The old house stood in the midst of gloominess.
A monster made out of wood, its claws towering to catch the next prey. It stood on a little hilly land, covered in moss on the corners with an unlighted row of windows on the second story. Trees scattered in the front yard, where we stood.
One word: creepy.
The tall structure was barren as if it's abandoned since ages, bearing a great deal of pain and cries. It felt so hollow and sad that it made my spine shudder.
Or maybe this is how I wanted the house to be, so I could use that as an excuse to go back to my old house. I was making this up because this was not how I planned.
My parents weren't supposed to be divorced, my boyfriend wasn't supposed to dump me (in front of the whole school, I might add), I wasn't supposed to spend my senior year in an oddly exotic place all of a sudden!
The house was ancient and abandoned- sure, quite eerie too, but it was medievally beautiful. And we got this at a very low rent!
"Isn't it beautiful, Claire?" my elder brother, Jake got out of his car and stood near me. "This place is much more peaceful than our neighborhood back in Rivera."
"Nope. Nowhere near beautiful. And too quiet. Creepy!" I shuddered which he ignored.
"Aye, come on now. Help me unload the bags." he tugged me back to the car.
I scoffed like a little girl and suggested, "Why don't we go back to Rivera? I hate this place. Super Creepy! I think I saw someone watching from the windows above. Not safe." I exaggerated.
He laughed at that, "Oh, we both know that's not happening. Remember what mom said. Rivera is past now,"
"Havendell is present and Hell is future," I added that last part on my own.
Jake laughed again and reminded while gazing the sky, "It'll be if you keep standing here. Looks like it'll rain. So, hurry before we get ourselves and our luggage wet." I humped my shoulders and lazily followed my brother to get our bags.
Jake helped mom move most of our furniture and luggage a month ago when she moved here. Jake and I stayed back in Rivera with our grandmother to complete our semesters. Jake just graduated from high school and will attend Springwood University this fall (away from Havendell, lucky for him).
And me? I'll be stuck in this hell hole while I finish my senior year without my best friend, Aria, and my dad. Mom got a back-office job for the night shift, in one of the finest restaurants here named 'Sands & Witches', all thanks to my Aunt Holly.
After the divorce, mom thought moving across the country would be helpful for all of us. And just like that, my life changed when my dad cheated on my mom, and now I'm halfway across the country in a completely foreign land, where we know zero people while Aunt Holly moved out of town just before mom moved in. Ugh.. can't handle all this now.
"Move your feet, little lady," Jake said as he came to pick up a bag after opening the door.
"It's heavy!" I cried as I walked behind him inside the house.
"I told you to give away your books."
"Touch my books and I'll kill you-" I warned him but stopped as I took in the interior as soon as I stepped in.
It was spacious. And it smelled a lot like my old house, which I noticed because of mom's favorite lavender room freshener. The living room stretched wide in front of us, a staircase attached to the wall on the right took up to the second story. A kitchen on the left, behind what I assumed to be the garage.
"That's mom room." Jake pointed at the door across us, on the other side of the living room.
Two leather couches from my old house sat there in L-shape, and I craned my neck as I walked forward, where our old TV was stationed on the far wall. I took a breath of relief as I saw the familiar furniture. Who knew that old rusted furniture could give you happiness?
"Our rooms?" I turned back towards Jake, who was already climbing the stairs with two heavy bags. He pointed upwards and I grinned with excitement.
I always wanted to live in a house with my room on the upper story as we lived in an apartment back in Rivera. I won't be saying this anytime soon, but I'm quite liking it. Havendell won't suck as much as I made up my mind for it.
My smile vanished as my eyes fell on my luggage. I have to carry it upstairs! In that moment - just for a moment, I preferred to have a Kindle against my hardcovers. I groaned as I carried my bag, 'dragged' would suit better, step by step.
I was out of breath as I reached the upper floor, which looked even more spacious and airy. There was a huge patio door across me (was that a sun room?) and two doors on the right side. Jake appeared from the first one as I warned him, "If we're sharing bathrooms, I'll drive back to Rivera this instant."
He carried my bag and motioned me to follow him. On reaching the first door on the right, he said, "This is mine."
I peeked my head inside to see his old black bed and white & blue sheets. His desk on the other side of the bed, with his computer and books stacked on it. And a bathroom door! I raised my eyebrow at him when he opened the door right next to his saying, "And this is yours!"
I rushed inside it and took every detail of my new room. All my anxiety and irk-ness vanished as I saw a room beautiful than my previous one.
First, it was huge! Second, it had an attached bathroom! My bookshelves and wardrobes and cabinets stood against the wall and in the middle of it laid my soft bed. I plopped onto it, realizing I missed it so much. There were windows on two sides of my room, one behind my bed and one on the left wall between bookshelves.
"So, I guess you liked it?" Jake stood near the door with folded hands and a smug look on his face.
"Loved it!" I shouted. I saw a house from the window between my shelves. It was freshly painted and the window across mine looked new and modern.
"Told ya!" he said as he walked over and sat beside me. He placed a hand on my shoulder gently and I rolled my eyes. I know what was coming - an 'old caring brother' talk. He was too predictable.
"Claire, I know this is hard. It's hard for all. But, at least try, ok? Mom.. she needs our support." His thin figure looked even weaker as his worried eyes bore into mine. He reminded me much of dad with his lean and bony tall body, hollow cheeks and bright eyes. I was more like mom. Dark brown hairs, short and not-at-all thin body and freckled skin, though mom was way more beautiful. I was just... fine.
But looks apart, I was more like dad. That's why I'd miss him the most. But, no matter how hard it was for me, I never seriously opposed the idea of moving across the country all of a sudden, even if it was the last thing I wanted to do. I could never tell them that. Jake, just like mom, takes matters too seriously. They're always having internal panic attacks while I, I keep trying.
So, I nodded in agreement. "To be honest, this is exactly the kind of house I wanted to live in. Few more dozen rooms and modern equipment, servants roaming around wouldn't hurt, though." I joked.
That was my strength. I act everything is fine, joke around, laugh, make smart, sarcastic comments. That's how I survived no matter how lonely and broken I felt.
Jake stood up and walked over to the window behind my bed, "I think I forgot to tell you one important thing about this house."
My heart skipped at his serious tone. Has anything happened here before? Something tragic? Murder? Suicide? That would be so interesting! I twisted on my bed to look at him.
A sly grin appeared on his face as he said, "I think there's a lake in our backyard."
I jumped out of the bed and rushed to his side. "Jake Archer Hunter, how can you forget this important detail?!"
Looking out of the window, unsurprisingly now, I saw the lake outstretched as far as the horizon. The lake wasn't practically in our backyard, though. One would have to walk down the slope towards the shore, which was now deserted. The sun was about to set down and dark clouds scattered in the sky made this evening blooming with beauty.
Tiredness vanished from my body as I asked him, "Can I go down, please?"
"Sure," Jake shrugged, "There are still a couple of bags but I'll get them. And I'll make something for dinner. Don't be late."
I was already at the door as soon as he said 'sure'. "Don't cook anything. Order pizzas." He was clearly tired from driving for so long and I can't cook anything edible.
"There's a back door in the kitchen," he said as I pranced downstairs, "and the lock isn't working."
"Okay!" I shouted as I reached the kitchen. After gulping down some water, I rushed out of the back door to the backyard. It was clouded with a green lawn. A set of swing was placed just under Jake's room, a tall, stone wall build behind it. Was there a house on that side? I'll inspect later.
I kept walking down towards the lake, its dewy, salty aroma flooded my nose. I wished I could run towards it with arms open just like in the movies, but then I saw a man standing there, with hands in his khaki short pockets. I stopped running and walked at a normal pace, my eyes focused on the serene lake.
When I stood on the edge of the shore, I secretly glanced at the man who wasn't much farther from me. However, he was quite young, I realized. He was in fact in his teens, like me. His tall and hugely built body made him look older, but the way he had styled his bear-brown hair (he might not have styled at all) was messy and covered most of his forehead. He had a rocking jawline and though I could see half of his face, I could tell he was an eye candy. He had, I kid you not, a magazine cover model vibe.
I inspected my clothes which were worn out jean shorts and really faded yellow tank. I cursed myself for not even getting fresh before running around like a lunatic.
When I turned towards him again, his eyes were already on me, inspecting me like I was an alien. I gave a lame smile and jerked back towards the lake. I hate awkward meetings and this was no less.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw him bending down and picking up some stones. He threw them in the lake, one by one- and they skipped. Was he showing off his Stone Skipping techniques? On the last one, he leaned down and closed one eye, in all professional posture, and threw the rock with swagger as if it was a classy golf game. But the stone dipped without skipping.
A small laugh escaped my mouth and I didn't try to hide it. "Show-off," I muttered as I was turning back towards my new house, but he stepped forward blocking my way.
Did I piss him off?
I gave an annoyed look as I glanced up at him. He was way taller and describing him as eye-candy would insult his Greek god handsomeness.
Please, don't say something stupid and kill my beauty-gazing!
His brows fused together in confusion, his light brown eyes somewhat scared.
Wow, I could scare a 6-feet-tall, handsome guy, who knew?
And then he spoke.
I would've had a huge crush on him if he hadn't said those exact words with his hard voice. "Can you see me?"
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