Tales of Gloomsdale #1: The Hidden Attic

Chapter Four

Matt lowered the Nintendo in his hands and gazed out the balcony at the darkened street. The sidewalks glistened in the rain and under the first stars that were beginning to gleam in the night sky. It was the first day of school tomorrow, but he couldn't get to sleep.

He glanced down at the controller. Him and his stepfather had a great time playing together, even if they couldn't agree on how to play. Matt wanted to go fast and win every round, while Mr. Davis wanted to go slowly and take his time. Kind of like how him and his real father used to play...

Matt tried to shake the thought out of his mind, but he couldn't prevent the memories of the rare occasions when his real father had played with him from resurfacing. Even then, he had ordered him around, telling him to follow his lead and play exactly how he told him. Still, he had somewhat enjoyed it, since his father had been actually paying attention to him. He realized that Mr. Davis hadn't been ordering him around. Actually, it had been more Matt doing that to him, but they both played in their own ways.

He put the console aside and took out a tattered old journal, another present from his father that he considered junk. He flipped through the dirty pages filled with his father's tiny, neat handwriting. It was difficult to read, and the parts he could make out were less than pleasant. He had considered throwing it out, or at least ripping out the pages with his father's handwriting, but he kept it around for some reason. He flipped past to the blank pages, not sure why he had brought it along. He wasn't sure he even had anything to write with.

He jumped as he heard footsteps from below, quickly hiding the journal under his pillow. He turned to face Willow. "What are you doing here?"

"I... I couldn't sleep," Willow admitted. "My room is so small and dark. And I keep hearing strange noises."

"That doesn't explain why you're up here," Matt pointed out.

Willow shrugged. "I figured we could trade rooms. Just for one night."

"Are you serious? No way!" Matt protested.

"Come on, Matt," Willow pleaded. "Just for our first night here?"

"It's not my fault you're such a baby that you're scared of the dark," Matt snapped.

"At least let me put some of my things in your room," Willow suggested.

"No way," Matt protested. "I don't want your things here."

"Why not? I'd take some of your things for you," Willow said, looking through the stack of comic books.

Matt marched over and shoved her away. She caught sight of the Nintendo in his hands. "Could you at least let me play with that?"

"No way!" Matt pulled the console out of her reach.

"You let my dad play," Willow pointed out, crossing her arms.

"Because he didn't damage any of them," Matt pointed out.

"When will you let that go?" Willow complained. "I bet you wouldn't care if I got injured, or even if your mom got injured, as long as your precious games were undamaged."

"Get lost," Matt snapped, shoving Willow. She shoved him back against the bed. As the Nintendo fell from his hands, he quickly dove down, but Willow had already picked the console off the floor.

"Give it back!" Matt leapt at Willow, but she dodged out of reach.

"Try to catch me!" Willow taunted, sticking her tongue out at him while keeping the Nintendo above her own head.

Matt narrowed his eyes while chasing her around the room. "Willow, I'm serious! I need that thing. You don't know how important it is to me."

"Oh, I know," Willow griped, rolling her eyes. "More important than anything else, apparently. Your mom is right. You should give that thing a rest."