Silence » a.i

0.7

"You weren't here yesterday." Calum stated, making no eye contact yet again after I walked into the classroom early for forensics.

"Thank you, captain obvious," I sighed, going through my bag to find my notebook. "Did I miss any notes yesterday?"

"I wasn't here." he said.

I stopped and looked at him. "Then how did you know I wasn't here?"

He stopped writing to look at me and shrug. "I saw you with Ashton."

"You know Ashton too?"

"Yup."

"Do you have anything vague and creepy to say about him too?"

"Just make sure he listens to Michael and Luke. Other than that-"

"Luke?"

"Lucas."

"You know about Lucas too?" I almost yelled.

"Shh," he said, putting a finger to his lips. "Yes, I know about him- he prefers Luke, by the way. And I know about Michael and Ashton. I know everything, okay."

"And you never said anything because...?"

"Because you didn't know everything," he said. "Well, you still don't, but you know enough that I can tell you that I know too. But I know more than you do."

I looked at him blankly. "English, Calum."

Calum sighed and set his pencil down to run both of his hands through his hair. He picked up his pencil and began writing again. "You're meeting me outside the gym after school."

-

I walked as fast as I could to the gym without looking like an idiot. I was actually excited to see Calum, despite the fact last time I hung out with anyone after school I almost died. I made it to the gym and waited by the glass doors that students were pushing their way out of. I pulled out my phone and checked the time. School had only been out for three minutes. I had time, I was just being impatient. But I couldn't wait to finally know what was going on.

"C'mon." Calum said as he began pulling me forward.

"Um, hello to you too." I said.

"I know you're going to hate this, but we have to go back to Luke's house," he said, still holding onto my upper arm as he towed me off campus and down the street. I dug my heels into the ground to stop us from going back to that horrible house. "Don't worry, you'll be fine this time. I just have to swing by my house and grab something."

He stopped by the gas station a few minutes away from the school and just stood there. He let go of my arm and hummed to himself.

"Are we waiting for something?" I wondered.

"Someone," he corrected. "I texted Ashton to pick us up. My house is the last house on the street."

Why did everyone seem to live on Westfield Drive? I sighed and sat down on the sidewalk as Calum continued to hum some song I didn't know. Ashton's red sports car finally pulled up, and Calum opened the door and pushed the seat forward for me to get into the back.

I got in and buckled up. Ashton turned in his seat and flashed a smile at me.

"Hey, Ashton." I greeted, returning the smile.

Calum pushed the seat back and got in. Right after he shut the door, Ashton pulled away from the curb and drove off to Calum's house. We drove passed my house to the intersection Michael, Ashton, and I walked to my first day here. Ashton pulled into the driveway right before the intersection. It was small, like his, but a pastel blue color.

"I'll be right back." Calum said before getting out of the car and going inside the house.

I leaned over the center console to talk to Ashton. "Why do we have to go back to the Hemmings House?"

Ashton opened his mouth, but closed it again. He settled for sighing and a shrug. Obviously this wasn't something he could explain with gestures.

"Nothing...weird is going to happen again, right?" I checked.

Ashton shook his head slowly, probably unsure of what would happen.

Calum walked back out the door with a book in his hands. I sat back in my seat again before Calum slid into the car. Ashton pulled out of the driveway and drove back the way we came. He pulled into the driveway in front of the Hemmings House and put the car in park, shutting off the engine. Calum got out and pulled the seat forward again, allowing me to get out. But I couldn't make myself move.

"Come on, Bridgette," he sighed, holding his hand out. "They're not going to do anything with me here."

I cautiously took his hand and got out of the car. Ashton walked on my other side as we entered the house. Calum led us into the living room and set the book down on the coffee table. I looked around the room, seeing that it looked much more well kept than it had when I first entered the house. Nothing was dusty or old, and the musty smell was gone.

"Alright, you boneheads can come out now!" Calum called.

"Boneheads," Michael said from where he lounged on the love seat. "That one's new."

"I've heard it before," Luke said from behind me. I spun around to see him leaning up against the entrance to the living room. He looked down at me and smiled warmly. "Oh, hey Bridgette."

I backed up into Ashton. He pulled me to him slightly, just to let me know he was there to protect me.

"Oh, calm down," Michael laughed. "We're not going to pull anything."

I turned to face him. "You still never told me what all that was."

"That's what I'm here for," Calum interrupted. "Take a seat, Bridgette."

I went and sat down by Calum on the couch, Ashton taking the seat next to me. Luke moved to sit on the plush recliner, pulling his feet up onto the chair instead of just pulling the lever. Calum thumbed through the book before finding the page he wanted and leaving it open on the table.

"I know Mikey already told you about this house, but there's more to it than just that," Calum began, turning to face me. "Michael and Luke were friends before what happened. Michael actually encouraged Luke to do what he did. I don't really know how to tell you this without being completely blunt..." Calum paused to search for words.

"I'm dead." Michael stated.