“Hey um…is Jasmine there,” said a voice from the other side of the phone.

            “This is,” Jasmine replied unsure.

“Hey Jas; it’s Dominique.”

            “Hi, what’s up?”
“Just wanted to talk and to say I’m sorry again. I was a jerk back there.”

            “It was mainly Bryant you know.”

“Yeah but I could have tried to stop him.”

            “Well the past is past we can’t change it. But I’ll admit Bryant got what he deserved,” Jasmine went on.

“Yeah you’re right we can’t change the past. I’ll agree he got what he deserved. He should know better than to smart off to her.

            “Yeah, hey I got to go. I have to work on stuff for Geography to make up that test I failed.”

“Okay later,” Dominique said.

            “See-ya.”

Alex and Jasmines planned a little ‘social gathering’ at Jasmine’s house the following night, Saturday. Alex went over early to help set up.

            “Okay what all needs to be done now,” Alex asked.

“Just clean up a little and put some chips out or something.”

            “Seems easy enough.”

“I should hope so!”

            A while later Ryan and Ethan were the first to show.

“I brought a little music,” Ryan said.

            “Okay great,” Alex said putting the disks by the stereo.

“Nice house,” Ethan said.

            “I have a lot of siblings that live in the house,” Jasmine said.

“How did you manage to get the house to yourself,” asked Ryan.

            “My ma went with Alex’s on some trip or something and so my younger siblings went to stay with friends leaving me with the house.”

“Sweet,” Ryan and Ethan said in unison.

            Not long after seven more showed. Among them were Buck, Antonio, and Jason.

“Hey guys. Video games are in the other room,” Alex said.

            “Yeah okay. Hey Jasmine, Alex have you guys ever met Bridget, Markl, Max, and Hailey yet? Just moved and I thought this would be the perfect place to introduce them,” Jason said anxiously.

            “Nice to meet you,” Markl said.

“Likewise,” Alex replied.

            “So naturally you will be attending Stine High,” Jasmine asked.

“No, we are home schooled,” Bridget said.

            “Are you all related,” asked Jasmine.

“We are foster kids,” Max said.

            “My name is Bridget Ceres. Then there is Markl Artemis, Max Neptune, and Hailey Mars.”

“Well hope you like it here in our little town of Mimar,” Jason added and started to go into the next room.

            “Well others from Stine High are coming so you can meet some more kids from the local area,” Buck said following Jason.

As the night rolled upon them they saw mostly everyone from their freshmen class. The last to show were the ones least expected to even come. Daniel, Cole, Dominique, and Bryant. Nobody really noticed them walk in except Alex and Jasmine.

            “Hey Jas,” Dominique said walking over.

“Hey, wasn’t sure if you were going to show.”

            Alex pulled Jasmine off to the side, “you’re talking to him like nothing happened, what’s up?”

“Nothing.”

            “Did you tell him that there was a party tonight?’

“Yeah, of course why wouldn’t I?”

            “Jasmine! How could you?”

“At least he apologized to me and I didn’t punch him in front everyone.”

            “He called you,” she asked ignoring the part about her punching Bryant.

“Yeah why,” she asked surprised.

            “Where did he call from? I’ve know these guys since elementary school and you only since the sixth grade yet you know their numbers?”

“No, it said unavailable on the ID. I don’t know any of their numbers except Antonio’s.”

            “Oh well who cares, let’s go. We have guests. Or should I say you have guests.”

            They talked to Dominique for a while because Alex was still refusing to talk to Bryant. They played a few racing games against Markl and Max on their Nintendo. Everyone danced to a variety of music different people brought. It ranged from Trick Pony’s Cotton Eyed Joe to slower songs such as My Last Name by Dierks Bentley.

            “I’m surprised,” Alex said drinking a Mountain Dew, “not a sophomore in sight.”

“It’s a freshmen party, what gives them the right to come,” Daniel said coming up behind her, “thought I would join you guys in here since it is a little quieter.”

            Daniel and Cole joined the two girls, Dominique, and Bryant in Jasmine’s room.

“What if Antonio got into another accident.”

            “Please don’t say that Bryant,” Alex said.

“Why not? Were you scared?”

            “Knock it off,” Daniel said.

“Well Antonio had his hand in a belt sander and he survived. All I got to say is he was pretty lucky.”

            They argued for a while longer and all of a sudden the lights went off.

“Breaker must have switched again; I’ll go check it out. Hey Alex, grab the flashlight on that desk next to you and come with me,” Jasmine said trying to find the door.

            They heard everyone upstairs talking. Yelling down to Jasmine wondering what was going on.

“Breaker must have switched I’m checking it now,” she yelled back up and thought, At least their all staying calm.

            She fumbled with the latch trying to get the breaker box door open and found out sure enough the main switch was off. She turned it on and went upstairs.

            “Everyone all right?”

“Yeah Jasmine, everyone but my car,” Jason said.

            “Jason just start a new game you’ve played it enough I’m sure you can get all your turbo and crap back,” Jasmine said.

“It took me about fifteen minutes to get this far!”

            “Shut up Jason,” Alex finally said.

Everything continued until Hailey went into the bathroom. They family room was dead silent as they all heard her screams. Alex and Jasmine rushed to the bathroom where they found her sobbing and just in front of her Antonio lie still. Broken glass was everywhere including a shard straight into Antonio’s heart. His eyes were open in horror facing the mirror and written in his blood where the words, “You know too much. The thirteenth year has come. Pay the cost. Or suffer more.”

            Alex kept asking what was going on as she was trying to keep everyone quiet and calm but Jasmine wouldn’t let her in. Somebody must have dialed 911 because the cops and an ambulance came shortly. They came in and asked for the person in charge. Jasmine had not moved since she seen the blood message.

            “Miss? Are you alright,” asked one of the policemen.

Jasmine stood there frozen and Alex was trying to push her way through but a cop was holding her back. They were led outside and asked a few questions. Afterwards Jasmine went to Alex’s for the remainder of the night.