The window blew open like a bomb, bringing in the storm. I couldn’t have that mess with my seance, so I dropped my book of spells and rushed towards the window, shutting and locking them. Without a moment to waste, I swirled around and dashed back towards my spot. Checking the time to see that the minute hadn’t changed yet, I grabbed the book in one swift motion and flipped it back to the page I was on and continued to read the spell. After a while, everything calmed down and I was able to successfully continue my chanting without further interruption. Checking the clock, I was happy to see that I was twenty minutes shy of midnight.

Finally finishing up, I zipped out of the house so fast I couldn’t even bother to detour. The houses energy had shifted, no longer feeling the same way it did before I’d entered. I knew enough to know that when a placed of the condemned was no longer welcoming, you needed to leave. I had feared I might have awakened something, but I hoped it hadn’t awoken just yet.

******

Waking up with a yawn, I realized that my body was still feeling off since yesterday night, but I simply chalked it up to my spells taking a toll on me, which wasn’t new. Eventually my energy would come back to me and since it was a much stronger spell, I figured just sleeping wasn’t going to cut it, but Knowing everything was going to be fine, I went on about my day.

Anxiously I waited for my partner the entire day, but he never made his debut. Disappointed but hopeful that maybe he would once I headed over towards the party. Getting ready, making sure I looked as good as I felt, I headed out the door and walked towards the cab. I noticed that the night had an odd chill about it and that the wind was much more feisty than usual, but it didn’t strike me as too odd.

Making it to the school, I hoped out and walked towards the gym. Opening the door, I paused, noticing that all eyes were on me. Their judge filled gazes left me feeling uneasy and it made me even more upset that my partner wasn’t here to help me show them out. Heat rushed to my cheeks, but I didn’t want to show my embarrassment. Staring at the food table, I glided in its direction, keeping my eyes locked on it as to avoid potential eye contact.

I made myself a plate and when I felt that those unwanted eyes had drifted away from me, did I finally peek out and into the crowd. I rolled my eyes when I locked gazes with a familiar girl, who gracefully walked through the sea of dancing kids and up to me. Seeing that stupid smug smile of hers that I hated so much plastered onto her doll like glossy red lips, made me want to punch her in her plastic face. I knew she was going to say something that would irk me, so I prepared myself. Oddly enough, the smile she carried was ripped of her lips and replaced with an odder expression, like she was fascinated by something next to me.

Confused by her changing expression, I turned to see what she was looking at but only saw dead air. “Alright.” She said, bringing my attention back to her. “I’ll admit, nice catch.” She smiled at something behind me before leaving. I turned again to see nothing there.

“Weird.” I said aloud, stumped by what just happened. I kept looking around as I ate my food, hoping my date would show up already.

Throughout the night, I was weirded out by the expressions on so many people’s faces, which stared at me, not in disgust or annoyance as usual, but with an expression of envy.