"Hm," he said absently. "Stars are just clouds of cold molecular hydrogen that gravitationally collapse. As the cloud collapses, it breaks into a bunch of pieces that form stars. The material goes into a ball that collapses under its own gravity until it can ignite nuclear fusion at its core. Over time, stars convert some of their hydrogen into helium. Stars start out with 3/4 hydrogen and 1/4 helium, and other stuff."
"…Can I please enjoy a sweet myth without you going all science on my ass?" She asked, laughing. "I wasn't even saying it was true!"
He glanced at her then laughed a bit. "Sorry. Sometimes I don't realize that I do that. I like the myths."
"It's fine." She said, digging her hands into her pockets. "But really, I don't think I've ever seen this many stars out."
He gazed up at the sky, then back at her. "They're reflecting. Your eyes look all shiny." He meant it as a compliment, but it was a bit awkward.
"Oh?" She asked, smiling. "Kinda weird, isn't it? That your eyes actually reflect stuff back? I don't know, I always though it was kinda creepy."
He shrugged, glancing away again. "Yeah, I guess. I mean I thought it looked kinda…pretty?"
She blushed slightly. "Uh… thanks." She mumbled, keeping her eyes locked up.
He looked at her and grinned. "You're blushing again!"
"Oh, shut up!" She said, breaking into laughter again.
He laughed too. They were just outside his house. His mom's car wasn't parked out front, but the door was slightly ajar. His laughter died out. "My door's open," he said.
"Weird…" She said, tilting her head. "Maybe they just didn't close it all the way?" She said, shrugging. "Let's just hope they don't question me sleeping over when sick."
"Maybe," he said, but he wasn't quite convinced. His dad wad a bit paranoid, so he always double checked thr locks. He pushed the door open, stepping inside.
She trailed after him, humming softly. "Kinda weird though."
The house was oddly dark. He peeked around the corner, his eyes squinting in the dark. His parents were standing in the living room, unmoving. "Mom? Dad?"
They turned in unison. They were dripping sweat and…was that blood? "Hello, son!" they said together.
"Gonna pretend that's not creepy." She whispered, hiding behind August. "But what the fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuccccckkkk?"
((Frankie, internally: But we don't have time to unpack all thaaaaaaat!))
August glared at both of them. "Is it okay if Frankie stays over?"
"It is okay if Frankie stays over," his mom said with a smile. "Good?"
He scowled. "Sure, just don't bother us." He grabbed Frankie's hand and dragged her to his room.
She trailed after him. "So, my mom's just sick?" She asked sarcastically once they were out of earshot. "What the hell is happening?"
"Still could be drugs," he mumbled, sounding a bit less convinced.
"They were bleeding! She hissed. "And they barely noticed!"
"Meth?" he guessed weakly. He didn't want to admit it, but he was scared. "I don't know. I need to think." He sat down on his floor, leaning against his bed.
She sat next to him. "Okay." She said, falling silent.
"Maybe something happened at the party," he rambled, his eyes closed. "Their food or water may have been laced. Rape? Maybe. Possible. Dark. Um, and the drugs. Memory loss, psychedelics, behavior changed. Why? But blood. An attack?"
She just listened, miming chord progressions against her thigh.
He opened his eyes, his gaze much more calm. He leaned forward, drawing his knees to his chest. "We can't know anything for sure until tomorrow. If they're still weird, we can take them to a doctor."