A Gothic Horror

2

"How was your day?" Josh asked.

"Is that a YouTube video of a fireplace on your laptop?!" — "Yeah... Gotta work with what you got! But seriously... How was your day?"

"Pretty good! I met some new people today and... yeah... What about you?" — "Um... The same, I guess." — "Great!"

The two stared at each other awkwardly, both trying desperately to find something to talk about.

"Um... Don't you want to sit? There's... still lot's of space here on the couch!" — "Oh, yeah! Of course! Yeah! Yesss! Yes."

"Oh my god! It is so embarrassing just to listen to the two of you!" Ashley had suddenly appeared in the door frame.

"Since when have you been listening?" Josh looked at her angrily.

"Oh, not that long... Only like... the entire conversation!"

"Ashley!" They both yelled.

"Hey, don't worry! I'm sure we can get you a double bed if you'd prefer! ... Inappropriate? Huh. Nevermind me!" With that, she disappeared into the hall.

Sarah and Josh looked at each other in embarrassment.

"How... Why did she..." — "No idea!" They both turned red and averted their eyes. Suddenly, Ashley came in again, "Oh maybe I should—" "Get out!"

#

A few hours later, Ashley and Sarah were both lying in their beds.

"Um... Ash? Can I call you Ash?" — "Please don't!" — "Um... Okay... Ashley... Do you really think Josh—"

The American girl burst into laughter. "Oh don't tell me you're still thinking about that? I was kidding! Although..." She turned the lights on and looked Sarah directly into the eyes, "That means you are into him, right?"

Sarah scratched her head and smiled coyly. "I guess he is kind of cute..."

Ashley smiled, "Well, ask him on a date, then! You two would make a cute couple!" — "I don't know... Isn't there, like, some kind of rule that says don't date flatmates? Or... anyone too close to you for that matter?"

Ashley shrugged. "If there is some kind of rule like that, why would you care? Just do what y—"

She was interrupted by extremely loud music that had suddenly started playing. Mouthing a "What the" she jumped out of the bed and stormed out of the room. Sarah came after her. Apparently, Ashley had already left the apartment since the door was wide open. The music was so loud you couldn't even hear the squeaking of the door!

Sarah ran out after her and down the stairs. She found the American girl standing in front of the apartment on the fourth floor. She seemed to be just about to start hammering violently against the door when all of a sudden — the music stopped and the light that had shone through was turned off. Ashley's jaw dropped. Then she got angry.

"What the fuck was that?! You hear me in there?!"

No answer. Just some muffled voice yelling "Keep it down, will ya!" from somewhere downstairs. Sarah wanted to say something but Ashley just clenched her fist and ran back up to their apartment without a word.

The rest of the night, everything stayed silent.

#

"Jesus, I hope the maniac downstairs doesn't pull the same shit again, today!" Ashley grumbled. Sarah shrugged. "I bet it was just an accident!" — "Accident my ass! You don't just accidentally turn the volume up like that for five minutes!" — "More like three..." — "Doesn't matter! If he does that ever again I will personally storm his apartment and rip his head off!"