I noticed errors in my last chapter and changed them if anyone would like to read it again. I'm pretty happy how early I started this chapter. Hopefully I can finish it the same night or next day. Thank you for anyone who enjoyed the last chapter. I hope everyone enjoys this very late holiday chapter.
Adam was sitting on his bed reading one of his many books. It was a Sunday night and he planned for nothing, but relaxation and quiet. Gaston tried inviting him to, as Gaston put it, "cruising for chicks." Adam politely declined. Well actually he called Gaston a Neanderthal and hung up the phone, but that was as polite as Adam could be with Gaston. Adam took a sip of his hot tea while he drowned himself in his literature.
While Adam was distracted with his book he didn't notice his bedroom door slowly open. A small figure snuck its way past the door, it crawled on the floor and towards Adam's bed. Adam turned the page to his book, unaware of the intruder in his room. The figure crawled close to Adam and took a deep breath, then let out a loud "RAWR!"
"Get out of my room Chip." Adam didn't take his eyes of his book. He looked unamused with Chips childish joke.
"Aw, I didn't scare you one bit?" Chip's voice was muffled under his troll mask. His shoulders drooped down in disappointment.
"You're about as scary as Flounder's shadow." Adam looked up to see the rubber troll mask on Chip's head. "Why are you wearing that mask?"
"It's my costume for tonight. I'm going to the haunted house with everyone tonight. Want to join us?" Chip took off his mask. It was too warm and he was starting to sweat in the rubber mask. Adam looked back at his book, not interested in anything Chip said. It was the middle of October and just two weeks before Halloween. Halloween was always Adam's least favorite holiday; the candy and wacky costumes were too childish for Adam.
"I planned to sit home tonight and finish this book." Adam said. He turned the page in his book, he was halfway done and he felt like he already knew the answer to the mystery.
Chip showed himself to the door, but said this before leaving. "Okay, Ariel and Belle will just pick me up then."
"Wait." Adam's head shot up quickly from the book he couldn't tear himself away from seconds ago. Chip stopped in his footsteps to hear what Adam had to say. "Bell's going to be there?"
"Yeah, I told you EVERYONE was going to be there." Chip said.
"I'll drive us there." Adam grabbed his car keys from his bedside able and was out the bedroom door. Chip stared in confusion at Adam's sudden mood change.
The Haunted Mansion was an annual event in Walt Town. Students from Neverland High always volunteered to help with it, especially the seniors. It was tradition for seniors to dress up as scary as they could and scare the underclassmen during the event. This year Mulan and Li were excited to finally be part of it. The two were behind the building that was decorated to look like a haunted mansion. They were putting green face paint on to look like zombies. Mulan put on a raggedy brown wig that looked like the end of a broomstick. She put on the ugliest and raggedy clothes she could find.
"How do I look?" Li asked while wiggling his eyebrows. Mulan laughed when she saw the unibrow Li had drawn on his green face.
"Very terrifying Mr. Zombie." Mulan said while still laughing. She was secretly relieved when Ling, Chien – Po, and Yao said they couldn't help with the haunted mansion that night. As much as she loved those three she really wanted to do this with Li. The two were spending most days together since Li's break up with Meg. Mulan thought of telling Li how she really felt, but any time she tried she would get nervous and stuff any food that was close by in her mouth. Last week Mulan went home with a mouth full of marshmallows and an upset stomach.
Belle, Ariel, and Snow White were waiting for Chip and Adam by the line to the haunted mansion. They were accompanied by a few other friends as well. Quasimodo stood there with his favorite green jacket and next to him was a tall tanned girl with long black hair. She wore a brown leather jacket with an army green T-shirt underneath, black tights complimented her long legs, and to finish her outfit were black ankle boots. Pocahontas zipped up her leather jacket as a gush of cold wind blew by them.
"What's taking Chip so long?" Ariel shivered under her baby blue sweater. Her long red hair helped keep her from freezing completely.
"He said he had to ask Adam for a ride here." Belle stuffed her hands in her tanned coat. A few months ago, she would have protested Adam from coming along, but since the science project they did together they had been getting along better. They weren't the best of friends though, Adam still hung out with the villains of Neverland high and he would occasionally tease Belle. Now Belle tolerated it.
"Boo!" Flounder jumped in front of the two girls with a clown mask on.
"Nice try Flounder." Ariel lifted the mask off his face. His black and blue tinted hair fell over his eyes.
"Can't you at least act scared?" Flounder asked annoyed of his once again failed prank.
"Oh, there's Chip!" Quasimodo pointed at the short blonde boy coming out of the black car. Adam came out of the driver's side of the car, he wore a black coat and grey sweater. "And Adam is coming." Quasimodo sounded surprised and a little frightened. The step-brothers walked to the group of friends.
"Hey guys!" Chip was holding his mask in his hands.
"Hey." Adam stood there awkwardly, he never talked to the rest of the group besides Belle.
"Adam, you're going to be with us?" Pocahontas asked. She never had a liking for Adam, his friendship with Gaston revolted her. She remembered the day she was passing out flyers for the "Environment" club, Gaston crumbled up the flyer and threw it on the grass while telling her to go hug a tree. Adam stood next to him with just a slight look of amusement.
"I had nothing better to do." Adam fibbed.
"Well enough waiting! Let's go inside already!" Ariel hurried to the line for the haunted mansion. The rest followed with Belle and Adam behind. Flounder and Chip put their masks on while they excitedly waited in line.
"Didn't bring Gaston with you?" Belle asked.
"He went to a party instead, I didn't feel like going with him. Why? Miss him already?" Adam asked with a teasing smile.
"Don't make me gag." Belle twitched her nose with the thought of Gaston using every pick up line in history to annoy Belle. "I'm just surprised you're not with your evil clique right now."
"Clique?" Adam let out a small noise of amusement. "That's a cliché."
Adam looked down at Belle who was a few inches shorter than him. Belle looked forward as they got closer to the front of the line. Adam's eyes focused on Belle's brown hair that was put in a messy ponytail with her favorite yellow scrunchy. He smiled when he took full view of her tan colored coat and blue jeans, he only thought to himself how beautiful he thought she was.
The group of friends finally made it to the front of the line. They paid to get in the haunted mansion and the teens were ready to get their pants scared off. Ariel and Pocahontas screamed at the "Vampires" that jumped up from behind the fake cobwebs. The girls giggled at the thrill of being scared. Quasimodo tried tiptoeing away from any scary monsters that were looking for customers to frighten. He was never a fan of horror monsters or haunted houses. He was backing away from the mummy that was booing at another group of friends and accidently bumped into a werewolf who growled at him, Quasimodo yelped when he saw the fake fangs and furry mittens used as paws. Chip and Flounder had their masks on while hoping they could scare the volunteer monsters. They booed and rawer hoping they can scare at least one person.
Adam and Belle stuck close together in the haunted mansion. They passed a few monsters and scary backgrounds. The haunted mansion had various rooms with different themes, one was decorated as a scary doctor's room while another one was decorated as a graveyard. Belle squealed and laughed whenever a monster scared her. Adam didn't usually find haunted houses entertaining, but being there with Belle made that night fun.
The two went into a room full of mirrors, it was dim with only one light bulb lit up. The two went inside the room with curiosity. Belle looked at every full-length mirror that was put in a circle.
"Well this isn't very scary." Belle said as she looked at her reflection in one of the mirrors. She walked to another mirror to look at her reflection again only this time she saw a volunteer with a black cape and terrifying makeup. Belle screamed at this hair-raising surprise, she was so scared she jumped in Adams arms. She hid her face on his grey sweater while Adam held her. He wasn't sure what to do at first, but quickly comforted her. He rubbed her back gently, Belle was surprisingly comfortable in Adam's arms. She felt warm and safe. Belle slowly looked up at Adam with her brown eyes with full lashes. For the first time Adam felt his heart skip a beat, he was completely flustered.
"Are you okay?" The volunteer took the hoodie off his head and stepped out of the empty frame Belle was looking at.
Belle let out a small gasp, she wiggled out of Adams arms. Adam cleared his throat and crossed his arms. He turned his head away as if the moment never happened.
"Oh, yeah, yeah I'm fine." Belle ended the sentence with an awkward laugh. She looked at Adam then blushed madly.
