Halloween writing prompts

Prompt day one: Rumors

"Did you hear about that new family that moved in?" I ask. Kylie nods.

"The one who moved into the local ghost house."

"You know that it being haunted is just a rumor." I say. Kylie looks at me, brow raised.

"Sure. That's why everyone who moves in leaves within a day."

"It floods in the spring."

"So does everyone else's house. People don't leave over flooding."

"Well, whatever. Emma seems nice."

"Emma? The daughter, I guess?"

"Yeah. She's in our chemistry class." Something comes over Kylie's face, a brief flash of irritation, maybe anger.

"Oh, her, she seems rude."

"Really? You think so? She's never been rude to me."

"All I did was ask if she had experienced anything weird and she got really angry and told me to stay out of her business."

"Do you know how many people have probably asked her that? She's probably just tired of it."

"She doesn't have to be such a snob, she's the one who moved into that house." A locker door slams, startling both me and Kylie. I look up in time to see Emma take off toward the bathroom. Kylie blanches. "Oops, I guess I shouldn't have said that so loud."

"Tell Mrs. Porter my stomach hurts and that I'm in the bathroom. I don't know how long I'll be."

"Okay. Can you tell her I'm sorry?"

"I think you should do that." I head toward the bathroom. At first, I think maybe Emma went somewhere else, but then I see her shoes. I knock on the door to the stall.

"I'm in here!" She snaps, her voice trembling.

"Emma, it's me, Ava." The door cracks open.

"What do you want?" She doesn't say it rudely, just warily.

"I'm sorry for what you heard." I say. "Kylie is just.... curious."

"So I'm a rude snob because I don't want to talk about my house? I'm tired of answering questions."

"No, of course not." Emma is quiet for a while. She finally comes out of the stall.

"Why did she call it that? The local ghost house."

"You don't know?" She huffs out a sigh.

"No, clearly not."

"It's... a lot. Do you want to meet somewhere after school? I can tell you the story, but it isn't pleasant."

"I figured. And yes. What about Bean and Brew?"

"Sure, that sounds good." She turns to leave. "Wait, Emma." She stops. "Have you really not experienced anything?"

"I have. Nothing big, so I've been trying to ignore it. Look, I'll tell you later. And I want you to come alone."

"I will." I head to class.

"Are you feeling any better, Ava?" Mrs. Porter asks.

"I am. Sorry about that."

"That's ok, just get your notebook out, I'll give you the notes you met after class."

**********

"Well?" Kylie asks.