Yay, new chapter! I'm on a roll!

I sighed, keeping my eyes trained on my shoes as they walked over the crumbling sidewalk.

After mom decided that I should "get some fresh air" (in other words, she wanted me out of the house), I had walked a freaking mile to reach the closest town. It was called Pinewood, and it was pretty much what you would expect from a hick town. There was an old movie theatre that looked abandoned, a general store, a grocery, and a bar. I wondered if I could use my fake ID to sneak in... probably not. Word travels fast in places like these, right? I had walked around the town several times, and that's all I saw. So now I was staring at my feet. My sneakers were mor intresting than this place...

Hope was taking a nap at the moment, so I was on my own. I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going, what with staring at the ground and all. So when something suddenly ran into me, I was caught off-guard and I sprawled on the ground, cracking my head on the pavement. My breath came out in a whoosh of air, and I saw stars.

"Aw, hell, are you okay?" I felt a hand grab my wrist and pull me to my feet. "I'm so sorry, I should have looked where I was going, I was just-"

I held up a hand. "Easy, man," I said slowly, "I'm fine." I shook my head, clearing away the last of the stars dancing in front of my eyes, and looked up to where the voice was coming from. It was a boy, probably about my age, with light hair and warm brown eyes. His skin was tanned from the sun. I assumed he was a farmer. He looked the type, you know what I mean?

"Are you sure?" he asked. He released my wrist, and I reached a hand up to feel the back of my head. A small lump was forming, but no blood.

"Yeah," I said, "No blood, see? No harm done."

A smiled worked its way across his face. "Good." he said, relived. Then he held out his hand. "I'm Adam Rice. I don't think we've met."

"Melissa Dawson," I said, shaking his hand, "And I just moved here. In that big, old, creepy house a mile away. Thrilled to be here." I let sarcasm drip from my voice on the last sentance.

Adam let go of my hand and it dropped to my side. He gave me a wierd look. "I guess I can't blame you for not liking the house. Nobody really does." Well, what do you know? These country people do understand sarcasm!

"Oh, really? Why is that? I mean, besides the fact that the roof looks like its about to fall on your head."

Adam frowned. "Well, people here are kind of superstitious, and-"

I clapped my hands over my ears. "Oh my God, what is this, a horror movie? Is there a curse in the house? Did someone go crazy and go on a killing spree there? Am I going to be the damsel in distress? Are-"

Adam intrrupted me. "I didn't say it was true," he said, "It's just what people believe." He looked offended, and couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

"I'm sorry," I said, "I'm not normally this big of a bitch. It's just... moving out here. I'm used to the city, and it's hard to ajust." I kicked the ground with the toe on my sneaker, looking down.

Adam smiled again. "It's okay. It has to be tough." He moved over to a bench and sat down, motioning for me to join him. I did.

"So what is this story that everyone is so 'superstitious' about?" I said, trying to sound curious. I still felt bad for what I had said earlier. It was going to take me awhile to lose my edge.

Adam frowned. "Well, back when I was seven, an old lady lived there. I didn't know her very well, she never came out of the house, but other kids said that when they looked through her windows, they saw lots of dolls. It's like she was obsessed about them. One kid even said he saw one walking around."

I couldn't help it. I giggled. He chuckled too. "I know, stupid, right? But there is something wierd. Out of everyone who's lived there since, no one has stayed more than a week. No one knows why."

"So maybe I'll go home soon after all." I muttered, no real hope in my voice. I don't think Adam heard me, or he pretended not to. I spoke up. "My little sister found a doll in the attic." I said.

His eyes widened. "Maybe it's haunted!" he said, and laughed. I laughed too. I wasn't scared, of course. What could a doll do?

My cell phone rang. I took it out of my pocket. "It's my mom," I said, "Probably wondering where I am." I hit the ignore button. I didn't really feel like talking to her.

"She's not going to be happy about that." Adam warned.

I'll tell her I didn't hear it." I said calmly.

Adam laughed. Another boy walked around the corner. "Hey, Adam, wanna play some basketball? Me an' Hank are-" He trailed off when he saw me, "Who's this? Is there somethin' your not tellin' us?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Someone needs to tell you how to pronounce the 'g' at the ending of your words." I said angrily. So, not the best comeback, but I don't like being talked about like I'm not there.

He stared at me like he thought I wasn't capable of speech. "Well, well, well, lookit the little girl with the mouth."

I was about to snarl out a retort when Adam said, "Jake, calm down. Her name is Melissa, she's new here. She moved into the old house about a mile from here."

"The haunted one?" Jake asked.

"The only thing I'm being haunted by right now is you." I growled.

Jake sneered. "Good thing you'll be gone in a week like all the others. Girls here need to know thier place."

In a second, I had leapt up. I jabbed a finger into his chest. "What place is that? Cooking and cleaning and raising the children?" I spit on the ground in frustration. "Don't get on the wrong side on me. You'll regret it."

He looked like he was going to punch me, and I braced myself. I could beat most boys my age in a fight, so this kid didn't scare me. It wasn't like I was freakishly strong or anything, I just knew how to protect myself. I took a self-defence course, what with living in the city and all. There are creeps there, you know? And, apparently, there were some creeps in the country, too.

In the end, Jake just sneered and walked away. Adam looked at me sheepishly. "I'm sorry about Jake. He's kind of a creep."

"Kind of?" I asked, then smiled a little, "Don't worry about it. I could kick his ass if I wanted too."

Adam smiled too. "Good to hear it." he said. My phone rang, mom again. "I'll go now." Adam said, then he walked after Jake. I rolled my eyes and flipped open my phone.

"Mellissa? Mellissa, why didn't you answer my first call?"

"I didn't hear it." I said, my voice normal.

"Oh. Are you coming home?"

"I'm on my way." I started to walk.

"Okay, dear. I'll see you soon. I love you."

"Love you too, mom. Bye." I clicked the phone shut before she had a chance to say anything else, then walked back to the spooky old house that was now my home.

Stay tuned for the next chapter... reviews make me happy!