Ghost Hunting 101

☆Twenty Two☆

T/W:

*****

Avery bounds down the stairs at her house, practically flying out the door and getting into her car, racing over to Everly's apartment, her blood boiling the entire time. When she reaches the apartment, she climbs out, rushing forward, her cell gripped tightly in her fist.

"What's up?" Everly asks.

"What is wrong with you?" Avery bursts out, her vision blurring slightly as she pounds up the stairs to Everly's apartment floor.

"Ummm. Is something wrong?" Avery can tell by Everly's tone that she knows she's in serious trouble. Avery reaches the apartment floor, charging down the hallway and pounding on door. Everly takes her time opening it.

Avery pushes inside, rounding on Everly and really letting her have it.

"Why did you think that was a good idea?"

"Can you be more specific?" Everly is nervously fiddling with the zipper on her hoodie, staring at the floor.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about!" Avery shouts.

"It was a harmless joke," Everly defends. Avery stares at her best friend, her arms hanging loosely at her sides, her hands clenched into fists.

"The Paranormal Monthly staff was just here," Avery snaps, struggling not to fly into a rage, and grab her friend, shaking her. "When they see this video, they're going to completely ruin the society."

Everly's eyes go wide and she falls on her couch, sagging down low, chest resting on her legs. Avery knows her friend is about to start crying.

"I'm.. I'm sorry," Everly says so softly that Avery can hardly hear her. "It was just supposed to be for...fun." A strange thought seizes Avery as she glares at her friend.

"Was Lennox aware of this?" Everly doesn't respond immediately and Avery's heart sinks. She can't believe Lennox would do something like this.

"Not...directly," Everly says softly.

"Elaborate."

"I asked him to email me the file for that particular video clip. He did, of course, but..." Everly falters.

"But you decided to go above me and post it on my blog without my knowledge and permission?" Everly nods, looking more and more miserable.

"I don't understand why you two thought it was a good idea to even be messing around like that," Avery snaps. "Especially with so much at stake."

"I..know. It was a really dumb thing to do." Everly looks at Avery. "I'll apologize to Nolan and explain to the paranormal people it was all me and the team had nothing to do with it."

A frustrated huff escapes from Avery's mouth. She knows Everly didn't mean any harm. Yet this small, semi harmless prank could possibly destroy the paranormal society.

Permanently.

Avery grabs Everly's hand, tugging her upright. She starts for the door. Neither says anything as they make their way downstairs and out of the building, heading for Avery's car. They climb inside and Avery heads for the society, desperately hoping for two things.

One, that Nolan and the others are willing to forgive Everly. And hoping that Paranormal Monthly won't hold this against the paranormal society.

***

At first, when Nolan sees Avery and Everly coming, his first reaction is to cuss them both of them out and tell them he never wants to see either one again.