chapter 70 *Wingspan*

"I don't know why we bother coming to these things." kira grumbles.

i didn't like the idea either but there was no need to complain about it. yet no matter how she protested kira stuck it out with us.

i should have known something was off the moment i'd arrived and saw no one else but the small group i came with. no, it was not how i thought commemorating a homework free night would go, but i went along with it anyway.

it's not like i had anything better to do. chanel was MIA and not even i could take another quiet evening and not loose my marbles.

funny, the kind of things you miss. for me, that was TV. it wasn't my movie of choice but that didn't mean i wasn't all for it.

From where i stood gore was better than anything. At least it wasn't a Romantic Comedy. God. I hated those.

while Kira starts going at it again with Mason, i look out for mya uncertain if she was coming or not. i would have invited her with me but she wasn't a big fan of kira and i wasn't sure what the boys would say if i brought someone with me.

the whole situation was tricky. kira and mya were both good friends of mine and because of that i wanted to keep conflict at bay. so to keep the peace i didn't mention going to Fright Night to Mya and if i so happened to see mya in line i was going to say hi.

"are you okay?" wesley asks. his bangs flipped in the wind moving all directions.

though meant with good intentions our adventure was slightly misguided to say the least.

i hug my arms to stop from shivering. "peachy." i turn facing him. his brown eyes bore into mine. "if i knew i would be standing outside in a mild storm i would have brought a proper jacket. im freezing like a meat locker over here." i say looking around, hopeful to find a sign of activity from inside the dark library. Nothing.

Mason had said this was The Thing To Do at Starkhouse and that if we wanted the good seats we needed to get there early.

so where was everyone at? it was freakin dead out here, no pun intended.

i had a good view of the dorms from my spot in line. i groan silently. instead of following Kira blindly i should have suggested to her that we wait inside the dorm building where it was warm and safe from the violent wind, at least until the lights turned on inside the library.

yeah, that was another miscalculation. the library was just as upbeat as the outside. if i didn't know any better i would have walked straight through the quad on a Friday night and completely passed the closed library and kept on going without a second thought.

the buildings all looked the same to me: dark grey stones covered with thick heavy vines of ivy. perched on top were the same gargoyles i'd seen countless times before everywhere. the imposing figures were hard not to miss.

"see?" kira chimes mocking mason. "im not the only one who thinks standing outside is a lousy idea. im not listening to what you say next time. gosh mason, this is the best time. just riveting." kiras mouth snarls, her acidic words landing on her target and creating the opposite effect of its intended put down.

"give it time." mason says, still smiling.

i had to say, out of everyone mason was thoroughly convinced people would start to make their way over. i should have believed in him more.

he was right; for all of kiras indecision it wasn't long after more bodies lined up behind us.

students, some i had class with, others i didn't know were dressed in their onesees and animal fur slippers.

i took it that since they couldn't have dances they were decking all out tonight. Me, i had on the same thing from this morning. minus the winter jacket.

i had a mishap and that thing wasn't going to be seeing the light of day for quite some time. or at least until i made it to the laundry room

"do you ever get tired of watching the same thing?" i ask turning my attention away from the person next to me. she had a unicorn shirt with a blue star on its eye.

even i had my limits as to how many times i could watch something without getting bored.

"never." mason pumps his fist in the air cheering at the top of his lungs over the rest of our group once the doors opened.

that brought me some satisfaction and a grin to my freezing face.

we step forward, our feet shuffling bit by bit as we formed a curving line. the light from inside pours onto the floor and i could smell popcorn.

eager to get inside, the hustling crowd gets more rowdy, chanting and whooping let us in as the headmistresses assistant stood by the door allowing entrance in exchange for our tickets.

i glance to my right and see non other than Rider drifting on through. he had the same non-chalant disposition when he spotted Wesley.

somehow rider seemed like he was interested more in making trouble than taking part in commemorating school spirit.

"still here i see. i thought we told you to leave." Wesley said with such vitriol the hate clung in the air.

i was missing something. it was like turning the faucet but only getting one setting. and that temperature was cold.

one minute wesley was doing fine but he turned angry when he saw Rider.

i tuned out the rest of their conversation with an outward appearance of interest and patience when on the inside i had a clawing need to disappear into the library.

a hard knot like a fist shoved up under my rib cage and i tore my gaze from Wesley in hopes that they would keep inching forward to where it was warm and toasty. unfortunately i was behind them and the activity liaison had just started taking some girls ticket who shockingly got there before us.

neither of them seemed to care about our movie plans with Rider around.

Rider smiles menacingly overlooking me. the hood to his overcoat hid part of his face. "relax. i'm not here for you." he says diligently walking past the library.

the whole thing was odd. what was more strange was that even though Rider knew me he didn't feel like being super friendly like he usually was.

"some people." mason berates heatedly. he lifts his ticket in the air and follows Wesley into the building.

"what's that about?" i ask kira whispering so i didn't alert wesley. not that he could here me. but i was curious. i couldn't help myself.

kira stands close for comfort. she puts her hand inside her red coat and hands something to the bored teacher. "remember when i told you Stark House isn't like other schools and that sometimes knowing other peoples dirty laundry can land them in trouble?"

i shake my head.

"well, this is one of them. i'll never lie to you but trust me this is one thing that is best for you not to get involved with. i'm only trying to protect you since we're friends."

"old bad blood." i whisper to the wind. but if Rider hadn't been here before how was it possible that Wesley and he knew one another?

come to think of it, toby was the same way. if they all weren't such good friends how did they know each other and how was toby involved?

so many questions that went unanswered and it wasn't like i could ask kira because she made her stance perfectly clear. for now i didn't bother her with questions that she couldn't answer and for the moment i thought it was best if i kept my discovery quiet.

rider, toby. these people knew one another and i bet it had something to do with wesely. the only person i couldn't take my findings to was one in the same.

I hand over my ticket after Kira intent on picking a good seat.

during the movie not a single word had poured from wesleys mouth. several times I caught him staring into nothing his eyes not even on the screen and I was passed worried.

for me, asking someone what's wrong happened about as much as me going out- next to never- but wesleys unease was cause for concern. just like mason and kira i let it go.

besides, they knew him better than i did. not everyone liked to be asked what was wrong and so that was why i had kept my mouth shut during the movie. although, i couldn't say my mind stayed focused on it.