House of Ghosts

Three

1972, October 13th

The moving van finally arrived around noon today, but it's taken nearly three hours to move everything into the room. The moving men were nice enough and Mr. Parkins helped plenty as well. I haven't seen the twins again, but Carter did help; of course. One more day and he'll be back to school, though. You would think after three days spent with him I would be used to him by now, but no; I'm ready to not see him. Honestly, if I never saw him again I would be okay with that.

"Casey? Will you pass me the lamp?" I glance at my mother then at the small lamp sticking out of one of the many boxes. Grabbing it, I pass it to her. She sets it on her nightstand and admires it from afar.

"I think it looks great."

"Mhm," She keeps squinting at it, "good enough for now, I guess."

"Are we going up to the school tomorrow?"

"Yes," Mother picks up something else from a box and places it on the nightstand, "I managed to get in contact with the principal and set an appointment for two."

"Okay."

"I know you're worried about making new friends and entering school so late in the year, but it'll be okay." She walks over to me and hugs me into her side.

"I know."

"Besides, that nice kid, Carter, is in your school too. Sure, he's a grade above yours, but I'm sure you'll see him at lunch."

"Great." Just what I wanted to hear.

"Have you finished unpacking your room?"

"Yes."

"Okay, well I should be good here if you want to go hang out with Carter."

"Great." I leave her room and then our apartment. I don't really want to hang out with Carter, but I don't really have anything else to do. Walking down the hallway, I come to the large staircase. If I remember correctly, Carter said he lives on the bottom floor. Making my way down the stairs I hear some shouting. What's going on?

I reach the bottom floor and look around for the cause of the commotion. I spot Carter arguing with a guy a few inches taller than him. He has the same sandy hair, but his build looks stronger. Is that his dad?

"Casey, hey!" Carter calls out when he spots me, the guy in front of him turns around. He looks kind of like Carter just older, and instead of honey eyes his are much darker. Even though he looks older than Carter, he's definitely not old enough to be his dad. There's something about him that's different, too, but I can't quite understand what it is.

"We're not done, Carter," the guy says, "I know what you took from my room."

"Jesse, I swear I didn't take anything." Jesse glares down at Carter and that makes me instantly like him. He gives me another glance before shoving his hands in the pockets of his brown leather jacket and walking back into, what I assume is their room.

"Your brother?" I ask.

"Yeah."

"I like him."

"What?"

"What did you take anyway?" I scoff as Carter walks over to me cautiously, his eyes continuously glancing at the closed apartment door.

"Nothing."

"Yeah, okay."

"Come on." He starts walking away from me.

"Where?"