Hatchetfield.

I'd Have To Let You Go

October

Steph hid inside some random broom closet in Hatchetfield High, clutching the Black Book tightly.

The incessant, childish singing of the Lords In Black rang in her head.

Stephanie has got a gun, tra la la la, how fun! Stephanie has got a gun, she knows what must be done!

Steph opened the Black Book, turning to the Holding Court With The Void ritual.

Steph invoked the names, her voice shaking.

All five Lords in Black appeared around her, singing their song again.

"Hello, Steph-a-nie." Wiggly said.

"I won't kill Pete." Steph said.

"Then fuck off."

"Wait!"

Blinky looked at her curiously.

"Can I give you something else?"

"Whatever we wanted?" Pokey laughed, staring at Steph through his eerie white mask.

"Yes. Just don't make me kill him, please." Steph begged.

"...Fine." Wiggly said. "We'll take everyone's memories of you. Not right now, when you least expect it. No one will remember who you are."

"Yum yum!" Nibbly gnashed his teeth at Steph's head.

Tinky bleated out a laugh. "We made the same deal with the Waylon girl years ago."
"Do we have a deal, Steph-a-nie?" Wiggly outstretched his green, tentacle-y hand.

"You take everyone's memories of me, and you'll stop Max Jagerman?"

"Yes."

"Deal."

The Lords in Black disappeared.

Steph crawled out of the broom closet, and found Pete and Grace.

"You guys okay?" Steph said, nervously.

"Y-yeah." Pete nodded, taking Steph's hand.

Grace nodded.

They heard Max's screams as he was pulled into the Black and White.

That night, the trio reburied the Black Book in the Witchwood Forest.

Steph spent the majority of a year watching and waiting for everyone to forget her.

Pete noticed how sad Steph was, even when they were officially together.

Steph just brushed it off, unwilling to hurt Pete further by telling him what she gave up to save him.

The Honey Festival.

The Lords in Black visited Steph in her dream that night, announcing they were giving her one last day before everyone forgets her.

Steph and Pete had an action filled day at the Honey Festival, watching Needy Beast play live, enjoying the snacks and the rides. But for Steph, there was a definite melancholy for Steph, knowing that at the end of the day, no one will remember her.

Steph and Pete were out on the lake, watching the fireworks from their paddle boat.

Steph looked at Pete sadly, as she knew what was going to happen later.

"What's wrong?" Pete said.

Steph just smiled, the pain in her eyes evident.

"Steph, please, talk to me." Pete took her hand.

"...I made another deal that night, so neither of us would have to die."

"Wh-what did you give up?"

"They'll take everyone's memories of me."

Pete's face fell. "No... Steph... I can't... I won't..."

"Hey, Pete. It'll be okay."

"No, Steph. You know what I would have had to give up? You."

Steph laughed sadly. "You're such a nerd, Spankoffski."

"I'm being serious. It's always been you."

They took each other's hands.

"I never wanted to like you, you know? You made me."

"Right back at you."

Steph and Pete shared their first real kiss, closing their eyes.

Pete opened his eyes and she was gone. He blinked in confusion, unable to remember why he was out there at all.

Then a tiny boom in the sky reminded him. Oh yeah, he was watching the fireworks.

The First Day Of Class
Pete was in class, listening absentmindedly to Miss Mulberry talk about Shakespeare.

"Hey, hey geek?" A girl taps on Pete's shoulder.

"Me?" Pete said, confused as to why she was talking to him at all. Something about this girl was drawing Pete to her.

"Your name's Peter, right?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm Shannon."

"The new girl, I know."

It hurt 'Shannon' to see Pete not remember who she was.