The Piano || 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘣𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬

|54|

Sam suggested that they would go on, but Sadie immediately denied it. Ashley was pretty sure she hid her gloating well, but Colby still eyed her from the side. She could feel his gaze burning on her, but she managed to ignore it, nodding sympathetically as she watched Sadie hold on to Jerry. She wasn't so courageous after all.

They all decided that it would be enough, and Sadie and Sam went upstairs to get their stuff and store the second camera and equipment safely.

Jerry was scrutinising Colby slightly, scanning his face whenever he looked at Ashley. The redhead noticed it but decided not to say anything, not wanting to make it awkward. Unfortunately, it was already awkward.

"So... ghosts and stuff?" Jerry said, making both of the others turn around in confusion.

"What?" Ashley asked.

"I dunno, man. Just trying to get a conversation started," Jerry shrugged. Ashley grinned. Yeah, this was Jerry the way she knew him.

"Yeah, ghosts and stuff."

"Ghosts and stuff, cool," Colby agreed.

They all looked at each other for a few seconds, agreeing in silence.

"How's your leg holding up?" Colby asked then, nodding over to the cast.

"Oh! Yeah, no, it's doing good. As predicted by the doctors," Jerry replied, shrugging. "The cast's going off in two months or so, then I'll have to do a lot of physiotherapy and stuff... yeah, the usual." He gave the brunet a crooked smile and got a nod in response.

"That's good to hear. Have you heard anything of the Sturniolos lately?"

"Yeah, they're still in LA. Said they had something to do still and wouldn't return to Boston too soon." He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Why are you asking about them?"

"Just curiosity. I wondered if Nick had told you anything."

"Why would he... about what? Do you know..." Jerry said, utterly confused. Until he seemed to realise what Colby was hinting at. "Wait, you guys still have one more day, right?"

Colby grinned. "Yeah. We're leaving in two days in the morning."

"Wait," said Ashley. "I haven't been told anything. You mean they're tomorrow's guests?"

He shrugged and before she could dig deeper, Sam and Sadie stepped outside with the single bag the two siblings had brought with them. The blond set up a camera on one of the stone pillars – the same spot as always.

"So, Sadie and Jerry... You guys had a pretty intense beginning. Especially you, Sadie," he said, looking at the Afro-American girl. "Was that your first paranormal experience?"

"Yeah," she nodded, twisting her lips into a smile. She had put on her jacket and pulled the sleeves down until they covered her hands, tucking them in her armpits.

"You were a non-believer before this, right? What do you think now?"

"Well, that sure as hell wasn't a shadow or human, and I don't know what else it could've been...." She trailed off. "Seven. Seven out of ten."

"Whoa, seven? Actually?"

"Yeah," she said again, shrugging a little timidly. "I don't know, it wasn't just the figure. I've felt a little off all evening long..."

"Yeah, we noticed," Colby said. "Do you feel better now?"

"A bit. I seriously can't wait to get away," Sadie replied, chuckling and shaking her head slightly. She was still hugging her chest, obviously not entirely comfortable. Ashley didn't totally buy the small-and-shy attitude, but it would look good for the video, so it wasn't her place to judge.

"What about you, Jerry?" Sam asked, turning to the guy.

"Oh. Ten outta ten, always," he immediately answered, nodding enthusiastically. "Never doubted it."

"Oh, alright," Sam laughed. "That's all?"

"Yeah, man, I've got no more to tell."

"It was great to have you guys," Colby said, offering a handshake to Sadie and patting Jerry's shoulder since his hands were still occupied by the crutches. Sam did the same while Ashley hugged the two.

The camera was taken from the pillar and Sam, Jerry, and Sadie walked over to the car, Sadie helping Jerry into the passenger seat and all of them waving a quick goodbye to Ashley and Colby who were left standing in front of the hotel.

"Okay, I need something sweet," she said and turned around on the spot, not even waiting for the car to disappear on the road down to the town.

Laughing, Colby followed a few steps behind her. "I think I have some chocolate in my bag if you run out," he called out before she could get too far. "Always got a few bars with me in case an investigation takes too much energy."

"Oh god, that's so smart," she groaned. "A stash. I need to copy that idea. Well, I'd probably eat it in a few days... Especially right now. I've been craving chocolate all evening long."

He smiled as they made their way up the stairs, the camera dangling from his left hand. "Chocolate breaks are a valid thing, you know," he chuckled. "We could've got some anytime."

Ashley grimaced. "And let Jerry eat all of mine?" she asked playfully. "Never!"

"Fair enough," he laughed. Then, a little more timidly, he asked, "Did you... did you see the one I gave you?"

"Yes!" she replied, excitement filling her expression. "Milk chocolate and almonds. How did you know it was my favourite?"

"I guessed," he said, grinning.

"Well, you hit bullseye." She winked at him, then turned to look up the stairs, contemplating.

"Let's race?" Colby suggested, and she scoffed.

"In your dreams."

"Come on, this time you'd probably win!"

"Uh, no? I'd be doubling over after five steps because of cramps," Ashley said, shaking her head. "Have fun calling that a race."

Slightly blushing, Colby lowered his gaze. "Oh. Yeah, sorry, I don't know how..."

He obviously didn't know how to finish his sentence, so Ashley mercifully interrupted him with a chuckle, "It's okay. You're doing great."

And so was she, playfully nudging his shoulder. The only thing she hated about being this upbeat was knowing that her entire mood would change and tilt downwards in less than an hour. Maybe it wouldn't. If she got chocolate. With almonds, Colby had got her a chocolate bar with almonds. God, Ashley loved almonds.

"Ash?" Colby asked. "You listening?"

"Nope. What were you saying?"

"Doesn't matter," he chuckled, opening the door to his and Sam's room. He held it open for Ashley, who entered with a giggle.

"What a gentleman," she muttered, walking through the open middle door to her room. As she went to open her bag, she noticed it was open already. The chocolate wasn't inside, it was laying on the floor.

"Huh, that's weird," she muttered.

"What did you say?" Colby called out from the other room, peeking his head through the door.

"It's just weird, I remember putting the chocolate in the bag and closing it – but it's open, and the bar is on the floor." Ashley picked it up, getting a major déjà vu. "For the second time, by the way."

Her eyes locked with Colby's, who had a slight smirk on his face. "Someone doesn't like you getting chocolate from me," he said, grinning.

"Shut up," Ashley scoffed, chucking a pillow at him. He laughed and caught it effortlessly.