Haunted

Chapter 1: Grad Night

Chapter 1: Grad Night

SANG:

"Thank fuck that's all over with." Gabriel shouts and then shimmies his shoulders, raising his dark eyebrows up and down with his own beat, and Luke joins in, copying the movements. Nathan laughs and gets with the program, adding a little hip thrust, which the other two boys immediately add to their dance.

Boys. I still call them my boys, but really they're men. We're all adults now, and officially--as of today--high school graduates. Not like we actually attended Ashley Waters since we took over and liberated the school of its bad seeds, but we've got the diplomas, and much better education by doing it ourselves. Go us!

"C'mon, Sang! We're shaking off the bad ju-ju of being high school students from AW." Luke adds a bunny-hop type move and I can't hold back my giggles at the demented sight of the three boys bopping up and down, shoulder shimmies and eyebrows going wild.

So of course I join in--the four amigos never say die.

"Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!" We chant with each bounce.

There's the slightest sound of a door latch, closely followed by choked laughter. "Jesus H. Who left these four alone together?" North sighs.

"Alone together? Is that even possible?" Nathan counters, stopping his jumping to lean over with his hands on his knees, panting. Usually he doesn't get winded this easily, but apparently he started the day with a half marathon run with Kota. Because why? They're crazy. I started my morning curled up in Sean's bed, wrapped in his arms, thank you very much.

"Yes, wouldn't those cancel each other out?" Luke stops dancing too, and bumps Nathan's fist with his own.

I try to stop too, breathing hard myself, but Gabriel just bear-hugs me and keeps hopping.

"Air! Must have air!" I gasp.

Gabriel stops jumping but continues to squish me. "We're finally freeeee!"

North comes over and firmly but gently extricates me from Gabriel's hold, only to squeeze me to him instead. "You're all free, sure, but I'll never let go of Sang!"

I laugh at North's playful mood and hug him back. Seems like someone is catching on to the graduation celebration.

Behind me, one of the guys' stomach growls so loudly we all crack up. Nathan groans. "I'm starving to death over here. Are we all set up?"

North tenses slightly. "Yup. We're good to go. Grab your stuff and we'll head over."

I try to pull away to grab the overnight bag I was instructed to pack. I honestly just keep one stocked at this point, I spend the night at different houses practically every night.

"Not you, baby. One of these dingle-berries will get your bag." North's hands drift lower to cup my butt, then he lifts me up and I automatically wrap my legs around his waist. He turns around and walks with me out of the door.

"Aw, I want a Sang Koala!" Luke says while he follows with my bag and his.

"Is no one going to talk about North saying 'dingle-berries'? What the fuck is that?" Gabriel is on Luke's heels, with Nathan following to lock up.

I'm placed gently in the passenger seat, the other three climb into the back, and as if one cue, they all start chanting "Dingle-berries! Dingle-berries!"

I giggle and giggle, before realizing--"Hang on, where are we going?"

The backseat peanut gallery shuts up and they smile. North simply answers, "It's a surprise, baby. A life changing surprise."

I squeak, whipping around in the seat to glare at my supposed amigo squad that didn't spill any of the details. "Life changing?! What's going on?"

North reaches over to squeeze my thigh, leaving his hand there as he pulls out of the driveway.

"Don't look into her eyes!" Luke shouts, laughing, pushing on my forehead to get me to face front.

"Please!" I dodge away from him and pull out the big guns, pouting my lower lip.

"Trouble, you better not." Gabriel then makes an 'oof' sound as Nathan elbows him in the gut. "Shit! That hurt!"

"Everybody shut the hell up and put on your seatbelts!" North roars. His hand slips a bit higher up on my thigh so I look over at him. He's grinning, giving me a quick smirk before he looks back to the road. "Let's go change our lives!"

The peanut gallery in the back hoots and whoops. The energy is contagious. I open my window and let the wind blow my hair. North turns up the music and we all just exist. Alone. Together. Off to change our lives.

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Hi, everybody! I'm back to writing--but it's been a loooooooong time. Trying something new!

> Who else is getting really tired waiting for the next GB book? 

> What are y'all reading during this funky quarantine/social distancing time?

> Is this storyline exciting and worth me writing? Are you interested?

Thanks for sticking by me all this time, even when I've been lame and not writing <3