My alarm clock screamed at me to wake up. I turned over on my side and turned it off. I sat up and looked at the time. It's 9:30.
" Oh no!! I'm late for work!!" I yelled. I quickly got on my clothes and got ready. I slipped on my shoes, grabbed my car keys, and ran out the door. I backed out of my driveway and sped away. My boss ,Haylee, is going to kill me!
When I arrive at the library, my best friend, Jim, is outside waiting. I step out of my car and lock it.
" Where the hell have you been? Do you know how hard Macy and I have been working to cover for you?" he yelled.
" Sorry, Jim. I slept in late on accident." I said.
" 'Sorry' isn't going to work this time, sweetheart! This is the last time I'm busting my butt for you!" he said, waving his hands in the air. He stormed inside. I chuckled and followed him.
When we got inside, another one of my good friends, Macy, ran up to me.
" Where have you been?!" she yelled.
" I slept in. Sorry." I reply. Jim put his hands on his hips and shook his head. He was really cute when he was mad. Ever since I've known him, I've developed a big crush on Jim.
" Well you're here now. So get to work before Haylee gets here." Macy said. I nodded and went to the reception desk and started working. The day went by and finally Haylee came to dismiss us.
" You are free to go!" she said and smiled. Macy grabbed her purse and ran out the door. Haylee also grabbed her purse and her brief case and left. I saw Jim still at his desk.
" Are you going home?" I asked.
" I just have some work to do."
" I can help."
" No, no, no. You don't have to-"
" I insist." He sighed and nodded He pointed to a stack of books.
" I just need to put those away." I went over to them and grabbed more than half of the books and almost toppled over. Jim put his hand on top of the stack and looked down at me sweetly. I blushed as he took some books off the top of my stack and placed them on his.
It took about half an hour to put the books away.
" And that's that." Jim said as he put the last book away.
" Thank you so much for your help, Ryan." he said.
" It was my pleasure." I said and looked down at the floor. He put his hand on my arm.
" Are you ok? You're acting strange." Without thinking, I put my hands on his cheeks and kissed him hard. He tried to back up, but he ran into a wall. He put his hands on my waist and pulled me away from him. I sat down on the floor.
" I-I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking." I said as tears fell down my cheeks. Jim chuckled, sat down on the floor next to me, and pulled me in for a hug.
" Ryan, I thought you knew!"
" Knew what?"
" Macy said she told you!"
" Told me what?!"
" I'm... Gay..."
" Oh Jim. You should've told me." I gave him a huge hug.
" Y-you're not mad?"
" Why on earth would I be mad? You're my best friend. I'll love you no matter what." He nestled his forehead into my neck, and I felt him shaking and crying.
" Th-thank you. I love you, Ryan." I lifted his head up and wiped the tears away with my thumb. We stood up and walked out of the library, hand-in-hand like best friends. When we got out into the parking lot, I asked him if he needed a ride home. He said yes, so I took him to my house.
When we got there, we made popcorn and watched movies until about 10:00. I looked over at Jim, and he was fast asleep on my couch. I smiled at him and got up. I went to the closet and grabbed a pillow and a blanket. I lifted his head and put the pillow under him. I spread out the blanket and set it on him. I wasn't upset that he didn't like me. I went upstairs and got into bed.
That night, at about 3AM, I heard rustling and then a muffled scream, and silence. I rushed downstairs and saw a dark figure crouched over Jim's gutted body. I turned on the light and screamed. The figure turned around and I saw its face. He had long black hair, pale skin, and a black and white cone for a nose. He was wearing black overalls, white bandages on his waist and hands, gray stockings, and black shoes. He looked like an evil clown. All of a sudden, he disappeared into a cloud of black smoke. I coughed a few times and ran over to Jim. Tears rushed down my face as I held his cold hand.
" No no no no. This can't be happening." I say through my tears. I pick up the phone and dial 911.
" 911, what is your emergency?"
" Hello? Yes, I am at 3327 Evergreen Drive. My name is Ryan Mills. There was just a murderer in my house. He murdered my best friend." I yell into the phone.
" Alright Miss Mills. Remain calm. Someone will be there shortly." the lady said.
" T-thank you." I said and hung up the phone.
It took less than five minutes for the police to get here. I answered the door and let them inside. There was a woman and two men. While the men were looking at Jim, the woman talked to me.
" Miss Mills, my name is officer Collins. May I ask you a few questions?" she asked politely. I nodded and offered her a cup of tea. She politely declined.
" Miss Mills, can you tell me exactly what happened?"
" Well, Jim and I were working a little late at the library yesterday. We were putting books away when he told me that he was gay. After that we came here and watched movies. He fell asleep at about 10. I went to bed, and at about three, I heard a scream. I went downstairs and saw the murderer. I turned on the light and he disappeared into black smoke." I explained.
" Black smoke?" I nodded
" Okay? Can you tell me what the ' murderer' looked like" she asked.
" Yes. He had long black hair, very pale, he had a black and white cone for a nose. He was wearing black overalls, stockings, and black shoes. He also had bandages on his waist and hands." When I finished, all of the officers exchanged unbelieving looks.
" Ok, ma'am. I'm going to have to ask you to come with us."
" I'm not crazy."
" No one said you were crazy, but we need to take you for further questioning." I nodded and went upstairs to get dressed.
As I was opening the drawer, I heard this insane laughter. I turned around, and he was standing there.
" Called the cops on me, little miss? HAHAHAHAHA!!! They're never going to catch ol' Laughing Jack!" he said and disappeared into black smoke. I screamed and fell to the floor and fainted.
♦♦♦♦♦♦
When I woke up, I was in a unfamiliar room. It was bright and there were people at the foot of the bed. I tried to sit up, but someone gently laid me back down.
" What's going on? Where am I?" I said groggily.
" You're at my house." I heard Macy said.
" Why?"
" You fainted." I looked at her confused, but it all came rushing back to me. ' Laughing Jack' was there. That was his name. Jack.
