Ghostly Plea

Ashlyn

Whintle Jobs' basement is anything but normal. It's a huge room with a pool table, ping pong table, arcade, flat screen TV, ice cream machine, and (even though they already have a TV), a movie theater. It is the definition of a friend hangout. And for all nine of us, it was perfect.

"Whintle! Stop texting your girlfriend, we're supposed to be planning spring break, this was your idea after all!" Charlie shouts. She walks over to Whintle and snatches his phone.

"Chill! I was almost done, give it back!" Whintle chases after Charlie and grabs his phone back. He taps a few buttons and turns his phone off. "See, all done. Ready to plan the best spring break ever!"

Whintle and Charlie are known for teasing each other in this group. But mostly Charlie knows Audrey has a huge crush on Whintle and hates it when he's too occupied with his girlfriend, Dorothy Shrub. I don't blame Audrey. Whintle's tall, has the effortlessly blond messy hair, honey eyes, and is extremely rich. Who wouldn't love him? While Dorothy is nice and all, Audrey looks like a model, has wavy hair, and legs for days. The two would make the perfect couple. But Whintle would never do that to Arthur, because Arthur has a huge crush on Audrey.

Let me just make this easier for everyone by telling you who is who, and who likes who. Arthur is the nerd of the group, to tell you the least. He loves comics, or as he calls them "graphic novels." He rarely goes outside, so naturally he's very pale. And he is majorly in love with Audrey Skyline.

Then there's Riley Cohen. Where Arthur is the nerd, Riley is the jock. She loves sports and she is very competitive. When she's off the field or not trying to beat us in any game she becomes quiet and reserved. She's the kind of person you can tell anything to.

Then comes Charlie White, and Riley's best friend. She's our confident, blunt friend. Her and Riley couldn't be more different. Where Riley has long caramel locks, Charlie has short blond hair with purple streaks. Riley's quiet, and Charlie can talk an ear off. She stops at nothing until she gets what she wants and who she has had her eye on lately is Finn Jones.

Finn is the definition of a playboy, dirty blond hair that curls at the sides, a muscled physique, and blue eyes you could get lost in. He's known for one-night stands, and smooth-talking girls' panties off. But something's been off with him lately, and I'm pretty sure I know the reason. Isabella Ramsey, or as we call her, Bella.

If you're a playboy prince you've gotta have your princess, right? But Bella is more of a disney princess. Full of kindness and beauty, people flock to her purity. So you can see why Finn is having trouble catching one damsel in distress. Even though Bella is boyfriendless she has the company of her friends to keep her occupied; Poppy Fritz, and me, Ashlyn Staco. All three of us are a no-go on the man department, which is ironic because we are huge romantics.

Poppy comes from a big time Christian family though, so that could be the reason she doesn't have a boyfriend, crazy parents make it hard to date. Poppy looks like a Polynesian queen. A natural olive complexion, long chocolate hair, and beautiful bronze eyes. She's also innocent. When she was first adopted into our group of friends, Finn took his chance at flirting and getting into her pants. What he did get was about a dozen blushes and glances my way for help. She still gets flustered when talking to Finn.

"Everyone gathers around! It's time to start planning!" I shout. "Finn stops teasing Poppy, she's turning red," I roll my eyes and throw popcorn at him. Poppy smiles at me appreciatively.

"Oh Ash, anything for you, beautiful." He gives me a million-watt smile, and winks. I shake my head and laugh. Always the flirt.

I sit down on the large sectional with Bella to my right. She takes a paper from the pile of hotels to stay in at Florida.

"Everyone pick one and see what hotel is the best quality for the cheapest price." Everyone takes a paper but Whintle.

"I already told you guys; we can use my money and pay for a better hotel." Whintle says, shaking his head.

"We all took a vote and said no, we don't want you spending your parents' money. We don't want you getting in trouble. That's final."

"But if we have a good time, it's worth it, just think about it-"

"No." We all cut him off before he could finish. "We are not using your money, period."

"Fine," Whintle pulls out his phone and throws it in the middle of all of us. "But hear me out. What if we could stay in a mansion that was cheaper than any of those hotels?"

Charlie starts cracking up. "You-you are hilarious! I never knew you were such a comedian!" She snorts and starts laughing harder.

"But, for real? How are we gonna score a mansion that costs less than these disgusting hotels?" Audrey says pointedly to Whintle.

"They're not that gross," I whine. Audrey looks at me, a "yeah right" expression on her face.

"Fine, the hotels are kinda sketchy, but you all voted to not use Whintle's money, so who's fault is that?"

"We all wanted to use his money, but Bella said we couldn't keep leeching off of him." Charlie says matter-of-factly.

"I did not say it like that Charlie, I just simply said-" Bella started.

"Whatever, you already ruined our chances of vacationing on a yacht." Charlie says as Bella rolls her eyes and continues to look through hotels.

"It's actually a really cool place." Arthur says. "It has a maze, a huge library, a cook and a groundskeeper..." My phone buzzes and I look down to check an email I got.

Charming Victorian

*VACATION RENTAL*

To me >

Dearest recipient,

Are you in the need for an affordable holiday getaway? Well look no further, we have just what you need.

Stay in the luxurious Eleanor Manor.

Here, all your stress will melt away when you take a stroll through the garden, run through the maze, bask in the pleasure of a book in our enormous library, and enjoy a fine dining experience.

Included: Maid/cook, butler/groundskeeper, library, 8 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, dining room, kitchen, and billiard room.

Enjoy a wonderful holiday for merely $100.00 a night.

Hope to see you soon, please save us.

That was strange. That's really all I can say. Please save us? Maybe it's a typo? And why was it worded so old-timey? Other than that, the place looks amazing, can this be what Whintle is talking about? I'm about to say as much when everyone's phone chimes, popping up with the same email I just received.

"Is this the mansion, Whintle?" I ask.

"Uh, yeah. That was a little strange." He rubs the back of his neck in confusion.

"If that wasn't a sign to go then I don't know what is," Finn says, "And if that maid is hot, and wears a slutty uniform, all the more incentive to go!"

"You're truly disgusting Finn, you might even be worse than those hotels." Audrey says in my direction. I roll my eyes.

"You might think I'm disgusting, but all the girls who've seen me in bed would say otherwise..." He smirks and continues, "... if you want me to ever change your mind, you know where to reach me."

"So, mansion it is."

Well, this shall be an interesting trip...

And man, oh man, was I right.