After a quick stop at the convenience store to load up on snacks, they headed over to Alicia's house.

“Hey mom! Hey dad!” called Alicia, as they walked in the front door. No response. “Oh, wait, that's right, they're at that Halloween party.”

As Caitlin shut the door behind them, Lindsey spotted a rib cage shaped candy bowl on the living room coffee table. “Nice. Kit Kats,” she said, snatching a couple of the fun-sized treats.

“Hey!” said Alicia sternly. “Those are for the trick or treaters!”

“Oh, come on. I can have one, can't I?” Lindsey put one back, as a gesture of good faith.

Alicia sighed, then picked up a bite-size Milky Way. “Fine, we can each have one.”

After they made their selections, they went upstairs to Alicia's room. “Ahhh,” exhaled Lindsey, flopping down on Alicia's bed. “Your bed is so comfy.”

Alicia scratched her red head. “Sorry there's not more places to sit... I'll go bring up some couch cushions.”

“Nah, this should be fine,” said Caitlin. Chase was already sitting on her sleeping bag. Caitlin sat down on the carpet cross legged and started unzipping her backpack. Alicia still had her computer chair, but she decided since Chase and Caitlin were taking to the floor it would be better to be at eye level with them. She sat down on the carpet, and with Lindsey on the bed they formed a loose study circle.

Lindsey rolled over onto her stomach, so she could look down at everyone right-way-up. “You still sleep on the floor, Chase?” she asked.

“My mom tried to give her the guest room, but Chase didn't want it,” shrugged Alicia.

Chase nodded at Lindsey. “Back home, just one room. Sleep with ma and pa and rest all in same room. Hard now to sleep by self. Feel good in room with Leash.”

“Aw. That's sweet,” said Lindsey with a smile.

“Still though, Alicia could probably move in a bed or a cot or something...” said Caitlin.

“Sleep on floor back home, too,” explained Chase. “Not used to bed. Bed too squish.”

Lindsey gave her a playful look. “No bed? But what'll you do if...Torey comes over?”

“Oh, that fine. Him can sit in desk chair,” said Chase obliviously.

Caitlin placed her world history textbook on the floor in front of her and opened it up. “So, where should we start?”

It took a moment for the first suggestion to come. “Well, maybe we should figure out what Chase knows first. Then we'll know what we have to teach her!” suggested Alicia.

“That's a good idea,” said Lindsey. “Alright Chase, what do you know about the revolution?”

“The French revolution,” corrected Caitlin.

“What did I say?” asked Lindsey.

“The revolution.”

“Sorry I wasn't specific enough.” asked Lindsey, sarcastically. “There's just so many other revolutions.”

“There are, actually...”

“Name one.”

“Somehow I don't think you're going to be very much help tonight.”

Chase scratched her head. “Not know much. Think Book Miss speak of in class. Speak much of French rev. But brain not want to hear. Try to hear Book Miss but then think of cheer and fight and want some food.”

“Hmm,” said Caitlin. “I bet you remember more than you think, Chase. You looked really interested in some of her lectures.”

“The French revolution was the story where the princess gets her head cut off at the end, remember?” reminded Alicia.

A spark of recognition flared in Chase's eyes. “Oh! Yes! Girl get head cut off! Much like that part!”

“Yes!” said Alicia, feeling they'd made a breakthrough. “That was Marie Antoinette!”

“Mare Twah!” realized Chase. “Mare Twah say “let eat cake!” Them say “No thanks, want eat you more!” Then slice! Off goes head!” It was all coming back to her.

“I really don't think they ate her,” said Lindsey.

Chase looked confused. “Oh? Then why kill?”

Caitlin sighed. “Well...that's explained in the rest of the story. That's good though, Chase. We're off to a start.”

“I'm kind of confused though,” said Alicia. “Miss Robin made it sound like you totally blew the test, but you at least know some of the material. How bad could you have done? Maybe she IS being a little hard on you, given your circumstances.”

“Chase, you still have your test, right?” asked Lindsey.

Chase pulled her backpack over and unzipped it. “Yes! Still have!” She took out her binder, and extracted the test from it. Lindsey took it from her, and Caitlin and Alicia moved to the bed to read over her shoulders.

Question 1. What year did the French Revolution begin?

Answer: Fish talk there cat yell eat want leg who stick. friend push run blue buy if could pig see car when lid pop worst ground kill fruit kiss

Question 2. What country was Marie Antoinette originally from?

Answer: Tall bug right an cheer could try rich hold throw did creep love bear? Take steal up bad shop pry roar skin then dirt orange phone won't! four

The rest of the test went on in much the same manner. “Uh...” said Caitlin slowly.

“Not know what else can do. Write much words, but none are right!” lamented Chase.

“The shotgun approach,” said Lindsey, impressed.

Alicia put her face in her palm for a second, before saying, “Chase, these tests aren't about how many words you know. They're asking a question, and you're supposed to think of the answer and write it down.”

“Oh!” Chase looked at the test and frowned. “But that mean much look at words. Look at words, make think at them.”

“You mean reading?” asked Caitlin.

“Yes! Read,” said Chase.

“I thought you learned to read pretty quickly,” said Alicia, concerned. “Are you still having trouble?”

Chase took the test back from Lindsey, and looked at the first question. “Can do, but hard,” said Chase, looking at the words. “Hard and slow, with lots words on test to read. Bell ring too quick!”

“Hmm, you don't think you have enough time to read and answer all the questions,” translated Lindsey. Chase nodded.

“Well, we have the test right here with us,” Alicia encouraged. “Miss Robin won't change it, she just wants you to take it again. So we'll just go through each question with you now!”

They studied for a while, helping Chase read each question, explaining certain words to her, and finally going over the answers with her. It was very comprehensive. After a while, they started doing flash cards. This had to be executed slightly differently from normal. They would show Chase the question without reading it aloud to her. Chase would then read it and give an answer. If she was correct, she was to write the answer down so they could check it. They were covering all the bases, and after a while Chase showed real improvement.

“Hey, why don't we put on a scary movie?” suggested Caitlin after a while. “I'm sure a lot of different channels are doing Halloween marathons and stuff.”

“Okay!” said Alicia. She got up, powered on her computer, and opened Hulu. One channel was showing the crossover classic Hell Clowns vs. Clowns From Hell, so she put it on. They worked while it played, occasionally glancing over to see what was going on and having a laugh.

“Who ended the revolution by overthrowing the new government?” asked Alicia, reading a question directly off the test. Chase wrote something down on her answer sheet, and Alicia picked it up. “That's right! Napoleon!”

Caitlin peeked at the answer. “She wrote 'Nappurnrn.'”

“Well, yeah, but Miss Robin will give that to her, don't you think?” asked Alicia hopefully. She stood up. “I think I'm going to go get some water, does anyone else want some?”

They placed their orders, and Alicia left. Chase took this to be a break. She sighed and reclined on her sleeping bag, with her hands behind her head. Caitlin took out her phone and started scrolling through some tweets.

Lindsey watched Chase lie there for a moment. “Hey, Chase.”

“Yes, Lin?”

“How far have you and Torey gone?”

Caitlin glanced up at her. “Lindsey...” she scolded. She sounded stern enough to appear adequately reproachful without actually running the risk of reproaching her, since she wanted to know too.

Chase thought about it. “Real, real far!”

Lindsey looked excited. Caitlin turned a little pink and sucked in a breath. “Really?” asked Lindsey. “How far? How far?”

“Us go out to woods when fight big eye girl,” Chase answered. “Much deep out there.”

Caitlin laughed. “No, no, I mean...what kind of things have you done with him?” asked Lindsey patiently. “When you two are alone, I mean.”

“What things?” asked Chase. She blushed. “Like...kiss things?”

“Yeah! Like that!” answered Lindsey eagerly.

“Have done kiss with Tor. Kiss much,” she said. “Tor kiss me and kiss him too.”

“Is he a good kisser?” interjected Caitlin.

He was the only person Chase had ever kissed. “Guess so,” Chase replied.

“What else? I'm sure you made out, right?” grinned Lindsey.

“What that?”

Lindsey considered how to describe it. “It's like kissing but, uh...the next level. You're really close, and there might be some touching...”

Chase thought back to previous times she and Torey kissed, trying to remember if any of them matched those criteria. Slowly, her blush deepened. Finally, sounding a bit breathless, she said, “Yes, made some out.”

“Atta girl,” said Lindsey. She hesitated. Should she ask the final question? She looked at Caitlin.

Caitlin knew what Lindsey was thinking, and she neither said or did anything to stop her. Lindsey asked, “Chase, have you and Torey done...IT?”

“Not know,” said Chase, confused. “What mean?”

“You know,” said Lindsey. “Have you two had...sex?”

“No,” said Chase decisively. After a pause, “Hey, Lin? What sex?”

Lindsey was shocked. “Wait, are you serious, Chase?! You don't know what sex is?!”

“No!” laughed Chase, as if this was some sort of game they were playing. “What sex?”

“Er...” said Lindsey. Caitlin gave her a crooked smile and returned to her phone, without offering Lindsey a lifeline. Lindsey decided she'd made a big mistake. “Ask Alicia.”

On cue, Alicia returned with an armload of bottled waters and sodas. “Alright guys, drinks are serve-” At that moment, the power went out. “Eep!” she cried.

They fumbled around in the dark for a moment. Caitlin turned on the light on her phone, and shone it around the room.

Alicia found her desk, and set the drinks on it. “Jeez, why tonight? Sorry, Chase.”

“Oh, no prob Leash,” said Chase. “Why lights go bad?”

“Maybe it's the Hell Clowns,” whispered Lindsey.

“Shut up,” said Caitlin.

“Or even worse, the Clowns From Hell.” Caitlin must have done something to her, because the next thing she said was, “Ow! Hey.”

“It's just a power outage, Chase,” said Alicia with a smile. “It happens sometimes.”

They decided maybe they could keep studying by candlelight, so they searched around a little to figure out where Alicia's parents kept their candles. After about half an hour they couldn't find anything, so they decided to call it a night.

Caitlin zipped up her coat, then picked up her backpack from Alicia's bedroom floor and slung it onto her shoulders. “Good luck on your test, Chase,” she said, giving her a hug.

“Thanks, Cait. Thanks, Lin. Will pass from your help,” said Chase.

Lindsey hugged her too. “Night, Chase. Watch out for Hell Clowns.”

As the two headed for the door, Alicia said, “Thanks, guys. Careful on your way home.”

The bedroom door closed, and Chase and Alicia were left alone.

“Well, now what?” asked Alicia, shining her light at Chase.

“Lights come back on?”

“I dunno. It could be hours.”

“Not feel like sleep yet. Still too soon,” said Chase.

Alicia nodded. It was only about 9:30. “Hey, I know! My laptop-” She unplugged it from the wall and powered it on. “Yeah, it still has battery power! Want to finish the movie?”

“Sure!”

Alicia's bed was big enough for both her and Chase, so she set up the laptop at the foot of it. The roommates grabbed a blanket and cuddled together beneath.

The movie played, and for a while neither of them said anything beyond a few laughs. A clown was honking his nose and waving goodbye to a screaming man who was being dragged by demonic hands into a pit of fire when Chase said, “Thanks, Leash.”

“Thanks? Oh, for helping you study? My pleasure, Chase.”

“That, and thanks for all things,” said Chase. “Leash do much for me. Lin and Cait do much too, but Leash most. Leash let live here, Leash feed and give clothes and do much nice things for. Leash good friend.”

Alicia smiled, touched. “Thanks, Chase. Those things are my pleasure, too.”

“Love this life much. Love have school and friends and town and cheer. Could not have things if Leash not do for me,” said Chase. “And since that true, there no things would not do for Leash. Would do all for Leash.”

Alicia rested her red head on Chase's shoulder. Cuddling her was kind of like cuddling Kirk. Even though they were about the same size, Chase had the same strong, protective energy about her that made Alicia feel safe. “You're doing enough as it is.”

“Am?”

“Yes. I do these things for you because I like you and I like having you around, Chase. I don't want you to have to go back to the woods or something, you mean too much to me at this point for that. Since you're here with me, you're holding up your end of the deal, as far as I'm concerned.”

That made Chase feel very happy. “Thanks, Leash.”

She turned her attention back to the movie. A hard boiled detective was standing next to a clown car.

“Y'see,” he said, “It's not that they all fit in the car. That would be impossible. The truth is...” He opened the door, revealing an inky black void, “It's actually a portal.”

“To where?” asked a woman, eyeing the void with fear, as dissonant, creepy music swelled.

The detective lit a cigar that was clenched in his teeth. “Where the hell do you think?”

“I'll be okay, right?” asked a panicky looking nerdy guy. “The Clowns From Hell said I was next. I don't wanna die, mister! There's so much I wanna do! I've never even h-had sex!”

The detective nodded. “We just gotta hope the Hell Clowns keep them occupied for a while, m'boy. We just gotta hope. All mankind does.”

This reminded Chase of something. “Hey, Leash?” she asked. “What sex?”

Alicia didn't answer. Chase looked over at her, and saw she was asleep.

….........

Miss Robin graded Chase's test in silence. Chase had stayed after school to take the makeup exam, and now stood by the teacher's desk, twiddling her thumbs nervously while the woman worked her red pen.

One of Chase's essay answers took Miss Robin a long time, but in the end she jotted a check mark next to it. She handed the paper back. There was a bright red C+ on it. “Congratulations, Chase, you passed.”

Chase looked at the test and beamed with pride. “Pass! Did pass!”

“Nice work,” said Miss Robin with a smile. “Alicia and the rest helped you?”

Chase nodded. “Yes! Much help from Leash, Lin and Cait. Could not pass with no them.”

“They sound like good friends,” said Miss Robin. She sighed wistfully. “You guys are a lot different from the cheerleaders I knew in high school. They could be so mean.” She adjusted her glasses, and met Chase's eyes. “Hey, Chase? Could you tell me what they did to help you study? I know you've been struggling, and if they found something that worked for you then I want to do the same thing.”

Chase shrugged. “Just help read words and think what words mean.”

“Oh...so comprehension was the problem? I was worried about that. And once you read the question and understood it, you knew the answer?”

“Yes!” piped Chase. “Much fun, tales book miss tells of war and fight and girl get head cut off. Like come back each day and hear more. Once book miss tell tale, know tale!”

Miss Robin's heart melted. “Aww. Really?” she asked. Suddenly, she got an idea. She turned to her computer and opened up the internet. “What's your email, Chase?”

“E who?” asked Chase.

“Hmm.” Miss Robin clicked around. Chase looked over her shoulder, but had no clue what she was doing. She had observed Alicia fiddling around on her laptop every now and then, but computers were still a technology many centuries beyond her grasp.

After a few minutes, Miss Robin's printer squealed to life and churned out a piece of paper. Miss Robin handed it to Chase. It all looked like gibberish.

“I gifted you a few audiobooks I really like,” said Miss Robin.

“Odd book?” echoed Chase, staring at the paper.

“Yeah. They're like books, except people are reading them to you. You listen to them,” said Miss Robin.

“Oh! Just like class!” understood Chase.

Miss Robin nodded. “Those ones are all about history. I think they'd be perfect for you since you like the subject but are still working on your reading.”

“Wow! That great!” said Chase. She held the piece of paper up to her ear.

“N-no,” said Miss Robin carefully. “That's a code for the gift. Give it to Alicia. She'll know what to do with it.”

Chase beamed and gave her a hug. “Will do now! Thank so much, book miss!” She turned and ran out the door. When the door opened, Miss Robin saw Alicia, Caitlin and Lindsey through it, standing in the hallway and waiting for news. After it swung shut, she heard Chase shout, “Pass! Pass!”