What a bummer this place is. When I was a kid, this used to be the fanciest spot around, filled with rows of overly-large houses on overly-small plots of land. The lawns were always green and fancy black sedans lined all the driveways.

That was before the ghouls took over.

Like all conquerors, the ghouls decided they deserved the best real estate. The same houses I remember slide by my window again, only now they’re filled with the undead. The lawns have been turned into open earth, the better for worm farming. Every window has been boarded up; each fancy sedan sits rusting in its driveway.

All the houses, that is, except the Ryder mansion. It slides into view, a white citadel of quasi-ness sitting atop a lush green hill. It’s a little patch of the old republic that survived, lovely and alive. We park Betsy and march up to the mansion’s front door. Cissy presses the bell, her face positively beaming. “We’re on!”

I suppress the urge to grab her hand and run for it.

Seconds later, the door swings open to reveal Zeke, who looks extra smarmy with his slick-backed hair, black tuxedo, and red plaid vest. His eyes me slowly from head to toe before saying: “Helloooo, Elmo!”

“Ha, ha, very funny.” I step inside. “And it’s orange, not red.”

Zeke rubs his chiseled chin. “Yes, Elmo’s not the right Muppet for you. Beaker maybe? Ernie?”

Cissy steps directly in front of me. “Hi, Zeke! Wanna dance?” She hitches one leg out to show the high slit in her dress. Damn, that girl looks like a million dollars.

I cross my fingers behind my back. Please, please, please let him notice her. Just once.

Zeke’s caramel eyes twinkle with a reddish glow. “I’d love to, uh…” He snaps his fingers. “It’s on the tip of my tongue.”

“Cissy.” She steps closer to Zeke. “My name’s Cissy.”

“Wow. Are you new in school?”

“No, we’ve been in the same class since Kindergarten. You broke my nose playing dodge ball in third grade, remember?”

“Oh, yeah.” Zeke nods slowly. “Sorry about that.” He brushes one finger down the bridge of her nose. “You look fine now, though.”

Cissy’s face turns about eight shades of red. “Thanks.”

I pull down my fist and whisper ‘yeah!’ Neither of them notice, which shows how far gone they both are. Finally.

“Follow me.” Zeke grabs Cissy’s hand and they disappear into the crowd.

I watch them go, wondering what it’s like to feel all blushy for a guy. I suppose that’s step one, while step two is actually kissing. Not that I know anything about either.

Ah, well. Back to the party.