Angela, of course, had a head start on the gossip chain. A whole thirty seconds was all it took for whispers to fly around the room, and people glanced at them as the walked by.

Holly daintily dabbed at the sweat on her brow, but she smiled as she spotted them, which Lucy took to either mean that she hadn't heard the rumors or she was playing it off really well. Lucy hoped for the latter.

"Hey Lucy. Nice fencing match against Kipps ,by the way. That took his ego down a notch or two."

The two girls laughed while Lockwood gave an uncertain smile. George was studying Holly, the same way he did when he met Lucy.

"Holly meet Lockwood," she gestured to the taller boy, "and George."

"Pleased to meet you."

Holly shook both boys hands.

"From the questions I just got asked by them," she pointed to a group of students who hastily tried to pretend they weren't eavesdropping, "I guess we're a team for practicals?"

Holly looked at the three of them. The boys looked at Lucy. Lucy looked at the boys. Then she turned to Holly.

"Yes."

Holly smiled at them.

"Then we better get to training."

After doing standard rapier drills for the next hour and a half, the girls and guys parted ways to get out of their sticky, sweaty clothes.

It turns out Holly takes a long time to get dressed, and Lucy, being unsure of where their friendship stood, waited for her. They emerged out of the locker room and into the gym long after the other girls had. Rotwell glared at them on their way out. Lucy glared back.

The next class was one of Lucy's least favorites. It was called Sensitivity Tuning by the teachers and emotional trauma by the general student body.

One basically encountered different Types of ghosts in a controlled environment, touched psychically charged items in an attempt to connect with the past, and other things to "tune your Talents".

As she walked in, the first thing that stood out to her was the array of ghost jars and other Seals. Ectoplasm swirled in most of the jars, and she got a disconcerting whispering in her inner ear. None of her new friends were in this class so she chose a seat at the back of the class, and hoped no one would speak to her.

The teacher, Miss Fittes, gave her teachery spiel on safety and such, then told the students to pair off.

Lucy sighed. Of course, she thought wryly.

"Hey, new girl, wanna be partners?"

She looked at the person in question. A thin boy, with an equally thin, long face. He was sitting in the seat in front of her.

"I'm Ted Daley."

"Er- sure."

Miss Fittes passed around a tray with various items on it. All of them were not dangerous but held echoes of the dead, and it was crucial to know which one to pick, or you end up screaming and crying in front of the whole class. Lesson learned. Second Year.

Lucy chose a faded ribbon, that might once have been red.

As soon as she touched it, deep sadness welled up inside her.

"Don't touch them yet!"

Lucy jerked her hand away, not because the teacher had told her to, but because her eyes had already pooled with tears. This was going to be a long class period.

She hadn't ended up breaking down mentally, or screaming in terror during class. That was a plus. She was in a rush to get out of the class, so as she whipped her bag around, it knocked a ghost jar off a table.

"Miss Carlyle!"

"Sorry Miss Fittes. I've got it."

Cringing, she bent to pick it up and make sure it wasn't cracked. It was fine. She might have never noticed the partially open lever if the ghost inside hadn't spoke to her.

Dumb clumsy kid.

"Excuse me?"

Miss Fittes looked at her like she had grown three heads.

"I didn't say anything. You better get going."

Throaty laughter filled her ears.

Dumb kid can hear me.

Reeling in shock, Lucy stumbled into a near-by desk.

"Are you quite okay Miss Carlyle."

In an attempt at casualness, Lucy gave a fake laugh.

"Good thing my name is Lucy and not Grace."

Miss Fittes was still frowning, and followed Lucy with her eyes as she walked out.

You'll be back. We have a lot to discuss.

The voice echoed in her ear. No one else seemed to hear it.

The next day, Lucy stole the skull in the jar.

That was before she knew how snarky it was. Now she half regretted the decision.

George, however, was fascinated.

"You said it spoke before it knew you could hear it."

Lucy nodded.

All four of them were in the Student Rec building, slumped on the well worn couches. This was the one building in the whole of the Academy that didn't feel fake. The couches were older and saggy, the floor scuffed and slightly dirty. The chatter of students playing various games, laughing, and generally enjoying themselves was a welcome atmosphere change. The skull was tucked away in Lucy's huge backpack.

"What if Type Threes aren't as rare as people make them out to be, we just don't have Listeners who can hear them well enough?"

Lucy shrugged, while moving her legs over the arm of the big armchair, slouching back.

"Who can tell? I just know that that skull is vile. It's got a worse attitude then Angela."

Lockwood leaned down to peer at the jar in her bag.

"It seems active."

Do I now?

Lucy's eyes widened.

"What?"

"It just spoke again." She said it slowly, but the effect on the others was immediate.

Lockwood and Holly sat forward more attentively, and George scrambled for a sheet of paper.

I've got an audience now. Perfect.

"What'd it say Luce?"

Lucy was momentarily distracted, busy grinning at the nickname.

"Nothing much Locky."

Holly laughed.

"Wait what?"

Lockwood was confused, eyebrows scrunching together. George was frustrated because this was a waste of time.

"You just called me Luce."

"Oh...did I? Do you mind?"

"No, I was just teasing."

Oh please spare the love fest.

Lucy couldn't help the blush creeping up her face.

"Shut it skull."

"Now you have to tell us what it said."

Burning an even deeper red, she repeated the skull.

It was only a month later when The Incident happened. Lucy loves to pretend it never happened all the while constantly thinking about it. Lockwood seemed too distracted with the actual case to think about it.

The Incident, to be told properly and fully, starts with the day Lucy finally got detention. Of course, it was in Rotwell's class.

ARE Y'ALL HYPED!? I KNOW I AM! The Incident is to remain a secret until time of full discloser. Muhaha! The actual plot may be Trash TM but Locklyle will be cute! (Hopefully) SKULLY! Anyone one love the Skull a little more than is concidered healthy? Lucy and the skull in TCS was the greatest thing and only second to Lockwood and Lucy. Thank y'all! You wonderful people make my day, everyday!

Much love,

Sparkle