Ch1. Visiting Grandma

☆☆Mia POV☆☆

“Here he is. Late as usual” I thought to myself  as I saw Kevin’s car approaching my front door. I was visiting my grandma for the weekend and Kevin insisted on coming with me this time.

“Kevin being my best friend for years doesn’t give you the right to be that late every time we go out” I snapped at him as I slammed the door shut roughly to tease him.

He hissed angrily and glared at me with his greenish eyes but swallowed it as I glared at him,

“Miaaa, you look beautiful as usual” he said, flashing his sweet smile at me.

“Flattery will not get you out of this” I faked a smile back and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Okay, how about this?” he said, throwing a gift box at me. I looked at him in surprise. He never did that before: “hee, what is it” I said smiling back, I love presents.

“Do you forgive me first?” he asked with a smirk on his face.

I looked at him and felt something is wrong: “Yeees” I answered suspiciously

“Well, it isn’t for you, it’s for you grandma. It is my first visit. I cannot go empty handed” he laughed at me.

Making a fool out of me was his favourite sport. I got used to it a long time ago. I threw the box at the back seat:

“Kevin, you know how much I love my grandma, and you were late. You know how important this is to me” I scolded him.

“I am really sorry, I was caught up with something back home. But don’t worry we will be there on time” Kevin said, assuring me before he started the car and stepped harshly on the gas pedal making the engine roar in power.

I spaced out the window looking at the tree line along the road and remembered my grandma in my early childhood. I only visited her once or twice a year. I loved visiting her; she was really old and kind of weird. She used to tell me a lot of stories when I was a child, mostly scary stories but I loved listening to her tender voice while she put me to sleep every night. Most of the stories were about magic, fantasy creatures, supernatural people and witches that never made sense to me. Now that I am old, all the stories have stopped and we just usually enjoy each other's company and talk about my life mostly, since I had all the action going.

Suddenly Kevin’s phone rang pulling me back to reality. I glanced at him as He picked up the call, he sounded angry and frustrated about something related to his work. He was usually calm and never got angry and seeing him like this got me worried: “is something wrong?” his face gave out the answer: “I really don’t know what happened this time, the shipment is late and dad is furious about it. I have no justification for it at all”

I knew that he had a problem at work from before but I never saw him this gloomy. He worked with his father casually and mostly during the summer but it was never that serious. His father wanted to prepare him to take over the company later which Kevin was reluctant to do.

I thought to cheer him up a little and change the mood “do you want to know what happened on my date yesterday?” I asked enthusiastically.

His smile came back right away and said excitedly: “yes, tell me”

“heeee, what can I say? The guy was a jerk; I paid for dinner and he was touchy most of the time” I said annoyed. Kevin’s face turned red instantly: “touchy, that asshole you should have called me”

“No need I slapped him at the end of the night when he tried to kiss me forcibly” I said confidently.

We burst out laughing “That is my girl” Kevin was always supportive and over protective. I was the one with the worst luck ever when it came to guys: “what is wrong with me Kevin? Why do I always get the weirdest guy? Why can’t I have someone like… like Ben Jacobson?”

“You mean THE Ben Jacobson. The most popular guy in our school. The one who has girls run after him every week and his girlfriend is the most vicious girl in human history” he said, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes” I answered back. Suddenly Kevin laughed out loud: “he is so out of your league girl” I glared at him.

“Why Kevin? you always say that” I asked angrily, turning myself to face him.

“Because he doesn’t even know that you exist in this world” he replied, laughing out loud even more. I tilted my head a little and thought about it for a few seconds. Kevin was right.

I looked out of the window and thought about how I have always kept a low profile; I really doubt that Ben knew about me. We stayed silent for a while and then Kevin asked again: “Mia, what are we going to do about our finals next month?” such a question changed my mood instantly.

“I don’t know Kevin. We will figure it out when we come back” I replied remembering that we have to score high this year for the university application.

Couple of hours later, we reached grandma’s house. It was an old, small, two stories house in an offwhite colour and an amazing backyard. Granny had always taken care of the garden herself. So, it was always blooming with flowers of the weirdest types, shapes and colours.

As we parked in front of the door, granny came out grinning and with open arms for me. I ran into her arms and wrapped mine around her tightly, enjoying the moment. I missed her so much. She was always the person who understood me the most and looked out for me even though she lived far away.

I introduced Kevin to her. She loved him right away. He gave her the present he brought. He really was a gentleman when it came to courtesies. 

“Come in dears, you must be tired” granny said as she moved aside to let us into the house. Kevin came in looking around the house and took the place in.

“Now, go freshen up quickly, dinner will be ready in no time” granny said with a homey smile that I have missed so much. I smiled back and headed upstairs to my room as Kevin headed to the guest bathroom on the ground floor.

We had dinner together and then after, we sat down drinking tea in the living room. We talked, laughed and grandma showed Kevin my baby photo album and like always Kevin made fun of me. Grandma was happy that Kevin came, they got along very well.

After a while, Kevin got up and excused himself saying: “Excuse me ladies, but I have an important call to make” and he headed towards the backyard leaving grandma and me alone.

Grandma gestured for me to come and sit next to her on the sofa: “oh sweetie I have missed you so much, how is life?” she said, pulling me into a bear hug.

I giggled, enjoying the warmth and the love she showered me with: “I missed you too granny. Life is good don’t worry I have everything under control” I winked back at her.

Grandma raised her eyebrow and said: “you can tell me anything”

“Don’t worry grandma” I replied with an assuring smile.

Grandma then looked at me smiling: “what about Kevin? He seems a nice guy”

I sighed inwardly I kind of expected that question but I already had prepared an answer: “he is just a friend granny, we have been best friends for years now, there is nothing like that between us”

As I finished, Kevin came in and entered the room, but grandma suddenly stood up and said: “that is it for me kidos, I am off to bed. There is an extra mattress if you need it in the attic and the covers are in the closet” and then she headed upstairs and we heard the closing of her door.

I shivered as I heard the word attic. I hate that place. It scared the hell out of me when I was a kid and it still did. I wouldn’t go up there no matter what. I looked at Kevin and asked: “You can settle on the couch right?”

Kevin plonked at the couch comfortably saying: “yes, why?”

I wrapped my arms around myself and closed my eyes shivering at the memory of the dsrk room before replying: “nothing, I am scared of the attic and don’t really want to go up there for the mattress”

Kevin laughed out loud teasing: “you are such a coward”

I took a breath in and calmed myself a little: “it’s really spooky and cold. You wouldn’t like it either”

“It can’t be that bad, let’s take a look” Kevin stood up, grabbed my hand and started to go upstairs. But, I glued my feet to the floor and pulled my hand back replying seriously: “No, I will not go up”

“Oh come on, I will go with you” Kevin came around me, put his hands on my back and started to push me to go up. I held onto the rail and stopped myself yelling: “No, please. It really scares me. Please Kevin don’t”

But he didn’t listen and kept on pushing me upwards, while I struggled with all my strength to stop him. “Kevin, stop it” I shouted, but in vain. My words fell on deaf ears.

Out of sudden Kevin came to my side and lifted me up on his shoulders with my head back and ran towards the attic in one swift move.

I was shocked that I couldn’t say anything. His actions froze my mind instantly. I never thought he would do that.

Then he put me down in front of the attic door and pushed it open with his hand.

                    CREEEEAAAAAK

The sound of the door opening gave me an instant shiver, my breathing stopped and I almost fainted. It felt like he was opening the door to my grave while I was still alive and threw me inside. I held onto Kevin’s arms for support and He dragged me into the dark room as he stepped in…