Chapter One:

'So I have to wait for like two weeks for you to do a simple task on my car?' She drummed her fingers on the counter as she listened to the mechanic spin her some yarn about how they needed a part from somewhere else not to mention getting the tow machine to take it to the garage. 'Ok can you please let me know as soon as possible? Thank you!' She hung up after the man promised it would be done by the weekend and muttered a few curses under her breath.

'Ok what to do?' She sat and stared at the phone. Three times she had phoned them up asking about the car and three times they had added on extra days.
'Fine I will just walk everywhere! And sort it out myself.' She grabbed her purse and coat and left the house. She knew that she would need the car at some stage but that would be for something like travel afar right now she could walk and enjoy the mild weather.

It was evening and she was heading to the local bar to meet her friends. She was sure seeing them would lighten the mood and make her feel more like herself. God she needed a laugh and drink. The problem was that she was intent on not hearing the same things from them. I mean all they talked about were relationships, their relationship problems and how she should consider finding someone to have a relationship with.

God she hated that word.

They had all told her that she had spent too long thinking and feeling the same thing for someone who had left her. Maybe they were right but all she wanted was to be happy and content. She was all of those things and she had proved that she could be both of those things without a man around. She had spent a perfect month with the "perfect" man if there was such a thing. She shook her head as she stopped at a crossing and waited for the green light. She realised that he wasn't so perfect but then again no one was.

When he had left her she felt totally betrayed. The thing that always ran through her head was how could she have been so stupid to trust him. She didn't want to really think about him it had been a couple of months but she still felt utterly stupid and pathetic to have trusted someone so much when she had just met him. Then when he had confided in her his most trusted secret she felt special. She knew that he would never intentionally hurt her and that he had to go but she still felt used and sad. She still could remember those deep green eyes and that smirk and those teeth.
She smiled as the image of his face flitted in her memory.

Her friend Elaine grabbed her hand as she stepped straight in front of her path. 'Penny for your thoughts Tess?' She gasped. She hadn't seen her friend and she looked at her and suddenly smiled.
'Don't do that! I'm fine thanks I was just worrying about my car.' She opened the door to the bar and they stepped in. The room had recently been refurbished and it looked inviting and stylish. They wandered over to the bar and were immediately surrounded by their four friends. Hugs were exchanged it was a while since she had seen Josie and Kelly that it made a refreshing change to see them again.

Immediately chatter filled the air as each person struggled for the right to spill their news all at the same time. They sat down at one of the restaurant tables and soon they were all chatting and laughing about one thing and another. First off Elaine was talking about her partner Peter and everyone else had their turn and then everyone turned to her. She sat there and sipped her drink.
Elaine took the chance to pounce. 'So Tess you met anyone new?'

She looked at her friend over the rim of her glass. 'Laine I haven't met anyone yet simply because I'm not looking. That ever cross your mind. I prefer to be single and working and doing my own thing. I don't need a man.' She took a long drink of her wine. It was already making her feel slightly dizzy but she was still able to focus.

They all looked at her and Elaine said, 'You sure you not just a little frustrated? I mean do we need to buy a B.O.B?' Everyone laughed. She looked confused.

Kelly saw her expression and said, 'A battery operated boyfriend.' Tess laughed and they all giggled.

Tess took a deep breath. 'No thanks guys I think I'm good.' Josie looked around the table and said, 'Well the tales we have heard about this one with that Dean guy and their antics I think that she will be ok for a long time in the servicing department. I mean I know she was in college but I mean some of all that action can last for a lot longer.' Even Tess had to laugh. She knew her friends were joking with her. 'The benefit of a B.O.B is that they don't talk back or snore after.'

Laughter erupted again. She had told them all how Dean was an amazing lover and they were shocked at how she described his manner towards love making. He wasn't insatiable but he was very giving and sometimes she couldn't get enough of him.

She blushed at the thought of him holding her in his arms. The conversation had moved on and they were ignoring her so she could look at her friends. All of them women were in serious relationships that were going somewhere and all of them great friends who looked after her when Dean left.

Tuning back in Kelly was discussing her new house with Jake and she said, 'Well I'm sure something's going on in our new house. I mean last night Jake was out and I was just about to go to bed when the lights started flickering and I could hear this scrabbling from the basement. I mean we thought mice or rats. I don't know. It's happened a few times now and Jake can't find anything wrong with the wiring. We even called an electrician and also the pest control but they found nothing.' Twirling her drink she carried on, 'It's kind of scary. The thing is Jake had a fall recently and he sprained his ankle. He's ok but he said he had felt a strange presence. He said it felt like something pushed him. I told him it was probably nothing but that beer he had drunk before he fell. I know this sounds crazy but sometimes I swear I hear a child crying too.'

Tess's arms suddenly came alive with goose bumps and she felt cold. She looked at Kelly and smiled trying to reassure herself it wasn't anything to worry about.

The table erupted in chatter as Elaine said that there may have been a cat crying or something and everyone set about speaking and Tess suddenly shouted out, 'So you haven't actually seen the rats?'

Everyone's head snapped towards her. 'I mean. You know rats kind of generally see them... Ok I think I've had way too much to drink.'

She set her glass down to emphasise the point and giggles erupted. She took that opportunity to think about Dean's words. He had told her about those things in the dark. He had mentioned about spirits and about how they sometimes caused problems within the house itself to get attention. He had told her all while she lay in his arms listening in wonder and fear. She wasn't afraid or angry with Dean when he told her what he did. When she looked back at that moment he seemed shocked and surprised. He said that he had told someone before they had been so angry he had lost them altogether.