The Haunting of Sunshine Girl

Chapter 35

So. Nolan's grandma's haunted house.

The three are currently in the car, Nolan in the back as usual, and Sunshine turns on the car lights because her camera light doesn't work, like, at all.

"Yeah, this is really safe," Kat huffs. "Nolan, are we almost there?"

He looks pretty serious and is more dressed up than usual. His hair is slicked back, not hanging in front of his face, and he's wearing a checkered collared shirt underneath his usual black leather jacket. Fancy, for him.

"Uh, yeah, it's right up here," he responds, squinting through the window into the darkness of the street.

"Do you even know where we're going Nolan?" Sunshine asks.

"Uhhh..."

Kat interrupts. "I think — it's his grandma's house, I think he knows where she lives. Like this? Go up here?"

"Gravel road," Sunshine commentates. "Creepy street light.."

"You know what? Hey, give him the camera, let him be the camera guy."

"O...kay..?"

"Cause you're prettier, we'll put you on camera then."

"I'm not sure how I feel about that.." She looks unsure for once, because she hasn't ever really given her prized camera to anyone but her mother. But she trusts Nolan, right?

"Hold it steady," Kat orders, more or less light-hearted. "You've got this, Nolan."

"I'm gonna do my best," he sighs.

After a little more confusion and Nolan giving terrible directions, they finally manage to pull up to the driveway of the home.

"That's a cute little house!" Kat exclaims.

"It doesn't look haunted at all," Sunshine snorts.

"Well... I know." Nolan scratches his head, observing the greenery around them.

"Okay, so, where's grandma?" Kat puts the car in park.

"Oh, she went away for a while."

"Oh — did she die?!" Kat looks back at him incredulously. "Did you kill your grandma?"

"Well — I — wouldn't tell you if I had. She's in Cabo now. She goes once every five years."

Kat grunts as all three get out of the car. The house is a dainty little place, white wood panels flowing down and an old school-shaped roof. The porch has bushes spilling through, and yet there's a very homey feeling about the place.

Sunshine glances at her mother through the darkness, who flashes a grin. "Don't worry, I have a flashlight."

"Do you," she says, rolling her eyes. "You're like a Boy Scout."

"Look how prepared I am!" Kat rolls the flashlight through her fingers, clicking it on.

"Well I mean," Nolan speaks up, "there are lights in the house."

"Oh," Kat wheezes, "I forgot about that. On haunted shows they.."

Both teens stared at her.

"Okay." She purses her lips and makes her way toward the porch.

Nolan trails after them, observing the house as if he hasn't been here in years. Maybe he hasn't. It would make sense, after all, because his directions are just terrible. Either that, or.. he just gives terrible directions. "If you think it's gonna be more... appealing.. we can keep the lights off, but, honestly, like, that's — not — a good idea."