Ghost

Chapter 2

Mel has a sister. Just like I do, except in her case, Mel's the younger one. Her sister's name is Celia and she's already 22, so 4 years older than us. The great part about Mel's sister was basically everything. She was a funny, down to earth girl. Mel's parents were... Not the best... So Celia was basically Mel's stand in Mom.

Celia also did pizza deliveries. She only did a year of university, as is often the case around here. Which is really a shame, she's one of the smartest people I personally know. There was an advantage to it though, since we get really big discounts off pizza for knowing her, so it was a lucky break that she was the one who was delivering tonight.

"Alright," Celia walked inside, carrying four deliciously scented boxes. "I've got a shitload of pizza for a bunch of skinny white kids."

"Celia, hey!" I enthused.

"Hey! How're you doing Mack?"

"Great. You?"

"Im in my twenties and delivering pizzas on a Saturday night, how do you think?" Celia grinned at her last comment. "So how's Julia been?"

When she was younger, my sister idolized Celia. She followed Celia around and talked to her about everything. Now she idolized over Shawn Mendes and didn't like being seen with most people. Funny how things change.

"Hey." Gabriel nodded at Celia in an effort to act cool. At least I think that was his aim, he was already pretty wasted so it just looked like he was gagging or something.

"Here, I'll grab some cash." Mel reached into the depths of her gigantic purse, attempting to find her wallet.

Celia shook her head. "No way. This one's on me. It's your guy's night,"

"Okay." Mel said after a split second, standing back up. Her and Celia were both very similar in appearance. They were both tall, Mel was almost taller than me. Almost. They both had light brown hair, although Mel's was shoulder length and straight whereas Celia's was longer and messy. Even their laid-back personalities resembled each other.

"Well, I shouldn't disturb you kids any longer. My shifts over so I'll be at home if you need anything."

Celia scooped up her keys and was about to head out the door when Mel called out to her.

"You should stick around. It'll be more fun with you here."

"Yeah, you should." I agreed.

"Whatever." Gabriel said, he was probably trying to sound indifferent, but he just managed to glue all the syllables together into an un-annunciated mess.

"Are you sure you're okay with an old woman hanging out with you guys?" Celia asked jokingly.

"You're 22. You've still got a year before you're an old lady." Celia flicked Mel's forehead and they both laughed. Those two got along amazingly. I'd never seen them have a serious fight in their life.

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Two hours later, we were all sprawled out on the floor. Most of us were still on our first can of beer, except Celia and Gabriel. They were on their fourth. We were all just talking, interrupted by the occasional hollering of Gabriel when he finished another can.

Celia wasn't actually that drunk, despite the amount of liquor she'd ingested. If there was one thing she could do, it was hold down her alcohol.

"Y'know," Gabriel slurred, "I'm lookin' fer a relationship. Ya interested?" He stared at Celia for a creepy amount of time before smiling.

"Nah," Celia said, "you seem like a dick."

"You're already in a relationship, babe." Holly said passive aggressively.

Mel and I both stifled laughs. On top of Gabriel being a dick, Celia hadn't mentioned the part about not liking guys. She was currently in a relationship with a girl named Beth. I'd met Beth a few times. I liked her.

There weren't any chances to tell Gabriel that, since he was passed out on the floor.

Mel jumped up. "We should go explore!"

We all agreed and stood up.

Mel grinned at us. "We should partner up so it's more scary."

"Mel, no!" Claire whimpered.

"It's okay, you can go with me." Mel wrapped her arm around Claire's shoulder.

"Holly, you can go with Mack. And Alec can go with Celia."

Holly smiled politely at me, which I returned. Celia hit Alec playfully which he returned by dormantly glancing at her.

"Yaaaay! Exploring time!" Mel cheered as she dragged poor Claire into the kitchen. Celia pulled Alec the other way, just as cheerful. Then it was just me and Holly left.

"I guess we get the upstairs." Holly smiled again.

"Yeah," is the only thing I managed to pull out of my mouth.

We climbed up the creaky wooden staircase. It was so narrow it looked like the stairs had been squished against the wall. We entered the first room, which was relatively small like the rest of the house. It was a bedroom.

I walked he perimeter of the room, taking everything in. It was a girl's room, though it was hard to tell since it was barren of any sort of decoration save for a few paintings of different flowers.

"It's kinda creepy up here." Said Holly.

"Yeah, that's what makes it fun." I reply.

"I wonder if that story was true." Holly gazed at one of the paintings, it had a daffodil painted on with watercolour.

"Nah, it's probably just one of Mel's stories."

"If it was it'd be so... tragic." Holly said, turning back.

And I swear to god my heart skipped like 20 beats.

"I like you." I said, before realizing what I was saying. I was more surprised than Holly, her expression hardly changed.

Holly smiled softly and shook her head, "No."

"No?" I was certain this is how I'd be rejected. In a creepy house while her boyfriend is passed out downstairs.

"You don't like me." Holly said, turning to exit the room, "you only think you do."

Holly left, presumably to go see Gabriel. Leaving me to figure out what the hell she meant by that. Not much thinking happened though. Because at that moment, there was a bloodcurdling scream. I whipped my head up just in time to see Holly flying to the room across the hall, as if being picked up by some unexplainable force.

She flew into the room and the door slammed shut.