Nyctophobia

One

"What the hell do you mean you hacked into the school's firewall?" I asked my dumbass friend, Ashley.
"Hun, the answer is in the question," he responded.
Curiosity got the better of me, so I asked, "Why?"
"I was bored in Computer Science."
"You know what I mean!  What were you hoping to see?"
"I don't know.  Private emails between teachers secretly having an affair," he then whispers, "Mrs. DeLundo and Mr. Carson I'm looking at you."
"That's stupid.  They would text, dumbass," one of my other friends, Wyatt, says, walking into my room with his twin sister, and my best friend, Gracie. My group of friends is coming over and staying the night at my house. Call it a Friday tradition.
"That's besides the point!  I strive to be a better hacker than PoodleCorp!" Ash says.
A feminine giggle is heard from right outside the door to my room.
"Hey, Lisa," Wyatt calls.
"Aww, how'd'ya know it was me?"  the strawberry blonde pouts childishly.
"Your giggle," he responds, smiling fondly.
I smirk, "Are Nic and Kayden gonna be here soon?"
"Yeah, in a few min-" she is interrupted by a male voice I know all to well.
"Hey guys.  Remember that emo kid from Algebra II?  The one who we thought left?  He's back," Nic says.
We all groan.  That kid is so annoying!  He's always trying to get into our group.
Hell nah.
"Nic!  Let me through!" his brother, Kayden, calls from behind his older, taller brother.
Lisa frowns, "Why is he emo, Nicy?  What has he got to be sad about?  I've met his parents and seen his house!  He's got some friends!"
"Why the hell were you at his house?" Nic asks incredulously.
"Tutoring!" she responds.
"Did he try anything?" Nic asks, finally allowing Kayden to enter the room.  Nic is more like a big brother to Lisa than a cousin.
Lisa looks at him questioningly.
"Did he try to kiss you or something?"
"Oh.  No, he didn't.  He sulked around the whole time, answering my questions about World Culture or whatever," she answers.
"Guys!  Guess who Tweeted at me?" Ash calls from my bed.
"Who, Ash?" I ask, sitting on my burgundy bed.
"PoodleCorp!" he says.
Kayden sighs, throwing an arm around Gracie, "That's great, buddy."
They all either sat on my carpeted floor or my bed.
"So, Penny! What are we gonna do?" Lisa asks me.
"Video games?" I say.
They all look as if they are down for it, when Gracie speaks up.
"Penelope. We could all go to that abandoned house tonight! The one we pass coming home from school? It'll be like an adventure! Maybe we'll see a ghost!" she says. But I know she doesn't believe in that sort of thing.
I think about it for a little, biting my lip, as I do when thinking. I eventually nod my head yes.
"Who's down?" she asks.
Kayden raises his hand a bit from her shoulder.
"Eh, why not!" Nic says from his spot on my floor, smirking up at me making my heart flutter.
"Sure," Wyatt says, standing up, "I'm gonna go to the bathroom."
"A-are you sure it's safe? Is it even abandoned?" Lisa asks me, blushing a bit because Wyatt's hand brushed hers as he was standing.  They were sitting next to each other.
"Do you see a car? The windows are all broken and stuff. If anyone lives there, it's probably just a junkie that broke in or something," I say back to her.
"O-okay then. I'll go," she says.
Ashley gets up and heads for the door.
"Where are you going?" Nic asks him, amused.
"Home. I need to grab a few things for our little excursion," he replies with a spooky tone of voice.
"Like?" I inquire further.
"A Ouija board, a camera with night vision, you know, the norm for ghost hunting!" he says excitedly.
Nic chuckles a bit.
"Alright, you do that, bud," Kayden says to Ash, snuggling up to Gracie a bit more.
I know they have gone to third base before, but seeing that makes me want to puke. "PDA! PDA! Public display of affection!"
Wyatt comes back in and sees the scene of his sister and his best friend cuddling, "Look, I know you guys are dating and all, but come on! There are innocent eyes watching!"
"Oh please, Wyatt! Not like you don't want to do the same with Lisa!" Gracie says to her twin.
He blushes and looks at Lisa, who is also blushing. "Erm... sh-shut up."
"Mhm. That's what I thought!" Gracie says triumphantly.
I get off my bed and sit next to Nic, who is scrolling through his Twitter.
"Hey, dork! You haven't said a thing to me today! What's up?" I ask him, putting my elbows on his leg and my hands on my face.
He ruffles my blonde locks and says, "Nothing, princess. Just stressed is all. My parents are bugging the shit out of me asking which college I want to go to, or whatever the fuck."
I love it when he calls me princess. It makes me feel all girly inside.
"I'm gonna miss you next year, Nic. It'll be weird without you," I say. He is a senior and I am a sophomore.
It's later in the year, almost March.  I wonder who Nic is taking to Prom. He didn't go last year, and he wants to go this year, but he doesn't have a date. And all the juniors and seniors are either total loners or are way too popular and have boyfriends.
He could consider a blonde sophomore (wink wink, nudge nudge) who has been a great friend for years.
A loud ringtone blares through the now silent room. "Dammit. Hello?" Gracie answers. "London, I thought I told you to stop fucking calling me." a pause. "No, London. We broke up! You cheated on me with your damn Chemistry teacher!" another long pause. "London. I loved you. You broke my heart! I'm with someone else now who I love equally, if not more, than I did you. So if you could do me a solid and stay the fuck outta my life, that would be greatly appreciated," Gracie finishes the phone call.
"Jesus Christ. Guys, how the hell are you supposed to deal with ex girlfriends. They don't shut up!" Gracie exclaims.
Wyatt, Kayden, and Nic chuckle while Lisa and I share looks of concern.
"Gracie, can Lisa and I see you outside for a moment?" I ask her.
She shrugs and heads out of my room.