Taya sat inside the gazebo by the Art Building, waiting for Henry to finish his last class for the day. The gazebo provided a beautiful view of the river that ran through Heatherton and the forest that was on the other side of it. Autumn usually came late to Heatherton, but the tell-tale signs of the changing season were fast approaching. The coloring of falling leaves, the air turning from humid to crisp and the overwhelming amount of pumpkin-spice anything made it clear that Fall was nearly here. It was still too warm even with the drop in temperature and the summer green still cling onto the trees and brush. Taya welcomed a change of seasons, a signal of things changing hopefully for the better.

       It had been almost a month since she'd been attacked by the Shadow. It still seemed too unreal to her, wanting to believe she had imagined it. Except Henry had experienced the same thing as her. So did her friends. They'd even banished it together. Was it really banished? Taya had thought about how she had given what that thing wanted and had set it free, under the condition it never comes back.

       Taya had told her mother everything and to her great relief, she believed her. Her mother had told her never to speak of it again to anyone else, not even to Henry, even when she’d explained he’d had the same experience. "Best to leave it in the past. No sense in inviting something else in." She had warned.

       The advice wasn’t what Taya expected to hear but agreed with her mom. Taya didn't speak of it again to anyone. But it didn't stop her from thinking about it or SPIRITS. Since that day she hadn't seen or spoken to any of her old friend group, but it was strange no one had reached out to her either. They had saved her life, after all, they'd figured out how to get rid of that thing and the brooch she'd found was responsible for the whole mess. Taya didn't understand how that was even possible, a piece of jewelry causing so much damage, but then, she never expected a Shadow to physically attack her either.

       Which made her think about said brooch lying in her jacket pocket.

       Taya also found it suspicious how the same day they’d found the brooch they found the diary that had all the answers they needed. She found herself torn between keeping her promise and putting the whole thing behind her....and an inordinate curiosity to find out why.

       It was these times of internal conflict that made her grateful that she was so busy with school work. After some serious thought and discussions with her counselor, Taya, with some reluctance, decided to continue her Astronomy class. Even after all the terrible things that had happened to her, Taya refused to let that thing taint her love of stargazing. Though she did find herself never leaving the classroom by herself and she still never went anywhere alone. Every movement she thought she saw in the darkness always put her on edge. She noticed Henry acting the same way and it comforted her knowing that he at least understood how she felt.

       I wonder if I should speak to him about it?

       She paused. Why haven’t I? Better yet why didn’t he?

       It didn’t matter. Right now, she was hungry and the day was getting colder even as the sun shined bright. Henry was certainly taking his sweet time getting here. He had U.S. History I with Dr. Campbell, a nice enough teacher if a little monotonous sometimes. According to Henry anyway. He probably fell asleep. She checked her phone, his class ended ten minutes ago but guessed he was speaking to his professor about something important. Taya opted to wait another five minutes before shooting him a text. Her phone was on a low battery and she'd forgotten her charger at home again. She was stuck with just her thoughts and nothing to distract her.

       I'll miss the Gardenias, she thought as she tilted her head back. In spring the gardenia's bloomed and they covered the whole gazebo. It was beautiful and Taya could sit there and just breathe in the sweetness. At least until the bees came and then she'd high tail somewhere else. Loud shrieking laughter shook her out her thoughts. She turned to look at the source and saw a group of young girls, all very pretty, wearing matching white cardigans and a matching gardenia in their ponytails. She guessed they must be in one of the sororities. Weren't they always making them wear something matching? One of the girls, the smallest of the bunch, noticed that she was watching them.

       Their eyes met and Taya had the oddest feeling that they'd met before. She was short and plump, a pretty brunette with perfect, clear skin and large brown eyes that reminded her of cairngorm. She'd sworn she'd met her somewhere, just couldn’t put her finger on where or why it nagged at her. Taya smiled and nodded in greeting, realizing she was probably staring. The girl stopped to look at Taya. Crap, she thought. The girl stared at her and looked like she was going to approach Taya when she remembered she had somewhere to be and went to catch up with her two friends who waited impatiently for her. It was the oddest sense of deja vu she had.

       "Hey, Taya!"

       Henry was jogging toward her, side pack swinging dangerously side to side along his back. She stood up to meet him halfway.

       "I'm so sorry I'm late." He panted. "My professor really loves to talk. Did you have to wait too long?"

       She shrugged her backpack onto her shoulder, greeting him with a kiss. "Buy me a coffee and we'll call it even."