Sometimes when I write things I'm not sure were there going as I write them. The words just kind of come out. This chapter is a perfect example of that.

Jade

Is it really only 8 a.m.? Usually I would wan't more sleep but I'm so restless right now I can't even try to fall back to sleep.
I sigh and set up in my bed. It's unusually hot for August. Oh wait, thats right. I live in California now, not Washington. I slide off my bed and onto my feet and make my way out of my room. Out of habit I sop to listen for any strange noises.
My dad has already left for work I bet. He yelled at me a lot today for having a boy, Beck, in my room without him even being home. I don't really see the big deal, we were just watching a movie. His lack of trust for me is rather irritating sometimes. I tip toe down stairs and and into the foyer. I gasp when I feel something hit my foot and have to catch myself from tripping.

"That damn red ball again." I think out loud. I just accidentally bumped into it and now its rolling back to the basement door. Dumb thing. Why is it even here in the first place? Some kids must have threw it in through an open window or something.
I dismiss the thought and walk to the kitchen. I grab a glass from a cardboard box on the counter that says 'kitchen supplies' and fill it with water from the sink. I lean on the counter and take a gulp of water as I glance around. I almost choke when I see a flash or red coming my way and slow a little just to tap against my leg. The red ball. I set the glass down slowly while keeping both eyes on the ball. I bend down and pick it up cautiously, like at any moment it could move again.
"What is going on?" I whisper to myself.
I feel really uneasy, scared even. I also feel like I'm not alone in this house. That thought drives me to grab the pair of scissors out of the box on the kitchen counter.
"Hello?" I call out shakily and immediately regret it. I don't want this person to know I'm scared.
*creak*
I gasp at the sound and turn my head towards the noise so quickly it hurts my neck. The basement door is open a crack.
Don't be a baby Jade.

I walk slowly, taking one step at a time. I have my hand on the door nob of the basement now but can't bring myself to open it. I take a deep breath before flinging the door open and jumping back to prepare myself for an attack, scissors ready. No one comes out of the basement. I walk back to the door and look down into the darkness. It's so dark down there that I can only see the first two stairs leading down and thats it. I bite my lip and start ascending down to the basement. I keep one hand on the side of the wall, searching for a light switch. Bingo. I flick the light switch on so fast it hurts my eyes. Two arms grab onto my waist and I can't help but scream.

"Hahahaha! I thought you weren't scared easily!" the voice of my attacker says clearly amused.
I turn to see Beck next to me grinning, were so close I can smell his minty breath.
"Oh my God Beck! I almost stabbed you!" I scold as I throw the scissors in my hand on the ground and instead punch him in the arm.
Beck grinned wildly at me. "Well you shouldn't leave your basement door unlocked." he says gesturing to the door.
I'm still trying to catch my breath as I look from him to the door. "I didn't know I had one." I reply. "What are you doing here anyways?"
"I wanted to scare you and saw this as my one and only golden opportunity."
"So you mean you just wanted to be a jerk?" I argue still feeling mad. I mean I'm glad it was just Beck and not a crazy psycho killer. He is kind of weird though. This whole house is really. A thought occurs to me that he had been the one playing the piano and moving the red ball.
"Whats with the red ball though? I could've tripped and broke something." I yell shaking my head.
To my horror Beck suddenly looks at me confused. "What are you talking about?" he asks.
I race up the steps and into the kitchen looking for it. My eyes land on the spot it should be but its gone.
"Jade, whats going on?"Beck asks once he has caught up to me.
"I-I don't know." I say suddenly not feeling so good. Is there someone else here? "Please tell me you joking." I tell him closing my eyes.
"No. I really have no idea what your talking about." he says sounding serious.
I open my eyes and look at him square in the face. "I need to tell you something but I'm going to sound crazy."
"Just tell me."
"I think this house is haunted."

I explain everything to Beck from hearing the piano on the first day I came here to the red ball just a few moments ago. By the time I finish he is looking at me like he is thinking and for a long time is quiet. "So what do you think?" I ask expecting him to tell me I'm crazy or that its just a coincidence or there isn't enough proof but he just looks at me.
"I think your right." he says and I fell shocked by his agreement. "Really?" I say wishing I was wrong about all of this.
"Yeah. Me and my friend used to say the same thing about this place..." he says looking sad for a moment and I realize he is talking bout the friend who used to live here. The friend who died here.
"Is there anything else strange going on around the house?" he asks and I think on that.
Then I suddenly remember the girl with hair like a red velvet cupcake, Cat.

"Well the other morning this girl about are age with red hair showed up in my back yard named-"
"Cat? Cat Valentine?!" Beck asks stepping close to me. He looks shocked and eager to solve some puzzle in his brain.
"Yeah, do you know her?" I ask a little surprised.
Beck had a look on his face as if he had just seen a ghost. He suddenly collapses to the ground and I shriek in worry. "What is it? Whats wrong?"
He is sitting with his knees up and elbows on each knee, hands holding his head up. "It can't be." he says repeatedly shaking his head.
"Whats going on?" I say more firmly as I lean down next to him. I put a hand on his shoulder to try and comfort him but when he brings his head up I see he is confused.
"Cat is dead Jade. She died here 10 months ago."

Short chapter? Yes. But it does shed some light on some things doesn't it?