"Heeeey~~~giiiirrrlss~~~," sang the leader of the group as he approached the two of them with his friends following close behind. "What cha doing out so late?"

     Gracie gave Marlene a dirty look before turning back to him and replying.

     "None of your damn business!" Gracie snapped, glaring at the senior.

     "Aww, don't be like that. Say, you're pretty cute for a goth. How about you come home with me and we can have some fun on the couch?" the older boy proposed, being either unperturbed or oblivious her anger. Marlene would have bet on a mix of both born of the levels of alcohol currently in his blood.

     She gave the senior a disgusted look before telling him, "I have only three things to say to that! Ew. Gross. And Hell No!"

     While Gracie was talking to the senior, Marlene felt the feathery soft brush at the back of her mind from Shadow contacting her. He was letting her know he was nearby and was coming as quickly as he could to help them. Shadow was a sort of supernatural guardian she had acquired in the past and a low level psychic link had formed between them shortly after he had fully bonded himself to her. They could feel each other's emotions and Shadow could use it to keep tabs on her but that was about all it could be used for when they were separated. She tried to reassure him through it, but he ignored her, not wanting to leave her safety to chance.

     Failing to persuade him, she knew the seniors would be in for a very bad night at Shadow's hands. She didn't want this, so she had to get them to leave peacefully before Shadow arrived if she wanted to avoid it. She stepped closer to her friend and placed a hand on Gracie's shoulder to get her attention. She glanced back at Marlene for a moment, to show her friend that she had it, before returning her eyes back to the group of drunk seniors. Marlene leaned in close, so she could whisper in her friend's ear.

     "Ace, I think we should get going now." Marlene told her. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

     Gracie looked at her friend with concern from the corner of her eye. Aside from family members and teachers, Marlene was the only one who could call Gracie by her real name and not get smacked for it. A privilege her friend used to the fullest. The only time Marlene used Gracie's nickname was when she was dead serious about something.

     "Are you sure?" Gracie asked her. Although Marlene's face was calm and unconcerned and the hand on Gracie's shoulder was gentle, the other had a white knuckled death grip on her sling bag. The durable blue denim bag was something Marlene took with her everywhere no matter what. It was always kept full of a variety of useful items and it always came in handy when things went from bad to worse.