I'm a little unsure about it. The song is another Aussie love of mine but I highly recommend watching the video if haven't. You might finder a stranger surprise.

We can run with the headlights on
Till we got nothing to lose

I don't mind if you wanna go anywhere
I'll take you there

Chateau - Angus & Julia Stone

Wednesday

Allison was not going to that party. Or at least she wasn't until she ran into Jonathan.

"C'mon, it's one night out," Jonathan remarked quietly.

"Jonathan Byers, I've known you for two days and I know you well enough to know that you are the definition of the loner type; what's going on?" Allison stood with her arms crossed outside the Wheeler house. She and Daniel had arrived moments before and excited Will and Jonathan. The boys were all Dressed as the Ghostbusters While Daniel wore a leather jacket, jeans, and a pair of dark shades to channel his inner Terminator. Allison had admitted she thought he looked badass and he hadn't stopped beaming since.

"Also, if you can recall, it was only like two days ago I asked you to tag along and you said no. Besides, Billy's gonna be there and I would prefer to just avoid him and his posse at all costs." Allison shudders, she had successfully avoided them today, only running into Melinda in the bathroom for a moment. It had been a quiet day for the teen who had spent her third day studying when she could no longer tolerate Nancy and Steve's overly affectionate displays, apparently, couple's costumes brought on a euphoria similar to Valentine's day.

Jonathan looked off into the distance before sighing and pushing his fringe to the side. "Nancy asked me to go and I really don't want to be stuck third-wheeling again." Allison watches the boy before her with a sorrowful expression, it was uncomfortably painful to watch them interact sometimes especially now that she knew about Jonathan's feelings.

"Fine, I'll go, but I'm doing this for you which means you owe me big time. You better help keep Billy away from me or I'm never talking to you again, got it, Dweeb?" Jonathan nods in affirmation, a small smile pulling at the corners of his lips. She already knew she was going to be abandoned the minute they entered the house, but she just couldn't say no to Jonathan, his awkwardness and timidness reminded her so much of Daniel sometimes.

So, that's how Allison Edwards ended up at a house packed full of sweaty teenagers on a Wednesday night. Just as she had suspected, despite his promises, Jonathan had abandoned her quickly in favour of skulking around and looking for Nancy. Allison had wondered around, filling a cup with a suspicious punch, and avoiding Carol and her friends, they had yet to spot her much to Allison's relief. Motley Crue played loudly and bodies jumped and danced, sloshing drinks into the carpet of some poor parent's house.

After the debacle of yesterday's cafeteria outing, Allison had made it her mission to avoid the crowd that Billy and Carol liked to hang around with. She wasn't one to be pushed around and the five minutes before she had snapped, and Steve had come over had brought to light the kind of people Billy, Carol, and their friends were; Assholes.

House parties weren't a thing in Wakeford and Allison realised at that moment as she sipped on her punch, they really weren't all the movies made them out to be. She was about to walk outside for some fresh air when she spotted a blond mane that could only belong to Billy Hargrove and turned away quickly hoping he hadn't spotted her.

His overconfident attempts at wooing Allison had failed but she was worried turning up might give him the wrong idea. Even if she was stupid enough to give him another chance at friendship his silence while his friends called her a whore yesterday had solidified his cowardice in her mind, Allison couldn't forget that. Her turn had revealed another glorious head of hair and she sighed in relief as she made her way over to her Chemistry partner.

"Hermia and Lysander!" Allison jokes sipping her drink as she approaches her friends. "Harrington, I love the look."

Steve, pushed his glasses down the bridge of his nose and gave her a once-over, a smirk pulling at his mouth. "Glad you dressed up for the occasion, Edwards." Allison rolled her eyes and pushed Steve's glasses back up his face much to Nancy's amusement.

"Yeah, yeah, shut it."

Steve chuckles and wraps an arm around Nancy with a grin. "You look great, the high school movie extra, right? Totally believable." Allison laughs with a shake of her head at Steve's sass. She turns to Nancy who watched the two of them with amusement.

"Lady Macbeth actually, so watch your back Harrington."

Nancy laughs, poking her friend's leather clad arm lightly. "Please with that face? Just say your Brooke Shields, has anyone ever told you that you might have been separated at birth?" Nancy jokes.

Allison chuckles uncomfortably, with a roll of her eyes. "Yeah, I don't think Brooke Shields would be seen dead in something as couture as this." Allison jokes pointing toward her favourite jeans, an old biker jacket, and plain white tee tucked in underneath. "Besides, I don't look anything like her, I'm a mess." She jokes, sifting her fingers through her wavy hair and letting it fall down her left shoulder.

"You need to look in the mirror, you're gorgeous. And you look totally wicked, like always." Nancy compliments, wrapping her arm around Steve's waist.

Embarrassed, Allison blushes with another awkward chuckle and decides to change the subject. "Hey, have either of you seen Jonathan? Iago forced me along to this thing and then totally bailed on me." Allison took another mouthful of the punch, feeling her face warm and her fingers tingle.

"No, I haven't seen him yet. I'm glad he came, I feel like I've barely seen him this week." Nancy smiled, Allison didn't want to mention to the younger girl that a certain Senior had monopolized her time. She didn't want to cause trouble between the popular girl and the loner boy.

"Shakespeare on the brain?" Steve asks with a smirk enjoying the surprise on Allison's face. "I'm going to ignore the fact that you thought I, a high school senior wouldn't know a Shakespeare reference when I heard one and ask why you won't let the old codger rest in peace?"

"Hey, take that one up with the American education system, buddy!" Allison exclaimed, her English teacher had spoken in iambic pentameter for every class and it was starting to mess with her brain.

"So! I like the Risky Business theme! You both look ace!" Allison exclaimed when she felt her own awkwardness seep between the three of them. Nancy wore a cute ivory get up and Steve rocked a blazer and the ray-bans he'd been sporting around the school. Neither gets the chance to answer before shouting from the backyard can be heard over the pounding music.

Allison turns to the dance floor seeing Billy walking through with a smug grin on his face, his cronies chanting 'King Billy' behind him. He fingers the streamers that hang from the chandelier, cigarette dangling from his lips. Rolling her eyes, Allison turns away as he approaches the three of them. He slings an arm over her shoulders and the strong odour of cigarettes and cheap beer overwhelm her senses.

"We've got ourselves a new 'keg king' Harrington." One of the cronies' croons.

Yeah, eat it Harrington!" boasts Tommy, stepping up to Steve threateningly.

Billy and Steve face off, Billy with a smirk and Steve keeping his face expressionless. He removes his glasses, glancing at an uncomfortable Allison before returning his glare to Billy. Nancy walks away with a roll of her eyes and Allison sees it as her opportunity to escape Billy's heavy arm.

Allison ducks away but isn't fast enough to escape Billy, who grabs her arm with a grin. "Where are you disappearing to, sweetheart?"

Allison attempts to remove her arm from his hand, throwing a tight smile toward the blond. "I'm going with my friend."

Steve whose hand had been resting against the door, the picture of cool and collected, stepped forward, taking Allison's forearm, and sliding his hand down until Billy was forced to remove his grip with a dark chuckle. Her hand slid into Steve's and he gave a reassuring squeeze.

Allison stared at Steve in surprise, Steve didn't notice her look however, his eyes continued to glare at a smirking Billy, who watched the two of them noting that they still held onto each other's hands. "Careful there, King Steve! Wouldn't want your girlfriend getting the wrong idea." Tommy cooed, pointing towards their proximity with his joker-like grin.

"I don't understand why you won't leave me alone, I've done nothing to you and neither has Harrington." Allison shot back separating from Steve to get in Tommy's face. She was sick of this guy tormenting her and her friends and she thought it past time he learned he was messing with the wrong girl.

"It's in the name of fun, sugar." Tommy laughs.

"King Steve has what I want, sweetheart," Billy speaks quietly, his deep voice washing over her, Allison's eyes turn to him as he stares at Steve over her shoulder, his cigarette still dangling from his mouth.

"I want to be King and for now I want you, and the only person I can see standing in the way of those things is your buddy, Harrington. So, he's gotta learn to get outta my way. I'm very good at getting what I want, and I always find a way, eventually." Billy remarked, his smirk dropping and a frighteningly dark expression taking hold. Allison didn't back down, she could feel Steve's hands on her shoulders, trying to keep her in place but couldn't feel it within herself to be frightened of the pathetic person currently attempting to crowd her with his height.

"I don't belong to you and I don't belong to Harrington. I am my own person and while I make my own decisions I can promise your little fantasies of owning me will stay as just that; fantasies. I've continued to give you the benefit of the doubt and I can't figure out why. You've treated me like I'm a piece of meat and let your friends belittle me for your entertainment and still I wanted to like you." Allison shakes her head, at the Blond whose eyes finally met hers.

"You had a chance to be my friend and you blew it. So, I'm done, stay away from me and my friends, Billy. I won't ask again." With that, the girl walked away, flicking her long hair, and pulling a stunned Steve Harrington behind her.

They found Nancy scooping her cup into the punch Allison herself had enjoyed and Steve untangled her hand from the front of his blazer to try and stop the cup lifting to Nancy's lips. "Hey, hey, hey! Whoa, whoa, whoa, take it easy, Nance, Nance!" Nancy raised her arms in defiance filling the cup again.

"What? Were just being stupid teenagers for the night, isn't that the deal?" With that she upends the cup, the red drinking dripping onto her face. Steve watches in frustration as she wipes away the drops on her face and escapes to the dance floor.

Allison frowns as he watches her disappear, his hands leaning on the kitchen bench. "You okay?" She asks, her eyes losing Nancy in the crowd. Steve glances at her, his eyes finding their way back to the dance floor searching for the distinct ivory Nancy wore. He seems to think for a moment before he turns to Allison fully, taking the red cup from her hand and setting it on the bench.

"I'll be fine, I always am." Steve meets Allison's eyes again, worry dancing within them. "Are you okay? With the whole Billy thing, I mean. I should have just taken you away the second he opened his mouth, I'm sorry, Edwards."

Allison frowned, placing a hand on his arm briefly in reassurance. Her heart still feeling the effects of the adrenaline that had coursed through her when she confronted Billy and his wastoid friends "Harrington, I'm not some maiden in need of defending. I am more than capable of handling myself, no matter who it is after me. I would hope you would have gathered that by now."

Steve's eyes drifted off before he seemed to shake himself off and smirk, nodding in agreement. "I know, you gave Michael Myers a run for his money back there. That was some scary shit, remind me not to mess with you." Allison chuckled with a roll of her eyes, reaching for her cup. Steve placed a hand on top to stop her.

"I need to go find Nance, but can you do me a favour? Don't drink any more of that stuff, it's not 'pure fuel' it's pure crap."

Allison huffs a laugh but nods in agreement before her thoughts fall to Nancy. "She seems so haunted by everything that happened." Steve's face falls at her words and Allison thinks that for all his bravado, Steve Harrington might be pretty haunted too. She found herself wondering again just what had happened to the kids in this town last year, Allison truly believed it all went much deeper than Barb Holland and Will Byers.

"I'll see you later, Edwards."

Allison finds herself sipping a cheap beer as she stands on the back porch taking in the cool Fall night. The crisp air made her want to run for the first time since Sunday, she normally didn't wait so long between jaunts, but had been so caught up in school work exercise has slipped her mind. Allison decided she would try and run tomorrow.

The back-door swings open and a handful of people tumble out, laughing and talking loudly as they ventured down the stairs and onto the grass to smoke. Melinda tripped out the door last, a laugh bubbling up as she closed the door behind her. Turning toward her friends, she notices Allison leaning against the bannister and grins drunkenly, pushing her curled blonde hair back into place. She was dressed as Sandy from Grease and she looked amazing in her black spandex bodysuit and sky-high heels.

"Hey, Allison! I wasn't sure if you'd come tonight, I'm totally glad you did."

Allison smiled politely at the girl, still unsure where they sat after the talk in the locker-room. "Yeah, I came with a friend. I wasn't going to let those posers stop me." Allison replied, raising her red cup. "You look great by the way, I love Grease." Melinda looks down at her outfit, smoothing it over her stomach nervously.

"Thanks! I was a little unsure if I could pull off something as iconic as Sandy's catsuit."

"You chose well, are you having a good night?" Allison asks politely. Melinda nods, crossing her arms over her chest against the breeze. "Yeah, I heard Billy and Tommy got into it with Steve. Did you see it?"

"I was there, gave Billy some of the serving I've wanted to give him since yesterday." Allison laughs lightly.

"No shit! Good for you, Allison. That creep had it coming. He really freaks me out, he's so intense and he takes himself way too seriously."

Allison laughs again in agreement. "Yeah, I've never really been into Peacocks." She quips making Melinda chuckle.

"Are you sure? I heard a few rumours about you and Steve." Melinda replies with a cheeky look. Allison raises her brow at the drunken blonde.

"Not even! Harrington is with Nancy. He's my Chemistry partner and my friend, besides I wasn't lying, I've really never liked Peacocks." Allison laughs.

Melinda wiggles her eyebrows and taps Allison on the arm with a giggle. "Well, not yet anyway. Steve is like a really special guy. He used to be a total asshole, but underneath all that he had a heart." Allison nods awkwardly her lips pulling tight in an effort not to laugh at the drunk before her.

Thankfully, someone down on the grass calls Melinda over and her head turns to the pack on the grass laughing, waving that she'd be over in a second. "I better motor, but have a good night okay? Make some new friends! Hawkins has some pretty righteous people."

"I'll try my best. See you later, Melinda." Allison grins.

Melinda heads down the stairs, one hand on the rail to keep steady on her heels and Allison heads inside, instantly missing the cool air as the stench of teenage sweat and cheap beer overwhelm her senses. Everywhere she looks people are dancing, and drinking. Allison thinks she sees Jonathan sweep across the kitchen but couldn't be sure. Allison thought he might be too good at lurking.

Melinda's words had caused an anxiousness in Allison that she couldn't shake. Did people really think there was something between her and Steve? She didn't like the idea of people thinking she could be the type of person to steal her friend's boyfriend, that was the old Allison. New Allison didn't want to date anyone, especially Steve.

"ALLI!"

Allison turns to her left, next to the bathroom is her very tipsy friend and Steve, speak of the Devil, she thought. Nancy wobbled as she waved her over before turning back to Steve and bopping to the rhythm of the song. "Hey! I've been looking for you like everywhere! We're being teenagers! Let's dance." Nancy yells excitedly. Her clammy hands grab Allison's and she pulls her further into the crowd leaving an amused Steve behind to watch.

The second they make it to the middle of the floor, Nancy lets go of one of Allison's hands lifting the other and spinning herself underneath it. Allison wasn't a dancer and the press of bodies around her made her uncomfortable, but she didn't want to let the happy teen down.

They swayed together, bopping, jumping, and giggling without care. People came up to join them, but the two teens paid little attention to anyone else. Nancy spun Allison and in the tilting world, she saw Steve watching them from the same spot, a friend having engaged him in conversation. Nancy noticed Allison's eyes had strayed to the serious looking boy and her smile fell as she followed her gaze.

"He thinks I blame him for Barb's death."

Allison frowns at the suddenly serious expression on Nancy's face, her words were slurred as she stared up at Allison. "Who?" Allison asks confused.

"Steve."

"Do you? Blame him?" Allison shouted over the music, her eyes darting between Nancy's chocolate ones, the music seeming to dim as she waited for the answer from the drunken girl.

"Yes." She replies before flouncing over the kitchen, her grin returning.

She's standing alone desperate enough to contemplate a walk home when she spots Jonathan chatting to a girl dressed as a member of KISS. She smirks at the awkward guy as he shakes her hand and she feels like an asshole as she begins to make her way over to them.

This night had been insane, and she really wanted to go home and unpack it in the silence of her bedroom. Between the fight with Billy and then Nancy not only saying that Barb was dead but drunkenly saying it was Steve's fault, she really needed to sort her mind.

She is tantalizing close to the front door when she sees Steve trying to stop Nancy from drinking more of the dubiously labelled 'Pure Fuel.' Allison knows it isn't going to end well and hears the crowd watching shout 'oh!' in unison when Nancy spills her drink all over herself. Nancy mutters something and then drunkenly stomps away, Steve following her with an apologetic look.

They rush past Allison and into the bathroom and she watches and waits for them to emerge laughing and smiling like they always do. Allison had known them only a few days, but she had come to know them as the perfect popular couple who can jump over fractures and ignore rifts. Though Nancy's drunken admission proved to Allison that maybe at least she was a little more aware of the faults they had.

Her thoughts are disrupted a few moments later when Steve emerges from the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. He rushes to the front of the house, running a hand over his face. He brushes past Jonathan but doesn't even notice in his rush to escape. Allison doesn't hesitate, rushing after him. Jonathan nods at her as their eyes meet in a silent agreement, he's already heading towards the bathroom as she leaves the house.

"Harrington! Hey, hey!" She shouts, running to catch up to his quickly retreating figure. His head down and she can see his fingers are pinching the bridge of his nose as he continues to stride hastily to his car.

"Harrington, please! Would you just wait!"

Finally, he stops to wait for her. "Hey, what happened?" She exclaims, gripping his upper arm and coming around to his front. Strands of his hair have fallen out of place and Allison knows Steve Harrington well enough to know if he isn't rushing to put them back into place, something must be terribly wrong.

Steve looks up at the sky with a sigh before finally speaking to her. "What do you want, Edwards?"

Allison squeezes his arm gently, "I want to know if you're alright, what happened?"

He shook off her comforting hand. "Why do you even care? We aren't friends, Edwards. You said it yourself, we hardly know each other." He spits angrily.

"I care because you are important to me, Harrington, just as important as Jonathan or Nancy, you are my friends. Will you please tell me what happened?" Allison said gently, stepping closer to him tentatively.

Steve gestures toward his chest with both hands. "I'm bullshit, that's what happened, Edwards. I'm bullshit, in a relationship that's bullshit because apparently, I'm a total moron who's in love with someone who doesn't love me back."

Allison stares at him in shock. "Nancy said she doesn't love you? That's impossible."

Steve scoffs pinching the bridge of his nose again before dropping his hand to his thigh with a slap. "I need to get out of here, I need to be alone for a while." With that he steps around her, heading to his car dejectedly.

"Wait, Harrington!" Allison calls after him. "Steve, please!" He stops at the use of his first name, he's pretty sure he's never heard Allison call him 'Steve' before. He doesn't look back, but she speaks anyway, her voice soft and forgiving.

"Just… drive safe, okay?"

Steve sighs, running a hand through his mussed hair before he turns towards her. Her hand was pushed into the pocket of her leather jacket, it swallowed her tall frame, but Steve remembered thinking she looked like a badass. Concern lit her features as she ran her fingers through her dark hair, throwing it over her right shoulder.

"Do you need a ride home?" Allison blinks in surprise at the offer, his voice sounds so miserable. She comes to her senses and shakes her head.

"Byers drove you here, right?"

Steve ushers her towards the car. "He'll take Nance home, you probably don't want to be around for that, she's in the mood for the truth." A part of Steve didn't want Allison near Nancy right now, he didn't like what she'd said to him, he didn't want to imagine what she might say about him to Allison, He didn't know if he just wanted someone on his side at that moment, or if he wanted Allison specifically on his side.

"No, it's okay I only live a few streets away, I can just walk." Allison throws him a small reassuring smile, stepping back toward the party and pulling him out of his thoughts. Steve sighs, "You can't walk. I'll give you a ride, c'mon." He starts walking to his car again and Allison follows, "I'm fine, honestly. Harrington, hey, please you don't have to worry about me." They are at his car when he meets her gaze over the top of the car for the first time since he left that bathroom with Nancy. he looks heartbroken and confused and Allison can't say she blames him.

"Get in the car, Allison."

Allison gets in the car.

They are both silent, Steve already knew where she lived from Nancy. It wasn't uncomfortable, but Allison could feel her tension filling the car, she wanted to embrace him and try to take away his pain. Allison also wanted to bombard him questions, like why did Nancy say she doesn't love you? What happened last year? And most importantly, why does Nancy think you killed Barb? she chose to keep quiet, but the last question buzzed around her head, Allison knew Nancy hadn't been literal when she said she blamed Steve for Barb's death. The girl obviously carried a lot of guilt for choosing Steve over her best friend that night, but it wasn't her fault, and it certainly wasn't Steve's.

What Allison couldn't figure out was how Nancy knew she was gone, just yesterday she had been crying over her disappearance and now the girl was dead? Allison glanced at the boy beside her with a frown wondering what exactly the teens knew. Steve stared straight ahead, completely focused on the road, the car wobbled slightly when Allison spoke, she had startled him with her low voice.

"Do you know if there have been any new developments in Barbra Holland's disappearance?"

Steve peeks her way, the frown on his face deepening. "No, she's still missing last I heard. Why?"

"Just something Nancy said tonight is all, I thought maybe something had happened," Allison replied matching Steve's frown. Nancy had been drunk, it's more than probable she was just blabbering, she pondered.

"What did she say?" Steve asked in a veiled voice, Allison wasn't sure what he was trying to mask but she thought he sounded scared.

"She said Barb was dead, but she was really drunk, I'm sure she didn't mean most of what she said tonight." Allison placated.

Steve clenched the wheel tightly, staring ahead in the silence. He wasn't so sure drinking was an excuse for Nancy but an opportunity to express herself. It frustrated him that she had talked to Allison about this, he knew she wanted someone to pay for Barb's death but telling Allison would just get her killed along with Nancy and himself. "Your probably right." He muttered.

The streets they drive past are lit with Halloween decorations and kids in costumes still mill about. She remembers being one of those kids not too long ago, she wishes she could go back to that. No worries or stress, just being a kid sounded really good right now, she thought.

"Do you ever miss being a kid?"

Steve glances at her quickly before his eyes return to the road. He's silent for a long time and Allison thinks he isn't going to answer her before his soft voice breaks the silence. "Sometimes. Everything is so much easier when you're a kid. No college pressure, no assholes, no Basketball team, no girlfriends. I miss that."

"I miss trick or treating and believing in Santa," Allison says wistfully, earning a low chuckle from Steve.

"It's not too late, you know." He replies, turning onto her street.

"Considering I literally caught my Mom kissing Santa Claus, I'd say yes, it is." She smirks at Steve, who shakes his head slightly with a small grin.

"I meant trick or treating, smartass."

Allison returns his grin as he pulls up to her house, giving her an idea. "Wait here for a second." Allison smiles at him, rushing from the car and up the footpath.

Opening the front door quietly, Allison reaches for the jar full of candy her Mom had bought and took a few chocolates, Daniel always nagged their Mom to buy the full size candy, for the leftovers and this year she had listened. Allison quietly closed the door, jogging back to Steve's car with a grin. He had watched the entire process from his car and followed her with his eyes, a small frown crinkling his brow.

Sliding back into the passenger seat she threw a Snickers bar into his lap with a smirk. "Happy Halloween, Harrington."

Steve took the chocolate with a chuckle and fingered the plastic. "Know any tricks?" He asks, his eyes returning to hers.

Allison thinks around a mouthful of chocolate, her eyes twinkling in concentration before she remembers. "Oh! I can touch my nose with my tongue!"

Steve's face screws up at her laughter. "That's gross."

"Do you wanna see?"

"Obviously." He replies earning another laugh from the girl. Allison sticks her tongue out and flicks it up toward her nose. She feels it tickle the top of her cupids bow and pulls her tongue away, scratching the itch it created. "You weren't anywhere near your nose, just so you know," Steve said, ripping open his chocolate.

"You are so full of crap. I felt it!" Allison exclaimed, sitting up to tuck her legs underneath her, her back turned toward the passenger window. "Besides, I totally bet you couldn't do it, so shut up, Dweeb." Allison finished taking another bite of her chocolate.

Steve huffs a laugh, swallowing his chocolate down. He's staring ahead, but Allison can see the amusement in his eyes. "I wouldn't even try, you looked really stupid."

"Ah, am I finally meeting the famous King Steve? Too worried about his looks to have fun?" Allison sassed. Steve rolled his eyes glancing at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Why are you still in my car?" He replies with a straight face causing Allison to burst out laughing.

"King Steve is like… snippy, I'll take note." She opens the door, throwing another chocolate at him; this time at his head.

"Hey!"

"Enjoy my peasant candy, my Liege. I'll see you tomorrow." With that she shuts his door and walks to the house, he waits until she's opened the door, and turned to wave goodbye before he leaves with a wave of his own. Allison can see he's not smiling anymore and it makes her want to run back to the car again. She wanted to distract him and was happy it had worked for a while, but as much as she didn't want to see him sad she knew he needed to process what Nancy had said.

Allison heads upstairs seeing Daniel's light glowing from beneath his cream coloured door. He calls out for her to come in when she knocks and looks up surprised to see her enter. "I thought you were Mom, I didn't think you'd be back for ages." Allison shrugged, flopping on the end of his bed, and gesturing to the haul of candy he had spread before him.

"Good pull, shithead." She remarked fingering a three musketeers. Daniel yanks it away from her with a growl.

"Get your own, shithead." He replies, sweeping it all back into the bucket beside his bed.

"Rude."

"Rude for assuming."

Allison chuckled, resting her hands on her stomach, and staring at the ivory ceiling tiredly. "You smell like beer and sadness," Daniel remarked in disdain.

"Not even!"

"Even."

"Yeah, that's the smell of Highschool, get used to it," Allison replied with a grin, accepting that the smell of the party had seeped into her very soul. They are both quiet for a while, Allison glances over to see Daniel picking at the skin around his thumb. "What's up, Kid?"

Daniel looks up a troubled look on his face. He glances away before sighing and meeting Allison's eyes again. "Will had an attack while we were trick or treating and Mike wouldn't let me help. They were both acting weird all night and then Will just disappeared, and we found him hiding in someone's backyard and he was shivering, it was strange."

"What do you mean Mike wouldn't let you help?" Allison asked, sitting up with a frown.

"When we found Will, Mike made me leave. He said I can't tell anyone what happened, and that I wouldn't understand if he told me what was going on." Daniel shrugged.

"That is strange." Allison agreed. She sighed rising to a sitting position and watching her brother with concern. "I think you were right about this place, Bud. Something strange is going on."