Say Cheese

Chapter 1

Schools out! June second was our release date and summer had approached, Me, James, and Ashley went out for a pizza. We totally deserved it, after a long year of continuous studying, it's the least we could do to treat ourselves. "We should rent a summer house for the month." James interrupted my thoughts, but it wasn't a bad idea. We all saved up enough money to do something this summer so it wasn't too much of an issue. "Yeah, let's go for it! I bet it'll be fun." Ashley looked at her phone wandering through her contacts. "Who else should we invite though?" she said, not looking up from her phone. We all sat there for a second, wondering who we should invite. "Charles, definitely Charles." James had no hesitation, I bet he only wants to invite Charles because he likes him. "Alright, so Charles, who else?" Ashley made a list on her phone, putting down the names of who we want to invite. "Nickol-" "Hazel," I said cutting James off. "Hazel is so annoying though, she screams basic." "Just because she likes Iced Coffee doesn't mean she's 'Basic'" I corrected James, he sat there sighing. "Ok bring Hazel then, but I also want Nickolas and Sebastian there." I looked at James. "Sebastian? Really?" "Yes really, if you get to bring someone I don't like, I get to bring someone you don't like." I sighed in defeat. "Is that it?" Me and James nodded at Ashley, who was just finishing up her list.

 With all of that done, it was time for us to go home, it was already 10 pm, we didn't need to make our parents worry. After goodbye hugs we sent on our way, I was excited though. "A summer house" It couldn't go wrong in any way. My parents greeted me at the door, not looking away from their phones. "I wonder if they'd even notice me gone.." I shook my head as I thought to myself and headed up into my room. I looked at a picture with all of us in it.

 "God, why'd he have to invite Sebastian, he's so weird." I jumped up at the voice from my window, it was only Ashley. "Yeah, I know." It's not like I didn't like Sebastian we just never really clicked, something always seemed off about him but I can appreciate his love for photography. He takes really good pictures, like the one with all of us together. It only took him one try, he wasn't in the picture because he was the one taking it, but I'm happy he wasn't in it, he looks creepy. It's not like an ew creepy but, an off-putting creepy, like the killers in anime that everyone fangirls over. I never knew his deal, but it looks like I'll be spending the next month with him, so I'd better get used to it. "So we picked out a two-story house, and guess what." I looked at her up and down. "What?" "It's supposed to be haunted." I couldn't help but laugh. "Haunted? You know ghosts don't exist right?" Ashley looked at me with all seriousness in her eyes. "Yeah they are, you've just never seen them." I shook my head at her. "Ashley you need to go to your therapist again, they're coming back to you." She sighed. "When will I ever convince you ghosts are real?". "When I'm dead." We both laughed. I looked at the reviews for the house which did say they had ghost sightings, but they're crazy. Ashley just really likes the thrill of the idea of ghosts. Or her mental health... probably her mental health.  I kind of worry for her, she seems more unstable every day, I wonder if she's going to therapy like I told her. I hope so, she really needs it, she sees more and more strange things every day. After a while of thinking to myself, I give in. It's a really nice house and even if it is "haunted" it'll be fun to stay there, there's even a private water park nearby. 

Another person comes through my window. "What's up my bitchesss!" Me and Ashley stare at Nickolas who just came through my window. "What? Was it something I said?" Me and Ashley laugh. "I hope you don't mind if I brought friends along." I watch as the rest of our friends except for Sebastian come through. "Ok great now we have a party in my room." Everyone laughs at me, thinking I'm joking. Ashley, Charles, Hazel, James, Nickolas, and Me in one room. We talk through the night, finally, at 1 AM I get everyone to leave and I'm left to my own peace. The night passes by like any other night.

 Except for this time, I wake up to the picture of me and my friends in my hand. "How did..." I blink a few times, no. It's real, totally real... but how did it get in my hand. I look at the window, wide open. "I could've sworn I closed it." I can't help but think to myself. "Is someone in the house..?" I creep downstairs searching every room for some sort of answer I find nothing except for my younger sister Kayla there. "If you wanted to have a secret party you should've been quieter. You're lucky mom and dad are heavy sleepers." I scoff at her smart remark. I go back up to my room going to get changed and find my window now closed. There was totally someone in the house, but I don't know who. My guess would be Nickolas trying to scare me because he thinks I'm afraid of "Ghosts". It's idiotic. As I walk out my door there's another picture, it's blurry, very blurry but I can make out a slight picture, it was from last night with my friends and me in my room. I notice it wasn't through the window, it was in my closet. I automatically rule out Sebastion, Ashley, James, and Hazel. Other than Sebastian, no one there would try to do something like that. I only rule out Sebastian because he wouldn't take a picture like this. 

"Hey, neighbor!" Speak of the devil. I turn around to see Sebastian surprisingly without his camera. He gives me a sinister grin which makes my skin crawl, maybe if he could show his eyes he wouldn't be so creepy. Raven black hair, white teeth, skin pale as the moon. He's kinda like your average goth, but worse. "Hello, Sebastian." He inches closer very awkwardly "I'm happy you said you wanted to invite me, I was wondering when you'd finally warm up to me." My mouth almost dropped right then and there. I play it off cool, knowing damn well I did not want him to come. "Yeah, totally." I start walking away when he starts running after me. "You wanna head to a coffee shop together? It'll be my treat?" I roll my eyes. "Yeah sure, I can't really turn you down now can I?" He smiles again. I can't remember why I dislike Sebastian but I remember it was for something, he puts his arm on my shoulder. Nevermind. I remember now. I push his arm off my shoulder. "You haven't gotten that privilege yet. The rest of the walk is silent.

As we approach the coffee shop a strange man stops us saying I looked thirsty and tried to hand me a drink of some sort. I mean.. I kind of was so without hesitation I took it, as the man smiled at me. I didn't even notice the drink was slapped out of my hand and Sebastian pressing the man's head against the floor. When did that happen? I squat down at the man finally realizing what's going on. I break his nose and we walk away into the coffee shop with him cussing at us. One look from Sebastian is enough to send him running the other way. I guess being with Sebastian has its perks, he's too scary to challenge. He's not scrawny in the least, he's actually pretty broad. We sit down at a table, I think he's just trying to win over my trust to make me join whatever cult he's apart of. It won't work on me, it just won't. I won't let it. I can't let it. Me and Sebastian part ways soon, we both have to pack up. The house we rented wanted us to move in today, it was kind of a surprise, you would've thought they would have wanted to clean up a little, at least they're prepared. 

Word Count: 1447.