For the past week, Rowen and Sheldon have walked together after school three times. Their going in the direction of Sheldon's home, so I can only guess he's going there. I asked Sheldon what was going on, but he just said that they went to his house to hang out and work on projects. But, being who I am… I didn't buy it.

"Hey, Jenny." I tapped her shoulder as we walked to lunch. "Have you noticed Rowen and Sheldon lately?"

"Yeah," she shrugged. "What about it?"

"I'm gonna need your help," I said evilly. "Help me spy on 'em, with your cool robot stuff. Tuck already agreed. Are you in?"
"Brad, I-" she paused for a second, and an evil grin formed on her face. "Sure. I'm in."

Sheldon sat down at our table. "Hey Brad, hey Jenny!" He said with his normal enthusiasm.

"Oh, uh, hey Shel!" Me and Jenny both said. Sheldon looked at us quizzically, but slowly brushed it off. Me and Jenny exchanged glanced at each other with a smirk.

Let the games begin.

Should I ask him?

I've been to his house three times in the past week. He was a sweet, funny kid. He's my friend, and that's what friends do, right?

Yeah...I'm a little fidgety.

I saw Sheldon on the other side of the hallway, walking in my direction. I sighed.

"Hey, Rowen!" He said with a wide smile.

"Hey, Shel. Uh…" I hesitated. "Would you maybe wanna… come over to my house this time?"

His eyes widened for a second. "S-sure! I'd love to!"

I smiled. Me and Sheldon walked out of the school and went the opposite direction. He looked up at me. "Where do you live, exactly?"

"Top o' Gargoyle's hill."

"Oh." I got butterflies in my stomach when he looked down.

Gargoyle's Hill… I recognize that name. It was an old piece of land with a dead woodsy area around it. It's really close to town, but nobody ever really goes up there.

We made small talk as we walked. The hill wasn't super steep, but it was a hill. We followed the dirt road until we almost reached the top, and than we swung a left.

Her house was big. And old. Just like she said. But it was super run down. Some of the wood planks had begun to rot, there were holes in the roof, one of the porch steps was broken. The house looked to be about 200 years old.

"Well, welcome home." Said Rowen. She walked up the porch steps, skipping the broken one, and opened the wooden door. I followed and stepped in.

Most of the large room was the living room. Towards the back, there was a small hallway and a dark stairwell that went to the basement. On the left of where I stood, there was a wall that divided this room from another one. And then there was a staircase on the left wall that led up to a thin balcony with three doors, one of them open. In the middle of the room, there was a sofa, two loveseats, a circle rug, and a small tv that sat on a table.

Rowen put her backpack in a corner. "Mi casa es su casa," she said with a smile.

"Is anyone else home?" I asked, following her inside.

"No. Gunner might be home, though."

I cocked my head. "Gunner?"

She smiled. "My cat."

I noticed something in a dark corner. With curiosity, I walked toward it.

It was a motorcycle. Not like the ones we have today, but it was a motorcycle alright. It stood on a stand, about half finished. An open toolbox sat next to it. Rowen walked over and crossed her arms. "Impressed?"

I smiled. "Yeah… it looks amazing! And it's so big!"

Rowen laughed and walked around the bike. "I wanna have this baby done by the end of next month. Maybe sooner. Building things like these are fun, because you can make it basically any way you want. It just has to work."

I smiled. The room got a little brighter as a cloud moved away from the sun. I remembered the holes in the roof. I pointed to one and looked at Rowen. "What happens in the winter or when it rains with the holes?"

Rowen smirked and picked up a large screw from the ground. She hurled it at one of the holes. With a small thump, the screw fell to the ground. "Invisible shield. Made it myself. It helps with lightning, considering we don't have very many lamps."

I stood there, gawking. "Oh my gosh, that's amazing!" I squealed. Rowen laughed.

My phone buzzed. I reached for my pocket and read the message. It was from Brad.

Dude, where are you?! Youre with rowena arent you.

I sighed and texted back.

Brad, if you're going to text me, at least use proper grammar. And yes, I am with Rowen. Is that a problem?

"Who's that?" Rowen asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Brad." My phone buzzed again.

Since when do we call her rowen? And yes, it is a problem! Shes weird! And could be a killer for all we know!

Rowen walked over and read the screen from over my shoulder. She sighed. "Wow… he sure is a lady killer."

"Rowen, I am really sorry-" I blushed.

"Don't be." She smirked. "I bet a lot of people think I'm freaky. I'm not surprised." She looked down and saw the embarrassed look on my face, and put a hand on my shoulder. "I promise."

Without much thought, I hugged her. I realized that I had messed up when her body froze. But slowly, she hugged me back. After a little bit, I let go, my face as red as a fire truck. "S-sorry, I didn't-.. I wasn't thinking-
"Chill out, Shel. It's just… nobody's really… hugged me in a while… I'm not used to it…"

I wanted to ask her why, but it looked like she felt uncomfortable. My mind went to the next best thing and I just hugged her again.

She didn't push me away or freeze up. She actually wrapped her arms around me and crouched down a little, so that she could put her head on my shoulder. Her grip was tight.

Rowen let go and smiled. "You're sweet," she said, ruffling my hair. I snorted, my face turning red again as the sound escaped my mouth. She laughed, but in a "don't worry about it" kind of way.

"Mrooow…" I turned at the weird noise, and saw a golden tabby cat with medium length hair. The cat drops a mouse on the ground and digs into it. I cringe.

"Gunner, if you're gonna eat, at least go around the hallway, or in the basement!" Rowen yells at the cat. To my surprise, Gunner arches his back and meows at her, as if in response. Rowen sighs, "I know you're hungry, but we have company. Please just take it somewhere else."

Gunner growls slightly and carries the mouse off. Rowen sighs again. "Sorry, that cat has no manners." She looks back at where the cat went. "Love you!"

I busted out laughing, and she joined in. After a bit, I held my stomach and wiped my eyes.

Rowen caught her breath. "So… wanna see my room?" She asked. I followed her up the narrow staircase and walked to the third (and last) door on the even narrower hallway as I gripped the railing.

Her room was big. With a slanted ceiling that fit the roof, a cracked window, posters and diagrams and blueprints covering the walls, and a queen sized mattress placed in a rectangular hole in the ground. She stepped in and I followed her. "I didn't have a bed frame, and there used to be a raised floor along this side of the room, so I made adjustments." She smiled proudly.

Up against the wall, there was a statue made of scrap pieces and sheet metal. It was a mess, but… it was amazing. I walked toward it and she pressed her back up against the wall. "Wow… what is it supposed to be?" I asked.

"I'm trying to make it a person, but I have to be a little abstract with spare pieces. Sure, I could go all out with this, but I choose to make it a side project." She smiled and stood back up.

Her glove got caught on a nail and tore when she pulled her wrist.

I gasped.

She covered her mouth, flushing white.

The skin was not of flesh and blood…

… but of wires and cog gears and metal.