It had been two weeks. I had a part-time job at a book store during the day, and another as a video editor for three different small Youtubers who didn't have the time in their personal lives to edit their videos.

It was only costing a hundred dollars a week to take my friend's spare room since her roommate had bailed on her but she was stuck with the lease. She could cover the rest and knew I was desperate. If my math worked out, I would be able to put away a few hundred dollars a week and in the next 12 or 13 weeks I would be able to get half the money for Madi's tuition.

The school wanted it now, but I was able to negotiate with their financial aid office. Usually the would not haggle over tuition deadlines when they have a line of students waiting with full pockets to attend the university, but I made it clear when we accepted what little financial aid they offered that we needed flexibility. The professors Madi had interned for last summer were helpful too, they wrote letters of recommendation about how much they wanted her in the program. Now I just had to do my part to help her stay at the school.

It was nine pm, the bookstore had just closed. The books behind the counter had to be sorted and put away, and there was no one left to do it but me after the manager threw me the keys and asked me to lock up. I should have been off work an hour ago, but he had an emergency.

Whatever... more money for me.

I locked the doors and turned the lights off at the front of the store, leaving only the lights of the section I was in still on. I put in my headphones, having dropped the heavy stack of books in front of the proper shelves.

I sat on the floor, making it easier to reach the bottom shelves and played the Rose as loud as I could. It was raining outside and my life is not going according to plan, so it just feels appropriate.

It was nearly midnight when the books were all put away and I just had to sweep up the floors. I was finally almost done with closing up. I didn't realize how much work it actually was doing all of this alone. I had only closed once before this, but there were four people and it took us like twenty minutes.

The store was starting to look creepier with each minute that went by, bringing up closer to midnight. I really wanted to leave so I worked faster.

I started to get nervous, even with the doors locked, I worried someone would come out of nowhere from behind me and I would not hear them because of the headphones. I quickly unplugged them and set my phone down on the counter top with the music playing.

I hummed along until suddenly it stopped.

"Hello?" I have no idea why I said that. I kind of just assumed the only way the music could turn off was if someone had turned it off. Maybe my phone had died?

I heard a creak and a book fell off a table to my right. I jumped when the thump of the book hitting the floor reached my ears.

"Is someone in here?" I asked, unsure if I had truly been alone this whole time. Maybe my boss, Darrell, had come back and was playing a joke on me.

I let go of the thought almost immediately. It was probably placed on the display improperly.

"Seriously," I huffed grabbing my phone from the counter as I bent down to get the fallen book.

"How can I help you?" a British man's voice called out and I screamed. I screamed so loud and jumped so high. I had not even registered who the voice belonged to.

Siri.

"God dammit." I let out a sigh of relief, sitting on the floor for a second to catch my breath.

I closed my eyes putting my head in my hands, phone beside me on the floor.

"I want to go home." I moaned.

I felt the ground beside me shake and I looked down at my phone vibrating as "YT:Sam G." flashed across the screen. I smiled. Was this is? Was I finally going to know whether or not I got the job?

I took a deep breath, picking up the phone, and hit the answer button.

"Hello! Lia Cauldwell speaking, how can I help you?" I put on my friendly voice.

"Hey, Lia, it's Sam, Sam Golbach. You interviewed for a job with me."

"I remember. Thank you for getting back to me."

He chuckled, "No problem. Funny question though, do you mind if we get together in person and talk about the job. We want to offer it to you, but since you're our final pick, there are a lot more things that I have to tell you. I don't really want to do it over the phone though. When would be a good time for you?"

"Oh! Wow! Thank you!" I was smiling so much, I felt like I had no control of my face, "I can try to make time whenever you're available. Just let me know."

"Are you busy right now? I have to get your information for the trip since we all have to be on the film license and I have to submit it in the next few days. I'm kind of already pushing the envelope waiting this long." he let out a forced and definitely stress filled laugh.

"I can meet now, where do you want to go?"

"I can come to you if you're comfortable. We have to share the details somewhere private so people don't over hear."

"I'm just closing up shop at the bookstore on Stern Street in Long Beach right now, can I meet you somewhere else if you want or we can just talk here. I'm done cleaning and everything, just have to lock up."

"Okay, I'll come to you. There's a 24 hour 7-11 around the corner. Slushies and snack on me for the talk."

I laughed, "Sure, sounds great, see you in a bit."

"Bye!"

I squealed like a teenage girl after we hung up. This is the best day of my life! I am so lucky to have gotten this job! Thank goodness! Now I do not have to worry about Madi's first tuition installment! Three locations, 1200 dollars a pop! And my first out of country travel experience in years! This is a dream!

I just hope the paranormal stuff does not turn it into a nightmare situation.

I waited around inside for a bit then walked out, locking the doors behind me. I stood at the edge of the curb since Same had texted that he was close by.

I saw a white car pull into the empty street parking spots in front of the building and waved as I walked over.

"Hey, Lia!" he greeted me with a wave through the open window.

"Hi!" I smiled, climbing into the passengers seat after he unlocked the door.

We did not say much, besides casual greetings until we arrived at the gas station and had snacks. We sat on the curb next to the car, chilling under the street lights when Sam finally told me what the big deal was about this trip.

"We're going to England," he started, "Which is the most haunted country in the world because of the Black Plague and all the deaths. We're going to see the most haunted hotel room, church, and castle. I'll text you the exact names and you can look them up if you want to read about some people's experiences. The three guys going on the trip with us are all good guys, but we all take this incredibly seriously. We joke around and laugh and have fun, but the haunted stuff has been game changing for us over the years. We had an experience at the Queen Mary ghost ship that changed our views on a whole lot of afterlife things. I just need to know that you are open seeing this stuff and being in the room with demonic stuff."

"I can do it," I assure him, "honestly, don't worry about it. I can handle the spooky stuff. I really like the work I get to do with film too, so I'm really grateful that I'm going to get to do some more."

"Well, I'm glad you agreed to join us. It took a lot to convince the guys going on this trip with us that it wasn't absolutely crazy and dangerous. You should come by soon and meet them, or we can meet at like a coffee shop or something."

"I would definitely love to meet them soon. My roommate is going to be out the day after tomorrow, do you guys want to come over for pizza?" I asked.

"That sounds great, I don't think any of them would ever say no to pizza." he laughed.

"I wouldn't either, pizza's the best." I laughed along.

Sam's phone buzzed and his eyes widened when he looked at it.

"Holy crap, dude, its already almost one thirty! I gotta go, I'll drop you off at your place on the way!" he jumped up to his feet, typing ridiculously fast back to whoever had just texted him.

"Okay, thanks, dude, I guess I'll be seeing you and your friends tomorrow night then," I teased.

"Sorry, do you not like being called dude? I call everyone dude."

"Its fine," I smiled a bit wider, "I've never been a dude before, I think I'm going to like being one of the dudes."

"Good, because I think the dudes are going to like you too."