"Gosh, I dunno," she says. "Do you think we can trust them to get us there safely?"

"If we don't, you can be sure the paper will say we tried our very best."

"We're all perfect gentlemen. Besides, I think all of you can handle yourselves."

"I know for a fact Theron and Barnett can take most guys in a fight."

"Fencing isn't exactly applicable to self-defense, but I think we can handle a walk home."

"I should hope so."

"I think that rounds to a yes!"

Matt and Allison spend most of the walk talking to each other and ignoring their friends.

Stiles tries to guess at which of Allison's friends is more approachable, and concludes that it must be Anna.

"So I don't think I have your name. I'm Stiles Stilinski, the sheriff's son."

"I'm Anna. Stiles, huh? Did your dad seriously give you the same first name as your last name?"

"My first name is Polish, and it was my mom's idea. It's completely unpronounceable, so I go by Stiles. Is Anna a nickname, or did your parents want to give you an easy childhood?"

"It's not the first, so it must be the second, I guess."

"What's your deal, anyway? I think I know Barnett- quiet, fencing- and Allison- bubbly, fencing- but I'm not sure I know your deal. Matt says you work on the school newspaper. Do you guys get to cover anything good? I haven't read it."

"Aw, you want to know about li'l ol' me? I'm the sports writer, so I get to go to all the games."

"Oh, is that fun? I think we're the only school in the country where lacrosse is bigger than football."

"Read my articles and maybe you'll find out."

"I'll do that."

"Hey, Stiles, we should cut through the construction site. I think you and Anna both live down that way, so this'll be a quick shortcut."

"The abandoned construction site where homeless people sleep? Sure, that sounds safe."

"Still a little early for bedtime, Stiles. It'll be fine."

They walk. The construction site has been abandoned than most kids their age remembered. Her mom always warned her not to go there, scaring her with stories about kids just like her getting caught by falling metal beams and flying wooden splinters and all kinds of imagery that scared her when she was kid.

Allison's not a kid anymore. She's surrounded by friends, and she's talking to the guy she kind of likes, and that makes everything seem less scary. She thinks, though, as she sees the light in the sky, that her mom might get a kick out of this.

"Wait, hold on. I think there's something in the sky."

"Like the moon?"

"That's no moon...seriously, Allison, what are you talking about?"

They can all see it soon enough. The light resolves into the shape of a ship. The front end resembles an egg in shape, while a long, narrow portion extends towards the back. Two stubby wings protrude from the sides, and the end of each wing gives off blue light. At the back of the ship is a tail, which curves upward to a sharp point. The ship is descending through the sky, slowing down as it approaches.

"...A spaceship."