Shadyside High School
 

Home of the Witches.

The last thing Benji ever thought he'd be doing was helping Miss Sunnyvale break into Shadyside High School. He had no idea what she was looking for, and he didn't care. Instead, Benji was more intrigued by the fiery redhead. So he'd happily go along with Heather's shenanigans until he got too weirded out. Benji believed in the history of Sarah Fier and knew something was going on in their small town of Shadyside. Was it supernatural, though? Benji didn't know.

Luckily, high-tech cameras weren't in the school's budget, and neither was fixing broken locks. So it was much easier than Heather anticipated, and her reaction was priceless. Despite the poverty, Shadyside High School was like any other high school in America when it came to its athletic programs. "All the money goes to the football team," Benji commented with a shrug. "Which doesn't matter because we still lose every fucking game," he scoffed and rolled his eyes. "It's pathetic."

"So, what are we looking for?" He couldn't see the high school having any valuable information regarding Sarah Fier unless Heather wanted to rummage through the library. "Do you think the witch possessed them?" He questioned, following behind her. "Do you even know where you're going?" He didn't mean to ask too many questions at once, but he couldn't help but notice they'd already been down this hallway.

Pre-tunnels Heather would have been a bit more cautious about breaking into a high school with some random Shadysider that she barely knew, but post-tunnels Heather knew that there were worse things out there to fear. She was the one that dragged her friends to the tunnels and now it was her responsibility to do whatever she could to help stop the witch before she struck again. Right now, that meant rummaging through files and records and whatever else they could find that might help. She was determined to leave no stones unturned.

Heather briskly strolled the halls completely focused on trying to find any rooms that had file cabinets that might hold information. Or maybe a basement entrance somewhere. They'd probably need a way to hack into the computers to get Mitchie or even Ryan's files but maybe the school still kept the old records of the other Shadysiders that 'snapped' somewhere. She didn't know but she just had to try. Her eyes darted around as her heart raced slightly and she tried her best to navigate these unfamiliar hallways with a nearly stranger rambling on behind her.

Eventually she stopped abruptly, did a quick one-eighty, and held out her hand to stop him from running into her. Choosing to ignore the comment about the football team - she knew all too well how terrible their team was, that wasn't what was important to her right now - she finally rapid fire answered his questions instead. "I'm not exactly sure yet, I believe that is possible, and no, I don't. Who's playing twenty-one questions now?" She pulled her hand back from his chest and winked at him. "I know this is going to probably sound a little crazy, but my friends and I found a creepy ass tunnel that led us to this weird cave like thing. And well, there was these... carvings. Well, names, actually. Mitchie's name was on there. And Ryan Torres. And Tommy Slater. Ruby Lane. All of them, Benji, they were all there."

Heather stared up at him in silence just long enough to let what she'd just said really sink in. Who could have added Mitchie's name in there? The graveyard entrance had been covered in plants when they were there exploring, and they don't grow that fast. She hadn't had the courage to go back in to explore the other tunnels they'd seen in the cave, but she really couldn't fathom why anyone would go in there just to carve the name of a bunch of killers on the wall. It just didn't make sense to her. "There's more but we'll worry about that later, I was just hoping we could find something. Anything. I don't know but I have to try. Do you know if your school has any old records or secret doors that might lead to mysterious tunnels?" Heather let out a half-laugh.

Benji rolled his eyes at her 21 questions comment but continued to listen to everything she had to say. "What fucking tunnels are you talking about?" Benji had lived in Shadyside and had never heard of such a thing. "And how did you find out about these so-called tunnels?" He needed the information and proof if Heather wanted him to believe her. Benji had connections around town. He just needed to know which ones he needed to contact.

When Heather brought up Mitchie, his heart sank. They'd been friends, and it was the first time someone said his name aloud. It caught Benji off guard. "It's hard enough to believe there are tunnels in the cemetery, but now you're saying a friend of mine, his name, is chiseled into a stone wall in a tunnel?" It was a complex concept to grasp. Benji mostly wanted nothing to do with Sarah Fier and the conspiracy theories. Still, he was perplexed by this particular Sunnyvalers dedication to the so-called curse that plagued a town that wasn't hers.

"Turn left," he abruptly instructed. "The administrator's office is that way," Benji added with a grin. He often put up a tough front, but deep down, he was a cinnamon roll. Heather strongly believed she was onto something. So Benji would help her to the best of his ability. But he also didn't want her roaming around Shadyside by herself. Unfournlety, Benji couldn't speak highly of his town. There were creeps waiting to take advantage of someone like Heather, and he couldn't morally leave her side.

Benji stayed a few steps behind Heather. He was lost in his thoughts, trying to think of everything he's heard about the witch over the years. He knew he could reach out to his friend if he had to, but he wasn't trying to piss off Eli for getting Max involved because of someone else's conspiracy theories. "Fuck," he muttered when the lightbulb finally went off. "I got it. I fucking got it," Benji called out as he sped up his pace to be next to Heather while pulling out his phone. He quickly googled Max's blog. After finding what he wanted, Benji summarized a few paragraphs. "In 1994, Deena Johnson and Samatha Fraser came out of Sheriff Goode's house. They got inside from tunnels under his house that connected to Shadyside Mall." He looked over at her, "They killed Sheriff Goode in those tunnels. Because of the allegations against Sheriff Goode, the Goode name became tainted, and Mayor Goode lost the next election."

"They're just tunnels. I don't know why they are there or anything, but they're just fucking there and they're creepy. I'll show you the entrance at the graveyard but I'm not planning on going back in anytime soon. Once was enough." It might have just been because they were in a dark school in the middle of winter but she could feel the chills run all over her body as she thought about the last time in the tunnels. 'What had those voices said? Where had they come from?' "Introduce me to your sources and maybe I'll introduce you to mine." she bluffed. Heather had tried to find the person who gave the map, but they'd done a good job of dodging her. That and Heather was still trying to teach herself how to do all this investigating stuff on her own - on top of school, cheer, and homework.

As she often did, Heather turned back around and continued walking, figuring he would follow behind. Her pace briefly slowed down when he mentioned knowing Mitchie but she quickly returned to her normal pace. 'Friend?' It hadn't occurred to Heather that he might have actually known one of the killers. They all felt like urban legend or myths to her. She needed to remind herself that they were actual human beings with actual friends and family still living here. Rather than talking, Heather followed his directions and left him to let things sink in.

Heather could see the "ADMINISTRATOR" in white lettering a couple doors away when she heard Benji swearing then footsteps getting closer. While he searched up Max's blog, she caught a whiff of him. She'd already been smelling the cigarette and leather smell but suddenly, now that she was closer to him, she picked up on the softest hint of vanilla. It was sweet and it oddly suited him well. Heather couldn't help but to look up at him smugly after he mentioned the bit about the tunnels. "Wait a minute, Deena and Samantha. What do you think the odds are that they are still in Shadyside?"

“Fuck that!” Benji exclaimed. “I’m good. I don’t need to see no fucking tunnels,” he added and shivered while still thinking about them. It wasn't the witch stuff that freaked him out. It was the fact that random tunnels were underneath Shadyside. “I don’t even fully believe in this Hocus Pocus shit. I only came because I thought you were hot,” he purposely admitted. Benji wanted to see if he could get a reaction and also, maybe, plant the seed. Most Sunnyvale girls wouldn't even think about touching him, but Heather seemed different. So, he decided to shoot his shot.

He scoffed at her comment about meeting each other’s sources. “My source has a very overprotective boyfriend, so, unfortunately, that won’t do,” Benji shrugged his shoulders. Eli had his reasons, and Benji didn't fault his buddy for that. Max had been researching and collecting articles about the witch for as long as he could remember. It just so happened she's been dealing with her demons too.

“It’s a possibility,” Benji shrugged his shoulders. “I mean, if all that bullshit happened to me, I don't know if I’d stick around, though,” Benji pointed out. “They were both students. Maybe the school still has their files,” he said, fumbling with the doorknob. “They don't lock any other fucking door, but this one?” He muttered under his breath. Turning slightly and smiling graciously at Heather. “May I borrow one of your bobby pins?”

Heather did her best to keep her composure when Benji mentioned that he only came because he thought she was hot. A smile instantly graced her face and her eyes widened but only briefly before disappearing just as quickly. She knew that she shouldn't be attracted to him; he was from Shadyside after all. She already had to keep her "weird" interests a secret from her classmates, if any of them knew she liked a Shadysider, she'd never hear the end of it. "I guess we'll just have to trust each other then."

"Maybe they couldn't leave? Maybe they're at like a mental hospital or psych ward? Do we even have anything like that?" Heather asked aloud, more so making a mental note to herself to search that up later rather than actually asking him. She'd take an answer if he had one though. "We've got to at least check." While he fumbled with the door, Heather looked down the hallway and tried her best not to get too freaked out by their dark surroundings. 'Why is everything so extra creepy in this town? Bobby pin?' "Yeah, here you go." she pulled one out from her hair and handed it to over him before going back to playing look out while he worked on the lock.

Once inside, Heather wasted no time opening up the cabinets and searching through the files for any familiar names. "So, uh, did you really do all this because you think I'm hot?" Heather asked unable to stop herself. Lots of guys in Sunnyvale thought she was hot, but that was it - they just liked looking at her. They didn't care about her, nor could she ever imagine any of them willingly doing this kind of crazy stuff with her. Caleb was proof that they could potentially be tamed into not being total cavemen but none of them really caught her eye the way Benji had. Yeah, he was rough around the edges but there was something kind of endearing about that. She didn't feel like she had to try hard around him; she could simply be herself and he'd still like her.

“You can trust me. Look, I played down my knowledge a bit,” he admitted. Benji didn't know why he did what he did, but he did, and now he was coming clean. “I've lived in Shadyside my entire life. I've heard about this witch and this curse for as long as I can remember. The Sarah Fier nursery rhyme is going to be embedded in my brain until the day I die,” Benji informed her. “I may not know as much as Max, but I can assure you I got you in whatever scheme you got brewing in that gorgeous head of yours, okay?”

Benji raised an eyebrow after Heather suggested they got locked up in a mental ward after everything happened. He shook his head in disagreement, “I don't think so. They spun everything to pin it all on Sheriff Goode. They got off scot-free and cleared their friends’ names.” The more he talked about Deena Johnson and Samantha Fraser, the more memories he unlocked. “And we do, Penhurst is about an hour away from us,” he said just as he heard the lock click. “Got it,” he announced, rising to his feet before opening the door for Heather. When he followed in after her, he quickly got a whiff of what she smelled like and instantly wanted more.

He was rummaging through the principal’s desk when Heather’s question caught him off guard. He sat back in his chair, a smile crept onto his lips, staring at her from across the room. Benji didn’t usually get nervous when put on the spot, but he had difficulty finding his words. He didn’t want to fuck this up if the feeling happened to be mutual. “Are you fucking kidding? Anyone attracted to women would follow your red hot ass into hell,” he finally responded with a typical Benji compliment. “Not only that, though,” he pursed his lips together, his head rocking from side to side, thinking about what to say next as nicely as possible. “See, me,” he started to get up from the chair, abandoning the drawer he’d been going through. “I’m a nice Shadysider, a respectful Shadysider,” he also wasn’t going to miss an opportunity to talk himself up. Benji made his way around the desk before leaning back against the front and crossing his arms over his chest. “But they all aren’t like me, and a pretty thing like you, walking naively around this town is not the smartest thing to do,” he added. “I couldn't morally let you walk into the lion's den alone,” he shrugged his shoulders as if it wasn't a big deal. “Does that answer your question?”

Heather wasn't sure what it was about Benji that made him feel so safe and trustworthy, but she believed everything he was saying. And it was not just because he was attractive. There were plenty of hot guys at Sunnyvale and she didn't trust majority of them. Plus, all the true crime that she absorbed, she often tended to be more cautious when it came to people but not him. "Okay. I trust you," she replied, "and not just because you keep complimenting me." She paused, thinking she was done, when another thought popped up. "Although, you're more than welcome to keep doing that."

"Yeah, you're probably right. As someone who's last name is Goodwin, even I got bullied about it. Some asshole started a rumor that our family changed our last name from Goode to Goodwin. Which is totally untrue, by the way." Heather quickly slipped in as they'd entered the room and she added 'Penhurst' to her mental notes. She attempted to continue looking at the name as she somewhat nervously awaited his response to her last question but gave up when she heard him start speaking; her eyes darted over to him as he flattered her some more, a smile spreading across her rosy cheeks.

As she continued to watch and listen to him, Heather found herself wanting to smile more and more until that smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. He hadn't necessarily said or done anything wrong other than remind of her of just how some Shadysiders really did live up to their town's name by being shady. Heather had lived such a blessed life up growing up in Sunnyvale that she didn't really have the natural sort of defenses or street smarts that he did; she needed him more than she'd even realized initially. That was, if actually was the good guy he was claiming to be.

"Yes, that definitely answers that question. Now... for my follow-up questions." Heather replied, her smile returning yet again. She couldn't help herself; she was a very inquisitive girl. She was also strategic: if he was sincere, she didn't want to mess it up completely but if he was a creep, she had to play her cards right. "How is that a handsome guy... a nice, respectful Shadysider - as you said so yourself - doesn't have a girlfriend that he should be saying these sweet things to?" She hated being this guarded, especially when they'd been having so much fun up until this point, but he was right, she been focused on solving the mystery that she hadn't been paying enough attention to the seriousness of the situation.

Benji was pleased with how their conversations had been going and the outcomes. He’d been anxious before all this, thinking there would be an awkward silence between them.

“Me? Handsome?” Benji gasped dramatically, “Oh, Miss Sunnyvale, don’t make me blush,” he continued to joke, covering his cheeks with his hands before gathering his composure to answer the question. It started with a shrug because he honestly had no idea why he didn’t have a girlfriend. “I have had girlfriends and been in relationships. They’ve just never worked out,” he added, wanting to give her his most genuine answer.

Benji let out a heavy sigh, his arms falling to his sides. “My last girlfriend broke up with me because I wasn’t emotionally invested, and while that’s probably true, it’s because she wasn’t the right one. I shouldn’t date someone just to date them.” Benji smiled, “At least, that’s what she told me. So, I haven’t.” He knew Heather didn’t ask for the last bit, but he figured he’d throw it out there. It would’ve come up eventually.

“What about you? Miss Sunnyvale dating the quarterback?” He knew that it was stereotypical, but he had a feeling it was going to turn out to be true. “Brown hair, blue eyes? Or maybe it’s blonde with the classic sweep bangs?” He chuckled to himself, watching as the expressions on her face changed. “Your mama ever tell ya your face will get stuck like that?” Benji clearly hit a nerve. He rolled his eyes before starting to make his way over to her. “You’re clearly into the alternative rock scene if you think this is handsome,” he said, glancing down at himself.

Heather watched him closely as he explained his relationship struggles, her brain desperately trying to remember anything she'd ever learned about reading body language. It was hard trying to read people like that though especially when her knowledge was fairly limited. Instead, she focused on what he was saying, and it did feel sincere, so she was inclined to believe him.

Her nose scrunched up when he tried to imagine the type of guy that she would date. It was valid in all honesty. Her family would absolutely love it if she dated someone off the football team, but she knew the guys on the team, and they were dogs. Sure, Caleb was one of them and he was different but that was mostly because of Alice Mae. Even then, they still had their issues. "No, that would be my best friend. And me? Yeah... I suppose if Sunnyvale were to have an alt chick, then I would be her."

Heather sighed and her eyes sunk to the ground. "Sunnyvale doesn't like things that fit their mold... they do love cheerleaders. It's fun though and I like dancing so it's like it's all that bad. The boys though? They are pretty shitty." His scuffed-up shoes appeared in her line of sight, stopping a few feet in front of her and she scanned up his body until her eyes met his. Feeling too vulnerable, she wanted to attempt to feel bigger despite him towering over her.

Her hip popped out ever so slightly, her hand rested on it, and her eyes looked him down and up again before locking eyes again. She was tired of playing the part that they expected of her; she'd told herself at the end of summer that this would be the year that she started doing things for herself. Apparently, that now also included a tall, goofy Shadysider. Heather smirked up at him, "This." Her hand motioned over his body. "is hot."

Benji knew he was feeling some way about her, but he couldn't explain it. He wasn't sure why he felt as drawn to Heather Goodwin as he did. Benji had never had feelings this powerful. It was somewhat terrifying for him, and he did not want to say or do anything that might get Heather to turn her nose up at him. Benji didn't want to just get into her pants. He wanted to get to know the girl standing before him.

Heather had mentioned her a few times but never actually elaborated. "Who's your best friend? Was that the one who ditched you at the graveyard the other night?" Benji asked casually. He didn't like the sound of maybe having to double date with a football player soon, though. Benji knew how entitled football players were in Shadyside. He couldn't imagine having to deal with a Sunnyvale football player.

Benji couldn't take his eyes off her. He was hanging on to every last word she said. Almost forgetting how to speak when it was his turn to respond. Get it the fuck together! He kept repeating in his head. Benji watched her every move carefully. "Yeah? Well, I think you're fucking gorgeous," he said in a daze. He had the urge to kiss her, but something inside stopped him. Benji didn't want this to be another one and done. He wanted Heather to know she wouldn't just be his next conquest. Everything his ex-girlfriend said was beginning to make sense.

He felt like a magnet being pulled from the other as he forced himself to step back. Finally, Benji cleared his throat, "I wanna kiss you, but I... uh, I don't want our first kiss to be here," he said, looking around. "You deserve something more spectacular than some dingy high school," Benji added. He wanted to make sure Heather knew she did nothing wrong. She was perfect.

"Alice Mae? She didn't ditch me either. I wasn't ready to leave yet and they were, so I stayed." Heather explained. The tunnels had been scary but she couldn't just leave it at that without investigating more. She might not have been able to debunk what had happened down there but it had lead her to meet so Benji and so far he'd proven himself quite valuable in her investigation, so she was considering it a win.

Heather stared up at him, hoping he would kiss her and feeling slightly rejected when he backed away. That feeling fading quickly once he explained why. Her eyes finally left him and glanced around the dark office as well. He was right; she deserved better than this. Time to see if he really meant it though.

"You know, you're a thousand percent correct. Our first kiss will not occur until after you take me on a proper date," she agreed with a playful wink. Heather had no idea what kind of romantic places he could take her on a date in Shadyside but she certainly could not be seen going around on dates with someone like him in Sunnyvale. It would be another Goode/Goodwin bullying type of situation for her. Despite the clear chemistry that she and Benji had, she had to be smart about things, unless she wanted to become a complete outcast around town.

Heather had let her crush on him get the best of her, she had to remember the power she held from simply being a hot girl. Strolling back over to the student files, she riffled through them but didn't see any names of importance. Not even Mitchie's was in there. "I'm not finding anything in here, you having any luck?" Heather asked finally looking over at him again. She chuckled as he fumbled with the lighter in his hand, nearly dropping it on the floor.

"A date?" Benji was a bit taken aback. He hadn't expected Heather to want to go that far. "You want to go on a date with me?" Benji needed clarification because he didn't want to get his hopes up for something he had only imagined. Going on a date with Heather Goodwin would be a dream.

Heather soon began scrolling through the files again, leaving Benji confused. He started nervously fidgeting with his lighter, trying to think what to say next. Only to fumble the lighter and his brain blank as she announced she hadn't found anything.

"We aren't looking in the right places," he suggested as he picked his lighter up off the floor before pulling out his pack of cigarettes and taking one out. Benji walked back to the principal's desk and took a seat. He lit his cigarette and immediately felt at ease after the first inhale. "We need to look in places that wouldn't be our first go-to," he said between drags.

“Fuck! I need Max!" Benji exclaimed, but he was not ready to explain to her keeper what he was looking for because, honestly, he didn't even know. Heather got him on this wild goose chase, and now he couldn't stop.

Sunnyvale boys were a nuisance as far as Heather was concerned. They wanted in her pants, and she wanted nothing to do with them, but because she was stuck dealing with them on a daily basis, she'd found ways to entertain herself. One of her favorite things was to simply stay silent. For whatever reason it had this habit of making people nervous and she loved watching them squirm. Had this been what Heather intended to do to Benji? No, but it was a hard habit to kick, especially when she was feeling like the vulnerable one. It was easier to leave him to wonder if she actually wanted to date him, than admit again that she did. That and her mind was back to focusing on solving murders, not planning dates.

"Well, then where do you suggest we look?" Heather asked when he suggested they weren't looking in the right places. She watched as he casually lit up a cigarette in the middle of the school, totally not used to this type of behavior. Smoking wasn't a common thing among teens in Sunnyvale, usually only reserved for drunken house parties. "Places that wouldn't be our first go-to..." she repeated with a perplexed look on her face. Sometimes Heather wished that it didn't always have to be so cryptic when it came to the witch mystery, but she knew that would take all the fun out of it if it was too easy to figure out.

Heather started pacing back and forth as she tried to brainstorm places that they wouldn't think to look first. 'The basement? Does the school have a basement? That's probably too obvious. Okay, Heather, think. Classrooms, desks, books, library, lunch, cafeteria, hallways, lockers, locker rooms, gymnasium, weight room, pool, tennis courts... wait. This is Shadyside. I don't know anything about their school. But he does.' Heather finally stopped moving and stared directly at Benji, a smile creeping across her face. "No. We don't need Max. At least not yet. Come on, Benji. I believe in you." She leaned against the desk next to him and looked down at him as she continued, "Where are we going to find something? Where is a good place to hide something? Somewhere that you wouldn't have to worry about just any old rando stumbling on it?"

"Honestly, I don't think we will find anything here." Shadyside may have played into the whole witch and curse thing, but he doubted they'd keep any of that information on hand. They needed to do more research. Mainly to see if either Deena or Samantha still lived in Shadyside. He couldn't imagine they did. He'd want to get as far as away as he could if he experienced what they allegedly did.

"I know you don't want to go back, but I think we should," Benji said, referring to the tunnel she and her friends found. "Whatever is going on, I think we'll find the answers down there," he told her with an apologetic smile. "You don't have to go. I can do it by myself," he offered. He didn't want to make Heather uncomfortable, but he needed to see that tunnel and everything Heather described, even if he went alone.

Suddenly, Beni heard footsteps approaching outside of the door. He quickly got up from the principal's chair, putting out his cigarette before swiftly pulling Heather behind the door as it opened. Unfortunately, he forgot security made occasional rounds. It was only seconds, but enough of her bushing up against him and smelling her scent gave him a slight hard-on. He looked down between them, praying to whatever the fuck was up there that she didn't realize. Once the door closed, Benji signed in relief. He moved from behind her, trying to get away as quickly as possible. He had never experienced anything like that before, and it took him by surprise. "I think that's our cue to go."

Heather pouted, not wanting to admit defeat but deep down she knew that he was right. They weren't going to find anything here. Her eyes widened as he suggested that they return to the tunnels. "I'm sorry, did you sneak some weed into that cigarette or something? Did you forget the part where I said my friend ended up getting really sick from being down there? Like, supernaturally sick. Not that I still fully believe in all that, but I figure it's better not to risk it twice just in case."

Before she had a chance to tell him why she didn't want to let him go alone either, there was a noise and Benji had pulled her behind the door. Doing her best to keep quiet while the security checked the room, it became that much harder once she realized what was happening between them. Heather bit her lip as she tried to pretend that she didn't notice the bulge bumping into her. Smirking to herself, it honestly kind of made her happy knowing that she had that effect on him.

Letting out her own sigh of relief when the door closed and Benji moved away. "I think you're right. Come on." Heather quietly opened the door and peeked out into the hallway. Seeing the flashlight of security to the right, she ushered him to the left and followed him as he led her out of the building.