I'M SO EXCITED I LITERALLY CAN'T BREATHE RN 😭

Shapeshifter? - Milo Manheim

Chapter two

Summary: Milo and Auroras friendship is complicated. They act like they're together but both of them swear they're just friends. Well Aurora does. But things starts to change during the break before season 2

Playlist

Song rec - Friends by Ed Sheeran

The best mornings were the ones without alarms.

Aurora stretched lazily under the covers, savoring the warmth of her bed as sunlight filtered through the curtains. No early call times, no back-to-back interviews—just a full day off with her friends.

Her phone vibrated on the nightstand.

Kristian: Lobby in 20. We’re getting coffee first before Bug turns into a menace.

Aurora snorted, typing back a quick rude before throwing on a cozy sweater, leggings, and her favorite sneakers. When she stepped into the elevator, she could already hear their voices echoing from the lobby.

The second she stepped out, Peyton threw an arm around her shoulders.

“Look who finally decided to show up.”

“I am literally two minutes late.”

Nick grinned. “And yet, Spencer was already debating leaving without you.” Aurora shot Spencer a glare. He just shrugged, arms crossed.

“Look, Bug, if I don’t enforce some kind of schedule, these idiots will have us wandering aimlessly for hours.”

“I take offense to that,” Milo said, slinging an arm around Spencer’s shoulder. “I have great directional instincts.”

“You got lost inside a mall last week,” Sarah reminded him, adjusting the camera strap around her neck.

Milo opened his mouth, paused, then huffed. “...That mall was big.”

The group collectively laughed as they stepped outside into the crisp autumn air. The streets were already bustling—commuters rushing to work, the smell of fresh pastries wafting from nearby cafés, a street musician strumming a guitar on the sidewalk.

“Coffee first,” Kiara announced, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck. “Bug gets cranky without caffeine.”

“I do not,” Aurora argued.

Kristian and Rainbow exchanged looks. “You definitely do.”

Aurora huffed. “You guys are the worst.”

Milo grinned, bumping her shoulder. “Aw, we tease ‘cause we love you, Bug.”

Aurora rolled her eyes. “Let’s just get coffee before I start throwing hands.”

The café was warm and inviting, the scent of espresso filling the air. The group lined up at the counter, chatting casually. Aurora was already reaching for her phone to place her usual order— But before she could, Milo smoothly stepped forward.

“Medium iced vanilla latte, extra shot of espresso,” he said without hesitation, then gestured toward himself. “And a black coffee, two sugars.”

Aurora blinked.

The group immediately turned to look at her.

Kiara raised an eyebrow. “He didn’t even ask you.”

Milo just smirked. “Didn’t have to.”

Aurora stared at him, a mix of amusement and suspicion. “Have I become that predictable?”

Milo turned toward her, his smirk deepening. “Not predictable, Bug. I just pay attention.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Creepy.”

Milo chuckled, handing her the drink when it was ready. “You love me.”

Aurora took a slow, deliberate sip of her coffee. “Again Mi, the Jury’s still out.”

Spencer groaned. “You two flirt so much.”

“We’ve been saying this!” Sarah laughed

“We are not flirting,” Aurora and Milo said in unison.

The entire group rolled their eyes.

Fueled by caffeine, the group ventured into the city, stopping in every store that caught their interest.

The first stop was the thrift store Aurora and Kiara immediately made it their mission to find the ugliest sweaters possible.

“This one is atrocious,” Kiara announced, holding up a bright orange knit monstrosity with dancing reindeer.

Aurora cackled. “Milo. Try this on.”

Milo eyed the sweater warily. “That looks like something my grandma would force me to wear.”

“Exactly,” Aurora grinned, tossing it at him.

Meanwhile, Nick and Spencer were in a heated debate over a bedazzled jean jacket.

“You cannot pull this off,” Nick argued.

Spencer deadpanned. “I have kids to think about.”

“You don’t have kids.”

“You don’t know that.”

The Next stop a record store.

Sarah, ever the photographer, was snapping photos of everyone.

She caught Milo flipping through vinyl, Peyton balancing a ridiculous stack of albums, and Rainbow dramatically posing next to an old jukebox.

Aurora found a vintage Fleetwood Mac record, running her fingers over the worn cover.

Milo peered over her shoulder. “Classic Bug. Old soul.”

Aurora smirked. “I like good music, sue me.”

Sarah snapped a candid shot of them before Aurora could protest.

And then—

Sephora.

Milo groaned the second Aurora grabbed his wrist.

“No. Nope. Absolutely not.”

“Oh, yes,” Aurora said, already dragging him inside.

The others followed, highly entertained.

“You’re so dramatic,” Aurora teased, leading him toward the makeup displays.

Milo sighed. “I do not belong here.”

Aurora grinned. “Oh, you do now.”

Before he could protest, she grabbed his hand and flipped it palm-up, swiping a deep red lipstick across the back.

Milo just stared. “Did you just—”

“Yep.”

“Unbelievable.” Still, he didn’t pull away as she tested a few more shades

“You know they have paper swatches for this, right?”

She shrugged “where’s the fun in that?”

Milo smirked “so you just wanted an excuse to hold my hand?”

Aurora paused, Narrowing her eyes “do you ever stop?”

He grinned. “Not when it comes to you.”

“You’re so annoying.”

“It’s okay I know your game, Bug.” She rolled her eyes fighting the urge to shove him.

Rainbow, watching, started humming “Unwritten”.

Milo immediately joined in. “FEEL THE RAIN ON YOUR SKIN—”

Spencer groaned. “I swear to god, you two—”

It only got worse from there.

Milo and Rainbow started singing everything anyone said that reminded them of a song.

At one point, Peyton said, “We should grab a drink after this,” and Milo immediately launched into “bartender” by akon

By the time they left, Milo’s hand was covered in makeup swatches, and Spencer looked one second away from putting them all in time-out.

A small group of fans spotted them on the street.

“Milo! Aurora!”

Milo lit up immediately, turning toward them with a grin. “Hey, guys!”Aurora stepped back, watching as he immediately pulled them in for hugs.

“You guys having a good day?” he asked, voice warm and familiar, like he knew them.

A girl in a lavender sweater beamed. “This just made it way better.”

“D’awww,” Milo cooed, ruffling her hair. “You guys are too sweet.”

Aurora watched as he took selfies, signed things, and—of course—kissed one girl on the cheek, making her squeal.

Aurora shook her head. “You’re so ridiculous.”

Milo turned to her, still grinning. “Hey, don’t be jealous, Bug.”

One of the fans giggled. “You guys are such cute friends.”

Milo smirked. “Hear that? We’re cute.”

Aurora groaned. “Come on, Loverboy.”

After hours of wandering through thrift shops, record stores, and makeup aisles, the group found themselves standing at a crosswalk, the neon lights of the city casting a warm glow over them.

“I refuse to let this day end without a drink,” Nick declared, stretching his arms over his head. “We deserve a little celebration.”

Spencer checked his watch. “One drink. Then we all get some actual sleep.”

Milo smirked. “Look at you, Dad Mode activated.”

Spencer just rolled his eyes. “Someone has to be responsible.”

“Do they?” Peyton teased.

Sarah nudged Aurora. “What do you say, Bug? One drink?”

Aurora, still buzzing from the day, grinned. “Let’s do it.”

They ended up in a cozy little bar tucked between two towering buildings, the kind of place that wasn’t too loud but still had a steady hum of conversation and low music playing in the background. Edison bulbs hung from the ceiling, casting a golden glow over the dark wooden bar top.

Milo leaned against the counter, flashing the bartender his usual easygoing smile. “Alright, what’s everyone having?”

Orders started flying in—Spencer with his standard whiskey neat, Rainbow with a fruity cocktail, Kiara and Kristian opting for classic gin and tonics.

When it got to Aurora, she barely had time to open her mouth before Milo spoke up.

“She’ll have a spiced rum and coke.”

Aurora blinked. “Okay, seriously, how do you just know these things?”

Milo gave her a lazy grin. “Like I said earlier—I pay attention.”

Kiara smirked. “That’s a little suspicious.”

Milo winked at Aurora. “Maybe I’m just invested in Bug’s well-being.”

Aurora groaned. “You’re insufferable.”

Milo lifted his glass. “And yet, you’re still here.”

Nick raised his drink. “Alright, to chaotic friendships, successful press tours, and not getting lost in a mall again.” Milo pointedly avoided eye contact. Glasses clinked, and for a moment, everything just felt easy. No cameras, no schedules—just them, laughing, reminiscing, and enjoying the simple comfort of being together.

At some point, Aurora and Peyton got distracted by a dog sitting outside the window.

“Oh my god,” Payton gasped. “That puppy is so cute.”

Aurora practically melted against the bar. “Look at his little face.”

Kristian sighed. “That’s it. We’re never leaving.”

Meanwhile, Milo and Rainbow were still turning every casual statement into a song.

Spencer, exhausted, pinched the bridge of his nose. “If you two sing one more time—”

Rainbow smirked. “Oh no, guys, Spencer’s mad.”

Milo, without missing a beat, started singing “Mad” by Ne-Yo.

“So both of us are Mad for nothing!” He sung

Spencer groaned.

By the time they finished their drinks, the group was just tipsy enough to be giggly but not enough to make getting back to the hotel a struggle.

Milo, ever the gentleman (or so he claimed), offered Aurora his arm as they stepped out into the chilly night air.

“Shall we, Bug?”

Aurora rolled her eyes but took it anyway. “You are so dramatic.”

Milo grinned. “And yet, we’re still best friends.”

She didn’t respond.

But she also didn’t let go.

Back at the hotel, the group split off to their respective rooms, exhausted but still buzzing from the day. Aurora sighed, kicking off her shoes as she stepped into her room, only to hear a knock at her door before she even had a chance to sit down.

She didn’t even have to ask who it was.

With a knowing smirk, she swung the door open. “Couldn’t survive five minutes without me?”

Milo leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, that familiar grin tugging at his lips. “Busted. What can I say? I need my daily dose of Bug time.”

Aurora rolled her eyes still took his hand to head to his room knowing he’d drag her there at some point eventually.

“Also,” he added, flopping down dramatically onto his bed, “I figured we should probably eat before we pass out. What’s the move? Room service or takeout?”

Aurora stretched, glancing at the bedside clock. “Room service takes forever. Takeout?”

Milo pulled out his phone, already scrolling. “Okay, what are we feeling? Pizza? Sushi? Burgers?”

Aurora flopped onto the bed beside him, peering at his screen. “Mmm… Chinese?”

Milo smirked. “You always go for Chinese.”

“Because it’s elite.”

Milo chuckled. “Fine, fine. What’s your order?”

Aurora didn’t even get a chance to answer before Milo tapped on the screen.

“Sesame chicken, extra sauce, fried rice, and an egg roll.”

She blinked. “Okay, you seriously need to stop memorizing my orders.”

Milo just wiggled his eyebrows. “Admit it. You’re impressed.”

Aurora grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it. “Creeped out is more like it.”

Milo laughed, shielding himself. “Hey! It’s not creepy! I just pay attention.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Aurora muttered, but she was smiling.

They finished ordering, and while they waited, Milo rolled onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow.

“So. Highlight of the day?”

Aurora thought for a moment. “Probably taking you into Sephora and using your hand as a makeup palette. That was very satisfying.”

Milo held up his hand, which still had faint traces of swatches. “You ruined me.”

“Oh, please. You liked it.”

Milo smirked. “I liked you holding my hand, sure.”

Aurora groaned, shoving his face away. “You cannot be serious this late at night.”

Milo just grinned. “What about you? Favorite moment?

Milo exhaled, staring up at the ceiling for a second. Then he looked at her, softer this time. “Honestly? Probably when we met those fans. I love how excited they get. Makes all the crazy stuff worth it.”

Aurora smiled. “You are kind of a golden retriever when it comes to them.”

Milo scoffed. “Excuse me?”

“You just—” Aurora gestured vaguely at him. “You love people. Like, really love them. You go all in, full hugs, cheek kisses, the whole thing. It’s kinda cute.”

Milo wiggled his brows. “You think I’m cute?”

Aurora groaned. “I walked into that one.”

He chuckled, nudging her shoulder. “You make it too easy, Bug.”

“And yes Mi, you’re cute.”

Before he could retaliate, a knock sounded at the door.

Milo hopped up. “Food’s here!”

He grabbed the bags from the delivery guy and plopped back onto the bed, setting the containers between them.

They dug in immediately, Aurora stealing an egg roll from Milo’s container without hesitation.

Milo gasped, clutching his chest. “Betrayal.”

Aurora took a slow, exaggerated bite. “You love me anyway.”

Milo rolled his eyes, but he was smiling.

They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, watching some random late-night TV show on the hotel screen. At some point, Aurora pulled a blanket over her lap, leaning against the headboard.

Milo nudged her knee with his. “Tired?”

Aurora yawned, stretching. “A little. It’s been a long day.”

Milo reached over, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Wanna sleep?”

Aurora sighed. “Mmm. But I should probably get back to my room.”

Milo didn’t move, just watched her for a second before shaking his head. “Nah. Just crash here.”

Aurora hesitated, glancing at him. “You sure?”

Milo gave her a lazy grin. “Yeah, Rora. I don’t mind.”

Aurora rolled her eyes but settled deeper into the pillows.

Milo grabbed the remote, lowering the volume. “Sleep well, bug.”

And for once, she didn’t argue.

—

The soft light of morning filtered through the heavy curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. Aurora’s eyes fluttered open, the warmth of the blanket surrounding her feeling comforting and familiar. She shifted slightly, but something didn’t feel quite right.

It took her a moment to realize why—there was an arm wrapped securely around her waist.

Her first instinct was to freeze. But as her mind caught up with the situation, she slowly turned her head, heart skipping a beat as she realized why she felt so secure. Milo’s face was inches from hers, his head resting on the pillow next to hers. His arm was draped over her, his body tangled up with hers in a way that should’ve felt awkward but instead felt completely natural.

Aurora's chest tightened for a moment.

But the warmth of Milo’s body next to hers was too comforting, too calming. She slowly breathed in, feeling his steady breaths against her cheek. He was sound asleep, his face relaxed, his lips barely parted in a peaceful expression that was a far cry from his usual playful, teasing grin. She felt the beat of his heart beneath her skin, their bodies still intertwined in a way that felt more intimate than anything they’d shared before.

Her breath caught, and for a long moment, Aurora just laid there, her body still, trying to process everything without waking him. She could hear the soft rhythm of his breathing, the way his arm tightened around her waist every time she shifted slightly.

She should move. She should get up and slide out of his embrace. But the way his body held onto hers so effortlessly made it hard to pull away.

There was something about waking up like this—so close, so tangled with him—that felt different. There were no cameras, no fans, no schedule looming over them. Just this quiet morning, the weight of the world momentarily gone.

Aurora tried to adjust, but as she did, Milo groaned softly in his sleep, his grip tightening around her waist instinctively. His lips brushed against her hair, a soft exhale slipping from him.

Aurora couldn’t help but smile at the softness of it all. She had never imagined waking up like this, not with Milo. They had their playful moments, their teasing banter, but this—this was different.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Milo shifted slightly, blinking sleepily as his eyes cracked open. For a brief moment, there was only silence.

Then his eyes met hers, still blurry with sleep, but a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Morning, Bug,” he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.

Aurora’s breath hitched, her heart racing even though she tried to remain casual. She swallowed, a slight blush creeping up her neck. “Morning,” she replied softly.

There was a beat of silence, just the two of them in this tiny bubble of quiet. Neither one moved to pull away. Neither one seemed to want to.

Finally, Milo blinked again, his voice teasing despite the grogginess. “So… this is what it looks like when you actuallyfall asleep on me, huh?”

Aurora laughed softly, her fingers lightly grazing the back of his hand where it rested on her side. “Or maybe you just can’t stay away from me?.”

Milo smirked. “Uh-huh. Sure, Bug. Keep telling yourself that.”But his tone was soft, his thumb gently brushing across her skin.

Aurora stared at him for a moment, and she could see it—the way his eyes were a little more vulnerable than usual, the way he seemed more real, more present in a way that felt different from their usual back-and-forth.

For a moment, she felt the tension rise between them. A question hung in the air, unspoken but understood. Was this just a moment of vulnerability? A one-off slip-up, or was it something more?

But before she could say anything, Milo gently pulled her closer, as if he couldn’t help himself. He tucked his face into her hair, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Stay for a while, s’last day I’m gonna see you for at least a month,” he said, and for a fleeting moment, there was a quiet softness to him that Aurora wasn’t sure how to handle.

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she let herself fall into the comfort of his arms, allowing the stillness of the morning to wash over her.

“Don’t remind me.”

Broke my neck falling for you

I don’t care how I just need it to happen

You Belong with Me 💙🏈📖

Wally Clark x fem reader Y/N slow burn story

Part 21: Summary: In complete bliss that you have finally told Wally that you love him and that he loves you back, you tell Maddie and then there is a meeting with the living kids to figure out a plan to lure Janet to the school and lure Mr Martin out of the scars for answers. 

After kissing what felt like hours on the grass, you and Wally get up still in complete bliss of finally admitting your feelings. “Um, I know this is properly the last thing on your mind, but what are we going to tell Maddie? I know you two were close.” You ask while interlocking your fingers with his as you head off the field. “I don’t know, but I think she will understand right? I mean she’s not technically dead.” Wally responded. “We can tell her together if you want to?” you ask. “Darling, I want to do everything with you.” He replied lifting your hands and placing a kiss on yours. You head inside and go to the library figuring out that’s where everyone would be, and you were right they were all there discussing who would go into their scars next. 

You and Wally approach the table, still holding hands and Wally says, “Hey Maddie, is it ok if Y/N and I talk to you for a sec?” he asks letting go of your hand. She nods and gets up from the table and heads to another section of the library to talk in private. “What’s up guys?” she asks. Not wanting to beat around the bush, Wally comes out and says, “Y/N and I just discovered we have feelings for each other, and we want to explore that connection. I had a really nice time getting to know you and I really do like you, but I can’t hide my feelings anymore. I’m sorry.” You expected her to get mad or something because you have seen how close they have become in such a short period. “It’s ok Wally. I’m not really dead anyways so it would have been awful to grow attached to someone that I can’t be with. And I kind of figured you guys had something going on. I mean the way Wally talks about you I’m surprised you guys weren’t together this whole time.” She says “Thank you for understanding. And I want to let you know, I did really like spending time with you, but I just need to be true to myself.” Wally says. She gives you a reassuring nod as you head back to the table with the others.

“By the look on your face I’m assuming you finally told him?” Charley asks as he notices you and Wally holding hands. “I mean I didn’t technically, I was practicing what I was going to say when he was in his scar and forgot that of you are close enough in the veil? Whatever it is, he heard everything, and he admitted he had feelings too.” You reply. Charley jaw drops and Rhonda adds, “I’m really happy for you guys but we really need to know if you saw Mr Martin in your scar Wally because I really don’t want to experience my murder again.” “He wasn’t there.” “So, he’s in either Charleys, Rhonda’s, mine or even one of the loopers and how can we even check those ones?” Tommy questions as he opens one of Mr Martins notebooks. “So, who is going in next?” Maddie asks. Silence fell over the library well the living kids were still around the library. “Fine, Ill go.” Tommy says as he grabs his item, a denim baseball cap with badges all over. “Wait” you say rushing after him as he leaves the library. “It will be hard in there, but just remember you already lived it; nothing can hurt you. Just try and forget what you are seeing and find him.” He puts his baseball cap on his head and says, “Thank you Y/N” then he leaves out of the library to the main entrance of the school.

“Ok, while we wait, tell me everything!” Charley says enthusiastically. “I mean there isn’t much to talk about, we already told you every-“ “When did you fall in love with her Wally?” Charley says as he interrupts you. “Halloween 1983 when I accidently walked in on her changing. I tried to push away the feelings, same reason why Y/N did, because we were afraid of losing each other and being stuck in this place for God knows how long.” Wally admits as he places a hand on your knee gently stroking his thumb up and down your jeans. “So, if you guys just talked, you would have been together this whole time?” Maddie asks. “Yeah, well I guess it’s hard for a himbo and a chickee.” You say looking at Rhonda who gave you those nicknames and you all laugh. 

Tommy enters back into the library out of breath like he’s been running. “I saw him in there. As soon as I got close enough, he went through a door and disappeared.” “What the fuck? Where does he keep going?” Rhonda says angerly. You remember some sketch in Mr Martins satchel. Grabbing it from the table you find the paper and examine it. A piece of parchment paper with initials spread out over it. “Guys, remember this piece of parchment paper he had, what if it’s some kind of map?” Looking at it closely Wally runs out of the library and comes back with a map of the school. You place the parchment paper on top. “Holy shit, it is a map.” Charley says. “But what are all these initials?” Tommy asks. “Wait I remember something at the back of Wally’s notebook.” Maddie says as she grabs his notebook. She opens up to a page that seems like it’s a football play. She grabs a marker and copies what’s in the book to the paper. “It’s defiantly a map. They are all connected. That’s how he can easily outrun us and disappear.” Maddie confirms. “Shit, now what do we do?” Rhonda asks. “What are we all meant to go into our scars at the same time or something?” Tommy says. “We can’t do that. We have no idea what that could do, it could fuck everything up, we can’t risk it.” You say. “We have to think of a game plan somehow trap him, while my friends in the real world are trying to get Janet out of my body.” Maddie says. “Right, we need to have a group meeting or something between the living and us. Maybe Simon could translate our ideas.” You utter. “I can’t think of anything else so let’s do it. I’ll find Simon and tell him the idea; we can do it on the theatre stage after school.” Maddie shares as she leaves to go find Simon.

The bell rings signalling the end of the school day, while you watch most students head home- gosh you wish you could do that- you and the other ghosts head to the theatre were Maddie is with Simon setting up chairs with our faces on. “Uh, what’s with the faces on the chairs Cherry Pop?” Rhonda asks as she directs her attention to Maddie. “Simon thought it would help, just take a seat, the others should be here soon.” She says as she looks over to the door waiting for her living friends to appear through. You take your seat next to Wally and Charley on the other side. You notice Wally move his chair closer to yours and takes your hand- internal screams! -. Suddenly the door opens, and you see Maddie’s friends walk in. imminently your eyes focus on your niece, Lily as she walks in. You knew them all, Nicole, Xavier, and Claire but of course they don’t know you-or that you are sitting on the chairs- they bring their attention close to the photos to look. “Ok, your way to close blue eyes.” Rhonda snarls when Xavier gets a bit too close to her face for her liking. “Wait, that’s my mom’s maiden name. That’s my aunt that died in 1983, she’s here?” Lily says with concern discovering that her aunt she’s never met has been trapped in school before she was born. “Maddie, tell Simon to tell her that I’m ok and that I’m so proud of the person she has become.” You ask. Maddie nods her head and Simon tells Lily. She instantly cries and Nicole and Claire comfort her, something you wish you could do. 

Waiting for Lily to settle, Simon starts the meeting? “So, we need to come up with a plan on how we can lure Janet back to school so Maddie can get her body back and the ghosts need a plan to try to get Mr Martin out of something called scars. Is that right?” Simon says as he directs his attention to Maddie to which she nods her head. “This Janet girl likes science stuff, what if we tell her that the school has some new science experiment that she has to see for herself.” Claire suggests. “Ok, you guys’ figure that one out but how are we meant to get Mr Martin out of the scars?” Tommy says. “I read this thing that ghosts don’t like salt so maybe you can get some and fling it on him or something?” Xavier replies. Silence spreads through the air. You don’t know if you are meant to laugh or if he was serious. Completely ignoring what Xavier said, “Rhonda and Charley, I know you guys want to go into your scar, but it may be our only option.” You voice out, looking at them.

“She’s right Rons, we have to try I mean they did, what’s the worst that could happen?” Charley says looking at her. “But he could be in another fucking scar, and we went through that for nothing.” She snaps in anger. You stand up and crouch next to her “I know you can do this. Mr Manfredo can’t hurt you. Yeah, you will see him, but he can’t hurt you anymore.” You say trying to reassure her. “And if he isn’t in yours or Charley’s we can try one of the loopers, maybe Yuri in the art room or one of the marching band kids, maybe we can figure out a way to break their loop” you add. Maddie briefly tells Simon what we are discussing to the living kids to which Lily says, “She sounds exactly like my mom. Kind, caring and always there for others.” Hearing that felt like a punch to your gut, devastated that you can’t hug her. Wally sees your upset and hugs you instead. 

Charley and Rhonda look at each other knowing what they have to do, they get up and leave to grab their object- key? - to get into their scars. “We are going to try and talk to one of the loopers and see if they know anything and you work on a plan to get Janet here” you say to Maddie who repeats to Simon. You Wally and Tommy leave the theatre in hopes of talking to at least one of them. 

With no success with either of them you head to the library to discuss what to do next when you see Rhonda and Charley in the hallway. “Well, we both did it and he wasn’t fucking there.” Rhonda yells. Maddie appears from one of the classrooms. “I don’t get it, where is he?” Charley says as Maddie approaches. Suddenly in one of the classrooms you hear some yelling, someone who defiantly shouldn’t be here so late at night. You all scramble to the noise when Maddie says “Mr Anderson?” “Maddie, thank god your alive!” the man says hugging her. “Wait who the hell are you guys?” he adds. You are all in shock that he can see, hear, and talk to you. “Wait if you’re here that means…”. Maddie utters. “Holy shit” Wally says. You all gasp in realization. You can’t find Mr Martin in the scars anymore because he’s not here, he’s taken over a body just like Janet did. 

Part 20 Part 22

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Wally Clark Headcanons - 3

(request)

Wally is obsessed with you. Probably to the extent he should seek help, but he doesn't care. He's happy. More than happy, in fact. He's in love.

He could spend every second of every minute of every day in your company and never get tired of it. Never need space or moments alone or time apart. Wally doesn't want that. Call him codependent, he doesn't give a fuck, he's so into you it borders on insane.

Which is why, when you and he do have to separate—aka: surgically fucking removing him from your presence—he's like a puppy left alone at home. Watching the door, pacing the house, counting down along with the clock until you come back. Chin on paws, soulful eyes begging the universe to bring you back now, please.

He watches TV, throws some hoops, showers, eats; manic and anxious and needy. And, yeah, Wally's totally capable of doing his own thing. He has the other ghosts to chill with; has pastimes Mr. Martin had encouraged over the decades Wally's been dead. He did stuff without you before you came along, and could do that stuff again.

But going back to anything after experiencing how vibrant his world is with you in it...nothing holds a candle. It's all boring and cheap and unappealing. So, he pouts, bounces his knee, annoys the crap out of Rhonda who's trying to read a book while Wally stares at the same word in his for the next forty-five minutes.

You and Maddie spent the day searching for clues in Maddie's murder case, a girls' day spent stalking Claire without Wally because Maddie was opening up to you more without anyone else around, and you wanted to help.

Wally's sweet, beautiful saint.

He makes a grumpy little noise that Rhonda rolls her eyes at.

Finally, finally, the library door opens. No time to say hello, already hoisted into Wally's arms after he torpedoes straight for you the instant you step inside. He cradles you close, kisses your face, hair, neck, giddy that you're back.

"How was it? Did you find anything? Did you miss me? I missed you."

Babbling and eager and wanting to hear your voice. You giggle (which he likes more), and he smiles back at you, big and excited, though his eyes are soft.

"It's been, like, an hour, Wally." You remind him, and he huffs.

"Longest hour of my life." He complains, to which Rhonda seconds under her breath.

He sneers at her, but his expression melts into complete adoration when you pull his attention back to you.

"How about we go relax for a bit, huh? The faculty lounge is empty..." You suggest and he's already moving, not letting you down, just carrying you like a toddler down the hall and through the door to the faculty lounge.

Wally loves cuddling with you. Doesn't even need things to go further to feel satisfied. You sit with your back against the armrest. Wally fits himself between your legs and rests his head on your chest, nuzzling into you and humming contentedly.

This is what he was made for, he believes wholeheartedly. To be yours. Built by the universe just for you because he can't imagine being anything else. He's been his own person for enough years; he's fine. Been there. Done that.

Now and well into beyond—for the rest of fucking time—all Wally wants is to be a piece of you.

And you absolutely let him soak you in whenever he wants because he's been through hell and needs unconditional love like fish need water.

Look at that face. I dare you to say no.

October Moon

summary: the day after Dawn's ascension, things had picked up speed. research had uncovered more of the school's secrets. meanwhile, Maddie's memories had been triggered, and Simon had made a connection that'd dragged your family further into the mystery.

pairing: Wally Clark x fem!reader

warnings: smutty smut smut. mad spoilers. and obvious Canon divergence. very involved, very dense plot.

bon reading, frens

___________________________💀

OCTOBER MOON pt.11

Monitors beeped—long intervals, pitched notes—and, below that, your great-aunt's rattled breathing. Everything stank of disinfectant.

Visiting Ginny in the hospital never got easier.

"She was such a quiet girl, you know..." Nanna said softly, holding Ginny's hand as she spoke. Her eyes were distant as she fell into the past, reliving memories of their childhood.

Ginny was much older than Nanna. Nanna had been a surprise after their mother, your great-grandmother, had been told she wouldn't have been able to create—never mind carry—another baby. Ginny adored Nanna. Had adored her the moment Nanna came into the world.

After a fire had killed their parents, Ginny took on multiple roles (sister, mother, guardian, friend) and did her best to raise Nanna. Though she'd still been young herself, it hadn't stopped her from doing what needed to be done. There'd been some relative outside of Split River who could've taken Nanna, but Ginny had insisted they not be separated.

Ginny and Nanna had been two peas in a pod since. Where one went, the other followed.

"What changed?" You finally asked, gazing at Ginny as she slept, oxygen tube down her throat. That was the worst you'd ever seen her.

Your eyes pricked and your stomach clenched, and you so badly yearned for her to wake up. To hug you, pet your hair, and tell you that you were being ridiculous to worry over her.

Nanna chuckled, her thumb stroking the back of Ginny's hand, "The reason her lungs are so weak." She said, quiet, tired, "The fire."

"The fire made her more—" Blunt, dramatic, stubborn, batshit insane with a warm heart and a warmer smile. You settled for, "Loud?"

"It scared her. You come face to face with death like that, sweetpea, and it changes you. Either for good or for bad." Nanna cast you an amused smile, "I like to believe that's why you and Aiden were so mischievous. Obnoxious little munchkins, the both of you."

"What do you mean?" You asked around the lump in your throat, pictured Aiden at that farmhouse as he clutched Limon and asked strangers to play.

Nanna gave you a surprised look, one that indicated you should've known what she meant.

She told you anyway, "Aurora was an easy birth. Out in minutes. Squalling like a banshee." She chuckled, shaking her head with a fond smile. "But you...you were impatient. Wanted to be in the world as soon as possible." She paused, patted your knee, "You came early. Such a wee thing." Nanna's smile fell, "You weren't breathing. But," Her smile returned, "They saved you. You recovered quickly and I have a feeling my wily sister had something to do with it..." Nanna cast Ginny's unconscious form a playful look of bemusement, "You didn't have to suffer years of treatments like most unlucky infants."

Amelia's words rung in your head like the knell of a church bell: Death ushered them into the world and left a piece of himself within them.

So...you'd been delivered with Death at your heels. Amelia had mentioned that that was how you could interact with the metaphysical world and those who inhabited it. Holy shit.

"And Aiden?"

Nanna sighed, "Poor little bug." She made the sign of the cross, something she only ever did when Aiden was mentioned. "I always wondered if he knew..." She shook her head as if to dispel the very thought and diverted, "He was blue as a violet. The cord had...had wrapped itself around his neck. He was dead for almost a minute before they revived him..." Nanna's eyes glistened. She gazed over her sister again, lips pinched in despair.

Death had had its arms open for Aiden since the day he was born, you mourned. You weren't surprised that Nanna thought it possible that Aiden knew, somehow, someway, that he hadn't been destined for a long life. If anyone in the house would've known, it would've been her. She'd examined his palms the same as she'd done everyone else's...

"Did you know?" You had to ask, uncomfortable that you hadn't remembered until now exactly what your grandmother's connectedness was capable of. "That he wouldn't live long?"

Her face was grim as the reaper, eyes haunted, "I hoped against it. Reading the Awen isn't precise, sweetpea. And I prayed, in that instance, I was wrong."

But she hadn't been.

You almost wanted to confess to her about Aiden and the farmhouse and the other ghosts. You didn't, of course, but you suddenly realized how ill-equipped you were to face everything alone. The responsibility of stopping Amelia, retrieving Maddie's body, and freeing the ghosts. Freeing Wally. It was a vise that strangled your heart without remorse.

Nanna brought the conversation back to Ginny, faraway eyes and compassionate smile, "That fire might've weakened her body, but it strengthened her spirit." She ended wistfully, "Few realize that Death is also capable of giving gifts. It can be kind as it can be cruel."

Minutes later, Nanna excused herself to fetch a cup of hot water to steep the dry ingredients Aurora had delivered from the flower shop. She left with a kiss on your head and a squeeze of your shoulder. You took her place in the chair beside Ginny. Held Ginny's hand in yours, and tried to tamp down the slurry of emotions that rose within you.

After a long moment of silence, you choked, "Everything's fucked up." A plea to someone who couldn't hear you.

She couldn't Travel, you imagined because her body and mind were too weak, but you desperately needed her right now. Or you needed to finally unload the burden of truth on someone you could trust because it had become too much.

"There weren't any stupid storms or squalls or whatever you and mom said there would be. But it feels worse. Like everything is out of control—" A thick sniffle, a hiccup, "Maddie's a ghost and her body is missing. I think there's someone out there who wants to use it for themselves," Your voice broke when you continued, "I--I don't know what to do... I-I don't even know where to look. Or how to look. I need help, Ginny. Xavier and Simon are great and they want to help, they do, but they don't know this stuff and now I'm expected to be a walking encyclopedia and—" A self-deprecating snort, "Fuck. I barely know anything..."

The heart monitor beeped a steady rhythm. The ventilator whirred. Ginny remained a gaunt statue in repose.

You leaned over and pressed your forehead to the back of her hand, hot tears falling onto her cold skin, "Please wake up..."

‗‗‗‗•‗‗‗‗

Simon ran his thumb over the pendant, his other hand in Maddie's as she urged him to lure her mother to the school. Get her here, he heard Maddie plead, I always know when she's lying.

But Simon's mind was elsewhere, his eyes flicking over the pendant's design, teeth clenched as he berated himself. He should've asked more questions when he'd—God dammit, the answers might've been right fucking there and he'd been too busy minding his pleases and thank yous.

He couldn't believe he hadn't recognized the pendant the night of the dance, strung around someone else's neck. One of a pair, your great-aunt had told him. Maddie had worn the necklace every day since he'd known her. A gift from her father she rarely, if ever, removed.

Without acknowledging Maddie's insistence to get Sandra in a room with her, Simon asked, "You said your dad gave this to you?"

Maddie's teeth clicked when she abruptly closed her mouth, visibly stunned that Simon would ask that now. A brief moment of contemplation and then, "Yeah. Right before he died."

"And you're sure about that?" Simon's eyes never left the pendant, but his grip on Maddie's hand tightened marginally, a gesture expressing that it was important, that he needed her to be precise.

"Yeah." One beat. Two. "I mean, not really. I got it in the mail. Mom said he sent it when he was still in Texas. That it took longer to get there than he did. He was back for a couple of weeks before..." Maddie trailed off. Simon could fill in the blanks.

Christopher had been home for a couple of weeks before he'd killed himself while wearing your body like a meat puppet.

"In the mail?" Simon prompted as he released her hand to cup her jaw, gaze boring into hers. "And you're sure your dad was the one who sent it?"

Maddie swallowed. "Yeah. It was definitely him."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, Simon, I'm sure." Prickly, fierce. "My dad sent it. I know he sent it. There was a note with it in his handwriting."

Simon dropped his hand back to hers, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it sound like you don't know what you're talking about, Maddie. I just want to make sure that we have all the facts."

"Why?" Maddie asked and leaned back to examine him since he wasn't making sense.

Simon hesitated for a moment, unsure how to put into words the weird coincidence he was beginning to think wasn't a coincidence at all.

"When I went to pick her up for the Homecoming dance... Maddie, her great-aunt had exactly the same pendant. Ginny said that it was one of a pair, earrings or something, but she lost the other one a while ago."

Maddie frowned and then her face went slack in shock, "You think her great-aunt might've been the one to give it to me?"

Simon shook his head, frustrated, confused, steadily more defeated as he realized he was so far out of his depth that he couldn't hold his head above water anymore.

"I don't know." He slumped, rubbed his eyes, and gave Maddie an apologetic look. "But we have to find out. Someone has to know."

"Si, I know my dad gave me that necklace."

"I don't doubt it, I'm just saying: We know one of the two earrings isn't in Ginny's possession anymore. We know Amelia has been in her house. We also know that Amelia stole your dad's body," He stopped, his tone shifting when he realized how indelicate that'd sounded. Simon regrouped, squeezed Maddie's hand, then continued, "We know that your dad asked her to give you something."

"And you think it was my necklace," Maddie murmured, staring at it as Simon laid it carefully on the table between them, bits and pieces of information scattered in her mind like shattered glass.

"It makes sense. She doesn't remember what your dad asked her to take you. But what if it's this? If it's the same as Ginny's..." Simon leaned in to draw Maddie's attention from the necklace to him, his hand on her knee, "If it's like Ginny's, it probably works and keeps the bad spirits away from you."

Maddie snorted, a weak, light huff of air, "Didn't stop someone from knocking my spirit out."

Simon let that sit in the air for a moment as he devised a plan.

Taking Maddie's request to bring her mother to heart, "Your mom might know something. Like you said, you can tell when she's lying."

"Get her here." Maddie reiterated. "And we can figure out if—if my mom..." Had anything to do with Amelia and golems and hurting Maddie, she didn't need to elaborate.

Cutting her off, "Okay," Simon put the necklace back in the manila envelope, folded it, and shoved it into his back pocket before promising, "Okay, I'll figure something out."

Maddie sat silently for a long moment, gazing into the middle distance, so worn and small that Simon nearly choked on his heart looking at her.

Sandra might not have been the best mom, but she was Maddie's, and Maddie loved her. Simon couldn't imagine Sandra hurting Maddie. However, in light of all Simon had learned about in the last few weeks, it was easier to assume someone had used Sandra to do the work on their behalf.

Amelia, Anabelle, a secret third other, it didn't matter. Someone had the kind of power that could be used to control minds, bodies, the very fabric of the universe. His gut rolled.

As he stood, Maddie stopped him with a touch to his hip, "Simon?" She rose to her feet and shuffled into his space, looped her arms around his neck and held him, "Yesterday, what you said about whether or not us figuring it out means me moving on—"

"Don't worry about that right now," Simon murmured into her hair. It was jarring, how she didn't smell like anything. Just clean air. He stammered, "I was being selfish."

Maddie tilted back a fraction and said firmly, "You're never selfish," which made Simon's heart skip a beat and break at the same time.

"Maddie...if it was her," He started, nervous to voice his concern, his fear, but he wanted to understand, "Are you sure you wanna know?"

She didn't answer. Simply tucked her head into the crook of his neck and held him close.

‗‗‗‗•‗‗‗‗

Everett sat in disbelief as he listened to his students. Things were far worse than he'd been led to believe. He picked at a thread on his suit jacket, fidgeted to maintain his composure under the onslaught of questions his students asked.

For someone who'd prided himself on having all the answers, he wasn't sure how to address what his students were demanding he address.

Had Amelia left him be, had she stopped interfering and dragging him away to help her on a quest he couldn't actually help with—trapped behind a barrier as he was—none of this would've happened.

It'd been her fault, anyway, that Janet had done what she'd done. Everett didn't know everything, the hows and whys, but he knew enough to understand that Janet had been pushed to the edge by something Amelia had done or planned to do...

If only Amelia had let them be.

Dawn's ascension had happened while he'd been in the fallout shelter. He'd felt it. Felt that peace. That warmth. That omniscient truth that he'd never felt before because crossing over was supposed to be impossible inside the barrier.

Wally and Charley and Rhonda spoke over each other, a cacophony of questions with no answers. None that he was at liberty to give. He finally snapped the thread from his blazer, hands shaking because of what it signified that his clothes were deteriorating instead of resetting as they'd done since 1958.

"—the light at the same time as the goosebumps. Simultaneous goosebumps." Wally ranted between Charley's retelling of what they'd experienced.

Everett's collar felt too tight.

Bernie and Katelynn agreed and confirmed and Everett wanted the ground to open and swallow him whole. The noise of their curiosity caused his mouth to dry, his heartbeat to quicken, his palms to get clammy.

His students' eyes were on him, pinning him in place. He strung together the right words in the wrong context, anything to supplicate them, but they continued to press like walls closing in. And then Mina's face, sad and scared, seared behind his eyes, and he couldn't manage the pressure.

"After all these years, how can you still be so clueless?" Charley demanded, and Everett absorbed it like he'd absorbed Amelia's outrage when Janet had vandalized a plan that had been decades in the making.

It had been such a struggle to attain the right pieces and set them on the board. Amelia had been righteous in her anger. A glorious, beautiful blaze of fury that had left Everett wounded and weak. All because of Janet, who'd argued with him and accused him of being naïve. Who'd rearranged the board under his nose to steal what didn't belong to her.

"What if looking back isn't a bad thing?" Charley hounded, "What if it's actually the key to get out of here!? Why shouldn't we at least try that?"

They weren't allowed. They weren't allowed to look back. Amelia had warned him that everything he'd worked for, everything he'd done for them, everything he'd ever wanted would be snatched away if they looked back. And he couldn't have that. They needed him. To put them back on the right path, to guide them and teach them and be the person they relied on.

He refused to lose them like this.

"Because it's painful to constantly be thinking about it!" Everett's tone hit his ear belatedly and he deflated in his chair, eyes imploring, begging his students to listen to him like they used to. "Right!?"

His students went still, their eyes on him, willing to receive what wisdom he imparted. He gave them his impassioned speech, voice pleading, hoping his vulnerability would get them to see sense.

Subdued and seeming remorseful, they listened. Eyes down, features contorted in regret. For now, at least, Everett had won.

‗‗‗‗•‗‗‗‗

Wally kissed you like it was the last time. Slow, deep, explorative; memorizing every shape and taste of your mouth as he held you by the hips in his lap.

The school was empty aside from the teachers involved in the awards ceremony. Ajay had snuck you in and escorted you to Wally before he'd accompanied Maddie to the teacher's lounge for a coffee and a heart-to-heart.

Wally had stumbled upon Maddie in the hallway after Group. She'd been in bad shape. He was grateful that Ajay had stepped in to be there for her while she waited for Simon to arrive with her mom so that Wally could soak in your presence privately.

Needless to say, Group had left him rattled, and he needed the comfort.

"Wally?" You asked, likely having noticed his mind had wandered. "You okay?"

Wally's grip tightened on your hips, then smoothed down to your thighs, back up under your skirt to drag you closer by the ass. He gave you a weary smile, about as much as he could muster.

Between Mr. Martin's behavior in Group and Maddie's comment—"What would you do if the one person who was supposed to protect you was the one who hurt you?"—unleashing a repressed sense of betrayal toward his mama, Wally's strength of will had rapidly declined.

He didn't think he could do this anymore.

Call him selfish, but he missed the simpler times. The times before Maddie and the mystery and the cloak and dagger he and the others were forced to come to grips with. There was peace in ignorance and he wanted to find it again, just for a second, just to regroup and start fresh and—

"Hey," Your hands on his jaw, angling his face toward yours, "You still with me, big guy?"

"Sorry baby," Wally said, low and solemn, "Too many thoughts."

You nodded, "Yeah. Me too. I can't believe I never noticed Maddie's necklace. I see it every day, you'd think I would've put two and two together as soon as I met her, yanno?"

Not exactly where Wally's mind was, but that was odd.

"You said you and Maddie weren't that close before now," Wally tried to reason so you wouldn't drive yourself crazy thinking about it. "Who really pays attention to that kind of thing?"

You raised a brow, "I noticed Nicole had the same spider ring as Maddie as soon as she started wearing it."

"Okay. Fair. But that spider ring didn't ward off evil spirits, right? Maybe it's a magic necklace thing." And then he put on an all-powerful, godly voice, "All who look upon this necklace shall forget its importance lest they be cursed!"

You giggled, a sound as beautiful as a summer breeze, and beamed at him. Jesus, he wanted to see that smile every day for the rest of his existence. He lifted one hand to tuck a strand of your hair behind your ear, dipped in to brush his lips against yours, a smile of his own forming.

"Very impressive use of the word 'lest'," You teased, "I didn't know you had it in you."

"Hey, I was practically a straight A student, thanks."

"What I'm hearing is that you bullied nerds into giving you test answers."

Wally scoffed, "I didn't bully anyone! I used my popularity to charm certain academically gifted individuals into helping me along. It was give-give, baby, I swear." He grinned, both hands back on your ass, massaging your flesh.

"You may be onto something though, Wally." You said after a moment, "I wouldn't be surprised if Amelia glamoured the necklace so that no one would recognize it." A cheeky grin, "Lest her whole plan go up in flames before she could finish it." You raised your hands and made a poof gesture.

Wally drew you closer by the back of your head, his gaze flickering over your face as his eyes went heavy and heated, "Have I ever told you how sexy your brain is, baby?"

"Once or twice," You smirked and brushed your lips against his, "But you're welcome to tell me again."

A slow, thorough kiss before Wally said, "You have a very," kiss "very," kiss as his large hand pushed your closer so you were planted flush against him, "sexy brain."

‗‗‗‗•‗‗‗‗

Xavier was insubordinate on a good day, but the little nuisance had been more so in recent weeks. Austin didn't like it. By then, Xavier didn't need to be cagey or deflective for Austin to recognize when Xavier was hiding something.

In fact, Xavier had been combative, had shown up of his own volition to once again challenge Mr. South's innocence. And hadn't that been the cherry on top of a taxing day...

It was hard enough keeping the deputies' instincts from firing on all cylinders, pumping them with enough tea to fill an ocean. But Austin was at a pivotal point in tracking down and locating Madison Nears' runaway body and getting the plan back on the rails. He couldn't afford any more disruptions or screw-ups.

It rankled to think that perhaps, as had happened to Amelia's little pet who'd stopped drinking the tea under Amelia's nose, Xavier might've done the same thing. Austin was not one to be trifled with, and refused to acknowledge that that could possibly be right. He had a far stronger influence than Amelia.

But, he supposed, it needed to be looked into. After all, things had shifted since Madison Nears had been unceremoniously (prematurely) separated from her body. Xavier's manipulated subconscious could be another thing affected by it.

Pausing at reception, Austin noted the address he'd scribbled down earlier. Another possible lead.

At his hip, out of sight of those milling about the station, he typed a text to Dave's phone. The address and a blunt reminder that Amelia had better not let her former student slip through her fingers again or Anabelle would snatch her precious vessel right from her clutches without remorse.

'Find her.' Austin texted and hoped it was simple enough to get through to Amelia.

He didn't want to have to do it, but Austin was willing to discard Amelia to this lifetime to rot. Age had not given Amelia wisdom, that was clear, and Austin—Anabelle—wasn't sure he cared to coddle an idiot for the rest of time.

Dave's response came through.

'I will. I promise.'

Austin should've known better than to trust Amelia after everything she'd already failed to do...

‗‗‗‗•‗‗‗‗

"Are you finding anything?"

"Dude, this thing was old when I went here," Wally told Charley from his place at the microfilm reader.

The file room was dark, claustrophobic, filled with a lot of information yet very few answers. So far, anyway. You sat at the single tiny table, flipping through transcripts from 1960 while, at your feet, back against your leg, Ajay perused the stack of yearbook printouts from around the same era.

Your mind was torn between doing the research in front of you and what you'd been slowly translating in the books you and Xavier had found at the farmhouse. Unfortunately, you'd done a very poor job in the early hours of that morning, your eyes crossing as the Old English script bled together on the page. Flipping through the first book was a chore, the pages so fragile that you'd lost margins and corners that might've been important.

The second wasn't as cumbersome to flip through, but it made about as much sense as the first. Tonight, you'd decided, you'd lock yourself away in your room, roll your sleeves up, and get stuck in for as long as it took to find something about the barrier around the school.

"Dawn found something yesterday when she looked into her past." Charley said, determined, "I mean, Janet must've done the same. So...maybe if we look into their pasts, too, we could find something that could explain all of this."

Ajay sighed, "Don't we already know?" When Charley snapped a pointed side-eye at him, Ajay flapped a hand, "I get why we're doing this. What, against all odds, made Janet and then Dawn special enough to clock out of this place. But do we really think it's going to be written on paper?"

"Or microfilm." Wally inserted, peeking out from behind the machine.

"I think Charley's onto something, actually." You said as you scanned another transcript from 1960: Maria Volkov. "Maybe there was something special about their pasts that allowed them to move on easier." You glanced up, eyes finding Wally's, "I mean, you've all looked back before, right?"

"More or less," Ajay said, flipping through another yearbook. "Yet, here we still are."

Wally corrected, "We've thought about our deaths, bro, we haven't looked back the way Dawn did at the séance."

Ajay seesawed his head and made a noise of acceptance, but didn't add anything.

"Really?" You glanced at Wally. "You think it's the lobotomy thing?"

Wally nodded, chewed his lip in thought before disappearing behind the microfilm reader again.

A few minutes later, "What year are you on?" Charley asked Wally as he carded through the accordion folder containing Dawn's student files.

Wally responded, "1959. I'm trying to move backwards, but I am not seeing Janet's name anywhere." He glanced between you and Charley. "She died in 1960, right?"

"Yeah," Charley confirmed though he was distracted.

"That's what we have in our files, too." You added and then sat up straight to stretch out the kinks that had settled between your vertebrae. "Apparently she fell down the stairs and broke her neck?"

Wally cringed, "Sounds shitty." He looked at Charley again, "Did you know that? Because I didn't know that."

"As we've established, we've been discouraged from asking each other personal questions," Ajay muttered so only you could hear.

"Especially related to your deaths..." You murmured, a frown on your face. "Huh."

From his perch on the picture files cabinet, Charley rummaged through more of Dawn's files, engrossed though managing to reply to Wally, "And things just get creepier..." He exhaled sharply through his nose and finally looked up, "Nothing of much interest in Dawn's student file, either..." Awkwardly, tinged with a thread of guilt, he admitted, "I know we weren't super close, but I feel kinda awful that we didn't get to say goodbye to her."

You listened as Wally answered, heart twinging, "I don't want it to happen that way for me." He caught your eye, let his gaze hold yours softly, "I didn't get a goodbye last time..." You stood, shuffled around Ajay, and went to Wally, settling in his lap when he shifted to accommodate you. "I do not wanna just disappear..."

You nestled into his body, kissed his temple before pressing your brow against it.

"Me either." Charley said quietly.

Though it was obvious he felt the same, Ajay didn't say anything. Simply allowed Wally and Charley's grief to be heard and sat with it.

Wally turned his head, his lips pressed to your neck, his hand squeezing your hip before he tucked his face into your shoulder for a minute.

You felt him breathe in and out deeply, absorbing your presence, your scent a balm for his soul, and then he returned to the slide he'd just inserted under the lens of the microfilm machine. Beneath you, he tensed.

"Whoa. Whoa, wait. This is weird." You peeked up at the screen, adjusted as Wally leaned in to read the small print. At Charley's prompting, Wally read, "Split River High School has been chosen for a national pilot program to protect students and teachers from the threat of a nuclear strike."

Oh. Shit. Had you not told Wally about the fallout shelter below the school?

"A fallout shelter will be built below the east wing of the school," No. No you had not. You'd been too busy dry humping him and then throwing Xavier under the bus about the kiss he'd stolen from you. "The same location where a fire destroyed the former chemistry lab on January 14th, 1958." You were a terrible girlfr—wait.

"Wait...1958?" Charley voiced so you didn't have to. "That must be Mr. Martin's fire. Does it mention him?" Charley moved closer, half-sat on the side of the desk, and watched Wally scan the rest of the old article.

"I don't see..."

You pointed to the screen where you saw Mr. Martin's name, "There."

"Oh, yes," His hand snuck under your shirt, thumb stroked your skin in thanks as he began to read again, "Authorities determined the fire was accidental. Four people were killed in the fire that overtook the lab during a routine chemistry lesson. Beloved Chemistry teacher Mr. Everett Martin was one of the deceased—"

"Wait." Charley interrupted, confused, "Four people? He said he was the only casualty."

Ajay was on his feet now, positioned himself behind Wally, a hand on Wally's shoulder as he curved forward and reread what Wally had already dictated. "Four people..."

Wally's attention returned to the screen to pick up where he left off, "Uh, two other staff, secretary Melinda Fontaine and school nurse Karla-Anne Mayfair, who had tried to help contain the fire while students evacuated were killed in the blaze as well as one student, sophomore..." He stopped, causing you, Ajay, and Charley to squint at the screen.

"What? What's wrong?" Charley asked.

Wally picked his gaze from the screen and skirted it to Charley, "Janet Hamilton." A moment of tense silence, and then Wally, pinning you closer to his body to quell his anger, wanted to know, "Why did they both lie to us?"

You stared at the name Wally had pointed to. It didn't make sense. Even in your family's files, Janet was cited as dying in 1960... Only... She hadn't had a death date until Ginny had remembered something and had Nanna write it down. You slipped out of Wally's lap and went to the stack of yearbooks Ajay had been scouring through to find the right one. Bingo. 1958.

You opened it, flipped through the pages until, "My great-aunt was in that class." That was the fire that'd weakened her. You'd assumed it'd been the same fire that had killed your great-grandparents, but no. There was Ginny's young face, smiling shyly from the page between your neighbor, Darcy Behr, and Mr. Anderson's father, Douglas.

"What does that have to do with Janet and Mr. Martin?" Ajay wondered as he, Wally, and Charley crowded around you.

You scrutinized every other student's face for clues, because stealing bodies was the work of expert connectedness. And though they became new people in new bodies, their connectedness had always and would always remain. If you were right...

"There were only two ghosts." You uttered, and you felt Wally's hand on your hip, a steadying force, as he pressed himself against your back. "If the symbols were already around the school to trap Mr. Martin and Janet—"

Somber, Wally asked the question on everyone's mind, "Then where did the other two go?"

💀___________________________

PART TEN - PART TWELVE

also available on AO3!

MASTERLIST

"Some people are destined to do big things. That's great. But the rest of us, we carry the small gifts. That's just as important to the people whose lives we touch."

-Wally Clark

The end is near

Okay heres an edit while I draw

"Oh, shit! No way. David Bowie. Y'all! We are so back." "Wally came up with this. Makes us do it at every reunion." School Spirits s02e06: Ghost Pointe Blank

masterlist <3

siobhan (sha-von) - 22 - they/she

stranger things

eddie munson

one-shots:

electric touch

either way / no doubt

headcannons:

reckless driver

school spirits

wally clark

one-shots:

hello my old heart

just breathe

pas de deux

multiparts:

don't go breaking my heart -

1. don't stop (thinking about tomorrow)

2. don't you want me

3. don't worry baby