Chapter 1

Altas - 8:54 a.m. 

I awoke to the sound of my phone erupting with texts. 

Yawning, I began to rub my still blurry eyes awake. When they finally became clear enough for me to make out a text from a group chat, I read, “Are you still coming out tonight?" 

 I almost texted them, no, but at the same time, they couldn't bring me to do it. 

I said, "Yeah!! " I thought that some of my body was still asleep. I slid on my vampire costume while pondering why this was worth dressing up. I realized a lack of sound, only a faint smell of breakfast from the hall. I ran to check my phone’s time, and it read 8:59 a.m.

‘fuck, school started 2 hours ago. Grabbing my shoes from the once-white shoe rack and tying my shoes, ‘i am never going to like tying converse,’ i say under my breath. I take my bag off the floor and go out the door locking it, completely forgetting a list of items I needed for my friends tonight. I arrive at school at 9:12 a.m  " It's already the second period; how are you this late?” Alice looks through her bag as she's speaking to me. Vincent quietly laughs while talking to her. 

Every class today seems so blurry and faded; nothing different at all.

I’m not sure what I expected, though. I walk out of my final course, and Vincent catches up to me. Halfway from his house, he touches my shoulder and stops walking; I glance back at him. “Are you still coming to the park tonight?” I nod, “ you don't have to if you’re not up for it, you know?” he replies. “But I don't wanna waste another holiday staying at home.” he seems to agree, and We reach his door parting ways.

Juno

 Walking home alone, I can see atlas and vincent in front of me; they’re laughing and talking about something as they always do. I thought about going to them but decided against it; though we’ve been friends for what feels like forever, I've only been their friend for nearly a year. I hear my cat meowing at the door when I reach the house, and I make a mental note to feed her before I leave. I take off my shoes, set them on the floor, and sit my bag down. Taking out my homework and putting it on my desk, I walk back into the kitchen to grab leftover coffee from yesterday. 

As it microwaves, I get Casper's food; she tilts her head slightly at me, then the microwave makes a slight beep, and I go towards it as I walk to my room with the coffee in my left hand. I finish my homework in an hour and a half, open my phone and see a text from Alice saying he will be here in an hour. I react to his message.  Get up, shower, and touch up my costume to the extent I can with 5 minutes to spare. Alice opens the door, and I get in the middle seat. Alice is sitting in the passager seat, and Atlas is staring into the window on the right. Vincent is driving. He begins going down the street, and I feel Atlas put his hand on mine. After a few seconds, he whispers, "Juno, why are you a vampire?" I whisper back, "why are we whispering?"  he smiles. Alice turns back to us "you both are terrible at whispering, and eavesdropping isn't fun when everyone can hear you anyway."

We arrive at the park, and dusk sets in; as we pull up to our parking spot, the song playing ends.

Vincent unlocks the car, gets out, and Alice follows. After the two leave the door open for me, Atlas gets out and waits, and Vincent is ahead of us and locks the car. We walk towards a large oak tree, and as soon as we get there, atlas pulls out his phone as he stands next to me, leaning against the tree. Alice is talking to Vincent, laughing about a show they’ve tried to convince us to watch about 20 times on the ride over here.

Juno.

 Walking home alone, I can see Atlas and Vincent in front of me. They're laughing and talking about something as they always do. I thought about going to them but decided against it. Although we’ve been friends for what feels like forever, I've only been their friend for nearly a year. I hear my cat meowing at the door when I reach the house, and I make a mental note to feed her before I leave. I take off my shoes, set them on the floor, and sit my bag down. Taking out my homework and putting it on my desk, I walk back into the kitchen to grab leftover coffee from yesterday. 

As it microwaves, I get Casper's food; she tilts her head slightly at me, then the microwave makes a slight beep. And I go towards it as I walk to my room with the coffee in my left hand. I finish my homework in an hour and a half, open my phone and see a text from Oliver saying he will be here in an hour. I react to his message.  Get up, shower, and touch up my costume to the extent I can within the 5 minutes I have to spare. Alice rings the doorbell, and I nearly fall down the stairs. I open the door and walk down the driveway with her. She opens the door, and I get in the middle seat. Alice is sitting left, and Atlas is staring into the window on the right. Vincent is 

driving, and Oliver sits as the passenger with headphones on. Before we move, Vincent pulls up a playlist called “October’s Romance” and plays it. I thought about asking him why he named it that, but I stopped myself. He began driving down the street, and I felt Atlas put his hand on mine. 

After a few seconds, he whispered, "Juno, why are you a vampire?" 

I whisper back, "it was our agreement, wasn't it? 

Also, why are we whispering?" 

"Why wouldn't we?" he says. 

Alice leans over to us "you both are terrible at whispering.

Eavesdropping isn't fun when everyone can hear you." she says.

We arrive at the park, and dusk sets in; as we pull up to our parking spot, the song playing ends.

Vincent unlocks the car, gets out, and Oliver follows. Alice gets out after the two, and Atlas gets out and leaves the door open for me and waits; the necklace he's wearing doesn't match his costume. Vincent is ahead of us and locks the car. 

We walk towards a large oak tree, and as soon as we get there, Atlas pulls out his phone as he stands next to me, leaning against the tree. The wind is so cold, but it feels warm simultaneously. Alice and Vincent are recapping a show they’ve recommended to me about 20 times in the past hour.