Reese Hale's Perspective
If there was one thing that Reese knew about his best friend, Kaden, it was that he never missed a rehearsal. It'd been two weeks since sectionals, and ever since, the captain of the Oracles had been acting funny. Kaden had become more secretive, more spontaneous, and a lot less strict. He'd arrived late to rehearsals or left early, but he'd never missed a rehearsal. Until now, apparently.
Reese, tugging on his sweatshirt's collar, eyed the clock suspiciously. It was a quarter past noon, and the rest of the Oracles were beginning to sense that something was up. Reese weaved through the other boys and left the room, already dialing Kaden's number when he reached the silent school hallway.
"Hello?" Kaden's voice on the other side was a relief to Reese.
"Thank god," Reese exhaled. "Where the hell are you?"
There was a shuffling sound on the other line. "Something came up, I'm sorry. Lead rehearsal or don't, it doesn't matter to me."
Reese's eyes bugged out of his head. "Are you feeling all right, Kaden? Do I need to call you an ambulance?"
Kaden laughed. "I'm feeling fine, Reese, now I really have to go. See you later."
"Wait, Kaden—" Reese sighed as Kaden hang up the phone, off doing who knew what. Reese leant against the wall, lost in thought. That was, until the sound of heels echoing through the hallway snagged his attention. Reese looked up and found himself staring at someone he had 1) never seen before and 2) would very much like to again.
The girl had golden hair that reached her shoulders in delicately placed waves. Her eyes, jade like a cat's, pinned Reese in place as she met his gaze. She wore high-waisted jeans and a crop top, her hands stuffed lazily into her pockets as she came to a stop. Her ruby lips stretched into a feline smile, and whatever power this girl had suddenly made Reese's heart start to beat faster.
"Reese Hale, as I live and breathe," The mystery girl said, her voice enchanting. "Pleased to finally meet you."
Reese, ever at a lost for words, managed to sputter, "Hey."
The girl smirked, glancing around the empty hallway. She peered through the window on the door into the Oracle's rehearsal room, where a game of ninja had been initiated. "And the legendary Oracles. My, my, what a day."
Reese blinked. "Do I know you?"
The girl turned to look at him, her jade eyes luminous. She drew a manicured hand out of her pocket, holding it out for Reese. "Imogen Cadwell."
Reese shook her hand. "Reese Hale."
Imogen's eyes glinted impishly. "Knew that already."
Reese felt his cheeks flush. "Right, of course." He cleared his throat. "Can I help you?"
Imogen stepped away to investigate the contents of a display case. "That depends," She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Have you seen Tessa Brennan anywhere lately?"
Reese resisted the urge to laugh. "Not since sectionals. Why would I see her around here?" He waved a hand around his school's hallway, one that the leader of the Muses definitely did not frequent.
Stepping back over to him, Imogen shrugged. "Because she never showed up to rehearsal today and I had an inkling that you and your babbling band of buffoons might have kidnapped her."
