Christy's POV

I woke up the next morning around ten so I got up to see what was going on. Usually my dad comes in at six and tries to get me up... and it's summer so I don't know why... I climbed out of bed and walked downstairs but nobody seemed to be home. I ran up stairs and checked my phone.

- couldn't wake you up. Had to work today. Should be back around five. For lunch you can have a sandwich or hot dogs or whatever else you can find. I'll call you later to check in on you. I love you. Mama. -

I sighed and stuffed my phone in my pocket before trudging back downstairs to find some breakfast. I sat quietly munching on my cereal with my dog whining at my feet. The quietness bothered me... I don't like being alone. But sometimes I do... it's complicated... I put my bowl in the sink and went back upstairs to occupy myself somehow.

"Well... I am alone so let's crank up some tunes." I said to my dog.

I turned on the computer and went to iTunes. I clicked play and put it on randomize. I skipped around until I found something I was in the mood for. I finally settled on "till I kissed you" by The Everly Brothers. I sang and danced around a bit while I made my bed and stuff. My eyes wandered over to my dresser where a some keys laid. One of those keys went to my new car that I could drive with my new license. Except my mom said I can't drive it alone yet... but I really want to get away... nobody's home anyway! She would never know! I was extremely tempted but guilt clawed at my mind so I left them laying there, unused and dusty... I sat down at the computer and just played solitaire for a while but I could see the keys out of the corner of my eye... sparkling... begging me! To come and pick them up and experience that new car smell! I finally walked over and picked them up. I looked at them for a moment than twirled them on my finger and finally just stuck them in my pocket. I had to do something! I can't stand just sitting around wasting the day away!

"Lovey! Hey girl you wanna go for a walk?!" I looked down at my little dog who wagged her tail slowly at the mention of her name. "Come on girl let's go for a walk!" I jumped up and ran down the stairs Lovey close at my heals. I grabbed the leash, walked out the door and just started walking down the street. I walked slowly past the trees next to the roads sucking in the last faint scents of honeysuckle flowers. I love that smell so much! I wish you could buy them as house plants or maybe some kind of lotion or perfume. I walked up to my best friends house and rang the door bell.

"Hey Christy. What are you doing here?" Erin said sleepily. I could tell she had just woken up because she was still in her sweat pants and didn't have her glasses on.

"Hey, nobody's home if you want to come over and hang out." I said pulling Lovey back so she wouldn't jump on Erin or get in their house.

"Yeah I guess but I just woke up and I have to take a shower."

"Alright well just text me when you can come over. But I may still be walking so be prepared to meet me somewhere."

"Ok, bye."

"Bye."

Lovey and I walked up our driveway panting because I forgot water. It had been about 45 minutes and I still hadn't heard from Erin. I unhooked Lovey's leash and walked in the house. I turned the music back on and started fixing lunch.

"So, what you gonna have?" I looked over and saw John leaning against the counter smirking.

"I don't know... leftover chicken?"

"You need to eat a salad fatty!" John grinned.

"Hey I just burned all that off I have to gain it back!" I grinned back.

"That doesn't even make any sense!" John waved his hands around laughing.

"Hey! I gotta have hugging meat!"

"Hugging meat?!"

"Yeah! Hugging meat!" We laughed.

"So can I try that out?"

"What?"

"Hugging your hugging meat."

"That sounds... wrong..." I laughed.

"You know what I mean!" John exclaimed wrapping his arms around me in a tight squeeze. Then he started pinching and squeezing my sides. "So is this your hugging meat?!"

"No, those are my love handles!" I laughed.

"Love handles?! Hugging meat and love handles! You're a strange girl! Tommy's a rather lucky chap isn't he?"

My smile faded slightly. "Yeah... he is..."

Then suddenly the doorbell rang. I quickly looked at my phone and saw where Erin had texted me like ten times that was probably her. I ran to the door and swung it open.

"Hey sorry! Come in!" I motioned for Erin to come inside. "I was just starting to fix lunch. Have you eaten yet?"

"No, but I'm not hungry." She said then checked her phone.

"Ok well I'm gonna eat something real quick. What do you what to do?"

"I don't know... Maybe watch a movie?..."

"Ok, like what?"

"I don't know?!"

"Well just pick something out while I finish my lunch!"

She finally picked out a movie and put it in but wouldn't let me see what it was. So I plopped down on the couch with a bowl of popcorn while she turned off the lights and closed the blinds. The movie turned out to be the changeling which my mom had said I couldn't watch until I was at least 20. But Erin didn't know that... it is probably now the most terrifying movie I have ever seen. Once the movie was over we quickly turned on the lights.

"Um... ok..." Erin said randomly.

"Yeah... um .. that movie was interesting..."

"Let's never watch it again..."

"Agreed..."

Erin pulled her phone out of her pocket.

"Darn!"

"What?!"

"I have to go baby sit my little brothers. I have to go right now or I'll be in serious trouble because my mom sent that like ten minutes ago. I'll see you later Christy!" Erin ran out the door before I could get a word in.

"Thanks a lot." I mumbled and closed the door.

After that movie a felt very scared and paranoid. I knew that nothing could hurt me and that ghost weren't really like that, I should know, but I just couldn't get it out of my head! I quickly ran upstairs to my room while constantly looking over my shoulder and called my dog in then shut the door. Then locked it for good measure.

"You know you have nothing to be afraid of right?" John asked as he put his hand on my shoulder. "And I'm right here to warn you if someone were to try and sneak up on you. We all love you and are constantly looking out for you!" He smiled kindly.

"I know that! But there's just something comforting about a physical person being near you. Compared to ... well, a ghost."

"I understand. Well I'll see you later alright?"

"Ok..." I felt nervousness about John leaving me alone, though in a way I still wouldn't be.

I decided I'd do some sketches in my sketch book to take my mind off of it. But after sketch hint for about ten minutes I heard a strange noise. I looked at Lovey who's ears had perked up at the noise. Then I heard another clanking sound and Lovey started barking. I grabbed her and sat on the floor with her to try and quiet her. If somebody was in the house I wouldn't want them to know we were here. Everything was quiet for a minute and I thought maybe whoever or whatever it was had gone. But then I heard somebody walking up the stairs. I hugged Lovey tighter and tried to keep as quiet as possible while I hid behind my bed but then Lovey started bark and the door slowly opened.

A tall man wearing a black ski mask opened the door. He was probably just your average robber but he did have a gun. Then suddenly Lovey bit my hand and ran out to the man growling and barking ferociously.

"Shut up dog!" He whispered roughly and aimed his hand gun at Lovey. I screamed and dove out right as he pulled the trigger. I felt a sharp pain in my back and then everything went black.