Chapter 1

I was on my home when suddenly the relization hit me. I was on my way home. My..haunted..home. I mean the house scares the crap out of me but ...I didn't have to go home right away. I decided to walk to my best friend's house. Taylor Hottpepers. His last name spoke of his appearance. He was hot.I think hot is to cruel  a word to call him. We met when we were kids in pre-school. Been best buds ever since. As I neared the house I stopped. There was a black shadow in each window. With that to scare the color out of my hair I ran across the street and didn't look back at the house. I walked up the steps of Taylor's house and knocked on the door. A minute later Taylor's mom opened the door.

"Oh Carly how are you?'

"Hey Mrs.H. I'm fine." Then we embraced in a small hug. She let me go so I could come inside the house.

"Taylor here?"

"Yea he's in his room."

"Well it was nice to see you again."

I walked up the steps to the second floor. The steps were carpeted with a deep crimson and flowered pattern along the edges of it. The rail was wooden with brass poles. A chandelier hung just above the top of the staircase. At the top of the stairs I looked down both halls. Taylor's room was the very last room to the left. On his door was a "Stay Out" sticker. I walked down the hall and opened his door. He looked up from the computer where he sat typing. Then he smiled. My heart throbbed. I closed his door, dropped my bag on the floor and plopped down on his bed.

"So, why weren't you at school?" He turned around in his chair and looked at me.

Now I could see that he had on black basket ball shorts with a red stripe going down the side and white socks. He didn't have on a shirt. He had a body of a god. Pure muscle. His forearms were packed with muscles I wanted to squeeze. Thinking back to when we first met, I don't recall the things that changed over the years. His physicality improved. He was just a small little boy helping me up when I fell off the swing. You know when you have a best friend theres always one who falls for the other, well in my case I'm falling for Taylor and still was. That small little boy who helped me morphed into the football team captain with rock hard abs.

"Wasn't feelinf well this morning."

"Well how do you feel now?"

"Pretty good." He smiled.

I lay back on his bed and hooked my fingers together and rested them on my stomache.

"So what's up?"

"Nothing, didn't want to go home."

"You never do." I looked at him and stuck my tounge out. He didn't know about the house. No one does. He got up from the computer and joined me on his bed. He sat above my head.

"You know I hate that house. It's so big and creepy. And besides I hear...."I stopped. I didn't want him to know let alone think I was crazy.

"Hear what?"

"Nothing.'

"What? Tell me."He lay beside me with his head propped up on his hand.

"Your not gonna think I'm crazy?''

"No."

"I...um..my house is haunted." I watched his face for any sign of any reaction that he never showed.

"What do you mean haunted? Like you hear things or see things.''

"Yea."

"That's ridiculous it can't be h..''I cut him off. I jumped off his bed.

With my hand on the door knob I said, "See you do think I'm crazy."

"No I don't."

I softened my voice to barely a whisper. "You believe me?"

''Of course I believe you."

Punching him in the shoulder I said, "No you don't. You think I'm crazy." I couldn't help but laugh. I did sound crazy after all.

''I never said anything like that." Then he pushed me. Stumbling back I hit him again. He poked me in the ribs then pushed me again. But only this time I was falling. He stuck out one of his arms for me to grab onto,by the time I grabbed his arm it was to late and he fell on top of me. We fell on his over sized beanbag. I don't know how long we sat there looking at each other but I'm glad he spoke before I did. I didn't trust myself at the moment, I might blurt something out like,"I'm in love wit you.''

Inches from my mouth he said, "You loose." Then he laughed.

"You think I'm crazy?"

"No." I let out a deep breath.

"Get off me." I said in a husky voice. He rolled off me, got up and proceeded to helped me up.

For hours we talked. Nothing big but nothing small either. As night fell it was time for me to home.

I rose off the bed. "Well, I have to go home."And I dreaded it. 

"Want me to walk you home?"

I smiled. "Sure can."

We walked downstairs and out the door. I lagged at the steps. I took a deep breathe. 

"What?" Taylor asked.

"Nothing?" I told him and resumed walking beside him.

We crossed the street and walked up the path to my house. Tonight it seem like the house loomed over me and me only. 

"Well, goodnight I'll see you in the morning."

He turned away and left. Leaving me alone.