The Cornwall Mansion

Alfie

   The gang ended up at a nearby diner called Chubby's. This was where all the high schoolers hung out after school, on the weekends, and especially during the summer. Alfie still had his camera out filming his friends as they sat at a booth waiting for a waitress to come take their orders. He looked over at Luna who had a solemn look on her face. "Hey are you okay?" He asked setting his camera down.
   Luna turned to face him and glanced down to the floor, "I just don't think that going to that Mansion is a good idea, what if one of us gets hurt?" Luna's solemn look turned to one of worry as she stared into Alfie's deep blue eyes. He gave her a small smile and gently grasped her hand.
   "Don't worry Lu, everything will be fine." Though Alfie's words did nothing to sooth Luna's worries as she fidgeted with her fingers.
   "Still Alf what if something does happen."
   "Okay how bout this, we put off going to the house for a day and go hand out at the lake. Just be normal teenagers, and then we'll go explore the old mansion, Andy and Jess can act like some ghost hunter, and I can make an amazing summer film with an amazing one woman crew by my side." Alfie said giving Luna a big grin. She still wasn't happy about going to the mansion, Alfie could tell but, he could see that he made her feel a little better by the small smile she gave him.
   "Thanks Alf." She said, and with that they both turned back to their friends who were laughing at something Andy said. Luna watched on in amusement as Alfie snuck a side glance at her. He could never admit this to her but, he always had the biggest crush on the girl sitting next to him since they met in the second grade. They were the first to start the group, and then they met Andy and Jess the next year in third grade, and last but not least they met Jo in the fifth grade when she moved from California. Though Alfie and Luna will always be the original two.
   As Alfie tuned back into the conversations he heard Jess talking about the trip to the lake tomorrow before they explored the mansion. "We should all jump off of daredevils cliff tomorrow at the lake." He suggested.
   "I think I'll pass, but thanks Jess." Replied Jo. Jess rolled his eyes at his girlfriend and turned to the others.
   "Yeah I'll be down for it." Andy obviously replied.
   "Sure why not, I need a little thrill before we explore the mansion." Alfie replied. Jess then looked at Luna.
   "What about you Luna, you going to sit out with Jo, or you going to jump?" Jess said challengingly. Luna looked up with narrowed eyes.
"My mom always asked me if my friends jumped off a cliff if I'd jump to, guess the answer to that question is yes." Luna replied with a laugh.
"So we'll hang out at the lake tomorrow, let Luna calm her nerves about going to the mansion, then we go explore the place the next day. Sound good to everyone?" Said Andy, mostly looking at Luna. Everyone nodded, Luna a little more reluctantly. "Good."
"Oh, guys I've got to go I forgot that I was suppose to help my dad fix my grandfathers air conditioner he's probably waiting on me now." Stated Alfie as he gathered his camera and stood to leave.
"I'll walk with you, I need to be getting home anyways." Luna said standing up. Alfie waited by the door as she waved to the three remaining at the table who were exchanging sly glances.
The two walked down the sidewalk in a comfortable silence enjoying each other's company. The sun was starting to set as it hit their skin warming them to the touch. Suddenly Luna broke the silence, "Alfie I'm still not so sure about this." Alfie looked at her with a confused look.
"Sure about what?" He asked.
"This mansion," Alfie sighed as he listened to her rant about the mansion yet again; "Alf I've heard some really scary stories from some of the old folk that were alive when the house burnt down, and they said that they knew people that have went in there and never came back out." Luna said with a desperate look on her face for Alfie to believe her.
"Luna! Listen to me those stories are not true, there just made up to keep people out of the mansion for safety reasons or something okay." Alfie replied as they neared his house. "You need to stop fretting over this and just go with it." The two stopped in front of his drive way as Luna looked to the ground.
"You don't understand, my grandpa told me one of the stories. His friend decided to look around the mansion so he went up there one night and didn't come home the next day. He was missing for three weeks." Luna said solemnly.
"But they found him right?" Asked Alfie.
"Yeah, they found him in the woods dead but, something wasn't right. No one could figure out how he died, it was obvious that it wasn't natural causes. It looked like some kind of animal attacked him, his clothes were torn, scratches in the skin, throat torn open. Looked like a wolf or a bear had killed him, which neither live anywhere around here, then people started to hear that he went to the mansion and it was like all the questions had been answered. Now do you see why I don't want to go?"
Alfie just stared at Luna conflicted, he didn't believe in ghosts but, after that story he wasn't so sure. He must have been to quiet for to long as Luna just sighed. "You know, never mind, you obviously don't believe me." She said as she turned to walk away. "I'll see you tomorrow Alfie." She stated solemnly as she started to walk home.
Alfie realized what he'd done and called out to her, "Luna." She kept walking, "Luna!" He called again, she ignored him and kept walking. Alfie sighed as he watched the blonde girl that he has loved since the third grade walk away. He knew he should have just believed her, now she was upset with him and he knew that she wouldn't talk to him for a good while. Alfie stood in his driveway for a few more minutes until his father came outside.
"There you are, come on your grandpas waiting for us." He said as he beckoned Alfie to the truck. Alfie looked back one more time at the girl with beautiful blonde hair that flowed behind heras she was almost out of sight. He wanted to run after her and tell her he was sorry and he believed her but, instead he turned and got in his fathers truck to go fix his grandpas air conditioner.