The Sexton House - Harry Styles * COMPLETED*

10.

I sit my coffee down on the counter, groaning to myself. Who would come over at seven in the morning? I groggily walk to the front door, hoping it's just Charlie telling me I don't have to come into work today.

I unlock the door, pulling it towards me.

"Hello! My name is Maggie Bennington and I am from Russellville High School. One of my classes assigned us to write a story on something that interests us, and I was hoping I could interview you about this house. I'm a big fan of ghost stories." By the time the young chipper girl is done with her little speech I am ready to sit down. It's too early for me to be dealing with teenagers.

"Uh...maybe a different time, I guess? I mean you do have all summer right?" I don't really want the young girl to stir up anything else about this house, but she just seems so overexcited and I don't want to be the one to crush her dream.

"Correct, but I like getting things done. Plus, there's a lot to this house and it's story I want to be able to get every detail- it's very important that this assignment gets done properly," Maggie explains, flipping her long curling brown hair behind her shoulder.

"Well, I have to work today, so maybe some other time?" I try to reason.

"How about later? I'll come by after you get off work."

"Uh-"

"What time do you get off work?" I'm guessing she doesn't take no for an answer.

"I get off at four today," I tell the bubbly, pushy girl.

"Okay, I'll see you then!" she practically screeches. Maggie waves 'bye' and hurries off the porch, getting into her VW Beetle. I shut the door and lock it.

"That was weird," I say to myself.

"What was?" my mother asks, coming into the living room.

"Nothing. It was just some girl selling Girl Scout cookies," I lie, because I really don't want my mother to find out why she was really here.

"Oh, really? Did you buy me any?"

"No, I'm sorry, I'm trying to cut back on sweets." It's an even a bigger lie then the first one.

"Oh, well, I should probably do the same..." My mother tells me about how she has gained two pounds since I left, and I almost laugh. She says it's because she has been so stressed out over me leaving her, but really I think she's just saying that. Even if she has, it doesn't matter, she doesn't look any bigger- but she makes it out like she gained twenty.

"I'm off to work, I'll be back around six." I tell my mother 'six', hoping she'll stay out until then so I can talk to Maggie without her knowing.

"I'm going to look around town. Be safe," she tells me, kissing the side of my cheek. I wipe it off when she's not looking.

* * *

"Harry, you're late" is the first thing that comes flying out of Charlie's mouth as I walk over to the shed.

"Yes, I know. I'm sorry, my mother is in town." Charlie's head pops up, at the word of 'mother' I'm guessing.

"Your mother? How old is she?" He did not just go there...

"Really? You're like old, no offense, but my mom isn't old enough," I tell him, a bit disgusted as the mental imagines of my mother and Charlie together go into my head.

"Hush, boy. Age is but a number," he says, looking up at the clear sky with a grin that says 'I'm picturing your mother in bed with me right now'.

"No, stop it! She wouldn't be into you, anyway."