linds, dragging me reluctantly out of sleep. I groan an

, followed by my roommate's voi

onna be late, and I'm no

ing she'll take pit

, a whirlwind of energy in her paj

g of coffee, which she prom

says cheerfully. "Or should

re at her. "You're way to

the covers off me. "What's your excuse this tim

flash through my mind-the graveyard, Valentine perched on my mother's gra

kay? You look like

"Just a we

t I hop

ncern as she sits on the edge of my bed. "Yo

ly. "It wasn't a nigh

n hour, and you look like you've been hit by a truck." She

uh

at my neck. "There's this

pot instinctively, right where Valen

" I say quickly, though my heart is beating faster

is

't want Dorothy and her crew making it their new favorite topic. They'd

ift through my closet. For the first t

king me develop confid

but Ellie whistles dramatically

But maybe tone it down if you

tleneck instead, slipping it

tte

o you. Just don't let

s I head out the door and i

ike college, being bullied doesn't feel like the typi

terribly to paint th

the first person I run in

and Bailey, looking like she owns the place. As soo

drawing attention. "If it isn

strap of my backpack tighter and keep

?" she coos, eyeing my o

her in the eye. "Do you actually think you loo

ntly. Jesse and Bailey

narrows her eyes. "Wh

ying breath. "

ripping with venom. "That's the first time you've said anything back, and let me give you

und her and walk away. My hands are trembling, but

xponentially more difficult from now on, but at

nd is miles away. No matter how hard I try to fo

ent

ed to glow in the darkness. And the feel of his cold fingers on my n

ing works. My fingers keep coming back to my neck, and I

find myself back

to talk to my mom as I always do, b

eading that I'll see him again. The air is cool, and the moon cas

en I h

ul sound o

, where the gravestones are weathered and crumbling. There he i

ds the instrument, the way his finge

with an off-key screech

e?" he asks

nore the way my heart

e's

ut I don't. I feel... oddly comfortable in his presence eve

dn't hurt me. I don't know what he is, but I'm certain he won't hurt

r to the newer graves wher

the letters of her name with my fingers. The night air

" he suddenly says fro

ap, turning my head

fact, I find i

ning back to my m

voice quiet. "It's been

ed already," He replies

th but decide

," I continue, focusing on the grav

Dorothy that called you a turtle in front of Ryker Heads? I also

but he just leans casually again

ave. "She and her little crew said I looked like crap,

, theatrical h

ping his hands. "North finally grows a

ead around.

could come up with? 'You don't look impressive'?

ack to the grave. "Ignore

e into this. Though, I must say, I'm proud of you

way, Mom, I've also... met so

mutters, and I can practical

iating," I admit, ignoring him

e offers, ste

at him

ndsome?" he adds,

N

llent vi

errupting

"Go on, then. Tell dear old Mom al

my temple. "Mom, I don't know

ul," he

ng," I

-chan

uria

imicking a female voice. "Am I glad my daugh

, if you're going to be here, the

rinning. "You just don't apprecia

ck to the gravestone, "h

er, popping the "p." "Yo

y head fall into

th a smirk, "you're j

So you're the night time ma

I look

hink y

ly goes still, cutti

ha

his expression unreadable. He looks around and closes his eyes

says, his voice unusually so

isappearing into the shadows, past

I find myself standing in front of the

stone. I trace my fingers over its surface, and out

weed, but I'm still abl

Valentine Draven IV. An an

shiver runs down my spi

, the words from last n