Sarah walked through the bustling hallway in the same way that she had many times before. She took a slight detour through the school, making her way to her locker before her next hour class. Sarah thought lightheartedly as she walked. Weeks had passed. With every weekend rehearsal, she and her friend group performed their dance routine better and more smoothly. As much as Sarah had dreaded it at first, she had grown to enjoy it very much and to find comfort in the regular movements and familiar choreography. The group was still undecided on a song, each person wanting to do their favourite and then disagreeing. They'd actually performed it in front of almost everyone's parents so far, receiving lots of praise. Sarah thought about that, too. Her mother and she had not had any more fights. In fact, her mother had taken different hours- she went into work much earlier, but got home earlier, allowing her to spend some time with Sarah late after school. Sarah was extremely grateful for this, as she didn't have to make dinner for herself anymore. Her mother would cook. They would frequently cook together, now. Sarah had also been going out with Tracy and Suzie more often, feeling comfortable with them as her group of girl friends. Sarah had turned in her and Tracy and Jeremy's powerpoint presentation a few weeks earlier, and although she'd done all of the work herself, she'd received a handsome grade for it, and they'd done well during their class presentation for it. The nightmares had grown less frequent, and it seemed as though she was no longer disturbed by her hauntings. With less stress, Sarah was able to focus on her schoolwork more, allowing her grades to improve. It seemed, for the first time in years, that everything was looking up for her. She took pride in it, basking in the happiness, in the contentment she felt. She knew that this made her vulnerable. She knew that trusting her friends made her vulnerable. But Eric doesn't control me. The past doesn't control me. I can make friends, and I can be happy. She decided to leave her bag in her locker, and only take her books with her. A familiar but unwelcomed face appeared beside her.

"Sarah," Jacob spoke.

"I don't have time for this," she said, rolling her eyes. He had begun to follow her around, teasing her and antagonizing her. Sarah had formed a strong hatred for him.

"Nah, wait till you hear what I have to say."

Harshly, "What?"

"I was thinkin' we settle our score," he said, a smug look on his face, "We could meet somewhere. Fight it out." Sarah stared at him blankly. I never back down from a fight, she thought, and didn't I promise myself I'd beat him, someday? But control myself. I control my ability to decline. To say no. Faced with two options, Sarah decided on a third.

"Alright. I think that, too. You enter the end-of-year talent show, and whoever receives the highest ranking on the scoreboard wins."

"Wait, what? I meant-"

"I know what you meant, Jacob. This is my offer. Or are you too shy to take it? Afraid you will lose?"

"No, fine. I'll do it."

Sarah smirked, "Good." I'll beat him, she thought. Me and my group.

"Under one condition," he said.

"What's that?"

"We each have to perform alone. I know you've been practicing with your group for months. That's unfair. Or are you too scared you'll lose?"

Sarah glared lowly at his smug face, "Fine. Let's do it."

"It's a duel," He said, reaching to shake her hand. Sarah didn't take it, and instead walked away coldly. What could I even do by myself for the talent show? I can't dance if I'm already dancing with my group, too. An unfamiliar, scary, and yet potential thought blossomed.

I could sing?

Sarah had been in choir at her old school. At her new school, she wanted to stay away from everything familiar, from everything that reminded her of her past. She wasn't the best singer there was, but she wasn't half bad, either. I'd have to get better, though, she thought determinedly. Jacob will probably do a comedy show, or a magic trick show. I'll have to be good to beat that. And I'll have to pick a perfect song. What if I sang and danced? It would be difficult to learn two, especially this far in the year already. But I'll have to, if I want to beat that bastard. Sarah felt dread fill her, and wondered if she'd made a poor choice with the whole thing. Though, she gulped, pushing the dread down. I can do anything I want to, she affirmed, and I want to do this.

• • •

Rehearsal day. Sarah sat on Horus's familiar couch, her head leaning against the back of it, and her feet propped up on the coffee table. Jeremy sat beside her, eyeing her concernedly.

Hesitantly, he spoke, "Everything alright?"

"No."

"Well... Are you gonna tell me what's wrong?"

She groaned, "I guess. Jacob challenged me to a fight, to settle our feud or whatever. And me being me, I suggested we compete in the talent show instead."

"That's great!"

"No, it's not. I can't do magic. I can't play instruments. I can't really sing."

"Well why don't you back out?"

She stared at him, "Back out? Are you crazy? That punk has fought with me and won way too many times for me to not get payback."

"Okay, okay... Well, then we can help you learn something. What do you wanna do?"

Sarah sighed, "I don't know."

"I have an idea," Mike said. Sarah lifted her head curiously. "You want to PRACTICE THIS DANCE WITH US. How long are you two weirdos going to sit there and do nothing?!" Sarah sighed again, allowing Jeremy to help her off of the couch. As they began to rearrange the room, Horus walked back in (although they were not aware that he had left) carrying four matching outfits. He wore a grim face.

"I ordered outfits for the dance, but so it seems, they have been malfunctioned."

"What happened?" Mike asked.

"I ordered three suits and a skirt. But instead, we've arrived with two suits and two skirts." He laid out the clothes on the carpeted floor. There were two red and black suits, and two red and black skirt and jacket combos to match, similar to cheerleader outfits. They seemed delicate, and Sarah actually quite liked them.

"I'll wear the skirt," Jeremy said cheerily. Mike seemed relieved. Horus nodded, putting the clothes away, and then returning to his starting point.

Sarah spoke as they began to dance, "We need to pick out a song."

"Why don't we write one?"

"It's a school talent show, not a movie," she said.

"None of us know a thing about songwriting, anyway," Mike pointed out.

"Fair enough," Jeremy shrugged. "We should make a playlist of all the songs we like, then from there we can narrow it down."

"Good idea," Mike said. Horus agreed. The group continued to dance, rather elegantly at this point, taking practiced steps and spins and shuffles that flowed smoothly, like water, from one person to the next. The four worked in two pairs as they usually did, Sarah and Jeremy maintaining rather unpleasant eye contact as they twirled each other around. Well, for Sarah it was unpleasant; Jeremy wore a rather pleasant grin. Their hands touched as they pulled away from each other, and then again up close, into a sort of slow-dancing position. This was Sarah's least favourite part of the dance; though the group had adjusted it so she and Jeremy didn't have to touch any more than their hands together. She breathed through it, ignoring the almost mentally painful feeling, and instead focusing on her feet, breaking the painful eye contact, moving in sync with both Jeremy and Horus and Mike as they all swiftly moved around the floor together. Step, step, step. She glanced up from her feet for a moment, meeting Jeremy's blue eyes again. Her eyes shifted from his eyes to his smile, bright, wide, and rather ugly. And yet, it filled her with an almost hope, an almost warmth, a delight that spoke silently, things will be okay as long as we stick together. Sarah hated the touch, and she knew she'd hate having an audience, though she quite enjoyed dancing with Jeremy, the simple movements that came so at ease to her now, admiring his own movements, his own face. Sarah knew her life wouldn't always be so warm, and so she savored the contentment for as long as it would linger.

Sarah sat outside on the porch. The sky was a lovely dusty grey, warm raindrops sprinkling about. The white porch light illuminated rain as it fell like glass. Despite the beautiful day, Sarah held a knot that had twisted itself in her stomach. The talent show seemed to grow closer every day, and the butterflies she'd once felt in anticipation of it had turned into heavy moths. She dreaded finding something to sing by herself in order to beat Jacob. She deeply regretted suggesting such a thing, but she knew she would look like a fool to back out now. Jeremy and Mike came out to sit beside her on the wet front steps.

Jeremy peered at her curiously for a moment, and then spoke, "Sarah? Are you okay?"

She sighed, "I guess. I don't want to do the talent show against Jacob."

"So don't."

Sarah narrowed her eyes at him skeptically, "I don't think it's that simple."

"It is," Jeremy said confidently. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to." His words struck Sarah, slicing her like a blade. She thought about them, letting them linger in her mind and rest themselves on her tongue.

She repeated, savoring the taste, "I don't have to do anything I don't want to."

"Exactly."