I really want to stick with this story, so please I would really appreciate feedback!

Chapter Five

Jimmy opened the door to the janitor's closet in a hurry, and swiftly entered inside. He knew exactly where to find the cleaning supplies since he and Mike previously worked in that station.

He grabbed the soap and sponges, then reached for a couple small hand buckets. He hadn't realized how dark it was. There was something about closets that didn't frighten him compared to peer pressure he faced throughout his life.

Even if the fluffy monster did sense something in the shadows earlier, he never would have guessed anything here. It was different from the employee lounge and the crosswalk yesterday.

However, yesterday was different than today because he wasn't alone. The fact that he was with Mike made him stronger. He wasn't sure if it was that his instinct to protect him kicked him, or if it was the fact that he felt like he was being protected by his best friend. Either way, it was more frightening seeing that shadowy figure in the employee lounge.

Jimmy was suddenly reminded of that when he heard the ceiling creek from above him. It startled him, because it was something that didn't usually happen in the janitors closet, which was for the most part neatly built.

But why am I so frightened? he thought. Things like this don't usually scare me. He heard the ceiling creek again, so he left out a scoff. He picked up the supplies.

That's when the room went completely back, because the door slammed shut behind him. Jimmy turned to it. "Huh? Hey!" He began to knock on the door. "Hey, anyone there?"

He stopped when he heard a rustling sound from behind him, as if something was exploring the closet. He gasped in surprise when he turned behind him, although it was hard to see in a pitch-black closet.

Jimmy could briefly see the outlined shapes of the mops, brooms, and the shelves that hung on the walls. He waited in silence for the sound again. After a few seconds, he could definitely hear somebody going through the different spray bottles. It was as if somebody were trying to find the perfect cleaning product to use, if it resembled a weapon.

The blue monster held his breath and tried to remain calm, thinking about the possibilities. The only thing dangerous in a closet would be a human child, and this wasn't a portal to the human world.

Jimmy shook his head. The possibility of somebody being in here was slim, and the fluffy monster wasn't going to waste his fear on something that wasn't there.

Still, he had to get out of there, and breaking down the door would get Jimmy in a lot of trouble. So, he rummaged around for something that could help, like a flashlight or a lighter. Even if he couldn't see, feeling around with his hands was a benefit, especially when he was familiar with the items in the closet.

Jimmy remembered Mike trying to work a lighter in here a couple weeks back, and he burnt his hand in the process. Remembering his friend's clumsiness was always helpful. That lighter is still in here, he thought, even if it doesn't work very well, I can still use it to try to find a way out.

After a moment, the monster finally found it. He began to squeeze it and hit it on his arm to get it to trigger. After a few bumps, the flame appeared.

Wrinkly finger.

It only took him a split second to lose the lighter, and let it fall to the floor. Jimmy rushed back to the door and started to pound on it again. He hoped, with all his might, that somebody would hear.

Wrinkly finger.

Somebody had to hear, because he knew what he saw. It was behind him. It was in there with him, and he wanted to get away.

Wrinkly finger.

He could feel it getting closer to him. He could feel it get so close that it was about to touch the tips of his fur. He did not stop pounding or yelling until somebody would come to the door.

Thirty seconds went by, and it felt like hours. Jimmy still did not stop. He did not understand why he was so afraid. He was a scary monster and he had the strength and ability to scare whatever was in there with him. However something was holding him back, and he did not know what.

Finally, after a whole minute went by, the door burst open, and there stood Mike with a quite puzzled, yet frustrated look on his face. It wasn't at all clear if he was concerned for his friend, but more of trying to figure out why he was still in there.

"What are you doing?" Mike asked.

Jimmy stared at him for a few seconds. "I'm just—" he turned round to see that the figure was no longer there. There was no point in telling Mike what he just saw, especially now. "I was getting the stuff to wash off the counters."

"Forget it, there's no time. I found something else. Come on." Mike led his friend away from the janitor closet and back toward the cafeteria.

Jimmy wasn't sure why, but he was a bit relieved that Mike didn't question him any further. Getting stuck in the closet like that was embarrassing. Plus, whatever bad morning his friend was having, Jimmy didn't want to make it worse.

Mike and Jimmy ended up using an old table cloth to cover the mess on the counter, and they both agreed to clean up the mess after their shift was over.

As they got the food ready to serve, Mike finally explained to Jimmy what happened with Celia. He seemed very upset and that saddened the furry monster. "There has to be a reasonable explanation."

Mike hoped that was true. First Celia hung up on him the night before, and then he caught her talking with Zane. It was just one bad thing after another. To top it all off, somebody was pranking them, but Mike decided that he would bring that topic up later.

"Oh, I will find out," the green monster assured. "I plan on talking to her on my lunch break."

Jimmy was fascinated with the way his friend always had a plan for something, even when he felt the weakest. He wished he was as strong as Mike was, but he refused to tell him that.

"You mind, do you?"

"Oh, not at all," Jimmy replied. "I'll be fine." He gently punched his friend on the shoulder in a playful gesture.

That time did not come soon enough, and Mike couldn't stop thinking about his plan to talk with Ceila as he and Jimmy served monsters their lunches.

By the time Mike and Jimmy started their lunch break, they were sweating like grease. "Do you have any other ingredients I can use?" Mike asked his friend. "I don't want to look like a disgusting pig in front of the love of my life."

Sully practically chuckled. "I don't think there is any time." He pointed ahead, gesturing that Celia had stepped into the cafeteria.

Somehow, Mike didn't worry about his possible stench, and only grew apprehensive about the talk he was about to have with the girl as he glanced in her direction. He jerked back and bit his lip.

"You got this, buddy," Jimmy said in a soothing way, which calmed his friend.

"Thanks," Mike said with a soft smile, and instantly shifted toward Celia. THere was no way he was about to back down, no matter how awkward it would be.

When Celia saw him, a small frown grew on her face, which made Mike more nervous.

"Um, can we go outside and talk?" Mike asked.

Celia agreed. The walk out to the lobby and out of the building was quiet, however, and it continued even after the two sat down on the side of the building, and kept to their own thoughts.

For the longest time, which Mike sure lasted five minutes, the two sat silently without a word to say. There was a slight breeze and brushed against Mike's face. The index finger on his left hand that was resting on the ground, tapped aggressively. He was getting eager and impatient, as if he was expecting Celia to start, even if it was his idea to bring her out here.

"So, I suppose you're wanting an explanation," the girl finally started. She sighed deeply but faced the green monster with a soft expression on her face.

Mike glanced at her, and quickly peered back at the ground. "It wouldn't hurt." He didn't really care if that sounded rude or not, because he did deserve an explanation.

Celia didn't seem struck by his response, and cleared her throat. "When we talked on the phone last night, I got an unexpected guest at my door. I would have told you but it was kind of an emergency."

"So, you weren't bothered by my question."

"Not at all. In fact, I was pleased. But Zane came to my place in distress. I had to find out what was going on."

Mike didn't react. In fact, he kept his eye on the ground feeling depressed. He felt like Ceila still should have at least given him a proper goodbye over the phone.

"He has a lot of personal stuff going on, and I couldn't help but feel like I needed to be there for him. I had a long time with him and it was late by the time he went home."

Mike didn't judge Celia for her actions with Zane. In fact, it was one of the great things he loved about her. He would never try to change that feature. Still, he had yet to find out why Zane had brought Celia flowers.

"The flowers," she continued as if she had read Mike's mind, "were a thank you gift. I modestly accepted them to make him happy. That's all."

Mike perked up a bit, and turned to the woman full of hope. Hope for the two of them.

Celia grinned. "The answer is yes. I would like to go out to dinner with you."

Make was elevated and focused on his plans with Celia for that weekend. Even throughout his shift the monster couldn't stop thinking about it.

Jimmy was more than thrilled for his friend, and chuckled at Mike for gazing into space as he served lunches with him. And at the end of the day while the two cleaned up the unexpected prank of a mess they found that morning, Mike's talk about Celia and their upcoming date went on and on.

"I'm happy for you," Jimmy said as he scrubbed the cruel words off the counter. "So, you don't think Zane has any interest in her."

"Even if he did," Mike replied without any hesitation, "he doesn't have a chance, because Celia likes me. Haha! But no, the flowers were just a thankyou gift."

Jimmy nodded in support, but he somehow felt a little uneasy about Zane. He was always the type to keep to himself, so it wasn't as though Jimmy and Mike knew much about him. Hearing about what Celia told Mike made him wonder if Zane's personal problems were threatening.

Mike, on the other hand, didn't seem at all disturbed. He was so confident in himself and the fact that he and Celia were meant to be. Jimmy knew how he was, but sometimes wondered if his friend could see the dangerous people in the world like he could.

After all, it wasn't like Mike knew about the odd and disturbing figure that had been creepily approaching him whenever he was alone. Whoever was harassing Jimmy, didn't want Mike to find out. However, perhaps if Jimmy talked to his friend about it, things would become more clear, and he wouldn't feel so alone.

However, every time Jimmy thought of bringing out the subject to his friend, he chickened out. Mike didn't even have a clue that something was bothering him. In fact, it was as if Mike was in his own little world as he spoke nothing but of Celia. Not to mention, the topic of getting their first apartment together. It was something Jimmy tired to focus on to keep his mind off things, especially as they spoke with the landlord that Friday.

After a decent conversation, Mike instantly decided the place would be perfect, even without Jimmy's input. However, the hairy monster didn't know much about apartments, and he knew how smart Mike was, so he trusted him. Together, they signed the lease, and planned on moving in the following day.

"I can't believe we are moving in tomorrow!" Mike exclaimed happily as he hopped down the street alongside his best friend. He was very glad how things were turning out.

"Yeah, the same day you have your date with Celia?" Jimmy asked in warning, hoping his friend did not forget about it.

"Not til the evening," Mike assured. "We can spend all day moving in. I will leave around five and meet her at six."

"Wait," Jimmy said, "shouldn't you pick her up yourself?"

Mike rolled his eyes, as if he were annoyed with his friend's smart remark. "I am renting out an apartment. I don't have money to get a car just yet. But I will get one soon enough. Then I can drive her everywhere! Haha!"

Jimmy grinned before the conversation ended and the two got quiet as they continued down the street. It was the perfect time for him to talk to Mike about the strange shadow that lurked behind him. Thinking about that made him turn around to make sure nothing was there.

Mike didn't seem to notice until his friend stood frozen. Mike turned to him curiously. "Sully? Come on, we gotta pack."

Jimmy ignored him, and waited for the creature to appear, but nothing happened. Nothing, except for his friend's continuous outburst about how annoying it was for Jimmy to not respond to him.

"Sully, I'm going home. You go home, too, and start packing."

Jimmy was frustrated. Not with Mike but with himself. He did not understand why he couldn't let out his words of the wrinkly finger man. It took him a few minutes to realize that his friend had already wandered off.

After we settled in, he thought to himself. After we settle in, I will tell him.