ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏɢᴇʏᴍᴀɴ

CHAPTER TWO

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP

I hate alarms, so noisy, so unnecessary. Either way I'm up, got to get in a good run before I open the shop at 09:00am. The date, October 30th 2022. That's right, just one more day until Haddonfield treats this place like it's a Purge movie. I can already see some people across the street that are scared to leave the house. Damn,

Halloween really spooks these people out as you'll come to know. I mean, I do get it, some guy running around in the darkness hunting you down one my one can seem really scary. But it's been four years and no one has seen or heard from him. Although it isn't saying much, considering he haunted this town for forty years. Three just seems to easy.

I've got everything I need, sweat pants, hoodie and my trusting Under Armour trainers, comfortable for running and kicking ass if needed. I might run past Allyson's place this morning, just to see if she is on the porch or something. I'll think of a reason when it goes that far. I've been running for five minutes, I'm coming up onto the old Myers property.

They've done the place up real nice, fresh coats of paint, growing grass on the front lawn, hell they even put in new windows. But I can't help wonder why, why would they go through all this trouble to live in a house where the former resident not only murdered his sister but their mother and daughter?. Is it just in case Michael comes back and it's strictly to piss him off?. Do you hear me?, I'm starting to sound like a local, if Myers comes back. I spend way to much time with these people.

I turn the corner on my run, I'm coming to the bridge that brings us to the centre of town, you know, where we all work. As I'm running I can see a group of people looking up and pointing at the bridge. I slow my pace down, then I'm brought to a halt and not like a peaceful halt, I'm talking like steam coming from my trainers halt. It's a fox, it's a fox hanging from the bridge entrance. That's just disgusting, only one person I can think of sick enough to do anything like this, Curtis.

I turn around and walk home, I suddenly don't feel like continuing the run, maybe it has something to do with the hanging fox, obviously. When I return home I can see my front door partially open, that's strange because I clearly remember closing it shut before I left. I approach the steps, climbing them one at a time. My chest feels heavy, why is my heart beating so fast?, I mean I probably just left it open by accident. I push open the door and enter slowly. I check the house, double check in this case. Nothing, it's empty, nothing taken, nothing broken. I guess I just left it open.

Finally I get to work, I go to open the door but I can already see Daisy inside. I wonder what she is doing here, it's her day off. Daisy is the granddaughter of Sal. He employs her, gives her things to do so she doesn't lose her mind in this small town.

"Hi, I thought today was your day off?" I ask.

"It was, but Sal asked me to come in to cover you for the day. Which is my next question, why are you here?"

I can't think of a good reason why Sal would ask Daisy to cover for me, especially when he knows I don't take days off, not for anything. Maybe he just got mixed up, old age can do that to you sometimes. it can make the mind play tricks.

"Hey Sal, I'm off today?" I ask confused.

"Yes, well no actually. I changed the days of the shifts. Allyson Strode was in here earlier and was asking for you. She said something about a walk, so I needed to get you here. She's coming back in five minutes."

"Right, well that explains a lot. Thanks Sal" I say happily.

I hear the bell ringing at the shop entrance. Rush out of the office and see Allyson standing there, she looks good. Make-up, hair done. Wait, is this a date?, I'm nervous. This is so sudden. Ok, I guess I'm going along with this.

As I'm leaving I look back to see Daisy sweeping the floor. I mouth back thank you. She smiles and waves me away. Allyson and myself walk to the hills of Haddonfield, it's breath taking. You can almost see the entire town. We sit on this blanket she brought in a carrier basket. You know the type, the old wooden ones with the double sided flaps. I've only seen these in movies. The food spread out among us, sparking water, of course she keeps it classy.

"I just wanted to say thank you for last night. For helping me out with Curtis, but mostly for walking me home. My grandmother and I tend to get spooked this time of year" she tells me with her eyes facing downward.

"Honestly, it was no problem. Curtis had it coming anyway."

"That's actually another thing, I don't want you getting the wrong idea, but I um, I'm actually seeing someone" she says softly.

There it is, the punch to my gut. The one that sinks your heart into your stomach. How could I of been so stupid. Of course she is seeing someone and here I am thinking it was a mutual feeling.

"I had a feeling, look no hard feeling."

What an end to a date that wasn't even a date. I've never felt more stupid in my life but then again I can't blame her. I read into the situation completely wrong. One thing I can say is that the walk home is going to be awkward.

Once I reach home it's only 02:00pm. What can I do for the rest of my day?, maybe I'll just lay here and think of what an idiot I am. Seems to be fair since I thought Allyson liked me, when in hindsight she was just being friendly. Does it get any worse then this?, any more embarrassing?, god I hope not. I think I'll just lay here until I can face the world again.

I lay on my couch for a little while, the sun sets upon the town of Haddonfield. It'll soon be October 31st and the town will be safe and snuggled in their homes come tomorrow. Due to Halloween not being a favoured event in this town, most shops and businesses close with the exception of one or two and you guessed it, Sal's will be open. Just myself, Daisy and Sal for thirteen long hours. But hey, worst places to be on Halloween, right?.

Suddenly, I hear a knock at my front door. I see Daisy standing in the door way, she' got take-out and some beers. She joins me on the couch. We eat, laugh and then it gets down to the nitty gritty.

"So your telling me she has a boyfriend?" she asks.

"That is exactly what I'm telling you."

"You know what it's her loss, anyone would be lucky to have you as their boyfriend."

"Oh yeah?, you know someone."

"Maybe" she says.

We look at each other, our gazes meet. I can't pull away. We get closer, our bodies just out of reach. I can feel her warmth, I can see her lips tremble and then just like that, we kiss. This feels right, Daisy feels right. We pull back, I'm smiling, I haven't smiled like this in a long time. Daisy is also smiling, I had no idea she felt this way, hell, I had no idea I felt this way. Maybe it wasn't feelings for Allyson, maybe it was feelings for Daisy. I mean, when Allyson was around, so was Daisy.

We continue to kiss as we move into the bedroom, I pick her up and she wraps her legs around my waist, the kissing continues. I put her down gently onto the bed and ask out of politeness, "Are you sure?" she smiles and nods slowly. Nothing has ever felt this right, ever since I've been in this town, I couldn't find my reason for staying and now I have.