The day passed and Sienna's teachers were pleased to tell her mother how happy they were with her improved attitude and voluntary participation in class. They nodded and smiled as they enthusiastically gushed about what a pleasure it was to have her in class. Her mother watched as several children called out goodbyes and waved to her smiling daughter. Sienna shifted from foot to foot as she impatiently waited to go, eager to get home, but still smiling like the world was her best friend.

"She's actually had a really good day. I've never known her to be as relaxed as she's been today."

Sienna smiled broadly, seeming to bask in her teacher's words, all the while she clenched one hand while the other gently tugged her mother's arm.

"Baby Girl, you need to be patient. I need to talk to Miss James for a moment and then we'll go."

"Sorry Mum. I just really wanted to finish my project."

"We'll go in just a moment. Why don't you go and talk to your friend while we finish up?"

Sienna went and sat at a nearby desk next to another little girl. Daisy had always been a quiet girl. Even quieter than Sienna. She had straight dark hair that fell over her face as her head was almost always down-bent. Sienna had often sat with her in the past as Daisy made no attempt to engage in conversation or force Sienna to interact. Of everyone in her class, Daisy's undemanding demeanour made her one of Sienna's favourite people.

"Your mum's not here yet?"

Daisy lifted her head slightly and acknowledged the question with a small smile.

Sienna's smile dipped as she took in the girl's pale face and the dark smudges under her eyes, "Daisy, are you alright?'

Daisy's eyes widened for a second before she looked away again. Her tiny "fine" was barely perceptible.

"Really?" She watched her friend's shoulders slump further under her intense gaze "If there's anything I can help with I will. You know that right?'

Daisy said something so quietly that Sienna needed to move closer in order to hear her as she repeated the longest sentence she'd uttered in the entire time Sienna had known her,

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Sienna blinked in disbelief before giving a wry "try me."

Indecision was written all over Daisy, her posture stiff as she stared at the desktop. Sienna's hand on her arm caused her to jolt in fright before she looked up at Sienna. Sienna could see that she wanted to say something so badly yet she seemed terrified to say it aloud. Sienna tried to give an encouraging look as she waited patiently.

This patience seemed to be what Daisy needed to make the decision and collect her courage.

"It comes at night. They said it's not real but-... I can't sleep Sienna... but I can't stay awake forever..." She looked up then and shook her head, "Nevermind. It's stupid."

"No it's not!" Sienna's voice was almost harsh in excitement as she pulled out the fairy-tale book. Daisy had recoiled for a moment but now craned her neck in interest as Sienna flicked through the pages. Finally she came across one of the more detailed pictures. She turned the book to Daisy, "Is that it?"

Daisy studied the shadow creature, "No. Not like that. It's got claws and-

Wait, you believe me?"

Sienna turned back to studying the picture. She tapped on the image before finally just saying "Yes."

The girls sat quietly. "What would you do?"

Sienna smiled at the question. Daisy felt her hair stand on end as the made eye contact. "What did I do? I got angry."

"You... how? What did you..."

"Did you want me to help?"

Daisy sputtered before finally whispering, "You'd do that?"

Sienna shrugged, "We're friends"

"THANK YOU!"

The chair screeched against the floor as Daisy threw her arms around Sienna. The adults paused their conversation at the unexpected outburst.

"It seems my girl isn't the only one to start coming out of her shell."

Miss James, still a little startled at the shy girls' animated conversation simply replied, "It seems Sienna is having a positive effect on her."

"Sienna. It's time to go."

"Mum can I sleep over at Daisy's one night soon?"

She almost giggled a the sight of her mother's gaping mouth. It took a moment for her mother to gather her wits and respond, "You want to sleep at her house? In a strange room? In a strange bed?"

Sienna just repeatedly nodded. Daisy stood next to her and took her hand before adding her own voice, "Please?"

There was nothing timid or uncertain in the girl, just determination and pleading.

"Please Mum. Ive never been to a sleep over before."

That was all it took. Daisy's mother arrived and arrangements were made for the following weekend.

"You'll be okay until then?"

Daisy gave a little shrug to the quiet question. "Guess I'll have to be."

A quick hand squeeze for luck and the girls followed their respective mothers out of the classroom. Sienna trailed after her mother while she went over the growing mental checklist.

She wanted to study the picture further, check in on Mrs G, finish her homework, figure out which martial art she wanted to learn... and oh yeah, she now had less than a week to try to figure out what was after Daisy and how to kill it.

She decided to start with her English homework. It seemed the easiest thing to achieve at that moment