Yes my first house. I am 24 just finished college and I'm moving out of my parents house. I never thought this day would come, although I wish I wasn't leaving my adoring parents the exciting sense of accomplishment I feel buying a new house all buy myself, that I can decorate and make my own is amazing. I found a cute house on the outskirts of my hometown, so I can still frequently visit them on a daily basis, plus this house is cheap! It's basically my dream house, in the woods 4 bed rooms, 3 baths a beautiful shade of blue also it is only 15 years old. When I was little I made a promise to myself to only buy a brand new house, in case you know there were some scary monsters left behind by other owners. But being out and about looking for an affordable brand new house is really fricken hard. So I settled for moderately old a 1995 house isn't bad at all. I know some people who live in houses that we built in the 1700's, that is just crazy. My house is just what I wanted how could I turn it down, the owners lowered the offering price significantly just so I could afford it. It gave me that good right feeling every time I walked into the house, not a creepy unsettling evil feeling. I even brought my parents in to see what they thought of it, they loved it. My parents love their House Hunters show on HGTV, so I could totally trust them with their opinion. The area is perfect, for when I get married and maybe even have kids, good town, great school system. All of the pieces of my life were falling into each other perfectly.

"Eileen I have decided to buy the house!" I spoke excitedly into the phone's speaker.

"Great, Claire sounds great I'll call the home owners as soon as I get off the phone with you to set up the final meeting. They should be thrilled, are you happy?" Eileen my Real Estate helper person asked me.

"Yes I am wicked excited can't wait to redecorate it and make it mine!" I said clapping my hands together, while spinning around in my desk chair located in my room at my parents house.

"Great I will email you the details about the meeting as soon as I know what is going on."

"Thanks bye!"

"Bye sweetie." I hung up the phone and ran into my living room, where both of my parents were sitting watching television, while sipping their usual morning coffee.

"MOM DAD! Guess what, guess what, guess what!" I said jumping up and down just like I was a little kid again.

"What, what, what?" My mom asked getting excited, putting her coffee on the table and standing up.

"I'm buying the house, I just called Eileen and told her that I want to meet with the home owners as soon as possible!" I rambled running to hug my parents.

"Oh that is wonderful!" My mom gushed.

"My little baby is leaving me?" my dad said sadly getting up and hugging me.

"Yes dad, don't make me cry this is my first time away from home." I said squeezing him tightly.

"We used to always joke about how you would never survive on your own, because you couldn't cook, or do anything for yourself." He laughed.

"I could do stuff, well maybe not cook, but I was just to lazy or maybe to busy to do it haha," I laughed wiping a tear off of my cheek.

"I am so proud of you Claire." My mom said.

"I love you guys, remember I'm only going to live 10 minutes away."

"We love you too, visit often."

I quickly ran upstairs and checked my email, surely Eileen has talked to Sherri and Bail my now. "Ding a Ling You got mail!" my computer chimed at me, making my jump as it usually does. Yup, here is the email.

"You have a meeting with them at the house, tomorrow at 10 am." I read off the bright screen. YES!

"Claire, dinner!" My mom called from the kitchen.

"Be right down, mom!" I yelled closing my lap top and quickly putting on my fluffy slippers. I can't believe this is actually happening.
That night I slept wonderfully with my mom's delicious dinner she made, Butternut mac and cheese, oh how I will miss my mothers cooking. All I see in my future is burnt food, or cereal. That is unless I find a great man who can cook, then I will have a dream life!

It is 9:45 and I am currently driving to my almost new house for the final meeting, gosh I am so excited. I turned on the radio and blasted the song playing. Finally I'm here, I thought pulling into the long drive way belonging to my light blue house.

"Hello Claire, so nice to see you again!" Sherri said, running out of the house and towards my car.

"Thanks nice to see you again, this is so exciting!" I said opening my car door.

"Well we are all here so we might as well start the meeting early." Sherri explained "Oh sorry I did not realize that I was holding us up." I apologized.

"Oh hush dear, you arrived early, I can tell that you are going to be great in life!" she loved

"Oh well thank you so much." The meeting lasted about an hour. We discussed everything down to the type of grass seed, she uses in the spring to the final price of the house. The couple seemed open to changing the price of the house, since they needed to sell it and move in to their new house. They never told me why they had to get out of this lovely house on such a short notice, but who was I to complain? I was getting a new house for pete's sake.

As everyone left my house, yes MY house, I laid down on the cream carpeted floor of my new living room. I pictured everything now, the coach, TV, the house plant in the corner, even the olive colored walls, with it's cream accents. "Ahhh this is the life." I mumbled to myself.

Suddenly I heard a mumbled from another room. I jumped up off the ground and quickly walked towards the sound.

"Hello?" I called out, my voice shaky. More mumbles.

"Claire, nice to meet the new owner." I heard a whisper. Was I going crazy? Paranoia never heard that popular with new house owners.

"Hello? Who's there?" I called out again. I heard a whisper, then a whooshing sound. This made me jump, the sound seemed to be coming from behind me. I whipped around.

"Who's there, what do you want... ? This is my house now!" I yelled. Suddenly my phone rang, buzzing in my purse. I jumped so high I could probably touch the ceiling. I quickly opened my phone and answered.

"Hello?" "Hi Claire it's your mom, we were just wondering how your new house is going? You got it right?" My mom asked.

"Yes, yes I got it, it's great. But mom. . . can I ask you something seriously. Promise you won't laugh at me."

"Sure honey, what is it?" "Well, when the home owners and Eileen left the house, I was laying on the floor, you know enjoying the feel of my new house. . ."

"Right," "And then I heard a noise, it was like mumbling and then I heard someone say 'Claire, nice to meet the new owner' Then I heard more mumbling and then a whooshing sound!" I rambled out quickly

"Claire, honey, are you sure you weren't imaging it, or someone was still in the house? Did you check the entire house?" My mom ask, questing my sanity.

"Of course mom, there was no one in the house, I swear! What if my new house is haunted?" I whispered that last part quietly.

"Oh sweetie maybe we just watch too many of those Ghost Hunter's shows, you know with Steve and Tango, you favorite guys."

"Yeah I know mom, I remember but I swear I am not imaging it." My voice quivered at the realization of my mother's words.

"I imagine a lot of strange things, school can do that to you, mom, but this is not my imagination!"

"Okay sweetie, well maybe in a couple of days when you add your personal touches everything will be okay, if not, maybe you could bring in a paranormal squad in, they could help. It is their job you know."

"Yeah mom, I know. Anyways, would you, Dad, and Amelia come help me move in the next couple of days. I know Amelia has school but, maybe on the weekends. I need to go to Ikea and Home Depot soon, you can help right? You love that stuff."

"Yeah sure hon, I would love to. When you were younger you always talk about designing your master bedroom, a beautiful light blue color with black and white furniture, are you still planning on doing that? It's a great idea you were so imaginative and good at designing when you were little."

"Thanks mom, I still am good at designing, you know considering how I am doing the whole life coach, loose weight, redecorate a room, new wardrobe, go green."

"Yes, yes I know, you took all of your favorite things and combined them into one job, that is such a great idea. So are you going to do your bedroom that way?" My mom asked once again.

"Of course, those colors go together amazingly plus it's feminine and masculine at the same time, so when I actually get a boyfriend it will satisfy both of us." I said smiling to myself. The idea thrilled me, but reality scared the crap out of me. The truth is I haven't really had a boyfriend since eleventh grade I really liked this guy, Andrew Higgins. We dated for four years, four long memorable years, I honestly loved him. He was my best friend. I leaned on him when times were tough and school sucked. He felt the same, we were perfect for each other. Until... the unthinkable happened, who thought, we were only in high school. Andrew Jacob Higgins died on March 3, 2002 end of eleventh grade, it was a car accident, he was hit when some one ran a red light. He was on the way to see me, at my house. The hardest time I have ever experienced before in my life. I was emotionally scarred. I locked myself in my room, for several weeks, my parents trying to get me out. Finally I went back to school just going through the motions. I graduated 3rd in my class. The event took a toll on me, I couldn't date anyone again, it made me too sad. "Mom. . .I have to go," I said quickly as tears ran down my face, "I'll see you soon."

"Are you alright, Claire?" my mom asked.

"Yeah, see you soon." I sniffled quickly hanging up. I slid down on the wall and pulled my knees against my chest; then sobbed. I let out all of the bottled up emotions I have kept since I left my room in eleventh grade and let it all pour out. About ten minutes later I got up off the ground and walked out the door locking it, with my key to my new house. I sat in my car and wiped the wet tears off of my cheeks.

"Andy," I cried to myself in the car.

"Claire," a voice whispered in my ear.

"Huh?" I asked.

"Claire, it's me Andy I'm alright. God gave me a chance to come back and talk to you. I love you, and I miss you."

"Oh, Andy I miss you so much. This house was suppose to be ours. We were suppose to get married and have kids." I cried.

"Claire, pull your car over and look in your passenger seat. But WAIT don't look until you pull over, I can't stand it if you died now."
I pulled over quickly and whipped my head to the side. In my seat was Andrew, my Andy.

"ANDREW!" I screamed covering up my mouth as I started to sob. "Can can can I touch you?" I asked as I reached my hand out to him.

"Yes, yes you can, stay true to your religion and God will be as kind to you as he is too me." He cried grasping my hand and pulling me into his familiar body.

"Andy I love you so much, I can't live with out you." I sobbed into his shoulder.
He pulled away and kissed me softly on my lips. Grasping the sides of my face and running his fingers through my hair. The kiss grew more urgent now, this kiss was going to be our last, until I die. The thought killed me on the inside but I couldn't think like this now. Good things are happening now.

"Mmm An. . . dy." I moaned.

"Claire, oh Claire I miss you so much," he whispered pulling only inches away from me. Our foreheads touching, noses brushing, our lips still barely touching as he spoke on the corner of my parted lips.

"But you can't hold up your life for me. You need to move on. I'm dead."

"No. . . no I can't, why would you tease me like that!" I screamed.

"I came back to tell you that I won't be mad if you date other guys. I am alright, and I will be waiting for you in heaven where we belong." he said grabbing my hand and bringing it up to his lips, to kiss it.

"Good bye Claire."

"No no Andy don't leave yet." I cried.

"I love you." He said as he shimmered away. Once again the tears came rushing through and soaking my cold cheeks. All that was left of him was the cold air in the passenger seat.
I drove the remainder of the way home, in silence. I walked out of my car and into my door to my parents house. I dropped my bags and slowly walked up stairs to my room.

"Hi, Claire, how are you?" my mom asked, I just kept walking.

"Are you okay?" she repeated.

"No mom, I am not okay." I snapped.

"Wh- what happened?" she stammered.

"I saw Andrew." "You. . . saw Andrew? Andrew Higgins?" she asked.

"Yes." "Are you sure honey, you have obviously had a traumatic day, are you sure you aren't just imagining things. I mean first the ghost in the house, now Andy?"

"MOM! WHY DON'T YOU EVER BELIEVE ME? I'M NOT CRAZY!" "Okay, lower your voice. I believe you I believe you. What happened?"

"I really don't want to talk about, I'm just going to go upstairs and sleep."

"Alright if you want to talk then come see me."

"Sure, sure thing." I said waving her off while making my way up the stairs.

The next few days dragged on I went to Ikea and Home Depot, packed up all of my stuff and painted most of my rooms in my new house with my mom. Hearing not a single peep from either of my ghosts. Making my mom not even believe me for a second. I predict a mental institute suggestion from my mother in the near future. My bedroom was decorated as I promised when I was a child, my house was perfect. It was missing only one piece, Andrew. I moved in and was thankful to be away from my mother for a little while. I knew she only loves me and cares about me, but her constant worries about me is bugging me. I was alone in my big house. Although I like to be alone, to be honest, being alone is scary, and sad. All I remember is memories from high school with Andy.
One night while reading an old time favorite book of mine, I started to see something.
I kept reading, hopefully whatever it was is not there and I'm imagining it again. Reading will distract me.

"Claire"

"Andy? Is that you?" I asked putting my book aside of me in my bed.

"No it's me." A girls voice laughed appearing at the edge of my bed.

"Oh my God!" I gasped horrified.

"No please, don't be scared! I am just as lonely as you are. Please." she begged.

"Alright, I won't leave. Who are you? How do you know my name?" I asked.

"My name is Caroline White. Have you seen my boyfriend? He's mad at me again. Now that I think about it, he was madder than he usually is. I mean he usually hits me, but it's my fault. It's always my fault, I'm such a bad girlfriend."

"He abused you?" I asked concerned.

"What do you mean abused. Past tense abuse?" she asked.

"Your dead. . ." I explained.

"No no no what do you mean? It's 1987, a few days ago my boyfriend and I got in a fight. He was very mad at me. But it was just like any other fight, he gave me what I deserved and then left my house."

"Caroline. . . I do not want to be the one to break it to you but it's 2010 and you are a ghost. Your dead Caroline."

"It's 2010? Is the world over? I'm confused." she mumbled.

"Well tell me the fight, tell me exactly what happened." I said calmly.

"Well, it was raining outside, and my boyfriend William, Willy for short was jealous of me talking to my boy best friend. So he pulled me harshly by the arm into the car. Then while swearing and screaming at me he drove to my house, and dragged me out of the car, while I was screaming for help. I deserved it though I shouldn't talk to other guys I only have one boyfriend. So we were in my house and he was screaming and hitting me, then I was on the floor. All I remember was him kicking me, then reaching into his back pocket. Then I heard a loud banging noise." she described her death to me, exactly. This is scary.

"Okay, for one thing being abused by a man is NEVER your fault. Do you mind elaborating for me this loud bang sound? What did it sound like?" I asked.

"I don't know, like a bang. The sound you hear in those movies, when someone gets shot. . . shot. . . You don't think he shot me do you?"

"I don't know I wasn't there, but it sure sounds like it. I'm sorry I hate to be the one to tell you about this." "Please! Help me, I need to know!" she cried.

"I'll go to the library tomorrow and research you." I sighed.

"Oh thank you so much Claire, you are so kind. Get some sleep." She laughed.

"Alright goodnight." I smiled shutting of the light as she disappeared.

Naturally I could not sleep. It's not every day you encounter two ghosts in one day. Your dead ex-boyfriend and an abused ghost trapped in your new house. I should be terrified. I used to watch ghost shows all the time when I was little, scared of every dark corner in my house. I've gone on many ghost tours this also scared me. But now that I'm older I realise how sad ghosts really are. They died a traumatic death, that has caused them to be trapped on earth, not even realising that they have died. It's so sad. The scariest part are the demons trapping them here on earth, not allowing them to leave. But that only happens in rare cases. You could say that I have done my studies about ghosts.

I woke up that morning confused and in a daze, I needed to do something. I got ready and drove to the library, I had to look up that ghost, Caroline White. What happened to her? Plus it would help, to find out how to help a ghost to move on.

"Welcome to the Hancock, Maine Library how may I help you?" the nice librarian asked me. She is the stereotypical librarian: old kind lady, grey hair, glasses, and saggy boobs.

"Hi, I'm looking for old information and files about past people who lived here."

"Are you researching somebody?"

"Yes, her name is Caroline White."

"Okay, right this way. What reasons are you researching Ms. White for?"

"Um, well, personal reasons." I mumbled don't want everyone in the town to think I am a crazy person. The librarian rolled her eyes and led me to a computer looking thing labeled Town Files.

"Okay what you do, is type in the person you are searching for and all of their files in this town, will come up. If you need any further help, please feel free to come and get me."

"Okay, thank you very much."