Chapter 1
I let out a sleepy sigh as a large, mansion-looking house came into view. I felt my eyes grow wide as I slowly realized that was where we were going.
"W-w-wait…that's kind of a b-big house…it d-doesn't look all that d-discreet…" I stuttered as we got closer.
"Don't worry. It's land that my grandma owned." Simon said, squeezing my hand a little tighter to comfort me. "She was planning on living there once she got all of her finances in order. She passed away a couple of years back, and she left this land to dad, but we never actually moved in, just visited for a little while. The only way they'd know about it is if they looked through her will." I instantly wondered if I would see her ghost there. After all of the spirits I'd seen in the past days, I didn't really feel like seeing another one, even if it was Simon's grandmother.
"She didn't die here though," Derek said, as if reading my mind "I don't think you'll be seeing her."
"Of course. We can't go anywhere that might make Chloe uncomfortable in the slightest." Tori interjected.
"Tori…" Simon started, but I cut him short with a 'don't worry about it' look.
"Ok. There's no one living near here, but we shouldn't be out in the open if we can help it." Andrew said as he parked the car. We all got out and stretched for a few seconds.
"What are you doing?" Simon asked as Derek immediately walked to the front of the car. I gasped as he bent down and tugged at the front license plate twice before it came off in his hands.
"The Edison Group could've already reported this truck stolen. We can't do that much about it now, but we can keep them from identifying the car as long as they don't come very close." Derek put the plate into Andrew's outstretched hand. Andrew didn't even seem to meet his eyes. Derek hesitated only for a moment before going around to the back and doing the same thing.
"Let's go, just in case." Andrew said, run walking up to the house, all of us on his heels, trying to keep up, despite our sore muscles.
Once we had gotten into the house, I spent a little bit of time looking up at the high ceiling and old paintings before Simon walked up the steps to where Tori and I would be sleeping. Tori pushed her way through and into the room first, leaving Simon and I alone in the hallway. He stared into my eyes for a moment before finally letting go of my hand. I felt an awkward emotion as we just stood there. I realized that he had started leaning in to kiss me, his eyes narrowing into slits.
For some reason, my eyes darted around the hallway, trying to find something to redirect his attention. Thankfully, Derek walked up the stairs and turned our way. His eyes met mine for a split second before he looked down at the floor, as if ashamed of interrupting Simon and I. Simon's eyes followed mine until he noticed his foster brother. He coughed awkwardly as Derek opened the door nearest the staircase and disappeared into the room.
"Goodnight." Simon said. I heard a note of disappointment, and maybe even annoyance in his voice. I scolded myself as he vanished into the room that Derek had just gone into, shutting the door gently behind him. Why hadn't I just kissed him? He was sweet, funny, creative, and attractive. Everything every boy I had ever had a crush on was. I really wanted to kiss him, but something had held me back.
I shook my head clear and walked into the room, shutting the door gently behind me and realizing that Tori had already laid down and looked asleep. I quietly flopped down on the bed nearest the window. I pulled off my gray sweatshirt, which was still covered in Derek's dried blood. The memory of Liam and Ramon flooded back into my head, and I threw the sweatshirt to the side, not wanting to think about them right now. I decided to just leave my jeans on, just in case we needed to make a really fast get away in the morning, though I doubted it. I turned and clicked the green lamp off, letting the darkness wrap around me.