Griddlebone was perched on a headstone inscribed with the name "Stephan Korshak" and the grave was still fresh. She sighed, a yo-yo in hand to pass the time, since jacks seemed impractical. "Come on, Stephan, rise and shine. I've got a massive amount of trig homework waiting at home..."

Coming up behind her, Mac looked around before his eyes settled on her. "Hey," he said.

Gids startled, jumping off the stone and whirling around to face him, "Jeeze, Mac! Are you out of your mind? You don't just sneak up on someone in a graveyard! You make noise. You...stomp. Or-or Yodel."

"You seriously want me to yodel?" he asked, eyebrow going up. "Heard you were out hunting. Wanted to stop by. It's been a few days."

"Or..stomp. Or something." She motioned to the headstone, "Yeah, I'm supposed to be, but he still hasn't risen."

"Well, when you wake up... it's pretty disorienting, I'm sure he'll show," Mac replied, shrugging.

She shook her head, "It's weird thinking of you going through that..."

He shrugged, really not wanting to talk about it. "It's weird to go through," he answered and glanced around. "You here alone then?"

Grids nodded, "Yeah, I am. Why?"

"Well, I don't know," he said, shrugging again, acting like he didn't have a care in the world. "Thought someone might be around. Like Tugger."

"I usually hunt alone. Besides...Tugger?" she asked, a little confused.

"Or someone," Mac added a little too quickly.

She looked him over, brushing her bangs back, "Why? Are you jealous?"

"Of Tugger?" Mac laughed as if shocked by the suggestion. "Please. He's just a kid."

Her brow rose, figuring it out, "Is it because I danced with him?"

"'Danced with' is a pretty loose term. 'Mated with' might be hitting the target."

Grids scowled at him, "Oh, you're shocking! One little dance and you know I just did it to make you crazy which by the way behold my success!"

"I'm not jealous!" Mac protested.

"Right, of course you aren't. What, Vampires don't get jealous?" Neither noticed that the vampire Grids had been waiting for was finally crawling out of his grave.

"God," Mac shook his head. "Anytime we fight, you have to bring up the vampire thing."

"Well, I didn't come here to pick a fight." She fell back, stumbling to the ground as the newly risen vampire launched himself at her. She threw him off, "Right. I didn't come here to fight with you." She got up, looking around, "Where's my stake?"

"Your stake?" Mac frowned and started looking around for it.

"Yeah, you know, to deal with him?"

Stephan picked up a shovel the gravediggers had left behind, grinning. "No shit," Macavity shook his head. "Where did you put it?"

"I don't know, I had it before you showed up!"

"Well, it's not like I stole it," Mac protested. The new vampire advanced on them, the shovel at the ready. "Screw this," Mac said, shaking his head and rushing the new vampire.

Stephan swung the shovel, hitting Mac in the head as Grids moved in, ducking under his next swing and bringing her arm up, breaking the shovel in half. She twisted the half he was still holding out of his grip and slammed it into his heart, stepping back as he turned to dust.

"Never mind," Mac said, shaking his head. "I shouldn't have come."

"Oh no you don't. You don't get to just walk away. You've got something to say?"

"Not really," he said with a shrug. "I don't know."

She sighed, "Mac, you came out even though you thought I might have Tugger here with me. Everything alright?"

"I just wanted to see how you were," he admitted.

"I'm doing alright." She offered him a bit of a smile, "How're you?"

"Well, you know, the same. It's such a pain to get a tan," he said with a shrug.

"I dunno, this looks good on you."

"Really?" he asked, shifting from foot to foot, feeling strangely awkward.

She nodded, "Tans are overrated."

"I suppose," he said with a shrug. "But you're doing alright?"

"Yeah, I'm doing alright. Trig's going to be a pain int he ass, but otherwise everything seems to be going alright," she offered him a smile.

"If Trig is the worst of your current worries, you'll do fine," he replied.

"Yeah, I think it is." She paused for a long moment, "Mac?"

"Yeah?" he asked softly.

"I-I'm sorry."

"Huh?" he blinked, shifting back on his heels. "For?"

"Making you 'not jealous'. The way I was acting."

"It...he shrugged. "I'll survive well enough."

"Still. I wish I could make it up to you."

He considered her for a long moment, shoving down the first five responses he wanted to give to that. "Don't worry about it."

She looked away, "Alright...I am sorry though."

"Don't worry about it," he replied with another shrug.

"Well...I ought to be getting home then I guess."

"I can walk you," he offered.

Grids offered him a smile, "Thanks. I'd like that."

Offering her a smile, he turned toward where he knew her house to be. "So, everything's alright with you?"

"Yes, should it not be?" She fell into step with him.

"No," he said. "Look, I worry, alright?"

She sighed, "I'm fine, Mac. I always am."

"Well, I'm glad of that at least."

"You shouldn't worry. I can take care of myself."

"That I'm aware of," he replied with a smile. "I don't know, I still like knowing you're doing alright."

She smiled up at him, "It's nice to know you like to know that."

"Oh. Good. I'm not coming across as too stalker then? Or creepy?" he asked, teasing.

She laughed, "No. I'll let you know if you do."

"I'll hold you to that," he said with a small laugh.

"Good. I missed you this summer, Mac."

"You did?" he asked a little surprised. "I missed you too."

"Of course I did," she glanced at him, "Is it bad that I'm glad to hear that?"

"No. I was glad too," he said, inching a bit closer to her at they walked. She hesitated before looping her arm through his. He paused at that touch, before leaning slightly into it, looking out over the city.

"This is nice," she murmured.

"I like it," Mac replied. "The city can be rather beautiful at night."

"It really can."

He slowed as they finally approached her house. She paused, "Well, this is my stop. I-I'll see you around?"

"I'm around," Mac answered. "So yeah, you might even see me."

Grids offered him a bit of a smile, "Good. Talk to you later. Take care, mac."

"You too," he said, pausing before leaning down to take her hand, kissing the back of it. "Good night."

"Good night Mac." She gave him another smile before slipping into the house. Watching her go, he shook his head slightly at his actions, before slipping back into the night.

o.o.o.o

Coricopat ran a hand through his hair before trying again, "So, what I'm proposing... and I don't mean to appear indecorous... is a social engagement... a date, if you will. If you're amenable..." He shook his head firmly, muttering sharply under his breath, "Idiot!"

Grids arched an eyebrow from where she and Tugger were standing just inside the doors of the library, viewing the librarian's one way conversation with an empty chair, "Boy. I guess we just never realized how much you liked that chair."

Cori turned, flustered, "Oh, I, uh, I was just working on-"

"Your pick-up lines?"

"I-In a manner of speaking, yes."

"Then, if you don't mind a little Gene and Roger, I would leave off the "idiot" part. Being called an idiot tends to take a person out of the dating mood."

"I don't know, it sorta turns me on," Tugger said with a shrug.

Grids blinked at him, "I fear you." She turned back to the librarian, "I'd also avoid words like "amenable" and "indecorous." Speak English, not whatever they speak in..."

"England?" Cori replied, dryly.

"Unless you're trying to pick up Misto or something," Tugger added. "Then, big words would probably do you a favor."

Grids elbowed him, "Ignoring that bit for the moment, just say, 'Hey, I got a thing, you're maybe feeling a thing, and there could be a thing'."

Coricopat looked even more unimpressed, though he'd tensed at Misto's name, "Well, thank you, Cyrano."

"I'm not finished. Then you say, 'How do you feel about Mexican?'"

"About Mexicans?" He blinked in confusion.

"Mexican! No 's'! Food. You take her, or him, for food. For which you then pay."

"Right..."

"So, who's mysterious chair person then?" Tugger asked, sitting on said chair.

"I don't see how that's any of your business," Coricopat gave him a look that he reserved just for Tugger.

Grids flopped down in another of the chairs, "It's not, but we're curious."

"Like cats," Tugger added. "Come on, spill."

"You know what they say about curiosity and cats," Cori managed.

Grids grinned, "There's another part to that rhyme."

"...Right." He hesitated, "It's Demeter."

For a second Tugger looked like he honestly didn't know what to do with that answer. "Well, at least you won't ever have to reveal the embarrassing fact you're a school librarian to her."

Coricopat just looked at him, "Don't you have somewhere to be? Like class? Both of you?"

"Not yet," Tugger said, as the door pushed open. "We hang around school an unhealthy amount," Tugger continued.

"Speak for yourself," Mistoffelees told him, looking down at a paper. "Sorry about being late guys, science fair forms. Anything up?" he asked finally looking up and pausing when Tugger turned to look at him. "Is something up?"

"Huh?" Tugger tried for innocence.

"No, really, Tugger, you look like someone just died."

"No death," Tugger assured him. "For once."

"Then what's up?" the smaller teen asked, frowning at his friend.

Grids looked from Misto to Cori and back, "Actually, I do have to be somewhere. I was meeting someone to do something before the class thing." The look Coricopat gave her stopped her from actually rising.

"Okay, seriously, what probably extremely awkward thing did I miss?" Mistoffelees protested.

Griddlebone looked away and Coricopat frowned, finally answering, "They were attempting to give me dating advice."

Mistoffelees' brows shot up and it took him a moment to respond. "Oh?"

"He's trying to ask the chair out," Tugger said. "In lieu of Miss Calendar."

There was another long pause from Mistoffelees, as if he was counting to a number mentally before responding. "And what, figuring out your librarian had a life outside of books is enough to give you that sort of expression?" he asked, voice light.

"Something like," Tugger asked, not really buying it.

Grids looked at Misto for a long moment, but nodded, "I'm with Tugger, 'something like'."

"God, you two," Mistoffelees shook his head, setting the books he was carrying down. He still looked a little like he was counting numbers in his head.

Cori looked between the three of them, "If you all will excuse me?" Mistoffelees nodded, not really moving one way or another.

Grids nodded slightly, watching as Coricopat left before turning to Mistoffelees. "Misto?"

"Yeah?" he asked, sinking down on the edge of the table.

"You gonna be alright?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked, hands too tight on the edge of the table. Tugger gave him a long look and he shrugged. Gris just looked at him, not saying anything, but not responding in any other way either. "Okay, yes, thank you both very much for your concern. But remember the bit where I'm supposed to be getting over it? Yeah. I'm fine."

"Getting over doesn't mean gotten over." Griddlebone reminded quietly.

"Can we please allow me to lie to myself right now?" he asked a little weakly. "I have classes to go to."

She looked down, "Sorry. Yeah..."

He shook his head slightly. "She hasn't said yes," he added. Though he knew she would. "So I'm just gonna take that pack of lies with me and head to class. See you guys later."

"Kay, see you later, Misto. Take care," Grids offered.

He made a humming noise and scooped his books back up, heading for the doors. Tugger sighed once he was gone. "Well hell."

Grids nodded her agreement, "Damn it."

"What are we gonna do?"

"Be there for him?"

"Well, yeah, but how be there for him? Drag him to the game or show up with pizza and stupid movies? I'm really no good at comfort beyond that, you know that."

"Well, we can do that, and then...my mom likes to cook. We could have the movie night at my place," Grids mused.

"Now, the trick is getting him there," Tugger said with a faint smile.

"We'll figure something out." Grids managed a bit of a smile as she got up, picking up her bag "We'd better get to class."

"Can't we just plot how to help Misto more?" Tugger asked, already picking up his bookbag. "I like that more than class."

"So do I, but I'd rather do a movie night with him than a study night, y'know?"

"Your point is well made," Tugger said, holding the library doors open for her.

She slipped out, offering him a bit of a smile, "I have those occasionally"

o.o.o.o

Coricopat hesitated outside of Demeter's classroom. Her lunch period was almost over, but he ignored the clock for a moment and knocked on the door before he could lose his nerve. Coming down the hallway, Demeter paused as she saw him. "Good afternoon, Charles," she said. "What're you up to?"

He startled, turning to face her, "O-oh, Miss Calendar. Good to see you."

"You really don't have to be so formal," she told him walking up to his door. "Especially when you're stalking my doorway."

"I-I was hardly stalking. Just meant to come say...that I mean...I don't mean to appear indecorous...no, not indecorous. I.." He managed a sheepish smile.

She just gave him a long look. "Yeah? What is it?"

"Oh dear. I-I that is..." He glanced down the hall, but turned back to her.

"Look, I really gotta go set up the lab," she told him.

"Well, that is, I mean, What I'm proposing is..." He stepped aside as the bell rang and students started filing into the classroom.

"Well, if it's that important, tell me at the football game," she told him, nodding to a couple students.

"You're going to the football game?" He blinked a bit at that.

"Don't look so surprised there."

He managed a slight shrug, "Sorry, I guess I just assumed you spent your evenings downloading incantations and casting bones."

"On game night? Are you crazy? I assume you're going too."

"I-I, of course."

"Great. So, why don't we just go together? I could pick you up after school, we could get something to eat on the way, if you like. How do you feel about Mexican?"

"M-Mexican? Sounds good," he blinked.

"Great. Then you can tell me whatever you wanted to talk about then, okay?" she asked with a grin. "But I really gotta get to class. I actually have students in my room."

"W-wonderful. I'll see you then. Good day." He managed a confused smile.

"See you tonight," she said, slipping into her classroom.

"See you then." He murmured to the now empty hall. Coricopat shook his head slightly, "I think that actually went rather well."

o.o.o.o

Walking to the stands, Deme turned to look Cori over. "I don't know what it is about football that does it for me. It lacks the grace of basketball and the poetry of baseball. At its best, it's unadorned aggression. It's just such a rugged contest..." she said, grinning.

Coricopat bit back a chuckle as they found seats, "Rugged? American football?"

"What's funny about that?" she demanded.

"Well, I just find it odd that a nation that prides itself on its virility feels compelled to strap on forty pounds of protective gear just to play rugby," he answered with a shrug.

She arched a brow at that. "Is that your normal first date strategy? Insult my nation's national pastime?"

"Well I hardly intended to," he blinked at her, "Did you say 'date'?"

"Noticed that finally did you?" she asked with a smile.

His smile widened, "I, suppose I did finally."

"Good," she said. "Now, no more insulting of the national past time, huh?"

"I'll do my best."

"Good," she said, turning back to the game. "What were you going to ask me earlier, anyway."

"I...honestly? To dinner."

"Well, glad we figured that out then."

He laughed quietly, "So am I."

Having been dragged to the game, mostly under quiet protest, Mistoffelees took one look toward the stands and started back pedaling.

Grids followed his gaze and her eyes widened, "Hey, Tugger, Misto, what do you say to movie night at my place instead?"

Tugger blinked. "Huh?"

"Guys," Mistoffelees said, looking both of them over. "I'm pretty much onto what you're doing here. And I'm fine, really. But... I think a quiet night of wallowing is sounding like a better plan by the moment."

"We can do that with movies?" Tugger offered. "Quiet movies?"

"We could even stop and get ice cream, or fudge or something, if you like?" Grids offered quietly.

Sighing, Mistoffelees almost shook his head at that as well, finally shrugging. "Sure. Fine."

"Come on, let's get going." Grids motioned toward the gate. Rather than turning and leaving quickly, Mistoffelees lingered another moment, before finally shaking his head at himself and turning back toward the exit.

o.o.o.o

Bomba was standing at the edge of the stage talking to the lead singer of the band that was setting up, "Devon, I told you I'd be at the dance tonight, but I'm not one of your little groupies. I won't be all doe-eyed, looking up at you, standing at the edge of the stage."

"Got it," the dark haired teen said with a nod.

"So, I'll see you afterward?"

"Sure," he said with a grin. "Where you wanna meet?"

"Well, I'll be at the edge of the stage," she gave him a look that said he should have known that.

"Right," he said, leaning over and kissing her cheek. "Sorry. I'll be there."

She smiled at him, "Good. I'll see you then." She turned and sauntered off.

Devon turned to his fellow band member. "Pounce. Man. What do you think?"

Pouncival looked up from the amp he was checking over, "Of what?"

"Of Bomba, dude."

"She's a wonderland tour," his sarcasm was present, but deadpan enough that it didn't cut too deep.

"You gotta admit she's hot," the lead singer pressed.

"Oh, yeah. Hot girl." Pounce turned back to getting things set up.

"Let me guess, she's not your type," Devon almost succeeded in drawling, but he couldn't quite pull it off. "What does girl have to do to impress you, anyway?"

"Well, let's just say it involves a feather boa and the theme from A Summer Place. I really can't discuss it here," Pounce nodded with some finality.

"Dude, you are way to picky. You're lead guitar in a band! You could have any number of girls after you but nooo."

"I'm not picky," Pounce protested, "You're just impressed by any pretty girl that can walk and talk."

"She doesn't have to talk," he replied innocently.

The guitarist just looked at him, finally shaking his head and finishing what he was working on, "Right."

"Come on, Pounce. It makes me sad to see you so alone. Hey, you know what you should do?" he asked, almost bouncing. "Pick someone up at this dance."

"You are way too excited about my love life."

"Come on, maybe I just want to see the unflappable flapped," Devon grinned.

"So for your entertainment I should get a date?"

"Yup," he said with a smile and a firm nod.

"Right, I'll get right on that."

"Do so, my man, do so," Devon told him, knocking his shoulder.

Pounce rolled his eyes slightly, "Well, you've got your own love life to worry about til then."

"Bomba, as lovely as she is, really doesn't take much of my mental time," he replied.

"They never do for you. Probably good for our music."

"Our inspiration is very important to me," he replied sweetly.

Pounce shook his head, grinning faintly, "Right."

"Really," Devon tried to insist. "Anyway, you, girl, pick up tonight. yes?"

"Maybe. We'll see."

"Right. Well, we have to finish getting this set up first huh?"

"Yep, let's get this set. We'll see what happens later."

o.o.o.o

Sitting in the student lounge, Mistoffelees fiddled with the soda can, watching other students mill around.

Grids came into the lounge, sitting down on the couch across from her friend, "Hey."

"Hey," he said, glancing up with a small smile. "How goes?"

"It goes pretty well. How are you doing?"

"Fine," he said a bit listlessly. "Why would anything actually be wrong?"

"Just thought I'd check...Are you going tonight?"

"Tonight?" he asked, "Oh. The international dance."

Tugger appeared, plopping down by Grids. "Yeah. You know the thing you spend the last four weeks talking about?"

"Yeah, that thing. So, you want to go tonight, Misto?"

"I," he started, and looked like he was about to say no.

"You're going. Come on, you've been hinting at your costume for ages. It'd be a shame to waste it," Tugger said, pushing his shoulder.

Grids nodded, "I for one am looking forward to seeing this costume."

He shifted slightly. "Alright, yes, fine, I'll go. Costume and all."

"Great! Do we want to meet at someone's house?" Grids perked up.

"Sure," Mistoffelees said with a shrug. "We can meet you at yours."

"Sounds good. Dance starts at seven, so meet at my place around 6:30?" Griddlebone asked.

"Alright," Mistoffelees agreed again.

"Good to hear. So how's your day going?" she asked.

"Well enough," he said, fiddling with the soda again. Tugger gave him a long look. "What?"

"We're not sure we quite believe you're alright." Grids answered quietly, "Or I'm not anyhow."

"What she said," Tugger said, pointing a hand to her.

"Why wouldn't I be fine?" Mistoffelees tried. "Guys, come on, it's a crush. People get them all the time and go on to lead perfectly healthy and normal lives."

"You're not acting like you're fine, Misto." Grids protested.

"I'm not?"

"No. You almost turned us down for the dance tonight and you've been looking forward to this for weeks," Grids explained.

"Right, well," he shrugged. "Okay, I'm not fantastic but I'll be okay. It's just one date anyway. I was supposed to be over this months ago."

"Supposed to be doesn't mean you are. And it was just one date..." Grids murmured.

He sighed. "Misto," Tugger said, glancing over at him. "You have got to learn how to do things by halves one of these days. You've gone so far beyond crush at this point." Grids nodded her agreement, but didn't voice it.

"You aren't helping," Mistoffelees informed him. "I was still enjoying being in denial."

"Egypt looking nice this time of year?" Tugger asked.

"Lovely," Mistoffelees deadpanned back.

"You gonna make it, Misto?" Grids asked softly.

"I'm gonna make it," he replied. "In an entirely accurate get up too."

"Wasn't quite what I meant, but good," Grids smiled faintly.

"I know," he said softly.

o.o.o.o

Tugger reached the house moments before Mistoffelees, taking one look at his costume and grinning. "Is that entirely authentic then?"

Mistoffelees smiled. "Well, except for being real, yes."

Grids opened the door, her brows rising, "Wow, that's quite the costume. You sure you're going to be cool enough in that?"

He smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I think I'll manage. It's a coolish night."

She grinned, "I like it. It's not what I expected, but I like it."

"Dare I ask what you did expect?" he asked, shifting. "Are we headed out then?"

She shrugged, "I dunno, just maybe not Eskimo. And yeah, if you guys are set."

"Set as a set thing," Tugger said and Mistoffelees nodded, pulling the coat a bit tighter.

"Great, off we go then."

Turning the three teens made their way to the Bronze, where the dance was being held. Once reaching the dance, Tugger grabbed Mistoffelees with one hand and Grids with the other. "You are both totally dancing with me, okay?"

"Is this really a dance safe get up?" Mistoffelees asked.

"Well, you're gonna find out."

Grids started to pull away a bit, but nodded finally, "Come on, Misto. Tugger's right. We're at a dance. We should dance."

"Alright," Mistoffelees agreed after another moment. "We'll dance then."

Pouncival watched the dance floor from where he was onstage with the band, his brown eyes scanning over the crowd absently before stopping on the trio. His gaze didn't move as he gradually sidled up to Devon, still playing, "Hey, Devon, who's that?"

"Who?" Devon asked, not being required to sing at the moment, turning away from the mike.

Pounce nodded in the direction of the trio, "Over there."

"The chick? That's Griddlebone Summers. Pretty, if apparently a bit of a spaz."

"No, not her. The Eskimo."

"The..." Devon glanced over, arching a brow. "Dude, you actually look flapped."

"I'm not flapped. Who is that?"

"You're so flapped. Not sure what his name is, I know it starts with an M... Last name of R? I don't know, he's a junior."

"Huh. Okay. And I am not."

"Dude, you're getting flapped over an Eskimo. I knew you were strange," Devon said, shaking his head as the instrumental ended and he turned back to the mike. Pounce rolled his eyes and retreated to where he usually stood.

Three romantic interludes. We'll be getting back to demons soon, don't worry.