Zoe swallowed heavily as she approached the school building. The parking lot was quiet, and no sound came from within the building itself. She shook off the unnerving feeling that everyone was looking at her through the windows. She jogged up the stairs, wondering what she was going to tell her teachers, and pushed open the door with both hands. She stepped into the corridor and froze, caught off guard. Students were flowing past her, and the sound of a hundred voices washed into her. Zoe stood uncertainly for a moment as the door slowly swung closed behind her. She felt her cheeks flush as curious glances were sent her way.

"You're just in time."
Haley appeared beside her, arm linked through Zoe's before she could properly register what was happening. "The bell just went for our next class. Which is History, in case you were wondering."
"Hi." Zoe blew out her breath, thankful as Haley steered her down the hallway.
"Don't worry about being late. The teachers are much more lenient toward seniors being late than juniors."
"But you're in our senior class." Zoe frowned at her, startled.
"Yeah, but technically I'm a junior in their eyes. That's why they harp on it when I'm like, two minutes late for class or whatever." Haley rolled her eyes and grinned. "Where were you anyway?"

"I went for a walk this morning and... sort of got lost a bit."
"Kyle told me you live out by the woods. You walked all the way?" Haley asked, stunned.
"Pretty much." Zoe shrugged.
"How did you get lost? You just follow the highway in to town, it's straight forward. Not even I could get lost." Haley said.
"Well, I got lost in the woods."
"Oooh." Haley pursed her lips, puzzled. "So how did you get not lost anymore?"
"There was some guy, I don't know... I think he was out there camping with someone. Anyway, he walked me to town."
A strange expression crossed Haley's face. "You think? Are you sure he wasn't stalking you and got caught in the act?"
"Ah... no I doubt it." Zoe said, thinking about the boy and the slight awkwardness between them.
"So... he just walked you to town? Did he ask for your number? I can't imagine any guy doing that just because he's a nice guy..." Haley shook her head suspiciously.
"Well, no, he said he was heading toward town himself. He said his camp had run out of water or something." Zoe said.

"Hmm." Haley nodded slowly, then narrowed her eyes at Zoe. "He wasn't blonde with blue eyes, by any chance?"
Zoe blinked at Haley, stumped, then realization struck home. "Oh. Isn't your boyfriend on some hunting or camping trip or something... do you think it was him?"
"Wait, he didn't introduce himself to you?" Haley arched her eyebrows.
"Well... we didn't really talk much." Zoe shifted uncomfortably.
"Good." Haley said, and flashed a bright smile. "Sorry. I'm notoriously jealous by nature."
"You don't have to worry about me." Zoe said.
Haley shook her head in reply. "As long as Jess goes back to mom and Julian, I'm happy. The last thing I need is for him to come crashing the party tonight."

"He would do that?" Zoe asked.
"Yeah." Haley shrugged. "And then there would be the hell to pay, of course, if he catches us in the Willis house."
"Maybe it's not such a good idea then, to mess with Ouija boards and stuff." Zoe said as they walked into the classroom.
"For what it's worth, Tanya's pretty familiar with Ouija boards. She knows what she's doing, so it's not like we're getting involved with things we don't know anything about." Haley said as Zoe slid into her seat.
"You're not afraid that there will be bad spirits around? They could have bad intentions. What if they attack us, or if they possess one of us? What if they follow one of us home and haunts us? Aren't you afraid of what could go wrong?" Zoe asked.

"You know there are worse things to be afraid of than ghosts," Haley said in an oddly clipped tone. She relaxed slowly when Zoe looked at her imploringly, and offered a lazy smile. "Like serial killers and deer with rabies."
Zoe frowned. Something about her tone of voice told her that Haley knew more about the things in the dark than she was letting on; that there was something else she'd wanted to say but decided not to. Haley's eyes moved past Zoe, and Zoe turned to follow her gaze. Tanya had just entered the room, dressed in a light summer dress, but Haley wasn't looking toward the front of the classroom.

"Hi, you guys." Tanya said, flicking her hair over her shoulder before gracefully settling into her seat beside Zoe.
"Hi." Zoe said, and her frown deepened when Haley slowly sank down behind her own desk. There was something different in her movements, like she was deliberately making her movements slow, the way you would move as not to provoke a wild animal. There was something strange in her face, too. Her eyes seemed darker, and they were fixed on something right beside Zoe.
"Haley, are you okay?" Zoe asked lightly, afraid of the inexplicable vehemence in her friend's eyes.
Haley chewed her lip, and finally her gaze shifted to Zoe. She shrugged, and turned away from Zoe.

"Good morning," Kyle's voice startled her, and Zoe whipped around in her chair to look at him.
"Morning." Zoe said, and felt the chill she'd had a moment before disappear at the brilliant smile he gave her.
"I missed you in Chemistry this morning."
"Oh, yeah..." Zoe trailed off uncertainly.
"Don't worry. Your mom called the school to let them know you might be late. It's very considerate of her, you know, to prevent you getting into trouble for it." Kyle said as he slid into his seat and he looked at her curiously. "Why were you late, if you don't mind my asking?"

"I thought I'd walk today."
"You walked all the way from your house?" Kyle went still, visibly stumped.
"Yeah, well... I thought the fresh air and exercise would be good." Zoe said weakly.
"But... all the way from your... Zoe, that's insane." Kyle leaned toward her, and she found herself frozen and breathless as she stared into his eyes. "That's way too far for you to walk. No wonder you were late."
"I know but..."
"That's just stupid, really." Kyle shook his head angrily. "I'll pick you up tomorrow morning."

"Oh, no Kyle, that's not necessary..." Zoe said, surprised.
"And I'll take you home after school, too." Kyle added firmly.
"It was just a one-off thing..." Zoe protested, her cheeks flaming in embarrassment when Bruce turned around to curiously watch the conversation.
"I'm sure Zoe is a big girl, Kyle. She doesn't need an escort all the time." Tanya joined in. "I'm right, aren't I, Zoe?"
"Yes." Zoe said, looking from Tanya to Kyle with wide eyes. If she'd known walking to school would cause such a fuss...

"Well since we've got your opinion on the matter," Kyle said, narrowing his eyes at Tanya, then looking past her. "What do you think, Haley? You want to add your two cents in here, too?"
Zoe pursed her lips, looking around the classroom in alarm and praying they didn't attract any more attention than they already were.
"I think it's a good idea, for now." Haley said, and Zoe looked at her. "Until Zoe knows her way around better and she gets her own means of transport organized, at least."
"I couldn't agree more."

Zoe turned back to Kyle, wishing she could disappear.
"Kyle, please don't. My mom can pick me up or something. It's too far out for you to drive me everyday..."
"I'm not taking no for an answer."
"But..."
"I'm not taking no for an answer, Zoe." Kyle said. His eyes were blazing and his tone bore no room for argument. Zoe stared back at him for a few minutes, considering her options until she finally deflated.
"Okay." Zoe said quietly.

A teacher entered the classroom and called for their attention, before turning to the blackboard to scribble down their next assignment.
"Zoe, I'll give you a ride to the party tonight."
Zoe gave Kyle a sidelong glance. "I wouldn't say no to that."
"I'm glad to hear it." Kyle said, chuckling lightly.
His attention was stolen away a second later by Bruce, and Zoe blinked at her desk dazedly as she caught scraps of their conversation. They were talking about football. Which was normal, she reasoned, since they were both on the football team.

Zoe felt a cold chill race through her at the memory of an eerily beautiful voice and frightening opaque eyes. She sent a sharp glance at the floor beside her desk. The aisle was empty, there was nothing and no one...
She slowly looked over to Haley. Had she seen him? What had she been staring at earlier?
It was just a stupid dream, Zoe thought, but her stomach churned. It's just coincidence that Kyle and I had that conversation. Now, if Tanya...

"Did you hear what I said, Zoe?" Tanya's voice crashed through her raging thoughts.
"Huh?" Zoe's head snapped in her direction and she blinked, confused. "No, I didn't."
"Everyone who is going you know where to do you know what tonight must wear white." Tanya sighed impatiently.
Zoe stared.
"You know what I'm talking about, right? The party." Tanya rolled her eyes.
"She thinks you've lost your mind." Haley snorted.
"It's not an occult or anything, don't look so worried." Tanya frowned at Zoe, and dropped her voice to a whisper. "The ghosts won't hurt us or feel threatened because white is the..."
"The colour of innocence and purity." Zoe interrupted. Her mouth felt dry, her tongue heavy, and her heart was thudding sickeningly in her chest.
"Exactly." Tanya nodded.

Zoe was barely aware of Haley softly chuckling and Tanya glaring at her in return. The world seemed to squeal to an unreal halt all around her, falling away from her and breaking into small particles of dust. Nothing seemed real. Not the desk her sweaty palms were pressed against. Not Tanya and Haley having a quiet argument beside her. Not Kyle. Not the teacher droning on about something that didn't apply to her. No one and nothing. She was out of her chair and bolted from the classroom before the teacher had time to apprehend her. Her feet carried her down the halls toward the girl's bathroom, her vision blinded by hot tears. Her breath hitched in, fast and shallow.

She was sitting on the floor with her back against the cubicle wall and sobbing uncontrollably into her arms, with no recollection of how she'd gotten to the bathroom, when a light knock came on the door.
"Zoe? What's wrong?" Haley's voice called from the other side.
"Nothing." Zoe sobbed.
"Oh, open the door!" Haley snapped.
"I just need to be alone." Zoe mumbled.
"I don't think so."
There was silence, then shuffling. Zoe wiped at her tears with her sleeves and sniffed, looking toward the door. A second later, Haley was flat on the floor and peeking at her through the opening beneath the door. Zoe blinked at her, and frowned.

"Please, I'll be okay. Really."
"I'm not going away until you tell me what upset you so much."
Zoe could tell Haley was serious. She thought for a moment, then decided to come right out with it.
"What were you looking at earlier?"
There was momentary confusion on Haley's face. "What?"
"You were looking at something. Next to me, in class. You saw something that I couldn't see. Didn't you?" Zoe said, unable to keep the desperation from her voice.
Haley looked back at her steadily, and it was a long, dragged out silence before Haley spoke.

"It's not something we should talk about. At least, not here, you know?" Haley licked her lips uncertainly. "But if it helps any, no you're not losing your mind, Zoe. There was someone there."
Zoe drew a shaky breath. "You could see him then? The boy."
Haley was looking more uncomfortable every second. "I'm not a psychic dud, so yes I saw something. But like I said, now is not the time or place. We'll talk about it some other time, 'kay? Now, will you come out of there, please? We're going to be late for lunch."

Zoe nodded, swallowing down the burning questions that had risen to mind. She got up and unlocked the cubicle before stepping out. Haley was dusting off her hands and knees. They looked at one another for a moment, and Zoe realized they had both discovered a secret they shared. Zoe wanted to ask Haley if she could see ghosts, and if her attitude about ghosts not being real was just a facade. Although, Zoe remembered Haley had told her the day before that she'd never seen a ghost before. Which brought her to two conclusions, as they left the bathroom together and headed for the cafeteria when the bell screamed through the halls. Either today was the first time Haley had seen a ghost. Or the boy wasn't a ghost at all.
Her gut told her the latter was true. The boy's words echoed hauntingly, menacingly through her mind again. "You can call me Umbra."

Ooo888ooO

A/N: Another update, another chapter, hooray! A big thank you to IAmAVampireI'veLostMyFangs for correcting my Latin. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and hopefully my updates will be more frequent so 'stay tuned' : )