Chapter 1

Nicole POV

I slowly walked into the dark house. The silence was thick and it seemed like no one was around. I squinted into the dark to try to make out the shapes of the furniture but it was no use. The room was pitch black.

“Guys?” I called out, but there was no answer. “C’mon guys this isn’t funny. You know how much I hate this pop up stuff.” I waited for them to come out but none of them did. I groaned and started to look for the light switch. A cough coming from the other side of the room made me jump.

“Jimmy? Sarah? Hello?” I cried. “I hate you guys just come out already.” I finally found the light switch and flicked it on. The brightness blinded me for a moment and when I was finally able to see I saw that the room was empty.

“Hello?” I walked around the big living room looking behind the couch and all of the chairs. “Guys just come out all ready!” I shouted. THUMP! My head immediately whipped around towards the stairs. The sound came from the second or third floor. I stood still for a moment, debating on whether I should go upstairs trying to find my “friends” or just raid the fridge. I sighed and slumped up the stairs. I stood in the long white hallway and waited for them to pop up and scare the crap out of me.

“Guys stop being a pain in the ass and just scare me already.” My echo rang off the light white walls and it was still silent. I sighed again and started walking down the hallway. I peeked in each room but still no one was there. I started getting frustrated when I heard another thump come from upstairs on the third floor. The attic.

I looked up the stairs and into the penetrating dark. “Tyler? Is that you up there?” I carefully walked up the creaky stairs and stopped every time I made a sound. When I finally got to the top I stopped and stared at the huge wooden door separating me from who ever was on the other side. My heart beat pounded in my ears and my hands were shaking. I hated being scared like this. My friends all made fun of me because I was so scared. I can’t stand scary movies and every Friday they made me watch them.

I gulped and reached out and grabbed the door handle. I twisted it but it was locked. Relief swept over me and I was able to breathe again. I heard the front door open and people entered the house. I heard laughter and they were talking about some girl at Wegmans who was wearing a very tight blue shirt.

“Why’s the light on?” Sarah’s voice rang through out the house.

“I don’t know, but that’s Nicole’s jacket.” Jimmy stated.

“How did she get in? I locked the door before we left?” Tyler stated. My heart raced. They weren’t here? Then who… I looked back at the door and my eyes grew wide. Oh god, I quickly ran down the stairs into the hallway and right into someone. I fell down and landed on my butt hard. I tried to breathe but I was shaking too hard and my heart was racing too fast. Two hands grabbed my arms and pulled me up. Jimmy’s beautiful face came into view and he stared at me with confusion.

“Nicole what’s wrong?” I looked back at the hallway and my shaking slowed a bit. I shook my head and tried to form a sentence.

“Nicole’s up there?” I heard Sarah call up.

“Yeah, she’s pretty shaken up. I’m not sure what got her so scared.”

“Probably her own shadow.” Tyler snorted.

“Shut up Tyler!” I slid into Jimmy’s arms and worked on slowing my heart beat.

“So what happened that got you so scared?” Sarah asked. It was a few minutes after my episode and I wasn’t in hysterics. We were sitting in Tyler’s living room staring at a blank TV. I was sitting on Jimmy’s lap while he stroked my hair. Sarah was in Tyler’s arms and the others all sat on the couch. There were seven of us. We all grew up together and became close friends. There was Tyler who was the inconsiderate idiot of the group. Every strand of his hair spiked and he had about three piercing in each ear. He had a lip ring and his right eyebrow pierced. He was dating my closet friend Sarah.

Sarah was the pretty one of the group. She had long blonde hair and crystal clear blue eyes. She had a heart shaped face and was naturally skin and tan.

Then there’s quiet Caitlyn who barely ever speaks. Her jet black hair always slides in her face and hides her murky brown eyes. She was always quiet and never spoke up for herself. So the rest of us always stood up for her.

And every group of friends needs a gay guy in my opinion and for us that was Kevin. He had light brown hair and a chubby baby face with light blue eyes. He had the best style out of all of us and is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.

And then there’s the rude, obnoxious, and mean Todd. I had no idea why we were friends with this jerk. But we just were. He was tall and lean, and cursed in every sentence. He had shaggy brown hair that was always in his brown eyes and he has a tattoo wrapped around his left upper arm.

And last, but not least, is Jimmy. The love of my life. He was beautifully tall and muscular with blonde hair and green eyes. He had a few freckles on his nose and was the most athletic person here. Why he chose me and not Sarah, I don’t know. I had dark brown hair and wasn’t the least bit pretty in my opinion. I think I have a big nose and flat brown eyes. Very boring, if you ask me.

“Nicole?” Sarah asked me again. I snapped out of my daze and looked at her.

“What?”

“What happened?”

“Oh,” I said. I stared down at my hands and searched my brain for a reasonable and sane explanation of what happened. I sighed, I didn’t have one. “I’m not sure. I just got scared.”

“Well that’s no surprise.” Tyler snorted and Sarah smacked him on the back of the head.

“Shit I’m out of cigarettes. Anyone have one?” Todd asked.

“You’re the only one who smokes Todd.” Jimmy said.

“You’re point?” Todd snapped.

“Never mind.” Jimmy said putting his hands up.

“You okay honey?” Kevin asked Caitlyn. She nodded and Kevin reached out to her face and she flinched. I wasn’t surprised. The reason she was so scared and quiet was because her father abused her when she was younger. Her father died two years ago in a car crash and she moved here and that’s when we met her. Kevin sighed and started playing with the hole in his jeans.

“Well something must have made you terrified like that.” Sarah asked, her voice thick with worry.

“It was nothing. I heard a noise that’s all.”

“What kind of noise.” Jimmy asked. His finger twirled around a strand of my brown hair and his other hand rested on my leg.

“A cough.”

“A cough?” Sarah asked.

“Yes, a cough.” Tyler laughed and Sarah, Jimmy, Kevin and I glared at him.

“I find that very unlikely.” Tyler laughed again.

“How is that so unlikely?” Kevin asked.

“Because she was here alone. You were probably just imagining it.”

“Uh huh,” I said glaring at him.

“I believe you Nicole.” Kevin said.

“Same.” Sarah spoke up.

“Me too.” Jimmy smiled and Caitlyn nodded along.

“I think you all are fucked up.” Todd snorted.

“Watch your language.” Kevin snapped.

“What’d you say homo?”

“Shut up Todd!” Sarah shouted. Kevin glared at him and Caitlyn reached over and took his hand. If Kevin wasn’t gay I’d think that he and Caitlyn would be the perfect couple.

“Why don’t you just leave?” Sarah asked Todd.

“Why don’t you bitch?”

“Hey! Don’t talk to her like that.” Tyler shouted.

“I can talk to her any way I want.”

“All of you shut up!” I shouted.

“God, you guys are annoying.”

“You’re one to talk.” Todd crossed his arms in front of his chest and smiled at me. I glared at him and Jimmy’s arms locked around me. Todd liked me and every one knew it. He just showed it funny.

“Can’t you guys go five minutes without fighting?” Jimmy asked.

“When hell freezes over.” I mumbled. Jimmy smiled and Sarah laughed.

“So what are we doing tonight?” Tyler was whispering something in her making her smile. I grimaced and turned towards Kevin and Caitlyn.

“What do you guys wanna do?” Caitlyn shrugged and Kevin thought for a moment.

“Oh! I have something! There’s a house down by Kelly Sherwield’s neighborhood that’s supposed to be haunted.”

“I heard about that place.” Tyler said. The conversation of something being haunted had caught his immediate attention.

“I think we should go check this place out.” Kevin smiled wickedly and Caitlyn nodded.

“No! I don’t want to go to some ugly, spider webby, creepy house.” Sarah shook her head.

“Wimp.” Todd whispered. Sarah glared at him and I rolled my eyes.

“I agree with Sarah.”

“Of course you do.” Tyler smiled teasingly at me.

“Don’t worry.” Jimmy said. “I’ll protect you from the big bad ghosts.” He smiled and kissed me on the cheek. His arms tightened and I rested my head on his shoulder.

“Do we have to?” Sarah frowned.

“Please!?” Kevin got down on his knees to beg.

“Fine.” She groaned and Tyler smiled.

“How bout you?” Kevin pouted at me.

“That won’t work, and you know it.” I snapped. I crossed my arms and looked away stubbornly. I had enough scary stuff for one night.

“Oh come on! It’ll be fun.” I snorted.

“Uh huh, for you.” Jimmy softly kissed me on the hollow spot under my ear.

“Come on Nicole. I’ll leave with you if you get scared. Let’s just check out.” His breathe sent the hairs on the back of my neck up and goose bumps rose on my arms and neck. I groaned.

“Fine.” I mumbled.

“Yes!” Kevin smiled.

“But if I die because of some freakish ghosts I’m bringing all of you down with me.” They all laughed and I laughed along with them, but mostly to try and relax. Going to a haunted house was definitely on my list of things not to do before I die.