The fan hummed in mockery as logarithmic functions bounced off the walls. Most of the kids in Avery’s class had their heads down, the teacher didn’t seem to mind. Avery sat at the back, his hands shoved into his hoodie’s pockets, and his foot shaking with the beating of the clock on the wall. He sweated under the hoodie, but he didn’t seem to mind as he tugged at it gently to cool himself off at the chest. That’s when he saw the writing on the wall. Too tiny to be seen, too red to go unnoticed by anyone watching.

“Tonight is the night.” The words on the wall, right above the whiteboard, whispered to him.

***

The ping pong ball bounced rhythmically on the table, jumping from the side bathed in dimming gold sunlight to the one held in exposure under fluorescent light. His breath caught in his chest as he played, his arms aching now. “I just think it was creepy, you know.” He said, glancing up at his opponent. Leah’s dark hair fell in ringlets on her shoulders now, smaller curls clinging to the sweat slick skin on her neck, while her tongue stuck out in concentration as she played. 

“Finals in a week you two, no slacking off! I’ll be back in ten!” He heard their coach say, the door closing with a soft thud a moment after, somehow enough today to throw off Avery’s attention today.

“YES!” Leah yelled, jumping as the orange ball flew past Avery. He sighed, shaking his head with a suppressed smile.

 “Sucker!” She pointed at him, her eyes narrowed as she grinned. She blinked, and the look was gone. “Oh yeah, what were you saying? Don’t worry man, lots of high kids here who would have public plans for the night.” She said.

“Now go get the ball.” She said smugly.

Avery turned away, watching as the ball ricocheted into the dance room, cast into shadow. “Yeah, whatever.” He whispered under his breath as he went to it. 

He picked it up against the wall, his eyes drifting up when he had it in his hand. The hair on his neck stood.

“Tonight is the night.” The red writing on the wall said, sharper this time, ragged hurried letters The room seemed to grow colder. When Avery heard a yelp from outside that made his heart skip a beat.