Philophobic : Tyler Galpin

2: Petty History

Sunday, October 14th

[victoria's pov]

"So what days can I visit your new house?" Enid asked excitedly through the screen of my phone.

"I'm not really done unpacking yet," I said. "My house has to look perfect before you come over–you know, first impressions matter."

Enid rolled her eyes. "Girl, we've been roommates since day one. I know how OCD you are with your belongings already so what does it matter?"

"Shanks keeps me distracted and busy. Having her around is like having three kids under this roof," I answered.

Shanks was a black cat I've owned since I was nine–mother gave her to me as an early birthday gift (when really, we got into an argument that led to the silent treatment. She couldn't make it to one of my orchestra concerts in a neighboring town.) But yes, Shanks was like my baby with sharp green eyes and a great appetite despite her size.

Enid huffed. "Forget it, I'm coming over next week whether you like it or not. But for now, I want your opinion on something."

"This isn't about Ajax again, is it?" I asked.

"No, of course not," Enid laughed, flicking her hand. "I actually wanted to ask if you think the animal attacks that've been happening would be interesting enough to put on my blog!"

I thought about it for a second. "Was there another attack?"

"Yeah, one was found on the eleventh," Enid said. "I've been keeping up with the cases now that you live closer to downtown. The things that go on there sound more outcast-ey than what goes on here at Nevermore."

"Jeez," I muttered. "Maybe it's the ghost cat of Mr. Filch's."

"Who?"

"Just one of my loony neighbors," I explained. "Who seems more normal than my other one. You know the sheriff's son?"

Enid shook her head, her pink and blue hair blurring across the screen.

"The normie, Tyler, remember him?" I asked.

Enid's eyes lightened a bit. "Oooh... yeah. Not really though."

I groaned. This girl never remembered anything. You could tattoo my phone number on her arm and she'd still forget. Maybe that's why she began blogging in the first place.

"Remember back when we were younger–I'm thinking... when we were eleven," I recalled. "You were sad because you couldn't win the stupid milk bottles and ring toss game. So when I tried, I only got one out of six tries around the bottles. Then when the employee wasn't looking, I snuck under the booth and discovered the circumferences of the rings were smaller than the bottle openings!"

"Right!" Enid exclaimed. "And how they only had three out of a hundred rings that could fit over the milk bottles, I remember now! But what does that have to do with Tyler..."

"Because," I continued. "Tyler was playing the game too, right after he didn't win was when I discovered the scam. I told him about it because for obvious reasons, he's the sheriff's son. And then-"

"-and then he took credit for exposing the booth!" Enid recalled. "Right, I remember that Tyler!"

I rolled my eyes.

"But surely you aren't still upset about that," Enid said with a grin. "It's silly to think about it, now that we're grown."

"Of course I'm not upset about that," I said sourly. "It's not like it matters anymore anyways."

Enid's grin peaked with a smile. "Right, and you sure can't hold a grudge. You know, you can be quite petty for that sometimes."

"Back to what I was saying," I said, waving off her remark. "He's my next door neighbor. He was on the porch of my house two days ago, trying to figure out who had moved in. I guess he doesn't remember me."

"Awh, is that so disheartening?" Enid teased.

"Forget it," I scoffed. "But to answer your question: don't do it."

"Don't do what?"

"Don't write about the animal attacks."

"Why?" Enid asked.

"Because," I began as if it were the most obvious answer ever. "Animal attacks are boring news. I'm sure everyone's going to hear about them from the sheriff. Besides, homicidal neighbors are more interesting to write about."

Enid sighed then her ears perked. "Oh, that reminds me. I almost forgot to tell you: I have a new roommate!"

"How could homicidal neighbors remind you of getting a new roommate?"

With a sigh, Enid answered, "You'll get it once you meet her. She almost killed someone at her previous school. But at least she said she's sorry."

"Probably for not getting the job done," I commented. "Anyway, what's her name?"

"Wednesday Addams."

- - - ✦ - - -

These chapters are shorter than what I usually write.

Your author, riddlefiqs.