Two weeks later, Jake and I continued to hangout with Tate. I kind of felt bad for him, it seemed like he has a hard home life but I've never got the guts to ask him yet. He has also become a very good protective friend to us. We haven't gone back in his house yet, the house that left me petrify. I don't know what I heard was real or just in my head but it was on my mind everyday. It was a Thursday afternoon, Jake and I hanging out with Tate outside for lunch. The sun was out, beating down on my pale skin, as the sky was blue with a few clouds hovering over.

"I love this song!" Tate yelled while listening to music in his headphones.

Jake and I talking about homework, eating our lunch. A few jock guys from the senior football team walked by us, at the same time they were letting out laughs. I hated jocks and cheerleaders and all that school popular crap; trying to ignore their laughter. Jake rolling his eyes, gazing into mine. Tate noticed the laughter and toke out his headphones.

"Where those a**h**** laughing at us?" His eyes filling with fury.

"Yeah, I'm used to that all the time...just ignore it." Trying to calm down Tate.

"I hate a**h**** like that! You're no better then anyone." Tate said whipping back his long curls from his face.

He started to pull out something out of his jeans, noticing it was cigarettes. He put one in between his lips while grabbing a match, lighting the cigarette. I don't smoke but Jake does. I tried it once with Jake freshmen year. The smoke burning my throat just as you inhale it is nothing fun. I guess it's not for pleasure, it becomes an addition.

"Hey, can I have one man?" Jake asked Tate.

Tate pulled out the box of cigarettes, handing one to Jake with the lighter. Jake lite up the cigarette just as he inhaled the smoke.

"You don't want one?" Tate asked me with a grin.

"No, she doesn't smoke." Jake butt in to answer.

I glanced over at Jake, wondering why he answered for me. I can never tell if he likes me more than a friend. He doesn't want me to smoke so is he is just protecting me like a brother or a boyfriend? Tate was cute but the way he acts sometimes unsettles me. I know he is a deep guy but his anger frightens me.

"Hey, Tate do you think we can come over your house today?" I asked; needing to check out this mystery house.

"Uh, yeah." Tate responding with no enthusiasms. I knew Tate knows something about his house. Maybe this is why he is a little strange. I know his mom has a lot to do with it but his house I know has secrets.

"Okay, sounds great!" Trying to sound excited.

Jake and I arrived to his house around 5:00 pm. As soon as I passed the gate, feelings of being watched or the presence of something around me.

"Um, Jake does this house creep you out?" I asked Jake the moment we walked up to the door.

"A little, I think maybe because it's quite old." Jake responded in a calm tone.

From his answer I knew he hasn't experienced anything weird happen to him.

"Like you don't feel like someone is watching you right now?" I asked while Jake knocked on the door.

The door opened before Jake could answer me.

"Hey, guys." Tate greeted us.

"Hey." Jake and I said just as we entered the house.

Looking around, the floor cracking from us walking, left me with bad vibes again. We saw the maid again but this time she was cleaning the floor. Jake checking her out again in the time we strolled by. What the? I've never seen this side of Jake. She is an old lady.

"Hey, Tate how do you handle living with that sexy maid?" Jake asked Tate.

Sexy? I felt so disgusted and wanted to go back home. Hearing him talk about someone else hurt me so bad inside; pain hit my heart. Gazing at his cute face, his dark hair covering one of his eyes, with his dreamy brown eyes made me want to cry. My heart felt like it was tearing. I didn't know he was attracted to old ladies; feeling gross inside.

"Oh, there's some secrets." Tate said with a chuckle as we entered his room.

We were in his room, the room that horrified me. Occasionally, I would look around trying to find things, while we listened to music and reading books. I needed answers.

"Tate, can I use your bathroom?" I asked but I wasn't going to go to the bathroom.

"Yeah, it's down the hallway." Tate said while him and Jake were reading books.

I left the room ready to scoop, quietly down the stairs. The maid was gone now as I passed the floor she was cleaning up. I needed to hurry. His mom was out so I didn't have to worry about her and his sister was in her room; she never really leaves her room so I haven't met her. In the instant I walked down the hallway past his stairs, a door slowly swung open by itself. My body shivered with terror and my hair stood up. I knew this place was haunted; I know I wasn't going crazy. I perceived it was to a basement. Of course it would be, it's the number one place where haunted things happen. Even though my body was trembling with fear, I needed to know the secrets of this house.

Creaking of the old steps filling my ears, as I continued to walk down. It was an old basement, with brick walls. Really? It had to be creepy. My heart was pounding while my breathing increased. Looking around just hoping I could find more information. Coldness passed my body; I knew I wasn't alone. My breathing was now loud and my heart felt like it was going to burst. I heard something bang while I jumped in terror. Turning around slowly, in the fear of what will be on the other side. But...nothing was there. After that I knew something is down here. I had to get out of here. I ran to the stairs, in the moment I heard a loud screech that sent terror down my spine. At this point, my entire body was shaking, not even turning around, running up the stairs.

I held in my fear and breathing once I got back to Tate's room. Tate and Jake were now playing a game on Nintendo. Tate asked me, "What took so long?"

"I had girl problems." I said trying to sound embarrassed. I had to make up a lie and I knew guys wouldn't need to know details about this.

"Ew, too much information Riley." Jake said looking back up at me from playing the game.

"Shut up." I said walking over to them.