We all gathered inside the school's auditorium, waiting for our principal, Mr. Hillary Wellsworth, to deliver his annual speech.
It was a tradition.
A painfully long tradition.
Every year he'd somehow manage to turn what should've been a five-minute announcement into a twenty-minute lecture, and every year we all sat through it pretending to listen.
This year, though…
The atmosphere felt different.
Nobody was laughing.
Nobody was passing notes or trying to sneak snacks beneath their seats.
The recent deaths hanging over Bailey Falls had drained the excitement from almost everyone.
Even the teachers looked tense.
Mr. Wellsworth stepped up to the podium, adjusted the microphone, and cleared his throat.
"Good morning, students."
"Good morning, sir," we chorused.
"I'd first like to welcome the students and staff of Bailey Boys' High. We appreciate your presence and hope you'll enjoy this year's annual sleepover."
Polite applause echoed through the auditorium.
"Now," he continued, his smile fading, "I'm sure you're all aware of the unfortunate events that have recently shaken Bailey Falls."
The room instantly fell silent.
"The safety of every student remains our highest priority. After careful consideration, we've decided to continue this year's event—but with several changes."
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
"All activities outside the school premises have been cancelled."
Another murmur.
"There will be no hiking trails, no scavenger hunt, and absolutely no student is permitted to leave the school grounds."
He paused, allowing everyone to absorb his words.
"Immediately after assembly, the students from Bailey Boys' High will change into their sports uniforms before meeting us on the football field for our annual sports match."
A few boys cheered.
Several girls clapped enthusiastically.
Mr. Wellsworth chuckled.
"This year, however, we're making things a little different. Rather than boys versus girls, you'll all be placed into mixed teams."
That announcement earned a much louder reaction.
People immediately began whispering, already guessing who they'd end up playing with.
"Following the match, everyone will proceed to the cafeteria for dinner before collecting their sleeping bags."
He smiled again.
"And finally…"
The room quieted.
"I'm pleased to announce that this year's sleepover will end with our very first bonfire night."
The entire auditorium erupted.
"What?!"
"No way!"
"Seriously?!"
"I've always wanted a bonfire!"
The excitement spread through the room like wildfire.
Mr. Wellsworth laughed, raising a hand for silence.
"I had a feeling you'd enjoy that."
Once the cheering finally died down, his expression hardened again.
"Before any activities begin, teachers will inspect every student's luggage. Any alcohol, cigarettes, illegal substances, weapons, or prohibited materials will be confiscated immediately."
A chorus of dramatic groans echoed around the auditorium.
I caught Kennedy whispering, "There goes someone's weekend."
Before anyone could stand, another familiar voice crackled through the speakers.
Mr. Martin.
Our mathematics teacher.
"One final announcement."
The room immediately quieted.
"I know many of you believe you're clever."
A few students laughed nervously.
"So let me save you the trouble."
"You know that little 'hook-up spot' behind the indoor basketball court?"
The laughter stopped.
"It has been closed."
Almost every student exchanged guilty looks.
Mr. Martin continued without missing a beat.
"There will not be a repeat of last year's incident."
A few teachers coughed to hide their smiles.
"During the bonfire, the indoor basketball court and the surrounding area are completely off-limits."
His voice grew firmer.
"If any student is found anywhere near that court…"
He paused just long enough for the tension to settle.
"…they will be sent home immediately."
"Am I understood?"
"Yes, sir!" the entire auditorium answered.
"Good."
The microphone clicked off.
Within seconds, students poured out of their seats, conversations exploding in every direction.
"So much for shooting hoops tonight," Conrad muttered as he fell into step beside us.
I looked over at him.
"What's stopping you?"
He blinked.
"The rule only applies during the bonfire."
"It doesn't say you can't play after dinner."
He stared at me for a moment.
"…You know…"
"I do have a brain."
"I was going to say you're surprisingly smart."
"I'll pretend that's a compliment."
"It was."
I narrowed my eyes.
"I don't trust you."
He placed a dramatic hand over his heart.
"You wound me."
"I was aiming lower."
Kennedy burst into laughter while Parker covered her mouth to hide a grin.
Conrad shook his head.
"Well, since basketball is still an option, I suppose I'll have to go remind my adoring female fans why I'm the greatest athlete Bailey Falls has ever seen."
I actually scoffed.
"Adoring female fans?"
He nodded confidently.
"Of course."
"It's only because half the girls in this town need their eyesight checked."
"Ouch."
"I'd recommend an eye clinic."
"You're saying I'm not handsome?"
"I'm saying mirrors have been lying to you."
Kennedy groaned dramatically.
"I swear…"
She rubbed her forehead.
"You two have the weirdest way of flirting."
Conrad and I spoke at the exact same time.
"We're not flirting."
The four of us stopped walking.
Then looked at each other.
Then immediately looked away.
Kennedy and Parker burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Conrad scratched the back of his neck.
"Well…"
"That was awkward."
I rolled my eyes.
"No."
"You are awkward."
His grin slowly returned.
And for some reason…
I found myself fighting a smile.
Just a little.
By the time the bag inspections were over, the teachers had confiscated enough contraband to stock a small convenience store.
Several bottles of alcohol.
Cigarettes.
A pocket knife.
A pair of wireless headphones.
Three decks of playing cards.
Even a stack of inappropriate magazines that had half the teachers pinching the bridge of their noses.
Mr. Martin simply sighed.
"I'm not even going to ask."
The guilty students watched helplessly as every confiscated item was carried away to the principal's office.
Kennedy leaned toward me and whispered, "Imagine explaining to your parents why the school is returning a dirty magazine instead of your math textbook."
I snorted.
"Someone's going to have the worst weekend of their life."
The afternoon passed surprisingly quickly.
The football match was loud, chaotic, and exactly what you'd expect when teenagers were divided into mixed teams.
Teachers shouted instructions no one listened to.
Students argued over imaginary fouls.
Someone accidentally scored an own goal.
Conrad celebrated like he'd won the World Cup every time his team scored, and Parker swore she was going to kick him if he flexed one more time.
He flexed anyway.
Twice.
By evening, everyone was exhausted.
After dinner, teachers directed us toward the open field behind the school, where stacks of firewood and old tyres had already been arranged into a massive bonfire.
As the sun disappeared behind the trees, one of the teachers lit the pile.
Whoosh.
Orange flames shot into the night sky.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd before cheers erupted all around us.
The fire crackled loudly, sending tiny sparks dancing into the dark sky like glowing fireflies.
Music blasted from a large stereo someone had wheeled outside earlier, and within minutes students were clapping, singing, and dancing around the fire.
For the first time in weeks…
Bailey Falls didn't feel haunted.
For just one night…
It almost felt normal again.
I sat on one of the fallen logs circling the bonfire with Kennedy, Parker, and—much to my own surprise—Conrad.
The four of us talked over the music, laughing at stories from middle school and arguing over which teacher secretly hated students the most.
"Definitely Mr. Martin," Parker said confidently.
Kennedy shook her head.
"No chance. It's Mrs. Holloway."
Conrad frowned.
"The English teacher?"
"The one and only."
"Impossible."
Kennedy pointed dramatically toward him.
"She gave me detention for laughing."
"You were laughing during a test."
"That's beside the point."
Conrad burst into laughter.
"You deserved it."
"I absolutely did not."
"You absolutely did."
"I was expressing joy."
"You were disturbing the entire class."
"I was inspiring them."
"You were contagious."
Kennedy threw a stick at him.
He caught it effortlessly before tossing it into the fire.
"I win."
"You cheated."
"How?"
"I don't know yet."
Parker laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink.
"You two argue like siblings."
Conrad looked at me.
"I've been saying that for years."
"I am not your sister."
"No."
He smiled.
"You're meaner."
I folded my arms.
"And yet you keep following me around."
"Someone has to."
"Why?"
"You'd be terribly boring without me."
I raised an eyebrow.
"I think you've got that backwards."
"Oh?"
"My life was perfectly peaceful before you started making yourself everyone's problem."
He pretended to look offended.
"Ouch."
"I've suffered irreversible emotional damage."
"I'll send flowers."
"How thoughtful."
"They'll be plastic."
Kennedy leaned over to Parker.
"I give it five minutes before one of them throws the other into the fire."
"Three," Parker corrected.
Conrad heard them.
"You two have absolutely no faith in us."
"You've given us no reason to," Kennedy replied.
We all laughed.
Even me.
A real laugh.
Not the fake little chuckles I'd been forcing over the past few weeks.
A genuine one.
It felt…
Nice.
As the conversation drifted from embarrassing childhood memories to terrible horror movies, I found myself watching Conrad when he wasn't looking.
He laughed with his whole face.
His eyes crinkled.
His shoulders shook.
He wasn't trying to impress anyone.
He was just…
Being himself.
That was new.
I'd spent so many years convincing myself Conrad existed solely to ruin my life that I'd never really stopped to notice the person underneath all the teasing.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
He wasn't entirely unbearable.
The thought startled me.
I quickly looked away before anyone noticed.
"Earth to D."
Kennedy snapped her fingers in front of my face.
"Huh?"
"You've been zoning out."
"I was thinking."
"Dangerous."
Conrad grinned.
"I know."
I shot him a glare.
He only smiled wider.
Honestly…
That stupid smile was becoming harder to hate.
The realization made me internally groan.
No.
Absolutely not.
I refused to let Conrad Holloway grow on me.
The bonfire burned lower as the hours slipped by.
One by one, students grew quieter.
Some sat in comfortable silence, watching the flames.
Others rested their heads on their friends' shoulders.
Even the music had softened.
The teachers eventually clapped their hands for attention.
"Alright, everyone!"
A chorus of tired groans answered them.
"It's getting late."
"Time to head inside."
Students slowly stood, stretching sore muscles and brushing grass from their clothes before making their way toward the assembly halls.
The warmth of the fire faded behind us as we walked back across the school grounds.
Inside, sleeping bags had already been spread across the polished wooden floors.
Teachers separated the boys and girls into opposite ends of the hall, though there wasn't nearly as much distance between us as there probably should've been.
Parker somehow convinced Conrad to join our sleeping group.
His sleeping bag ended up only a few feet from mine.
Close enough that we could talk without raising our voices.
Far enough that Mr. Martin wouldn't accuse us of plotting another "hook-up incident."
Kennedy snorted when she noticed.
"Well…"
She whispered.
"This should be interesting."
I rolled my eyes.
"I plan on sleeping."
Conrad looked over from where he was unrolling his sleeping bag.
"I'll believe that when I see it."
"I'll believe you staying quiet when pigs learn to fly."
He laughed.
"You know…"
He pointed toward me.
"You've been insulting me all day."
"And?"
"I think you're running out of new material."
"Oh, don't worry."
I smiled sweetly.
"I've barely started."
He chuckled softly before finally lying down.
The hall lights dimmed.
One by one…
Conversations faded into whispers.
Then silence.
Or at least…
As close to silence as you could get with nearly a hundred teenagers trying to fall asleep in the same room