My Only Exception

Chapter #1 New House

Author's Note: Welcome to my first Goosebumps fanfic! Just a few things to explain before you read: The kid's ages are going to be different then what they are in the book and tv episode for reasons you'll find out further in the story. Amanda is 16 in this, Josh is 14, Karen is 16, and Ray is 18. As for the characters physical features, they are the ones from the tv show. R.L. Stine owns Goosebumps and everything in this relating to the original story, I only own the ideas I throw into the mix. I hope you enjoy! :)

Amanda's POV

I'll admit I wasn't big on moving to a new town. But what really bothered me was that it was so far away from my old home. I'd never see my friends ever again. My parents knew this move was hard for me and my little brother Josh, but they guaranteed us that we'd make new friends in Dark Falls.

"I don't wanna live in Dark Falls!" Josh complained next to me in the back seat of our van.

"Josh, you've said that a hundred times already, give it a rest!" My mother said a bit annoyed.

"Besides, do you know how lucky we were to have gotten this house so cheap?" My dad added from the drivers seat.

"I liked it where we were!" Josh whined.

"Josh, come on. You and Amanda promised that you'd give this move and the house a shot." Mom reminded.

Josh sighed, annoyed. Our collie Petey layed across Josh's lap and let out a small whine.

I stared out the window and took in the town. Dark. All of the houses we passed looked very old and run down. I couldn't imagine anybody living in them. The sun was shining and the weather was perfect! But as we drove I saw nobody out on the streets. Weird.

We finally stopped in front of a big two story house that looked just as old as the others we'd passed.

"Yuck." Josh said as he got out of the car.

"You won't be saying that after we fix it up sweety!" Mom smiled.

"Alright everybody, start grabbing boxes! Let's get everything inside!" Dad ordered.

We all took turns grabbing boxes out of the back of the car and bringing them into the living room of the house. The house itself looked just as old on the inside as it did on the outside. The wallpaper was starting to rip in areas and the floor was very dirty. I guess no one had lived here in awhile. I agreed with Mom though, once it was fixed up, this house would probably look awesome.

"Amanda, would you go grab the last box out of the car?" Mom asked.

"Yeah sure" I replied and headed back out to the car.

As I made my way outside a strange feeling took over me. I suddenly felt as if I was being watched. I took a moment to look up and down the street for anyone around. Nobody except for Josh, who was playing with Petey on the front lawn. I decided it was just the feeling of being in a new place and continued towards the car. As I pulled the box from the trunk the feeling remained, gradually growing stronger and more eerie by the second. The sun had went behind a cloud when suddenly I heard a loud SNAP! behind me.

I turned around quickly expecting to see someone, but all I saw was a mass amount of trees forming into a little woodland area on the other side of the street. I took a few steps forward and looked harder into the trees.

"Whose there?" I called.

No answer.

I almost let my guard down until I felt a hand firmly grasp my shoulder. I yelped as I spun around to see who it was.

It was a middle-aged man, big around the waist, his skin a sickly greyish-pale color. He wore a cream colored suit with a matching porkpie hat. His hair was blonde and he had big round eyes that were a deep dark blue color. His face was one of shock when I turned around.

"Oh my. I'm so sorry I scared you!" He apologized politely.

My mother and father came running out onto the front porch.

"Amanda?! Oh. Mr. Dawes how nice to see you!" Mom greeted coming down the steps and reaching her hand out to shake the mans hand.

"Likewise, I have to apologize, I came up behind your daughter to say hello and I gave her a start." He explained.

"Oh that's alright. Amanda this is Mr. Dawes, the real estate agent that sold us the house." Mom replied.

"Oh, hi. I'm Amanda Benson." I greeted, now smiling.

"Nice to meet you. Now Mr. and Mrs. Benson I just have a few papers for you to sign before you get all moved in." Mr. Dawes said gesturing to the briefcase he was carrying.

"Ok. Come on in Mr. Dawes!" Dad said.

"Please, call me Compton." Mr. Dawes urged to my parents as he followed them inside.

I took one more look back at the woods before closing the trunk of the car and following everyone inside with the last box.

"Amanda once you set that box down you can go pick out a room for yourself upstairs." Mom told me as I made my way into the living room.

I set the box down and wiped my hands on my jeans before walking up the stairs. I walked into the first room on the left and instantly fell in love. The room was huge! There was a big bay window on the far side of it and there was a walk-in closet as well. I started imagining where all of my furniture would go once the movers arrived tomorrow. I would put my bed near the window and my dresser could go in the corner, plenty of wall space to put up some posters too. I was starting to feel ok about the move until I heard a voice behind me.

Josh stood in the doorway with Petey by his side. "This place sucks. This house is old and rotting, the town is dark and boring, and there's already some stranger watching the house!" He complained.

I was trying to ignore Josh up till that last part. Stranger watching the house? Josh sighed deeply when I didn't respond and walked down the hall to a room and slammed the door.

Now I turned my attention to the window. I slowly walked towards it and gently pulled the curtains aside to look out.

I gasped. Outside on the sidewalk on the other side of the street was a boy. He looked like he could be my age. He wore a grayish-brown jacket with dark jeans and black sneakers, he also wore a hat very similar to the one Mr. Dawes wore. His skin tone was also the same sickly pale color of Mr. Dawes as well. I couldn't get a good enough look at his other features because he was too far away. It was then that I noticed.

The boy was looking right at me.