The Challenge by Aubrey Bailey Page A

for my costume from James's birthday party. Everyone said I should wear it again and I really didn't feel like going shopping for another one. Besides, they all expected the whole vampire thing from Henry and me.
    I looked in the mirror while I brushed my hair, which still had some of that temporary red dye in it. It had turned into a slightly darker version of Megan's strawberry blonde hair. I didn't mind it much, but I actually missed Henry calling me "Goldilocks'.
    At eleven that night I got into my bed a passed out as my head hit the pillow. I woke up to my alarm clock blaring some techno music. I smacked it and rolled onto my stomach to go back to sleep as was routine. But then it felt as if something wasn't right. My eyes snapped open and squinted at my alarm clock which said it was six in the morning. Confused, I sat up and noticed that my room was still dark except for the red string lights I had forgot to turn off before bed-my alarm clock went off early. Then, I nearly screamed when I turned to see Henry leaning against my door frame, a small smile in tow.
    "You, love," he said, "are a heavy sleeper." I groaned and flopped back down.
    "You're early," I moaned, rubbing my eyes.
    "Yeah," Henry admitted. "I'll go downstairs and see you later, alright?"
    "Sure," I said. He left and it was then that I remembered what David had told me. I frowned and glared slightly at where Henry had stood.
    By the time I got downstairs, I could hear Megan talking with Henry about random things. The smell of cinnamon led me to the kitchen to see a plate full of toast.
    "What's on these?" I asked, picking up a piece.
    "Butter, sugar and cinnamon," Megan revealed. "Henry made them, and they're pretty good."
    After eating the toast-which was delicious-all of us left for school. Megan went to catch her bus, while Henry and I got into his car. When we arrived at school, I tried to focus my attention on anything but drama. Whenever I saw David or Lauren, I quickly looked away. They were spending less time together now, but whenever they were together, it was as bad as it had ever been.
    During one class I was wondering why Lauren even bothered moving here if she was just going to start cheating on Henry. Then it hit me-David's friend online. I never found out her name, but it was one of the reasons I dumped him. I had seen an e-mail from her saying that she was happy because she had convinced her parents to move here so that she could be with him. When I asked David about it, he didn't say anything. Finally, considering the countless times he cheated on me and the...incident...that Henry had figured out, I couldn't stand it anymore and broke up with him, knowing he wouldn't care. Was Lauren the girl online? There wasn't much doubt in my mind that she was, especially with how the timing was.
    "Miss Williams! Pay attention," Mr. Burnham, my history teacher, snapped. My head shot up and I muttered an apology. After sleeping through another twenty minutes of a boring history presentation, I heard a voice call my name.
    "Kris...the bell rang," Henry said from right next to me.
    I jumped and got my stuff without a word, before following him out of the class. And it was another silent drive to my place.
    "I'll pick you up at seven, alright?"
    "Yes...seven," I said.
    I couldn't help but smile. I liked the Halloween party, except for the "tradition" parts that I always hoped Lena would forget about. There were actually only a few Halloween traditions, but I really didn't like any of them.
    I got out of the car and went inside. Megan was already home.
    "So what are you doing tonight?" I asked.
    "Helping out at Chelsea's haunted house," Megan said. I looked at her quizzically. "Chelsea is the one with glasses," she reminded me.
    "Oh...right," I said. I still didn't know which one she was talking about, so I just pretended to know. "Tell your friends that I say hi, alright?"
    "Suuurrre," Megan said, sarcastically.
    I rolled my eyes and went upstairs to my