"Ouch!" I mumble as I trip over the first step leading to the house we were staying in.
"Ahaha, only you, Jasmine." Chuckles Analee.
I turn, look at her and smile. "Hello to you too, sweetheart." I say. "How are you? It's been what, six years?"
"Just about. I'm okay, how about you?"
"As you can see, I'm doing great." I say sarcastically.
"You know what I mean, Jasmine."
"Ahaha, yeah. You're right."
"Really, how are you?"
We both sit down across from each other. I look at her as her eyes meet mine. The color is just as gorgeous as it was in high school.
"I'm- I'm okay too."
"What's new?" She questions again.
"You never stopped asking questions did you?" I ask teasingly.
" 'fraid not, my dear. Now tell me."
"My dear? When'd you start saying that?" I ask
"... Just now, wanted to see how it sounded. Not too well, Analee."
We both laugh.
"I'm waiting." She says impatiently.
"Well, if you must know, I became a licensed psychologist and survivalist. I'm married and... No body knows this but... I'm soon to be a mother."
"NO WAY! Are you serious? Don't lie to me." She says excitedly.
"I wouldn't lie to you. It's only been 5 weeks so it's not obvious." I explain.
"That is so great!" She finally said but with a lot of breath.
"Yeah.... What about you. What's up with you?"
"Well, I'm also a licensed psychologist and I'm married to the best man I've ever met." She tells me. "I don't plan on having kids for a little bit. How long have you been married?"
"We've been married for about five years." I say just as Toby walks in instantly smiling with Bailey who rolls his eyes.
We all sit in silence until the person who owns the home walks in. We all stand up as she does. We shake hands and sits down.
"I'm not supposed to be here long but this place is all yours. Be careful and stay safe." She tells us.
"Wait what? Why can't you stay in your own home?" I ask her.
She looks at me, looks at Bailey, kisses him and walks away. All of our mouths drop open at once as Bailey turns his head to us.
"Guys relax, she's my fiancé." He tells us.
That doesn't make anything different. She's super gorgeous.
"Ummm, okay. While we're all here, what exactly did you do to get us in this mess, Bailey?" I ask putting emphasis on the "B".
"I just made someone mad. That's all." He says.
"Whatever." I say as I walk towards Toby who is sitting here on the couch.
Just then, Asher walks into the room with Sasha and tells us that we should be safe as far as they know. He also tells us how long we are to be here just to make sure we're safe. A whole year. As soon as he's done talking and walks out of the house I remember. I can't be here a year. Toby and I look at each other at the same time remembering that there was a baby to come. We don't do anything knowing that we would have to talk to him later.
The house is very roomy. It's two stories high and the three rooms are very big. I walk up the old newly polished stairs that creek as you climb each step. There is a master bedroom on the top of the stairs straight ahead. I'm guessing that was the womans who owned the house. I went back down because there's not much else to see upstairs.
As soon as I come back down Analee is waiting for me at the end of them.
"Exploring?" She asks
I smile. "This house is so great."
We both look at each other at the same time as we see a long dark corridor. As we walk further down we notice a smaller room that is dark and a little scary.
"I don't think we should--" she starts to say.
"Shush, Ana! Don't be a baby." I snap.
I turn and look at her and quickly turn back creeping into the room.
"I'm just saying. It doesn't seem like a good idea." She explains.
I feel for a switch and as soon as I flick it on I quickly jump in as I pull a knife out of my left boot. Analee screams. There is absolutely nothing in the room. We both laugh hysterically at our behavior.
Just then Toby, Dakota and Bailey question our presence in that room. I climb onto Toby's back as we walk back down. We don't tell them anything. I rest my head on his shoulder as I look at Analee who is clutching her husbands arm.
"Can I show you something, Jasmine?" Asks Bailey as he leads us in the back yard.
"Yeah-yes.. Of course." I say as I jump off of Toby's back and grab his hand instead.
We all walk outside and see a beautiful garden and courtyard. It's absolutely gorgeous. I gasp as I fall in love with the scene. It was like something you'd see in a movie. Bailey turns and looks at me with a huge smile.
"And I helped." He says.
I look at him and smile. "It's absolutely beautiful, Bailey!"
"I knew you of all people would love it." He says. "You got a garden at home?"
"Of course. She wouldn't allow us not to have one."says Toby as he nudges my arm. I giggle.
3 hours later.
---------------------
Analee and I are cooking in the kitchen as the three boys are watching a movie. We both love to cook and thought it'd be fun to cook something together. Not much, just pasta with garlic bread and some home made drink Analee loves to make.
"Are you scared?" She asks.
"Of?"
"You know? The whole situation we're in."
"A little bit... It's overwhelming." I say as I take the finished food to the table.
"I think it's warm enough to eat outside." Says Analee.
"Oh, fancy!" I say.
We both laugh as we tell the boys to come eat with us outside.
As soon as we finished eating we all sit on the roof like in a cheesy film and watch the sunset.
"I'm glad we're all together guys." Says Bailey.
"But we're trying to hide."says Analee.
"But at least I got to see y'all." I say laughing. "Remember, friends forever? Somehow we all drifted apart."
"I don't know any of you." Says Dakota.
We all laugh and assure him he'll know us soon enough.
As we walk back into the house the phone rings. Toby goes to answer it and puts it on speaker.
"I know where you are. And believe me, I will kill you."
After hearing that, I get a text. Scared I drop three plates. It reads:
We're in a van outside. Get out now.
-Asher
We all try to get out as fast as we can but the lights go out and we can't see. I can tell Analee is next to me. Someone is next to us and whispers between our heads into both of our ears.
"Surprise bitches."
