Autumn, Tilly, Ari, and Gwen stand behind me, smiling at my reflection. After a few hours of their help, my hair and make-up are done. I turn to them, picking at the hem of my dress. They’re so happy and I know I should be too, so I put a smile on, but I can’t shake this feeling I have. Death has been silent for weeks now, like the calm before the storm, and Alex hasn’t shown himself in months. The only good thing about lately is that Jack had been true at the beginning of the year. People eventually did get used to us and stop whispering about us. The past few months at school have actually been the most normal I’ve ever had.

“You’re so beautiful. I see so much of your parents in you.” Grandmother Gwen says, her eyes soft with the past.

“Jack will be speechless.” Autumn agrees.

“We’re so proud of you, Zoey. I know your parents would be too.” Tilly smiles.

“Prom is a night you’ll never forget.” Ari says with a wink.

I look down, touched by their words. “Thanks.”

Autumn glances towards the door and smiles. “He’s here. Let’s go.”

I nod and give Mogget a quick scratch under his chin before following Autumn, Tilly, and Gwen out of the room. As we come down the steps we’re greeted by Anton, Grandpa Elijah, Mordecai, Ellen, Dennis, and Elissa. Mordecai lets out a whistle, making Dennis and their dates chuckle.

“Lookin hot, cuz.” Mordecai teases.

“Shut up.” I grumble, butterflies in my stomach as I hear footsteps on the porch. A knock sounds on the door. Elijah opens the door and Jack walks in.

Silence.

“Hi.” I say, hoping to break the quiet.

Jack closes his mouth. “Hello Hermione.” He gives me one of his disarming smiles. “You look…” He pauses, “Amazing isn’t a good enough word and beautiful just doesn’t quiet do it either.”

“Thanks.” I blush and walk over to him. “I guess since we’re all here, we should go now.”

“Wait! I want pictures first. Group picture then couples.” Tilly says to our groaning.

We all pose for pictures quickly and efficiently so Tilly doesn’t take more than needed. After a few minutes we’re free to go. The six of us leave the house and with their excitement and Jack’s reassuring presence, my horrible feeling almost gets pushed from my mind. Almost.

The ballroom is beautiful. Balloons and tables are set up everywhere, with a clear area for dancing. Jack squeezes my hand and smiles at me. I smile back and look around again, resolving to have fun regardless of the feeling.

After we eat, the DJ turns the music up and most of us move to the dance floor. It feels like we dance for hours. I stay with Jack and the others and let the music fill my body, pushing away the nagging feeling. A slow dance comes on and Jack puts an arm on my waist and takes my hand in the other, holding me close.

“Zoey.” He whispers, his breath warm against my ear.

“Yes?” I ask.

“I…I love you.” He says.

I freeze, taking in the words, words we haven’t said yet. The three little words that terrify me to my core. ‘I love you’. I open my mouth to say them back, knowing that’s what you’re supposed to do, but I can’t say anything.

Jack steps back, confusion in his eyes. “Zoey? Are you okay? You don’t have to say it back if you’re not ready. It’s okay.”

I suck in a deep breath and step back, holding my arms. “I-I need some air.” I manage out.

Jack nods as I turn to leave the ballroom and let’s Mordecai know we’re going outside. Without waiting, I make for the doorway, feeling like the walls are closing in on me. What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I say it back?

I lean against the cool wall once I’m outside, relishing the quiet of Hidden Spring’s night. I do love him, don’t I? Isn’t this what love feels like? I like being with him. He calms me down. But there’s so much fear there too. Fear of hurting him, of killing him, of him leaving. It’s complicated. Is love supposed to be complicated? Maybe I can’t say it back because I don’t know what love is. I try to remember the way mom and dad looked at each other, but it’s been so long I can only see them in the poses that they’re in in my pictures.

“Zoey, are you okay?” Jack whispers as the door closes behind him.

“Yea, I’m fine.” I put a smile on and look at him.

“Are you sure? This is all my fault. I’m so sorry.” He says.

“No, it’s not. It’s okay, really. I’m just tired. Can we go home?” I ask.

“Yea, of course. Let’s go.” He takes my hand tentatively and we begin to walk across the parking lot.

We walk, because it’s a great night out and it’s not too far. Jack has a car, but we all took a limo over. We stay quiet, each lost in our own minds. My bad feeling is back in full force now, eating away at my already tumultuous thoughts.

We reach the park near the house and walk along the path. My feet are beginning to hurt in the heels Autumn lent me but I don’t complain since we’re almost home. A heavy silence breaks me out of my thoughts and I look around. A town like Hidden Springs is normally quiet this time of night, but this was a heavy silence, thick with foreboding. Feeling uneasy, I search the street as we reach it. For a second I begin to relax, thinking I’m just being crazy, but then I see it. A car flicks it’s lights on, knowing that we’ve seen it, and speeds towards us.

Jack sees it the same time I do. He squeezes my hand and I feel him pull me to the side, trying to jump out of its way. He makes it out of the car’s path, but I don’t. I whip my head to look at him just as the car reaches me. I feel its impact with my body. With his soft blue eyes the last thing I see, the world goes black. Finally, I’ll be able to experience Death as a dying person.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tilly, Anton, Autumn, Ari, Gwen, and Elijah sit around the living room. The children’s futures on their mind. Seeing Zoey happy and integrating well gives everyone a positive outlook. Maybe things will finally be turning around for the beloved Belle heir. In the middle of their conversation, the room’s temperature drops to freezing, halting their words.

In the middle of the room, an orange ghost appears, flickering in and out of view. Only Autumn, Ari, and Elijah can see him. Tilly, Anton, and Gwen only smell smoke. He looks out to them.

“Zoey. Park.” He looks like he’s yelling, but the three vampires can barely hear his words. While his first words worry them, it is his final that turns their worry to fear. “Evelyn.”

Mogget comes bounding into the room as the ghost disappears, yowling as loud as can be. Autumn, Ari, and Elijah are up and across the room before the other three have even moved.

“Follow him.” Autumn urges Ari and Elijah as she turns to Gwen, Tilly, and Anton. “Zoey is in trouble. Call the kids and the police. We’re going to find her.”

With that, she follows the other two vampires and Mogget out. Knowing there’s no way they’d be able to catch up, Gwen Tilly, and Anton do as Autumn bid them, and begin to make the calls.