The Million Mile Hallway

Chapter 27 - Louise and Jason

Louise

My parents had tried to talk to Jason but he wasn't in. I didn't tell them that it was because he was out defending my honour but I still knew that they would speak to him without my input.

Our bathroom lights behaviour was becoming even more erratic and Brandon, in a particularly bad mood, claimed that it would throw him off his game for his next tennis match. This was enough to scare the crap out of my parents and make them continuously spy out the window to see if Jason's truck was in the car park.

Monday night, they finally saw him arrive home from work, and they practically accosted him in the stairwell.

"Jason, I realise that things have been a little tense with us all lately but we could really use your help right now" Dad told him in a panicked voice. I laughed under my breath as I spied on the three of them from our front door.

"Is everything alright? Is somebody hurt?" Jason asked, clearly hearing how stressed dad sounded and becoming that way himself. As funny as it was, I kind of hoped that he was worrying about me.

"Everyone's fine, but we have a big problem in the bathroom" Mom told him in a much more measured tone.

"What is it?" Jason asked.

"It's probably better if you see for yourself" Dad replied calmly now that he had Jason's help pretty much guaranteed.

I quickly ran away from the door and entered the living room and tried to act as naturally as I could. I could have sworn I had a sense of déjà vu then, thinking back to whenever a stranger would come to the door and my childhood curiosity would get the better of me. I picked up one of my mom's magazines and pretended to read it, but quickly threw it back down when I discovered it was a Cosmo. That definitely wouldn't be natural. I then realised that they probably wouldn't even come into the living room, as the bathroom was closer to the front door. Dammit Lou! I should have just sat in my room with the door wide open. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Although, that probably wouldn't have been natural either.

I heard as the three of them filed down the hall and stopped at the bathroom.

"So what's up?" Jason asked. Someone flicked on the light switch and Jason gasped. "Oh shit" He laughed.

"Typically we got you to change the kitchen one's when they were fine but we left this" Dad sighed.

"Yeah it's really starting to bug everyone, especially Brandon" Mom took over.

"It's giving me epilepsy!" I heard Brandon calling from his room. I had to stifle a laugh.

"Is there anything you can do?" Mom asked, ignoring her son.

"Well I probably could" Jason replied. "But if you still want to change to spotlights then it's probably better to just do it now. It'll save money, time and it means you're only getting the work done once"

"Can you do it? Quickly?" Dad laughed.

"Probably. What about tomorrow night? If you want I can pick up the same lights that you got last time on my way home from work and just get started straight away"

"That would be exceptional!" Dad sighed in relief. I never realised how much of a drama queen he was before. That being said, the lights really were starting to bug me. Even if it wasn't Jason fixing them, I'd be happy if someone, anyone did. Every time I used the bathroom it reminded me of a killing scene in a shitty horror movie where you don't actually see what's going on.

"Alright, well I'll make sure someone's here for you around five?" Mom asked. I felt a jolt of electricity go through me when she said that. Did someone mean me? Or did it mean anyone but me? Either way, I'd have to wait for the answer.