Ghost Hunting 101

☆Five☆

T/W:

***

"You what?" Avery is recounting her experience with the paranormal society to Everly, who doesn't seem to know what to believe.

"I saw an actual apparition," Avery repeats.

"Honey, I think you need to go lie down and stay there for several days," Everly says, her brow puckered.

"Everly, I'm not making this up! I really saw something! Something I can't logically explain."

"Maybe someone on the crew was playing a prank on you," Everly argues. "What you saw was probably just something one of them set up prior, waiting until you showed up."

Avery thinks about how she'd offered to help set up, yet Nolan had insisted the team had everything under control. Of course. They just set it up earlier. That's why Nolan was so adamant about making sure that Avery was with him.

"You're absolutely right," Avery declares. "They set it up beforehand and Nolan made certain he was with me, because he wanted to see my reaction."

Avery's hands fly up over her face, burying her face against them, eyes squeezed closed. Shit. She'd been the victim of a stupid, phony ghost prank.

"I can't believe I was so stupid!" Everly places a hand on Avery's leg, a sympathetic smile on her face. Avery lowers her hands and shakes her head, sighing.

"Are you going to confront Nolan about this?" Everly asks, removing her hand.

"Not yet," Avery replies. "However, I just might reconsider my promise to Mr. Nolan Wright."

****

Nolan has just finished up reviewing his part of the footage that they'd collected from Manchester Mansion. He was pretty excited about everything they'd caught.

The apparition is obviously the best footage out of everything. Also the knocking noises which Lola and Sid caught as well. He was pleased. He knows that the client will be pleased as well.

Nolan tiredly rubs his eyes, scooting back in his chair, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his thighs, recalling Avery's reaction to seeing the apparition.

Nolan smiles. He'll give her credit for keeping a cool head. Most people would have ran out of there, screaming, heading for the hills, never to look back.

He stands, checking his phone. Damn. It's much later than he realized. It's nearly ten thirty at night. He should have been home hours ago. This was one thing that Nolan hated; not having anyone to come home to at night. Perhaps if he had that, he might be more interested in getting home in the evenings.

Nolan hurries out front and stops in surprise, as he sees Sid still sitting there, watching videos on YouTube and eating a bag of barbecue potato chips.

"I didn't realize you were still around," Nolan says, stuffing his phone in his back pocket and grabbing up his keys.

"I wasn't willing to let you stay here, alone," Sid says, smiling as he turns off the laptop up front and grabs his own car keys.

"You don't have to babysit me, you know," Nolan teases. Sid just shrugs, crumpling up the now empty bag of chips and throwing it away in the trash can.

"No?" Sid gives Nolan a pointed look.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nolan hits the lights and waits for Sid to exit the building before he locks up.

"Admit it," Sid says, crossing his arms over his chest. "You've got the hots for Avery Greer."