“So,” Lexy said. It was 5:00 at night.

“You need to go home!” Christine shouted. Lexy had stayed at Christine’s house for the past three nights.

Lexy cringed. “Sorry,” Christine soothed, “but you can’t keep staying at my house. It’s time to face your demons so to speak.”

“Alright…,” Lexy started. Just then Christine threw a duffel bag of Lexy’s stuff at her.

“There you go! You do realize that I don’t want you to go, right? I’m just getting a little tired of you eating all of my food,” Christine said.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. I’m going. I’m going,” Lexy said, rolling her eyes.

Christine lead Lexy to the door. “Just call if you need me and I’ll come over. OK?”

“OK,” Lexy sighed.

“You know you can’t live in my house forever.”

“I know. But why can’t I just stay 10 days longer?” Lexy whipped around to look at Christine.

“10 Nights!!!!” Christine eyes bulged. “That’s way too many. What’s wrong with your house?”

“You know what’s wrong with my house.”

“Yeah, Madam Vile and Raven. Also your brother.” Christine cringed realizing what she just said. Tears were glistening in Lexy’s eyes. ”I’m so sorry. You can stay tonight and then we will figure out something.”

“No, No. I’ll be fine. Thanks for letting me crash here.” Lexy started to walk down the sidewalk.

“Bye,” Christine said halfheartedly.

Lexy turned back around. “Bye.” Lexy waved halfheartedly. She walked across the grass to the property line. Taking a deep breath, she stepped over it.

Lexy just crested the window of her bedroom. Madam Vile was waiting for her as she expected.

“Hello,” Lexy said.

“Is that all you have to say for yourself?” Madam Vile was straining to keep her voice even. The vein in her forehead was bulging.

“Want some food? Christine gave me some chips, I think.” Lexy was smiling on the inside.

“You are not supposed to leave this house at night.”

“You can’t control me.” Lexy was struggling to not get mad.

“Yes, I can!” Madam Vile yelled. She started to whisper under her breath.

“Enough!” Lexy yelled. The spell that Madam Vile was casting fizzed out.

“What?!? How did that not work?!?” Madam Vile screamed.

“What were you trying to do to me?” Lexy asked with a cold dead tone.

“I was trying to control you, you twit!” Madam Vile yelled.

“Well it won’t work. Now get out of my room.” The door flew open and Madam Vile shoot out of the room.

“Well that’s the end of that,” Lexy whispered to herself. Then she collapsed on the floor.