The House Down The Street

Professor

My grandmother and I were always close. I used to be at her house almost everyday because my mother worked long shifts.

I was only seven... The day of the incident... I should've known it was coming. A couple days before the incident something similar happened. I should've known... I should've done something... I've lived with ptsd ever since.

As I enter Mr. Barlowe's class in criminology, I see my friend Tara and take a seat next to her.

Mr. Barlowe and I are pretty close. He was best friends with my grandmother and would come by the house a lot. My grandmother told him everything... I don't think my grandfather liked him very much.

Now that I think of it the blow out with my mother really did remind me of how similar my grandmother's incident was to my connection with the house.

I've never brought up the incident with Barlowe as it was a sensitive subject. However, I think now is time I do something about it.

After class I went up to Adimin and made small talk before I got to the real subject.

"Adimin, do you mind if I ask you some questions about the day of my grandmother's incident?"

He went silent and hesitated to answer my question. However, his expression changed as he said yes.

"Did my grams tell you anything about the house she was obsessed with?" I question.

"Your grandmother was a very curious young lady. She went great lengths to find out the truth about this house. I just think she was crazy nothing serious. You should get to your next class now it's getting late."

He then ended the conversation giving me nothing to work with at all. Something was off about him. There is something he's not telling me. A lot of things he's not telling me actually.

I almost gave up trying to find out more about the house but there is something in me that wants to keep trying. All I could think about was Vincent, and how I desperately I needed to see his face.

I then see my friend Tara waiting for me by the library.

Tara's POV

As I exit the class I noticed Hazel talking to Professor Barlowe. I decided to wait for her by the library opposite the classroom. My next lecture is in 20 minutes I should have time.

As I see her exit Barlowe's class I noticed something is wrong. She didn't look like herself. It seemed like something was bothering her.

"Haze, is something wrong? Are you okay?" She said she was fine but I have known her long enough to know that she is not fine.

"Haze don't lie to me I know something is up. Wanna hang out at your place after classes?" I asked. She agreed. I then gave her a comforting smile.

Hazel's POV

As I left my last class I then meet up with Tara and headed to my apartment. She then suggests we change into something more comfortable. She got us matching pajamas to wear while we talk.

She noticed I still had a gloomy look on my face. She offered to call Vincent for more comfort since I've known him the longest. I said it's okay and she doesn't have to but she insisted. I agreed and in five minutes Vin was knocking on the door.

As Vin sat on the bed I asked them a vague question. "Have you guys seen that house down the street? Tara on our way here we passed it. I just didn't say anything."

She looked at me with concern before saying "No Haze, I didn't see a house like that. Maybe you were-"

"Imagining it?! Cause that's what I thought too but no Tara! I'm not imagining it, I know what I saw and I won't let ANYONE tell me I'm crazy!?"

I suddenly felt tears surround my eyes as Vincent held me in his arms while I balled out of frustration. Vincent then looked at Tara with the "wtf Tara" look in his eyes. She then mouthed the word sorry.

"I'm sorry Haze, I never meant to invalidate your story but-" She then held her tongue and realized she was about to do the same thing again. "B-but maybe we should get ice cream!" She tried to redirect her sentence.

"No that's okay Tara, I'm not in the mood for ice cream I have a weak stomach right now" I said trying to stop my tears.

The room fell silent. Tara then decided to lighten the mood by asking if I have a partner. Why is everyone so worried about my love life I again thought in frustration.

Personally I am not looking for a boyfriend. I am more focused on my career and success to worry about my love life. I have decided to let love find me instead. Yet, there is someone...

Vincent and I then glance at each other and lock eye contact. I stared into his emerald green eyes. If I didn't pull away I would've drowned in those damn eyes. We then broke the silence both saying no.

Tara then noticed the tension in the room as we all fell silent once again. She looked back and forth between Vincent and I and realized the tension was not involved with her but between us. She then smirked.

Tara then announced that she was going to go pick up pizza for us. Vincent and I both suggested that she could order it instead. She then insisted that she picked it up and then left.

Thats when I realized Tara planned for Vincent and I to be left alone. In my apartment. On my bed. Alone. Did I mention that we were alone?

I then look at Vincent. He started chuckling. His chuckling turned into laughter. Then his laughter turned into hysterical, uncontrollable, guffawing.

I then started giggling as well from his laughter until we were both laughing hysterically on my bed. We had to hold our stomachs as they started hurting.

I laid in his arms as we started talking about random casualties in our lives. I then started thinking about the house again. Vincent noticed this and asked me to tell him what's on my mind.

"It's the house Vin" I then felt tears in my eyes again. "Don't you think I've cried enough today? I don't know what to do and no one will tell me anything, even my best friend thinks I'm crazy!"

"Haze, Tara doesn't think you're crazy she's just looking out for you." He says as I turn around crying my eyes out on his chest. "You don't understand Vin. I want answers Vin. I need answers."

I cried until there were no more tears left in my eyes. I then dozed off in his arms.

Tara's POV

As I get back to Hazel's apartment I see her and Vin both asleep as Haze is in his arms.

I then smiled knowing my plan worked one way or another. I placed the pizza on the table. I then sat on the chair and ate all the pizza.