Mystic Woods

Do you believe?

The cops left my apartment annoyed. I guarantee they don't believe me and think I'm some bored, teen seeking attention. Victoria was also annoyed and seemed to have bigger problems than coming face to face with a shadow looking creature.

"Okay, I have to get up early tomorrow and you woke all of us up. You need to be more considerate of other people. Especially since we all live together."

"I didn't mean to wake you up. And to be frank, the cops woke you up. But yes, I'm sorry." She rolls her eyes and heads to her room, I pull my hair into a bun and shuffle to mine. Locking the door, I change into my pj's. Tonight, is such a weird night. I kind of feel scared to sleep in my room alone. Well I mean duh, I can't even explain what I saw at the gas station...

I crawl in my bed leaving my lights on and turn on Netflix distracting my mind. I decide to watch cartoons to make the atmosphere positive. I fall asleep to the sound of bugs bunny's voice...


Opening my eyes was hard because it was so freaking bright in my room. I can tell the energy was still off. I rub my face and take out my sleep crusties and shuffle out of bed. As my feet hit the cold hardwood floor, I quickly get ready for work, trying not to think of what happened last night. The cops couldn't do anything but check the gas station and cameras, which they found nothing.

Walking into work with the biggest dark circles anyone's probably ever seen, I clock in forcing a smile to the guests.

"Hello, good morning" I smile at a little lady with extremely long fingernails and frizzy hair.

"Well aren't you a pretty little thing" She stutters.

"Thank yo--"

A loud bang comes from behind me making me jump. If I wasn't awake before, I am now. Adeline bursts in the cafe screaming at Coy.

"You are such a fucking player! We are done!" She storms out the cafe leaving everyone bug eyed looking at one another.

I break the silence. "That would be two dollars and fifty cents please." The little lady gives me her money and I make her drink, sending her off with a warm smile. There're no customers waiting in line so I walk to the back of the cafe to find Coy dealing with some paperwork.

"You doing okay out there?" He asks without looking up at me.

"Uh, yeah. Are you doing okay back here?" I sarcastically say.

Coy laughs softly.

"So, what was that all about if you don't mind me asking?" He huffs and turns his spiny chair around to face me. He runs his one hand threw his hair.

"She just got mad that I left the party last night for a little." he shrugs clearly not worried about the situation and goes back to working.

"Ah, I see. Well she is your girlfriend. Maybe she was just worried about you?" I lean against the wall trying to catch his gaze. He doesn't respond and it could be because he's trying to hide his emotions. I don't want to push his buttons so I walk out the room and head back to the front to do my job.

Pay day was coming up and I'm so excited to get groceries in the house. I'm not the best cook, but whatever. Food is food, and I couldn't be happier. I scrub down the tables, cleaning coffee spills and crumbs of muffins. It was a slow day today and I needed the caffeine so I decided to make myself a drink. Two shots of espresso will wake me up. As I take a sip, a group of guys walk in the shop. They had leather jackets with piercings in their face. I make my way to the counter to take their order.

"Hello, what can I get for you?" I softly smile.

One of the guys lean over the counter and gently fumbles with my hair. "Is this your natural hair color?" He laughs while his friend pushes him to the back.

"What he means is, it's a pretty hair color." They laugh.

I nod and look behind me to see if Coy was around.

"That's exactly who we are looking for. Is he working today?" He grins while the guys in the back stare at me.

"Um, yes. Hold on." I walk to the back searching for Coy to find him still sitting in the same spot. "Uh, Coy...there's like, four guys asking for you at the front."

He whispers "motherfucker" and gets up from his seat. I slowly walk behind him back to the front. As the group of guys sees him, they cheer and instantly become louder.

"Well well well, look who decided to come out of his little cage. Are you ready to come back yet?" the smaller guy said.

The guy that touched my hair speaks. "Nah, he's still a little bitch. Look at him, all dressed nice. Forgetting where he really comes from." He plays with his tongue piercing, urging Coy to snap.

"Actually, yes, I am ready. I'll be over tonight to discuss more. Now is clearly not the time." Coy gives a confident smile. I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to be standing here listening, but I was very intrigued. Ready to come back to what?

One of the guys gives Coy a playful punch in the arm as the others smile. All besides one, the tongue piercer dude. He whispers something to Coy and Coy looks back at me to see if I heard. I hurry and look the other way pretending to look at a chocolate pastry.

"Enjoy the show?" He crosses his arms and stares directly in my eyes.

"I mean, I wasn't fully listening. I'm sorry. I should have given you space, I was worried something was going to happen and---"

"It's fine Rose, no big deal. those guys are just...bad news. I don't want them coming in here a million times. they're...chaotic." He looks at the front door. "Let me know if they ever show up again, okay?"

"Okay. I will."

He walks to a table to pick up some trash. I can clearly see he has a lot on his mind. Today must have been so stressful for him, between his breakup and now those guys.

The day ended and I had a pounding headache. I retrieve my jacket from the hanger and clock out.

Coy waved bye to me, but before he could enter his car, I had to ask him something.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" I shouted.

"Yeah, of course." He walks over to me and leans against my car, waiting for my question. I try to figure out how to word it perfectly so I don't sound insane.

"Have you ever...Do you believe in another world? Or I mean, like, witches and werewolves or ghosts?" He doesn't respond right away and it makes me anxious.

"I believe in certain things, yes. Why?"

I sigh. "It's a long story. You probably won't believe me either. " I look away watching cars pass by on the roads next to us. It was cold, and maybe I should just drop the conversation.

"Alright. Try me." He smirks.