"These children learn from

cigarette burns,

fast cars,

fast women,

and cheap drinks."

Ember McLain didn't hate singing. Of course not. It was her talent. Her obsession. The thing she lived for.

Well, you get what she means.

But at times, she really hated where she sang. "Amity's most famous speakeasy", The Green Mill. One was those times was tonight.

"Skulker! Where'd ya put my liner?" she yelled.

"Why do you asssume that I put it somewhere?"

The blue-haired ghost groaned and put her head down on the dingy dresser she was sitting in front of. "Well, can't really put on a show without makeup, can I?"

"Ask Phantom!"

"Like he'll listen," she scoffed. She looked around for any sign of their piano player, but found nothing. She finally resigned herself to fixing her bob in the mirror, making sure her bangs didn't completely cover her face.

Suddenly, a black tube hit the back of her head. "Hey!" she picked it up, and upon further inspection, realized it was her eyeliner.

"Found it behind the bar. You're welcome," Tucker walked backstage, a cheeky grin on his face.

"Get out, ya know that only the band's supposed to be back here," she scolded playfully, only half serious.

"Hey, you should be glad that I can tolerate you filthy ghosts," he joked.

"What's this I hear about filthy ghosts?" A deeper voice joined them.

"They're talking about you, obviously," Skulker teased.

"C'mon, we all know who the best is in this band. The mysterious devil Phantom!" He wiggled his eyebrows.

Everyone burst out laughing at his tone.

"Anyway, I came back here for another reason, besides delivering Ember's liner." Tucker said.

"Which is?" Ember had popped the cap off, and started making the thick streaks around her eyes that she was known for.

"Boss said he's comin'."

To be honest, Ember absolutely hated him. If she didn't love singing so much she would've never gotten the job once she met the guy. He was sleazy, deceiving, but powerful. That's what irked her the most.

"Shit," Skulker said under his breath.

"He's not that bad," Phantom said, but they all knew he was lying.

"He isn't here yet, so stop defending him," Ember chuckled. "When?" she turned her attention back to Tucker.

"I don't know," he shrugged. "Tonight, tomorrow, whenever, all I'm saying is be ready," the bartender began to walk back out before Skulker called,

"Hey! Any chance he's bringin' his girl?"

"You pig!" Ember and Phantom burst out laughing as she hit Skulker upside the head, but she couldn't help but lock eyes with a certain silver-haired man.

Phantom was an odd kind of guy, someone who didn't seem like he belonged in the back of a speakeasy. Sure, he was hot, but she could say that about a number of people. He was loud but reserved. Friendly but cold. Deadly but heroic.

He was, in short, hard to explain.

But they all had something in common. Ember, Skulker, Phantom, and even Tucker.

They all had nothing but each other.

Maybe that's why Ember never really left.

"You suck the fun out of everything!"

"Excuse me? It's almost 3! IN THE MORNING!"

Sam yawned, stumbling between her friends as they argued. Frankly, she couldn't tell who was who.

She'd had a fun night. Made fun with alcohol, but still fun nonetheless. The drink was actually pretty good after a couple sips.

The band of ghosts was certainly a surprise, though. Surprisingly good. The girl's -Amber's?- voice was beautiful. She wanted to walk right up to stage so she could hear her better.

Thank goodness she didn't. Or maybe she did. Sam can't really remember.

"So, did you have fun?" Dash poked her side.

Sam giggled. "Yeah."

"And you do realize that you have to crawl into your window without making a sound?" Valerie asked.

"She's drunk," Dash deadpanned. "We'll have to help her in there."

"Are you kidding me?! You'll make so much noise Mrs. Manson will find us for sure!"

Me? Look who's talking!"

"Guys, I can totally goinmyhousealone..." the last few words had slurred together, despite Sam's best intention for them not to.

"Well, our houses are just around the corner. Don't worry."

In a few minutes time they reached the Manson residence, and it took another few minutes to walk across the perfectly-manicured lawn to get to the back of the house, where Sam's window was.

"Okay, so," Dash took a moment to think of a plan of action. "Val and I'll boost you into your window, but it's up to you to open it and get inside."

Sam swayed into his arms. "Okay!"

He looked at her for a moment and shook his head, sharing a smirk with Valerie. "On second thought, I'll go up there first and open the window."

"Soundss good."

It took Dash about 3 seconds to climb up her house, obvious that he'd done it before. He clicked open the window, and that's when he realized someone was in Sam's room.

"Shit! Someone's in there!" his panicked whisper floated down to the girls, and Valerie immediately tacked Sam into one of the rose bushes.

"Ow! There are thorns in here!"

"Shut up, unless you wanna get caught!"

Dash, on the other hand, had opted to slide over to the absolute edge of the windowsill, being able to hear the woman inside.

"So, she'll be here tomorrow afternoon? That's absolutely swell!" Sam's mother clicked the phone off. "I suppose Sammikins is in the bathroom."

Dash knew it was a good idea for Sam to leave the bathroom light on before she snuck out.

Pamela pushed open the curtains, almost knocking the blond boy off the sill. "Funny, I don't remember the window being open before..." she mused.

Fuck, this is it. This is where we get caught.

"Oh well," she stuck her head out the window slightly, but the surprise of it made Dash completely lose his balance.

He tumbled into the rose bush, landing on two glitzy, but disheveled, girls.

"Watch it, will ya?" Valerie jabbed her elbow into Dash's side.

"Stop poking me!"

"Move your hands!"

Move your hands!"

"I swear to God she is going to see us!"

"And hear!"

"SHHHH!"

The woman above them let out a small shriek, and evaluated the ground undeneath her. "Raccoons..."

The trio sighed in relief.

Dash waited a few minutes until he was absolutely sure that she'd left, and climbed out again.

"Remind me why you pushed me into a rose bush?" Sam demanded, standing steady.

Valerie shrugged. "Well, looks like it knocked some of the alcohol out of ya," she grinned.

"Guys, seriously, I need to get home."

"Alright, alright."

Valerie and Dash made a base out of their hands, and they raised them almost immediately after Sam stepped on them, pushing off and climbing into her window.

"Well, see ya two," she yawned and looked back down at them. "Now, scram 'fore my mother comes back," she smirked.

"Bye Sam!"

"See ya!"

Sam lay down on her bed, barely slipping out of her dress and not bothering to wash off her makeup.

Then she realized her goody-two shoes cousin was supposed to come tomorrow.

Which made her want to go to sleep and never wake up again.

heyy so i updated on time yay! haha this was a boring filler chapter but i wanted y'all to get an idea about what each character's relations are to each other. have i got you thinking about who their boss is? no? okay. speaking of okay did anyone see The Fault in our Stars? i shall see it Sunday and im real excited c: anyway, next chapter will have Paulina. if you read this entire thing, then why not take an extra minute to review, right?

-Maira