"I swear, if I'm dying tonight because of you, I'm gonna haunt your ass so hard, Harrington!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah! I'm gonna go full Poltergeist and shit!"
"Then bring it, Graveswood."
"Challenge accepted."
***
In which after years of suppressing their...
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Chapter Ten: Disconcerting Photographs
(Holly Jolly, Pt. 3)
***
It was lunch time, and no sign of Barb.
Rowan gripped the edge of her tray anxiously as she sat at the table with Eddie and the rest of the Hellfire Club that mostly consisted of a couple weedy freshmen and his band. She scanned the cafeteria for what felt like the millionth time, hoping she could pick out Barb's red hair, round face and glasses from the sea of students.
But nothing.
Looking to Eddie, who was grinning at a joke Gareth said, she asked, "Hey, have you seen Barb today?"
Eddie looked at her, brows scrunched up, and Rowan cursed inwardly at the fact they were in different grades; as a senior, Eddie wouldn't have noticed Barb, a sophomore, much, and especially since unlike them, Barb was comfortably in the middle between outcast and popular—not popular enough to be considered among the likes of Harrington and Carol, but not as much of an outcast to be picked on and need to go under Eddie's wing. That middle ground made it even harder than the differing grades already did.
A light sparked in Eddie's eyes. "Yeah, I think I do. She's also your Chemistry partner, right?"
Rowan nodded. "Yes! Yeah, she is! Have you seen her?"
Eddie shook his head, curls flying. "Nope."
Rowan slumped, and Eddie frowned, heart twisting at seeing the defeated look on his friend's face. Looking at his bandmates, he asked, "Hey, did any of you see Nancy Wheeler's friend around?"
As one, the three other members of Corroded Coffin shook their heads.
"Nope."
"Haven't seen her today."
"No, I haven't seen Wheeler's friend since I think yesterday."
Eddie looked at Rowan. "Sorry, Graveswood. None of us have seen her today."
"Okay. Thanks, though," she muttered, and that made Eddie's frown deepened.
He nudged her with his arm, smiling. "Hey, don't look so glum. I'm sure she's fine. She's probably sick or something."
"Yeah. Probably has some nasty stomach bug or cold," Gareth added, also going for a reassuring smile.
