"So where do you think Casey went?" Mae asked Gregg, who shrugged. "I dunno, dude, probably just ran off. He does that."

Mae shrugged as she tossed another Pierogi into Gregg's maw. "Alright then, I guess. So what're we going to do with that thing?"

Gregg shrugs. "Dunno, but I'm gonna head home and get some rest. Big party tomorrow."

Mae nods. "I'm going to see if Vaan's going to come. Maybe convince him it'll be fun. He's never been to a party in his life, y'know."

"What!? Never!? Then he HAS to go! I know, we'll kidnap him away and drag him to the party!"

Mae laughed, nodding. "Welp, I'd better go talk to him. See ya later."

Gregg waved as Mae walked home, and when she got there, she immediately went up and began talking to Vaan.

"How did I let you convince me of this?" Vaan grumbled as he watched Mae stare into the mirror.

"I dunno, you just did."

"Great."

Mae sighs to herself. "I have a nightmare face…"

"No you don't, Mae, c'mon. You look great."

"I have such big dumb eyes… My nightmare eyes."

Vaan frowns, and goes to speak again.

"Nightmare Eyes would be a great name for a horror movie. You'll see the Nightmare Eyes outside your window, And you'll know."

"Mae?"

"Sorry, got kinda into it there. I just hope Cole isn't there… It'll be a mess…"

"Who's Cole?"

"Old boyfriend. We beat up a street gang. With chains. And garbage cans."

Vaan blinked a few times. "...Why am I not surprised?"

Mae shrugged as the two of them walked out of the house and got into Bea's car.

It was a short ride to the party. And immediately Vaan told Mae, very specifically, not to have any alcohol.

He should have thrown it into the fire right then. First Mae had decided to begin teasing Angus and Gregg about their relationship. Now Mae was standing on a tree stump by the fire.

"I have Nightmare Eyes! And the lazt thing you'll see iz my eyes outside the window! Then I'll ztab you with my knife! Stab Stab Staaaaaaabbb!"

"Mae, time to calm down now…" Vaan says, trying to get her to step off the stump.

"Boom! Dead! And when the police get there you'll be all like: S!"

Vaan cursed softly and tried to pull Mae off the stump, but failed again.

"And those stupid college kids! All just shapes! None of them are real! Only Vaan wasn't a bunch of stupid shapes! So I came back home, and no more shapes! But now the nightmare eyes come back! I HAVE NIGHTMARE EYES! AND I'LL KILL YA IF YA LET ME!" she exclaims, her eyes wide and insane as she breaks into hysterical laughter.

"Mae, come on, please," Vaan says, grabbing her shoulders, and pulling her off the stump.

"And y'know what else?! I hear the Nightmares speaking! They tell me it's over! THEY TOLD ME TO RUN!" she yelled, her laughter turning into sobs as Vaan lead her away, motioning to Bea quickly.

Thankfully, he'd told Mae not to eat, so she wasn't throwing up, but it was obvious Bea was less than thrilled to see Mae like this.

Then again, he himself was very upset as well. Oh well. Nothing to do now.

Once Mae was in bed, Vaan decided to take a long night hike through the woods, humming to himself. The night air was cool and crisp, which felt like his old home to him, something that made him feel a bit homesick. Even if he had no one there to greet him, he wished he could call.

He stopped in his tracks suddenly, and hid behind a nearby tree, watching the shadows like a hawk. A cloaked person was stalking someone else, and they moved like a wild animal. Vaan gulped quietly, and his eyes widened as the cloaked figure pulled out a gun and took aim.

Vaan, the idiot he was, immediately picked up an acorn, and climbed into a tree, throwing it hard enough that when it hit the gun, it made the gun move just a fraction of an inch.

This, amazingly, made it miss the target, but Vaan couldn't stick around to find out what else happened, and ran back to Mae's house as fast as he could. He, thankfully, wasn't spotted, and he raced up to the guest room, which was finally cleared out. He immediately locked the door and window, and got on his laptop, contacting Gregg, Bea, and Angus, and typing out what had happened.

He only got an answer from Bea, who told him that they'd all meet up in the morning for band practice and then talk about what was going on. He thanked her, and curled up in the corner of his bed in a blanket.

He was scared he'd be the next one facing down a gun.