Marium awoke the next morning to the smell of coffee and the sound of quiet conversation. She slowly opened her eyes and noted that it was 12:00. After a few moments she stretched and sat up to see the others sitting around talking in there pajamas, hair a mess, with cups of coffee with the words "caution! Hot!" printed on the side.

The conversation subsided when they noticed her up.

"Morning", Salima said. Marium groaned in response, earning a smile from Salima, then headed for the bathroom. As the door closed, Hillary turned to Mariah,

"So anyway, on my way out the door I heard Larissa and her clones talking about it. It's their first party of the year, so you can guarantee there'll be a lot of people there." Mariah shrugged,

"I'll definitely go, but it'll only enlarge Ray's ego a bit more."

"And enlarge something else…." Salima mumbled.

"What was that?" Mariah asked.

"Nothing." Hillary tried helplessly to suppress a laugh, being the only one who heard Salima's comment, as Marium came out of the bathroom. Mariah pressed a hot cup of coffee into her hand.

"I did a Tim Horton's run earlier." Hillary explained.

"Oh, thanks." she said gratefully, drinking down the hot liquid. It was a bit sweet for her taste, but she was surprised they'd even thought of her.

"I'm surprised they even let you guys off campus."

"Oh yeah, all the time.' Salima said, stretching her arms behind her head.

"At my last four school's they locked the gates all the time, it was like prison, only worse, there weren't any guards there to keep things under control." An eerie silence descended over the room. Marium mentally smirked at their obvious discomfort at hearing the truth. She guessed they were all spoiled, pampered, daddy's little girls. Having no idea what suffering was like.

"So, umm." Mariah began, "You, like parties?"

For the moment only glaring sunlight was witness to the lonely figure standing in the nearly deserted parking lot. Wind whipped at bright orange hair. Brooklyn pulled up his jacket collar, scowling at the chill. He rocked back and forth on his heels, waiting. After a few long moments, a sleek car pulled up, black and new. Brooklyn averted his eyes, wanting to drag it out as a very tall figure stepped out of the car. He strolled up to Brooklyn with an air of utmost ease. His black coat synched tightly at the waist probably kept him much warmer than Brooklyn.

"You're late." stated the freezing teen at once.

"Yes, well..." the other started, ice blue eyes twinkling in mischief, "I was a little caught up with something."

"Something or someone?" Brooklyn burst before he could stop himself. Tala raised one bright red eyebrow in question, but said nothing, only stepped closer.

"Jealous Brooklyn? I thought you said this meant nothing?" his voice edged with bitterness cut at Brooklyn like a knife.

"Well I never really-"

"Forget about it. Do you have the money?"

"You, you never said how much..." Tala sighed, looking off into the distance, his mind calculating. Brooklyn but his lip, gazing at the boy or even man before him. Life was much simpler before Tala, and life was much easier without him. And even so.. life was impossible without him. "Are you, are you going to come to the party tonight?" he asked timidly. Suddenly Tala locked eyes with him, his stare unnervingly intense. He came even closer, so that Brooklyn could feel his faint heat. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came. Without warning Tala crushed his mouth to his, pressing him against the crumbling building the parking lot once served. He kissed him passionately, desperately, lovingly. At first Brooklyn made no response, until he too gave in. After a few moments of heated passion they broke free, breathing heavily.

"I'll come," Tala said nearly huskily, "If just to see that glint in your eyes again." He kissed him lightly one last time. "250$, I'll have everything." With those quick words the door had slammed and he was already pulling away before Brooklyn even tore his attention from the heat on his lips that lingered still.

Friday night was a complete transformation for Cross. During the night the stone figures that topped Cross's spires ripped free of their holds and flew into the night, returning only until Sunday. Rumors seeped around the school that the richer students paid off the teachers to disappear for the weekend.

Cross parties were famous in the area. There were at least three per weekend. But this weekend in particular was special. The most anticipated party of the year. Kai, Ray, Tyson, Max and Brooklyn only threw about one party per semester, so when they came around, the school was ecstatic. Theirs was the biggest room in the guy's dorm, and ideal for bad behavior. They went full out, with a huge stereo system, disco lights, drinks, and of course, the necessity of drugs being there was a major part.

Ray stood on a chair installing the disco ball, still in his pajamas as Kai calculated how much booze they'd need at the kitchen counter.

"It's a good thing we only do this twice a year." Ray said in a strained voice.

"Suck it up Ray. The school needs you." Kai replied.

"Ha, ha, ha." he said, hopping off the chair. Just then Brooklyn walked in, his cheeks slightly pink from being outside.

"I talked to Tala. He said he'll be here with the stuff at around 7:30" he said, flopping down on the couch.

"How much?" Kai inquired.

" Six grams he said, for 250$"

"Alright."

"Oh, by the way, apparently there's some new girl at the school. She's been to nine other private schools. Almost beat your record eh Kai?" Brooklyn told them, opening a can of pop.

"Yeah, almost."

"Where's Max and Tyson?" Brooklyn asked after a long gulp. Ray shrugged,

"Tyson went to inform anyone who doesn't already know, and Max disappeared."

"Oh. So have you guys decided how much you're charging to get in?"

A slight breeze nipped at Marium's nose and ears as she walked through the back doors towards the water's edge. Word traveled fast in this school it seemed, she already had a cloud of whispers following her. She rolled her eyes at them, pulling her sleeves over her fingers. She'd just thrown on the same outfit as the night before, she didn't own a whole lot of clothes.

All this stupid unwanted attention made her skin crawl. So she pulled out a cig and her lighter. The wind blew it out the first three times she tried, and then it ran out.

"Fuck." she muttered under her breath, tossing it into the cold water.

"Need a light?" she looked up to see a guy, about her age it looked like, with blonde hair and aqua eyes standing a few feet away.

"Yeah, thanks." he pulled out a shiny silver Zippo and flicked it open for her. She waited for it to light then took a log puff, blowing it away from them.

"Thanks, I don't smoke too often, so I never really got around to buying a new one." she said, blowing another cloud of smoke above them.

"No problem. I'm Max by the way."

"Marium."

'Oh, you're-"

"The new girl, yeah. God is there like a special messaging system for this, where like the minute something new happens, everyone gets the message or something?" He smiled,

"Something like that." Another cool breeze came at them, rippling the surface of the dark water.

"Wait, if you're Max, that means that I'm supposed to be going to your party tonight?"

"Well, it's not really my party, but yeah, it's in our room." she smiled,

"Well I'll see you there then." Max nodded as she blew out one last breath of smoke, then tossed her cigarette, two thirds done, into the lake.

"Never really liked smoking." she mumbled.

"Then why do it?" Marium smirked, her eyes full of unsaid things.

"It has it's advantages from time to time."

"Like, helping to keep up the persona of a girl who's been kicked out of nine different private schools?" she laughed humorlessly at his comment.

"Maybe I've got you all wrong Max." then she pulled her hood over her head and walked away.

Salima ran her fingers along the spines of the weathered books on the shelves looking for the perfect one. It was fairly quiet on a Saturday afternoon in the library. A few students were studying, or online. Cross library had an amazing collection, relatively over-looked by most of the students who went there, but still wonderful. She was hunched over, reading the titles on the lower rows with her head sideways.

"That can't be good for you're neck." she frowned at the voice and stood up straight to see Tyson smirking at her.

"We seem to be running into each other all over the place." she said. He shrugged,

"I had to spread the word about the party, and figured nobody in the library knew."

"Well I already know thanks." He rocked back and forth on his heals, rock music straining out of the headphones around his neck.

"Anything you'd recommend?" she thought for a moment, till her pale eyes lit up.

"I think I've got one." Salima searched along the shelf until she found the one. "You do like adventure stories don't you?" she asked.

"Oh yeah." he lied. He'd never really read anything truthfully, but she seemed so eager.

"Here, " she said, handing him an old looking book. "The City of Ember. Very good, probably a tad below the grade eleven reading level, but I have a feeling it's just right for you." His eyes narrowed,

"What's that supposed to mean?" she laughed,

"Tyson, I have never once seen you in this library, nor have you ever asked me any books I recommend, nor have I ever seen you reading anything by choice, ever. So don't play with me ok?" He made a huffing noise and pushed the book back into her hands.

"Just because of that, I'm going to prove to you that I can read at your level just fine." he scoured the shelves for the biggest book he could fine until a particularly large one caught his eye. He pulled it out and read the title.

" The Count of Monte Cristo. You just watch, I'll finish this book, and you'll see that you were wrong." Salima began to laugh again,

"Tyson that book is huge. It took me months to finish."

"I know that." he gave her one last determined look then left, leaving her with a smile on her face.

When Marium got back to the room it was already 6:00. The others were busy getting ready. Red Hot Chili Peppers was playing on the stereo, competing with the blow dryer coming from the bathroom. Mariah sat on the bed pulling on a pair of tight black pants.

"Hey, where yah been?" she said. Marium shrugged,

"Around." Mariah smiled,

"Ok. Hey can you go kick Hill out've the bathroom please, she's been in there for like an hour."

"Sure." Marium passed Salima by the bathroom door in front on the window. She was already dressed sitting in a chair and reading The City of Ember.

At 8:10 sharp the four of them headed towards the guy's dorm. Hillary smacked her naturally red lips, saying

" This'll be fun." Marium shrugged next to her. She was wearing her same navy skirt and a black shirt.

It wasn't difficult to find their room. A long line-up trailed down the hallway.

"I am not waiting in this!." Hillary complained.

"Don't worry about that." Mariah said and motioned for them to follow her. She purposefully walked to the front of the line, earning rude glares from almost everyone in it. Loud music thrummed through the open door where Ray was letting people in or turning them away.

"Good evening ladies." he said to them, dressed in all black, "Shouldn't you be at the back of the line?" Mariah smiled,

"We were hoping you'd let us in." she said, pulling her long hair over one shoulder. He yawned, letting in three other people at the front of the line.

"And why should I do that?" he asked lazily. Mariah gave him a pleading look and leaned into the doorframe.

"……please?" He sighed,

"Fine, but you owe me for this." she smiled,

"Thanks Ray." and slipped in, the others following her.

Inside a large group had already been admitted. Some were on the dance floor in front of the TV, some in the kitchen drinking, and others by the back window doing lines of coke off the coffee table that'd been moved to make room for the dance floor. Hillary faded over to the kitchen after spotting some people she knew, and Mariah said she'd be right back with drinks. Salima turned to Marium,

"Ever been to parties like this before?" she yelled over the music.

"Yeah, lots."

"Thought so, well believe me you'll have a good time." Just then Tyson walked over. It was the first time that year that Salima had seen him without his headphones on.

"Having fun?" he asked, and although it was a general statement, Marium could tell it was only directed to Salima.

"Well we just got here. Though I didn't expect to see you here, I thought you'd be too busy reading that book." He glared playfully at her,

"Believe me, I'm quite the multi-tasker."

"Oh I'll bet." she replied. Mariah returned just as Marium was certain she'd hurl from their flirting. She handed them each a can of beer.

"You better not be bugging my friend." she told Tyson,

'Who me?" he said innocently. An already drunk girl tripped near them off the dance floor knocking into Salima and causing her beer to spill all over the front of her shirt. The girl got up without apologizing and flung herself back into the mob of dancers.

"Oh man! Look at this." Salima wailed, wiping at her shirt with her hands.

"Here I'll show you to the bathroom, you can clean it up." Tyson offered.

"Do you need me?" Mariah asked.

"I'll be fine." Salima replied as Tyson led her though the crowd towards the hallway.

"Do you trust those two together? Alone?" Marium questioned. Mariah laughed,

"Yeah. Salima's smart."

"Alright. Well I'll be right over here ok?"

"Sure." Marium filed her way through the busy room to the edge of the dance floor, sitting up against the wall next to some guys all wearing the same goofy weed-induced grins. People on the dance floor moved around senselessly. Marium could already point out the ones who'd definitely be throwing up some time later.

Max walked over and sat next to her.

"Hey." he said.

"Hey." He smelt like weed, heavy, clinging to his clothes like smoke. She drank the smell in longingly.

"You ok?" he asked.

"Yeah fine. But I could really use a spliff about now." he smiled lopsidedly,

"Follow me."

Salima wiped at the wet spot a few more times with the cloth Tyson had given her. Thankfully she was wearing a navy blue shirt so the wet spot barely even showed up. She sighed, tossing the cloth into the sink.

"This is as good as it's gonna get." she concluded. Tyson looked at the stain for a few moments until she huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to-" he started,

"Never mind." she said dismissively.

"I could probably get you another shirt if you like."

"No that's alright, unless you have some girls shirts I think I'll be fine." he shrugged,

"Suit yourself."

"So, how's the book coming?" she asked, trying to air out the top.

"Pretty good, I'm already on chapter three." she raised her eyebrows,

"Wow, you really are determined." He turned to face her, just as the door burst open and a lip-locked couple came in, not even noticing the other two. The couple fell onto the floor, causing Salima to back up until they were up against the wall and the couple was splayed in the tiled floor. Salima looked at Tyson and the two laughed simultaneously. They stepped over the couple and walked out. For a split second she thought she felt his hand on her waist, so she turned back, but he was still laughing. Maybe she'd imagined it.

Hillary sat on the kitchen counter smoking a cigarette. Drinking and dancing wasn't really her thing. Although she loved having a good time, she knew from previous experiences that she was quite a light weight, and she hated to make a fool of herself. She saw Marium and Max heading down the hallway towards the bedrooms and smiled inwardly. People moved back and forth between the kitchen and the dance floor, filling glasses of water, talking to her and so on. A guy named Tala came by frequently to talk with her. He was, needless to say, gorgeous, with bright red hair and piercing blue eyes. He was two years older than her, but never mentioned university or anything. He was fairly popular around the school because he was the most reliable drug dealer there was in the area. Tala provided them with anything they asked for. He leaned against the counter next to her, sipping something that smelt very strong.

"So, this is your second last year in high school right?" he said lazily.

'Mhmm."

"And then what? You're off to some fancy university that your parents choose, where it costs a mint to attend, and girls actually wear pearls?" he asked. Hillary sighed, blowing a puff of smoke to the side.

"I guess so."

"That doesn't seem at all unfair to you?" she laughed without amusement,

"Of course it does. But I don't have a choice." Tala pulled out a joint and lit it, inhaling deeply. He held it towards her,

"No thanks." she told him. He shrugged, blowing the smoke out his nose. She smiled at his antics.She had to admit he was irresistable in just about every way. But it was a well known fact that he nevre went out with girls, or at least not that she knew of, and him and Brooklyn seemed to spend a lot of time together. Just then Larissa walked over. Hillary gave her a look that would strip paint, but Larissa hadn't come to talk to her at all. She whispered something into Tala's ear, who nodded in return.

"Do you have it here?" she asked as they parted.

"Mhmm" he reached into his jacket pocket and handed her a small plastic baggy that contained an unknown green tablet. She smiled her toothy smile and handed him a fifty dollar bill. He didn't take it at first, fixing her with his intense gaze,

"Just remmeber, it's very strong. Uner no ciscumstances should you take the entire thingat once, alright?" Larissa only nodded deafly, and shoved the bill into his slender fingers, then gave a death glare to Hillary and walked away.

"What was that all about?" Tala smiled and tucked a piece of her chocolate hair behind her ear,

"Just business."

Marium handed the joint back to Max so he could finish it off and leaned back against the headboard of his bed, exhaling. She laughed at how glassy and blue his eyes looked.

"Thankkssss…" she murmured. "I needed that." He smiled back.

"No problem."

"After earlier with the lighter and now this, I really owe you." the bed was so comfy, a wave of calm washed over her. He shrugged exaggeratedly causing a laugh to erupt from her.

"What's so funny?"

"You, you look like a little boy." he frowned from the end of the bed, but in his state couldn't hold the expression very long and soon broke into a smile.

"I've heard that before." She glanced at the time on the side table; 9:00 already. Marium stretched and slid off the bed.

"So, why did you get kicked out of those private schools?" he asked, coming to stand next to her. She laughed,

'Your cute Max, but not that cute." He frowned once again.

"I…?" she turned to him,

"The only guys I've ever shared that secret with were guys I was involved with. And like I said, you're cute, but not that cute. I'm not really into pretty boys." He opened his mouth to reply but suddenly a loud commotion could be heard coming from outside. The two left the room to see what was going on.

Brooklyn watched with heated resistence as Tala talked to Hillary. He probed with his eyes as Tala leaned against the counter, accentuating a smooth abdomen and lean body. He was like an addiction. Jelousy sparked within him, threatenning to ignite. It was only Hillary, she may have been beautiful but he knew Tala was too smart to go for that. He wanted him all for himself. They played this game often. He hadn't spoken a single word to him yet. He was taunting him, teasing him. Brooklyn, shook his head, and turned away, but his thoughts were fuzzy, and his mind felt hazed. He wasn't sure how long he'd been standing there until a scream ripped him from his Tala-plagued thoughts

From her spot on the couch Mariah could see Salima and Tyson leaving the bathroom laughing. They went to talk in the corner. He'd say something funny and she'd laugh exaggeratedly. Mariah could feel the beer hitting her hard. She walked over to the kitchen filling a glass with water. She said hey to Hillary who was in deep conversation with Tala. As she turned around Larissa came by and bumped roughly into her.

"Watch it bitch." she spat.

"Fuck off." Mariah muttered. Larissa glared at her and stepped closer,

'Watch yourself Mariah, wouldn't want something bad to happen to you." She said in a deathly voice. Mariah rolled her eyes and walked away, downing the glass of water.

As she made her way back to the couch, the world lurched and she fell to her knees.

"Whoa, be careful there." Ray said, pulling her up.

'I'm fine." she mumbled.

"Obviously not. Here sit down." He led her to the couch where she flopped down next to him.

"You don't have to do this." she stated, "you're only making me feel helpless you know." He shrugged,

"Everyone needs somebody to lean on." she laughed loudly in her drunken state.

"Isn't that the title of a song?" she asked, although it sort've came out more like "Isssnn't title ofsonggggg?" he smiled, but didn't reply. She felt tired and leaned her head on his shoulder. The music was so loud, and the people just kept on dancing and dancing. She thought they looked like puppets on strings being bounced around without choice. She laughed at the whole scene uncontrollably. The bright lights on the ceiling were so mesmerizing, they called to her. The world lurched again around her, so fast she thought she might faint. The green lights rained down on them and the red ones burned like fire, singeing her eyes. Her head started spinning as she felt another lurch, this time in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to speak but her mouth wouldn't move. She thought she heard Ray speaking, but he was talking so slowly and from so far away. Suddenly her right side started going numb. She may have screamed but she couldn't be sure. She red fire continued to burn. She turned next to her to see a terrifying demon next to her. This wasn't right! They were all around her now, demons! "Help!" she yelled, getting off the couch. The floor melted like liquid, pulling her down. Help! Another one of those creatures came up to her with eyes like death. She tried to push it away but her arm was still numb. How to escape? The window! She stumbled towards it, as slow as a snail it seemed. She pulled herself halfway through, trying to jump out but at the last moment one of them grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back.

"Get away from me!" she yelled. It had her pinned to the floor. Help! Help! Help! But it wasn't her saying it, it was the creature. Faces swam in and out of focus, and then one appeared, familiar, yet not… Larissa! Yes it was her! And she was… laughing!

"What did you do to me?" Mariah tried to ask but couldn't. Lights swirled all around, and then it went black.

Salima chewed her fingernails, Hillary sat with her head in her hands, Ray was there too, pacing the white tiled floor. Tyson, Kai, Brooklyn and Max came as well. Apparently they felt somehow obliged since the whole thing had happened at their party. Marium watched them all. She was surprised, the two groups didn't seem particularly tied to each other, and yet here they were at the sign of trouble. It was two in the morning, and they'd been here in the medical wing of the school since 9:30 all awaiting some news. Mariah had had to be dragged out of the room. The party was immediately over as Ray, Max, and Tyson carried her out, the others following anxiously behind. She wouldn't stop yelling, she mentioned Larissa's name once or twice, but she conveniently could not be found. Marium was rather shocked to see them all so concerned. She'd never had friends that cared for her that much, it was always, eat or be eaten, every man for themselves. She sat on the wooden bench between Salima and Max. Kai was on the phone a few feet away with someone and Tyson was simply staring off into space, leaning against the wall.

The medical wing was eerily like… well a hospital. Everything was white and smelled like cheap cleaning solution and babies even though there weren't any around. They all waited, patiently and not so patiently, in front of a white door. Surprise, surprise. Then, just when Marium was certain Ray would ware a hole through the floor, a female doctor in a blue outfit and mask came out of the door, a weary expression in her eyes. Everyone looked up expectantly.

"Well, uummm" she began. Certainly not a good start. "Your friend is alive" cue sigh of relief, "But, she's been drugged, or poisoned if you will. We found high levels of toxins in her system. It's a wonder she's alive." Everyone looked at one another with the same shocked expressions.

"Can we see her?" Ray asked eagerly. The doctor sighed,

"Yes, she's asleep now." Ray nodded to everyone as they all walked inside the room. Mariah lay in the only bed in the room, blanket tucked up to her chin. She looked so peaceful, as though maybe none of it had ever happened and she was only here because she had a fever and was going to be fine.

Kai, Marium and Tyson stayed near the door, watching them. The others crowded around the bed, watching anxiously.

"Mariah" Salima called softly. "Mariah?" she stirred slightly, then slowly opened her eyes and looked at them as though she didn't recognize them.

"Where…. Where am I?" she said groggily, "God my head hurts."

"You're in the medical wing. You've been here for a few hours." Hillary said gently.

"The doctor said you were poisoned."

"What?"

"Yeah, how could that have happened?" Ray asked.

"I.. I don't know…"

"What's the last thing you remember?"

"I…. I remember getting ready, going to the party…. Cutting the line to get in….. and then….. Nothing." she looked positively miserable, like she really couldn't remember a thing. The others gazed at one another as if trying to read the answer in each other's faces.

"Larissa!" Mariah suddenly cried out. "I remember Larissa, she was, laughing!" Hillary gasped loudly, the pieces of the little green tablet and Tala finally coming together.