Brightsider's Secrets

I Need to Workout More

*Two weeks until the Gala*

"Okay, three... two... one... GO!" I jerked the frosty slushy up to my mouth and began chugging it down. Adam and I were in the, once again, empty gas station. At the moment we happened to be seeing who could finish a Super Sized Slurpee Slush first. Sometimes I question why I still work at this godforsaken dump.

My brain began to freeze. Don't give up, don't give in, I told myself in encouragement. I was halfway through the slushy and my head began to go numb. My thoughts became panicked and fuzzy. But despite the pain, my inner competitiveness urged me to continue for the win.

As I gulped down the last of the frozen drink, I slammed the empty cup on the counter and began crying and laughing and doing a victory dance all at the same time. I probably looked utterly ridiculous doing it, but I was in too much pain to care. Adam leaned against the counter and slid to the ground in defeat. I followed his lead and sat down.

"Wow, that was harder than expected. Congrats dude. You have rightfully earned this five dollar bill." I snatched it from his grasp and chuckled. My head was frozen and my vision was blurry, but it was all worth it. I glanced down at my watch.

"Shift's over in three!" I clapped happily and pushed myself up from the ground. I could have sworn I heard Adam mutter 'thank the lord' under his breath.

We began to gather our items and close up the station for the night. Adam and I automatically went into our usual routine. He turned off all the various machines while I went to turn the lights off.

"Hey, Adam, can you lock up tonight?" He looked at me in a lazy annoyance.

"But it's your turn to lock up!" He sounded like a whiny toddler.

"Come on, dude! I told my mom I would help her move some stuff." I smiled at him to hopefully add some extra incentive.

"You know, if you're going to make out with Mandy, you don't have to make up a lame excuse." Adam smirked. I took a deep breathe to try and calm myself. I will not punch him, I will not beat his arse.

"She is like my little sister, and you know it, you insensitive jerkwad. Good day, sir." I gave him a middle finger as I picked up my backpack from the floor and stormed out of the station before he could complain about locking up.

~~~

Unfortunately, the only means of transportation to my mom's house, or my own for that matter, was walking. I was too poor to be able to afford a car, and my apartment building didn't allow bikes, unless you wanted to keep it in your apartment and carry it down 4 flights of stairs every time you wanted to go out.

After about twenty minutes of uneventful walking I had finally arrived at the little house in the ghetto that I grew up in. Really, it could barely be called a house anymore. The windows were cracked and broken, the parts that were wholesome were now fogged and filled with thick cobwebs that seriously concerned me. The gross gray paint was chipping off of every corner, vines crept up the walls consuming the house.

As I walked up the driveway to the front door, a chill ran down my spine. The air suddenly felt... different. As if there were another presence around. I looked around myself, turning around and around again, but there was no one around. In fact, not one person was standing upon the street. Normally at least a couple of old people were out manicuring their lawn or something.

I don't believe in ghosts. They can't exist. This stupid, wretched house. I always hated it here and it sucked to have to come back to it then, especially since my mom didn't even attempt to keep it up anymore since I was no longer living there. Besides, there were never any visitors but me.I attempted to shrug it off, but the strange feeling wouldn't leave.