Ravenpoint

Chapter Two

After a pretty long night of thinking, nearly freezing to death, and broken sleep, I woke up and went into the kitchen. There was a cat. A bald cat. You know, a sphynx. This one was a boy named Oliver. Dad got him a few years ago when he moved, he said. Dad and I had eggs for breakfast along with a steaming hot cup of coffee. 

"Do you wanna take a walk around the town and get to know your new home?" Dad asked, sipping his coffee obnoxiously.

"Yeah, that'd be nice," I took the last bite of my fried egg (my favorite egg) and washed it down with a big gulp of coffee, "I'll leave after I shower."

"Sounds like a plan. Call me if you need anything." Dad smiled, continuing to drink his coffee, "Oliver, off the counter!"

Oliver meowed from the kitchen counter, then leapt onto the wooden floor and pranced away. I walked into the bathroom and screamed at the sight. Dad, of course, hearing me scream, rushed to the bathroom. He saw what I was staring at and sighed a sigh of relief.

A huge, brown spider was in the corner of the shower. Dad removed it with a wad of toilet paper and then left me to get ready. After about an hour of showering, murdering my hair with a flat iron, and applying loads of makeup to my face, I was ready to walk around town.

I walked out of the loud, squeaky front door and began my walk. It wasn't easy to get lost. The town was just so small. I put my headphones in my ears and blasted some Pierce the Veil. I kept walking. I walked past a half-burned down building which appeared to be a court house or something, a big, eerie church, a few houses similar to my dad's, and then finally to a big tree.  Something about this tree just wasn't right. I felt my heartbeat speed up. I unplugged my headphones and shoved them into the pocket of my hoodie. I stood right in front of the tree, staring up at its massive branches. Suddenly, I felt sick. I threw up next to the tree. 

"Whoa, you okay there?" A male voice from behind me asked, actually kind of startling me.

"Yeah, I'm just dandy," I sarcastically replied, "Who are you anyway?"

"I'm Joey." He smiled at me, revealing a set of rather cute dimples.

"Ashlyn." I returned the smile.

"You must be new here," Joey observed me closely, "I would've recalled seeing a face as pretty as yours."

"Matter of fact, I am new here," I looked into his dark green eyes, "I live on Crowe Avenue. The light blue house that's infested with spiders?"

Joey laughed, "Yeah, I know the house. Your dad is Michael James, I'm assuming?"

"You assumed right." Joey helped me away from the big, dead tree.

"Well, your dad's a cool dude," Joey smiled, holding my hand longer than nessecary before I looked down at it and made it awkward, "Sorry."

"It's fine." I blushed a bit. 

The two of us walked around town, and he showed me all of the buildings except for the burned down one near the tree. I didn't ask right away. I was too distracted by Joey's cute face. But I wasn't looking for a guy. Besides, what guy would look at me that way anyway? I mean, please. Especially someone such as himself...Brown hair, piercing green eyes, and that cute smile. Ugh. I needed to snap out of it.

Then, he walked me home, as the sun set. Dad welcomed me with Oliver at his side.

"What's for dinner?" I asked instantly.

"Mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, and meatloaf." Dad smiled.

"You remembered my favorite meal?" I was surprised.

"Of course." Dad smiled.

This town wasn't bad so far. But there was something about that tree..
Something bad.
Something...evil...

After a quiet and slightly awkward dinner with my father, I went in the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. I laughed mockingly at my appearance. I looked horrible. I sighed and dug through my makeup bag for a hair tie, which I used to put my black and blonde hair up into a ponytail. I shivered. Geez, this house was freezing. I couldn't stand the unpredictable weather of this town.

"Ashy," Dad called, "I mean, Ashlyn!"

"How may I help you?" I yelled back, giving myself one last glance in the mirror, and throwing on a red hoodie my mom had recently bought me. 

"Someone's here for you." Dad replied.

Huh? I didn't know anyone. I shrugged and jogged out of the bathroom. I came to a stop (and so did my heart) when I saw who was standing in the doorway. Joey. I felt my face grow hot as I smiled a bit curiously and asked why he was here.

"Joey?" I tried to hold back a shy smile, "Why are you here?"

"Well, uh," Joey began a bit awkwardly, blushing, "I just wanted to see how you were doing since earlier."

Earlier? Oh, duh. The tree. The puke. Oh, the horror. Just the thought of that tree sent chills up my spine, and this time I know the chills weren't brought on by the iciness of the house because I was wearing a hoodie.

"Did you two want to take a walk around town?" Dad asked, giving me a look as if he knew I was attracted to Joey, "I wouldn't mind, it's just 7:30. As long as you're back before 9."

I looked over at Joey for approval. He smiled and revealed those adorable dimples again. He nodded.

"Sounds good to me," Joey smiled, those green eyes catching mine, "Ashlyn?"

At first, I was a bit surprised and hypnotized by those beautiful eyes. Then I snapped out of it, embarrassed. "Yes." I smiled, pulling the sleeves of my hoodie down.

The two of us walked out of the door, and I felt my pocket to double check with myself that I had my cell phone with me. You know, just in case. This town seemed a little...off. But it wasn't like my phone had all that much service anyway. It was nearly pointless to even make a call off of it. The connection was so terrible, a toaster would've been a better option. Although I'm pretty sure if I put a toaster against my ear, that might burn a bit. So my cell phone would have to do.

"So," I began awkwardly as we walked down the gravelly 'sidewalk,' our feet throwing rocks in every direction with each step, "How long did you say you've lived in this place for?"

"I didn't say so," Joey replied sarcastically, "But I've lived here basically my entire life. I was born in Colorado, but we ended up moving to Ravenpoint, or should I say "this place" when I was one or two." 

"Wow," I nodded, "I lived in the same place for 12 years, but my mom decided that I need some extra time with my dad, and voila. I'm here."

"Don't worry," Joey gave me a sincere look that made it hard to swallow or breathe, "It doesn't totally suck here. It only kinda sucks here."

He smiled and then I smiled too. Darn it. I didn't wanna have any feelings for anyone. I was tired of guys messing with my head. After snapping out of Joey's trance, I looked around. We were at the old church. A big, rusted, metal cross stood tall and proud atop the huge building. It surely was beautiful in its own creepy way. I squinted as I looked directly into the small orb of sun that still remained. The sky was orange and yellow and pink. It was rather breathtaking, if I must say so myself.

"It's pretty isn't it?" Joey asked, startling me due to the fact we'd be in utter silence for a bit.

"Huh?" My heartbeat sped up as I spun around stupidly.

"The sky." Joey gave me a half-smile. I felt stupid and my face turned red.

"Yeah, it is," I gave it one more thoughtful glare, and then returned my sight to Joey's face, "The church is actually pretty too. It's a bit eerie though."

"Yeah, I hear some crazy stuff went down around this area." Joey blurted, then looked down almost with a certain guilt or remorse.

"Crazy stuff?" I asked, gulping and giving him a genuinely confused look.

"I guess this witch was hung from that tree....you know, the one from earlier...and they went to drown the baby, but the courthouse burned down and everyone in it was killed. All of their family members were supposedly cursed by the "witch's plague." But don't overthink it, it's just some story. I mean, who wouldn't make up some far-fetched horror story in a town as creepy looking as Ravenpoint." Joey explained, giving me a reassuring look.

"That sounds pretty messed up." I laughed.

He laughed a little too, "Don't worry, I'll protect you from the witch."

We both stopped walking for a second and laughed. Then, I stared at his eyes, then his curvy, soft-looking lips. Then I looked back up at his eyes again. He took a step forward, inching closer to me. And his face moved closer to mine. I felt my face turn as pink as the sky and my heartbeat speed up. He closed his gorgeous eyes and soon I felt his soft lips against mine. The town was entirely silent. The moment was completely quiet and....perfect. He slipped his arms around me and I threw mine around his neck and he kissed me again. When he pulled away, I took a step back and I looked up at him, speechless.

"Sorry..." He bit his lip.

"Why are you sorry?" I laughed awkwardly, "It's fine, trust me."

"I usually don't do this, if that's what you're thinking about." Joey said.

"And by 'do this' you mean....?" I waited for him to explain further.

"Kiss someone on the first day I meet them." Joey looked at my eyes.

"Oh, yeah...." I blushed, feeling idiotic, "That....I don't usually do that either."

"It's just..." Joey seemed oblivious to the fact I'd just spoken, "I feel like I've known you forever or something. It's kinda weird."

I stayed silent and fumbled with my phone in my pocket. He laughed, sighing and looking down at me.

"Sorry, I bet I sound crazy." Joey shook his head.

"Not even the least bit." I smiled at him.

After a few seconds of smiling and staring, he said, "I'll walk you home."

"Good, or else I'd probably be sleeping outside tonight. I don't know my way around this place." I laughed and so did he.

After getting home, getting questioned by my father, and lounging on the couch in the living room with Oliver on my lap, all I could think about was that witch. As much as I wanted to think it was some stupid folklore, I couldn't push the thought of that "what if" away. What if it was real? Joey had jokingly said he'd protect me, but what could a teenage boy do against an evil witch? 

Oliver meowed and laid his head down on my thigh. He snapped me back into reality. I snickered quietly to myself. How stupid was I? A witch being real? No way. This town was just creepy. I ended up falling asleep on the couch with my sphynx on my lap. The perfect end to a (seemingly) perfect day. 

Regardless of the story being true or not, I had to learn more. But I shouldn't have been so nosy...You know the saying...."Curiousity killed the cat."