Temporary Bliss [boyxboy]

30: Ghost Hunting

Finn

"I'm bored," I whined, drawing out the last word and sighing dramatically.

"Well, tough shit," Caleb replied, not looking up from his phone as he pushed my hands away from him.

"But you're my entertainer!" I argued irritably, "You're not allowed to do anything else when I'm bored!"

I poked his ribs, making him squirm and try to get away from me.

"Feel free to clean up the attic. Put your hands to good use."

"What am I, your maid?" I asked with a scoff but then quickly added: "You have an attic?! Where? Why didn't I know about this?!"

Caleb shrugged, finally looking over to me, "Nothing interesting up there. Creaky floorboards and a lot of dust. Boxes full of old shit, I don't even know. I'll show you if you wanna take a look."

"Yes!" I squealed excitedly. I absolutely loved things like that.

Caleb rolled his eyes at me but got up nonetheless, showing me to where there was a sort of trapdoor in the ceiling. Weird that I'd never noticed it.
He got a long stick thingy to open it and pull a ladder down.

"There's not like... Monsters up there, though, right?" I chuckled nervously, slowing my climb up the ladder.

"What are you, five?" Caleb laughed.

"Hey! Have you seen the first season of American Horror Story? There's a terrifying creature in their attic."

My best friend shrugged, "Well, I haven't checked for terrifying creatures in a while, so it'll be a surprise."

"Caleb!" I whined, "Don't do this to me!"

I'd stopped climbing the ladder and was now looking down at him with a pout.

"Can you at least go first and turn the lights on?" I asked.

Caleb let out an exaggerated sigh and motioned for me to get back down. He went up instead and flicked a light switch somewhere, illuminating the room.

"No terrifying creatures in sight!" he called and I had to smile as I too made my way up the ladder.

The attic was spacious, but what Caleb had said was right - it was very dusty and pretty cramped, except for the space in the middle.

Despite having said that he didn't want to do anything, he was already rummaging around in a white box. I went over to him and looked over his shoulder.
The box was full of old pictures.

He pulled one out and held it behind him so that I could take it.

It was a picture of Caleb and I at Halloween when we were maybe eleven. Caleb was dressed up as a firefighter and I was dressed up as a cow... Or maybe a Dalmatian?

I had to laugh when I saw us: tiny, chubby and grinning from ear to ear.

"We've always loved Halloween, huh?" I said with a chuckle and handed Caleb the picture back.

He hummed in agreement as he put the photo back and closed the box.

He stood up and looked at me for a second, "Well, I'll be downstairs. Call me if you find anything exciting. Actually, don't. You find everything exciting."

"Hey!" I protested, smacking his arm playfully, "Don't be mean. And don't leave, either. It's boring alone. Please?"

"Uh... Nope," Caleb tried to run away from me as he saw me reach out to grab onto him, but he slipped on the hardwood floor and fell right on his butt.