YES Skyla, fellow Robert Downey Jr lover! And Guest, I totally agree. We'd have to fatten him up on sweets and cake and stuff first. Of course we'd be the ones baking him things xD

Valkyrie woke up to her phone vibrating loudly under her pillow. She groaned as she looked at the screen. The first Saturday of the school year and Tanith was calling her at 5am. "What the hell." She said and answered the phone. "Tanith?"

"Val, morning."

"It's 5am."

"Sorry, I didn't wake you up, did I?" Tanith sounded amazingly cheerful for 5am on a SATURDAY MORNING. Valkyrie was seriously regretting her choice of friends at the moment.

"No, no, it's..fine." She sat up in bed and tried to focus on what Tanith was saying.

She was talking a million words per minute and Valkyrie tuned in to hear, "-and it's meant to be hot today. Well, hot for Ireland and Ghastly and Skulduggery aren't coming because of whatever they're doing but it can be a girly thing and-"

"Tanith, Tanith, slow down. What's up?"

Tanith sighed and started again. "I was wondering if you wanted to go on a picnic with me today and maybe some shopping? Not girly stuff. Just a boy-free day. And...well, do you want to come?"

"Ah, sure. Did you have to phone me so early though?"

"I'm outside your house."

"Um..."

"Skulduggery told me where you lived. Get changed and come downstairs. I have the picnic."

"Okay?" Valkyrie hung up and quickly put on some jeans and a top. She grabbed her trainers and a denim jacket with a hood then made her way to her parents room. She knocked on the door and Melissa opened it, concerned.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong? Why are you dressed? It's quarter past five, Stephanie."

"Who is it?" Desmond yelled from the bed. Then, "Alice just stuck her finger up my nose."

"It's Steph."

"Who?"

"Our daughter." Melissa said with a roll of her eyes. Desmond didn't reply. "So, Steph what's wrong?"

"Tanith's outside the house. She wants to go on a picnic."

"That's great. Are you going now? It's very early in the morning."

"I know but she insisted. We're having a boys-free day, apparently."

"Oh, can we meet her?" Melissa asked enthusiastically. Valkyrie hesitated then nodded reluctantly. Desmond, who had obviously been listening in, came out of the room, Alice hanging on his hip. They all headed downstairs and Valkyrie was starting to regret everything. Valkyrie opened the door and saw Tanith leaning against the door frame.

"Hey, Val. Uh Val's parents, little Val?"

"Alice." Valkyrie muttered. "And call me Stephanie."

"Stephanie," Tanith grinned. "Hey, Stephanie. Stephanie's parents. Alice."

"Good morning, Tanith." Desmond said. "Please, please, call me Desmond."

"Desmond-"

"I've changed my mind. Call me sir."

"We're going." Valkyrie said quickly and got Tanith out of the house quickly. "Bye, Mum, Dad, I'll call you when I'm coming home."

"Okay. Bye, sweetie." Melissa waved. Valkyrie got into the car, next to Tanith then felt a hand on her shoulder. She jumped and looked round. Aurora Jane, her eyes twinkling, was sat there next to a grumpy looking girl.

"Hey, Val." Aurora said cheerfully. "This is Melancholia St Clair, she's my exchange student, sort of."

"Hi." Valkyrie said and the blonde girl glared at her.

"Don't try and act like my equal." She snarled.

Valkyrie blinked. "Uh okay?"

"You know Necromancy?" Aurora said as Tanith set off. "Normally they stay in the Temple all their lives but Mel here was forced by her teacher, Craven, to come experience life. And, uh, my teacher, Crow, made me be friends with her."

The car sped round a corner then parked in front of Starbucks. "First stop." Tanith grinned. "Coffee."