Grave lessons

The events of the previous night still clung to Kayla like a second skin. No matter how many times she replayed it in her head—the entity, the rift, the way Caston had thrown himself in front of her—it didn't make sense.

Not really.

She shoved those thoughts aside as she walked through the crowded halls of Ridgewood High. Everything was normal again. Students were laughing, shoving each other playfully, completely unaware of what had almost happened beneath their feet.

But she knew.

And so did Caston.

She spotted him near his locker, talking to one of his teammates. He looked the same—leaning against the lockers, a lazy smirk on his face, arms crossed like he didn't have a care in the world. Like he hadn't literally taken a hit for her the night before.

Kayla rolled her eyes. Typical.

She turned the corner—

And immediately collided with another student.

"Watch where you're—" The guy stopped, recognition flashing in his eyes. Jason Adams. One of Caston's basketball rivals and an all-around jerk.

A slow grin spread across Jason's face. "Oh, Kayla. Didn't see you there."

Kayla didn't trust that grin for a second. She moved to step around him, but he blocked her way.

"I heard you've been sneaking off at night. Doing something fun?" Jason's tone was teasing, but there was an edge beneath it.

Kayla narrowed her eyes. "None of your business."

Jason tilted his head. "C'mon, humor me. What's a girl like you doing, creeping around in graveyards?"

Her stomach twisted. How did he—?

Before she could react, Jason suddenly stumbled forward, like someone had shoved him—

Because someone had.

"Back off."

Caston.

Kayla blinked as Jason turned, his expression twisting in irritation. "Dude, what the hell?"

Caston didn't move, his blue eyes hard. "She said it's none of your business."

Jason scoffed, raising his hands. "Relax, man. Just messing around."

"Mess around somewhere else," Caston said flatly.

Jason stared at him for a moment, then let out a low chuckle. "Alright, alright. No need to get territorial."

Kayla hated that word.

But what she hated even more?

The fact that Caston didn't correct him.

Jason walked off, leaving behind an uncomfortable silence. Kayla crossed her arms, looking at Caston suspiciously. "What the hell was that?"

Caston shrugged like it was nothing. "He was being annoying."

"He's always annoying. You don't usually care."

Caston glanced at her, something unreadable in his expression. "Maybe I do now."

Kayla's stomach flipped.

No. No, this wasn't happening. Caston being protective? That wasn't part of their thing. They bickered. They didn't—

She shook her head. "Whatever. Thanks, I guess."

He smirked. "Guess?"

"Don't push it."

Caston chuckled, and for the first time… it wasn't mocking.

And that was more unsettling than anything they'd faced in the graveyard.

Lingering Shadows

That night, Kayla sat in her room, staring at her reflection in the window.

Caston had defended her.

Not sarcastically. Not in a 'because-I-feel-like-it' way.

He had meant it.

And what scared her the most?

She hadn't hated it.