Jonathan disappeared from the window, and Jessica’s breath caught short. He had slipped out of sight so quickly, so gracefully, rolling backward like a scuba diver off a boat. A moment later his head and shoulders reappeared.

He extended his hand through the window. “Come on. Let me unscare you.”

Jessica hesitated. She looked at the row of thirteen thumbtacks that Dess had told her to line up under the window. As Jessica had stuck them into the window frames and door of her bedroom, she’d felt incredibly stupid. Thumbtacks were supposed to protect her from the forces of evil?

But the kind of object didn’t matter, Dess had explained, only the number.

Jonathan saw where she was looking. “Let me guess. You’re protected by the mighty power of paper clips?”

“Uh, no. Mighty power of thumbtacks, actually.” Jessica felt herself starting to blush and hoped it wouldn’t show in the blue light.

Jonathan nodded. “Dess does know some pretty cool stuff. But I know a few tricks too. You’ll be safe with me, I promise.”

He was smiling again. Jessica decided that she liked Jonathan’s smile.

And she realized that he was totally unafraid. She considered his offer. He had lived here in Bixby for more than two years and had managed to survive, even to enjoy himself. Surely he must understand midnight as well as Rex or Dess.

And before he had appeared, she’d been afraid just sitting here in her room. Now she felt secure. She was probably safer with an experienced midnighter—or whatever he called himself—than on her own.

Jessica telescoped Jurisprudence down to its shortest length, put it into her pocket, then pulled on her sneakers.

“Okay, unscare me.”

She put one foot up on the windowsill and reached for Jonathan’s hand.

As his palm pressed against hers, Jessica’s breath caught short. She felt suddenly light-headed…light-bodied, as if her whole bedroom had turned into an elevator and headed for the basement.

“What—,” she started.

Jonathan didn’t answer, just pulled Jessica gently out the window. She floated up and out easily, as if she were full of helium. Her feet landed softly, bouncing a little before settling softly onto the ground.

“What’s going on?” she finished.

“Midnight gravity,” Jonathan said.

“Uh, this is new,” she said. “How come I never—”

Jonathan let go of her hand, and weight returned. Her sneakers pushed into the soft dirt.

Jessica reached for Jonathan’s hand again. When she took it, the buoyant feeling returned.

“You’re making this happen?” she said.

Jonathan nodded. “Rex does lore. Dess does numbers. Melissa does…her stuff.” He faced the house across the street. “And I do this.”