CHAPTER 3:
Red Eyes

Ethan felt like puking the next day of school. He didn’t ever want to go back to such a hellhole, but it didn’t matter. He had to, and he had to grin, bear it, and not care about what other people think. Today he wore a blue shirt and blue plaid shorts with his black converse. The rain splattered all over his clothes and hair and made him look messy.
This was school. You’re not supposed to like it. You are supposed to hate it, and any other way just isn’t right. The only kids who ever loved school were the preppies and nerds. Ethan wasn’t really either. Not that he was labeling, that’s just how they are. Ethan wondered where CJ was, but he didn’t show up. As pathetic as it may be, Ethan kind of wished CJ were here. It’d give him someone to talk to, even if it was as fake and superficial as his slave-like relationship with Lacey was. CJ didn’t strike Ethan as the type that would actually show up for school, anyway, reeking of pot and a broken home.

And his uncle told CJ to “look out for him”. Since when did Uncle Will actually care about his “doomed atheist soul”, as he so kindly put it last Christmas? That’s certainly a new concept. Like he was some sort of defenseless little thing that needed looking after. Too bad that seemed to be the general consensus.

Ethan dredged off of the bus to school. Some kids were stamping out a fire out in front of the high school. Apparently, somebody had dropped a cigarette on the ground. Gross! And then there were a bunch of people totally ravaging each other on the stone steps that lead up to the doors, at the foot of the creepy-looking gargoyles. Ethan brushed passed them, with his books clutched to his side, and trotted into the school in really no hurry.
6:58. The first bell didn’t ring until 7:35, which left him with about 45 minutes of time to kill.

Spanish? No way was he going to sit in there with the old leathery looking lady. He also wasn’t going to sit out on the benches and try to relax in the rain. That’d be uncomfortable.

Or he could simply dive off the edge of the balcony outside of the second hall. Now that would be some way to go.
But right now the open doors of the library seemed like the most welcoming and familiar place to go. Ethan loved to read. Young Adult, Horror, Mysteries, Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy. Ethan had read most of the books on the required reading list, and had read most of the books in the Highland Academy Library.

Farr’s Library wasn’t really as big as Highland’s was. It was small and had various wooden shelves dotted around the edges. They made up many aisles and musty old books lay upon them.
He checked out a few that he hadn’t read before and left just as the first bell rang.

“Officer Cradley, jist keep this a secret. Don’t you dare let the press know ‘bout what happened here today.” Sheriff Miller was a very stern fellow, always having a pipe in his mouth and a gun holstered in his black belt. He fixed the collar of his dirty beige uniform. It was a very humid September morning, and sweat covered his forehead like the dew on the grass.
”Alight, Sheriff. What about the bodies?”

Sheriff Miller shook his head as he gestured to the back of the house, where the corpses were. They had to hike their way through a field of overgrown grass and weeds; hadn’t anybody cut the damn lawn in months? Well, the Tysons weren’t exactly known for their work ethic, no doubt about that. A man emerged from the thickets of the woods behind the Tyson house, and dashed over to the bushes and began puking his guts out.

“Who the hell is that?” Officer Cradley asked.
”That there’s the coroner. Can’t say I blame him, it’s quite a sight.”
Officer Cradley shuddered. Sheriff Miller climbed over the fence and pulled aside some of the trees and bushes. Hanging there like sloppy clothes from a clothesline were the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Tyson. They were almost unrecognizable: their guts were falling out of a giant gash in their stomach, and their faces were heavily disfigured. Blood was dripping from their bodies and staining the grass below them. The whole thing was simply a grizzly mess.
”I really wish I didn’t have them bacon and eggs for breakfast,” was all Officer Cradley could say.

“I been in the law force for over thirty years now, and I ain’t never seen nothin’ like this. The bastard that did it should get the chair, if we can even still do that here. Can we?”
Officer Cradley ignored him and walked closer to the bodies. He moved the head slightly, which lolled to the side and made a sickening noise. He nodded to himself as he examined the neck.
”Just as I suspected. Two bite marks on the neck.”
Sheriff Miller whistled. “Oh, damn. Looks like we done got a vamp on our hands.”
”Don’t be a fool. There ain’t no such thing. What it looks like is the Satan worshippers are at it again. Where’s the boy and girl at?”
”The boy’s in the house, talkin’ to Deputy Angle.”
”What’re they gunna do?”
Sheriff Miller leaned over to whisper in his ear. “Well, we think CJ Tyson may be a prime suspect. We ain’t tellin’ him that, course. But you gotta admit, with him, it’s a possibility.”
”Bullshit! He’d never kill his own parents! He’s a good kid.”

Sheriff Miller shook his head somberly. “We don’t know that. Good people can do some pretty damn bad things, Officer. Some pretty bad things.”

They heard a car door slam very loud, and turned to see someone running into the house. He was portly and was wearing a cowboy hat, plaid shorts, and boots.
”Who the hell is that?”
Sheriff Miller didn’t answer, and followed the man. Officer Cradley followed him, also.

CJ Tyson was sitting with Jamie on his lap, and Miss Friskers was next to him on the couch. Deputy Angle was sitting on a folding chair right across from him. He turned his head to look at the man who came in, and the two officers.

“William! What the hell you doin’?” Sheriff Miller demanded. Will Luckless was panting as he ran over to CJ Tyson.

”This boy here is innocent, I don’t give a shit what you brown noses have to say. He’d never-“
Deputy Angle got up and put his hands on Will’s shoulders. Will was shaking and sweating.
”Will. Nobody here’s accusin’ him of anything. What gives you that idea?”
Will shook his head and sat down next to CJ on the couch. Miss Friskers screeched and jumped off when he didn’t see her sitting there and sat down on top of her.
”I apologize, Deputy. It’s jist… the Tyson’s were some of the most faithful people I ever done seen. Not the best parents, I’ll hand it to you, but they were still very religious and done a lot for the Southern Baptist Church of Farr. I feel as if it’s my duty to look after these kids now, and I’d like to take ‘em into my custody, if that’s alright with you.”
The three police officers exchanged glances at each other.

“CJ, would that be okay with you?” Deputy Angel asked.
”Yeah, that’d be fine…”
Will nodded and sat up. He attempted to yank Jamie out of CJ’s arms, but she refused to go.
”No! My See-Ja! No!” She batted at Will with her tiny fists, who finally gave up trying to take the toddler.

“They done been through a lot, those kids. Take good care of ‘em,” Sheriff Miller muttered as they walked out the door.

Will owned a beat up old tow truck with a sign on the side that said “JESUS SAVES”. There were various crosses that hung down from the dashboard mirror and other decals adorned the vehicle from all sides. CJ and Jamie took a seat, and Miss Friskers jumped in next to them. Will slammed the door, and turned to talk to the officers.
CJ couldn’t hear what they were saying. He bent over to kiss Jamie on the cheek, and then stared out the window at the place where his parents were now dead.

This was what he wanted…wasn’t it? He was free, he was going to go live with Will, who acted more like his father than anybody else ever did.
”Then…why am I so sad?” He said this out loud, to nobody in particular, and pounded the dashboard with his left fist. Tears flew out of his eyes, and he screamed in fury. Whoever did this to his family would pay. Jamie crawled up on CJ’s chest, and put her right hand on his face. Drool was running down her mouth, and she was looking at CJ with wide, afraid eyes.

“See-Ja cry? See-Ja no cry. See-Ja big boy.” She pounded his face with her right fist playfully, and then bounced back onto his lap.

“Yeah, I’m a big boy…and now I have a family to take care of. But don’t worry, Jamie. I’ll do it for you. And for Miss Friskers, too.”
The car meowed from her place on the dashboard. She was observing the scene with all the silent, eerie curiosity of a cat. CJ jumped as Will opened up the door again, looking very exhausted and out of breath.

He started the truck without any words, and peeled out of the driveway so fast that it made a loud, screeching noise.

“Hey, CJ. I’m sorry ‘bout what happened today. I came soon’s you called. But my home is your home now, and I’m gunna see to it that you all get the good home you deserve.”
CJ nodded and stared out the window in the opposite direction.
”I know you’re probably still in shock and all… but trust in God. Pray, and He will deliver you from whatever pain you’re feelin’. Only He can understand, CJ.”
”Thank you, Preacher Will,” CJ whispered. He didn’t even have the strength to talk anymore.

He said a silent prayer to himself, though he was skeptical if even God could help him now, especially if whoever did this was going to come after him and Jamie.

William Luckless’ house was a small, fenced-in hovel in the middle of the woods. The sound of a large dog barking could be heard nearby as he peeled into the driveway. CJ opened the door and held it open with his left leg as he handed Jamie off to Will. She looked confused, and as of yet untainted by the news of her parent’s untimely demise. This, however, didn’t hold up for long and she started crying and screaming as soon as they stepped in the doorway.

I wan’ Mamma! Where’s mamma at? See-Ja, get mamma!”

CJ frowned and gave her a hug, to reassure both himself and his little sister. She began to quiet down and didn’t totally stop until CJ was holding her again. Will gestured to the beat-up old couch, and he obediently took a seat.

“So, kid. This is one predicament you’re in now, and I’m very sorry for your loss. But I know who done did it, and we’re gunna make ‘em pay, mark my words.”
CJ rolled his eyes. He was tired of the vampire talk, even though he didn’t express his discontent openly. That would be rude, especially given Will’s kindness in taking him and Jamie in like he did.

“I know it, you’re doubtin’ me. I expected that. But, jist listen to me, will ya? Tonight, we’re gunna go hunt ‘em down and avenge your folks’ death. Hey, I gotta show ya somethin’.”

CJ stood up, supporting the now-sleeping Jamie with his free hand. Will took him through the kitchen and a room with piles of old Christian books, and into a small office. He looked around, as if expecting that someone was watching them. He moved some of the clutter aside and revealed a little secret door, which he gently pushed open and ducked to get into.

This room was small, but still larger than the office it connected to. CJ could make out what was a sort of stained-glass window that dimly lit the area, which reeked of must and mothballs. There was a tiny altar with a cross, along with what looked like various obscure utensils and a Bible in the middle of it all.
”This here’s the Vampire Slayer’s Den. It was already here when the first settler’s came to Farr, and I decided to build my house atop of it. I knew I’d need to help protect these good people from the forces of Satan. If there’s any doubt left that vamps exist, doubt no more, CJ Tyson.”

William moved a few steps towards the altar and withdrew a tiny envelope. Contained within was a pair of fangs- sharp, knife-like incisors that could cut through any sort of meat or skin with ease.

“Those….those could be from an animal,” CJ stammered.

Will laughed. “The animal I got these babies from is the biggest doggone animal I ever seen. It looked jist like me or you. ‘Cept for one thing, and don’t you ever forget this: they ain’t like me or you. They ain’t got no souls, cause they dead. They have nothing left inside of them but pitch blackness that makes the night look like a midsummer’s day.”
CJ’s head felt very heavy all of a sudden. He couldn’t control himself, and started crying. These were tears of fear and sadness. His parents weren’t the best parents ever, but they were there, they always were, and now they were killed by some freak of nature. Will sighed and wrapped his arms around CJ and Jamie in a warm embrace.

“It’s alright, CJ… it’s gunna be okay, we’ll get ‘em back, I know it.”
”I know we will. I’m gunna stab the shit out of those bloodsuckers. They won’t even know what hit ‘em!”

Will laughed. “That’s the spirit, boy! Meet me in here tonight, after sunset. That’s when they come out, ya see?”

CJ nodded. He didn’t care if vampires were dangerous, he wanted to fight them. He wanted to avenge the death of his parents. And he was going to do it, after sunset.

”So, Puddles, what do you think of the Pythagorean Theorem?” Ethan was lying on the floor of his bedroom, trying to complete his tedious math homework. Puddles was sitting down, staring at him with inquisitive eyes. “No clue, boy? Not even a hint? C’mon, there has to be some kind of hidden math genius in that tiny little head of yours.” Puddles gave a confused “Ruff!” and Ethan patted him on the head and tossed him a piece of the muffin he was munching on.

Ethan hated math homework. He didn’t get this whole equation thing, or how it would possibly help him in his future life. As if somebody was going to come up to him, point a gun to his head, and demand he factor equations before they “factor” out his brains all over the place. Ethan kinda had his heart set on being an English teacher, so the whole algebra process was a pointless one to him. He found that the loud rock music he was playing- everything from Green Day to Taking Back Sunday to Underoath- helped him to concentrate more and make the homework process more bearable. Apparently, it worked, because he had been an honors student for several years now.

“Puddles… dumb question.” Ethan looked at Puddles as if he was expecting some kind of answer. How dense. Dogs can’t talk.
”Do you think that there is…something wrong with me?” Puddles stared up at Ethan, listening intently. He snorted silently underneath his doggy breath.
”Why thank you, Puddles. But if there isn’t anything wrong with me, then why don’t people really like me? It’s been a month and people still have yet to even acknowledge me. I mean, I try to be nice, I take showers every day, wear nice clothes… so why am I so unpopular? I just really don’t get it, Puddles.’
Puddles clawed the air for a second or two then put his paw back down. Oh, right. The muffin. Ethan rolled his eyes in mock sarcasm and gave Puddles some more of the muffin.
”You know, I would give you this whole thing, ‘cause you really seem to like it and all. But, I mean, I’m sorry and all… but you don’t wanna be Pudgy Puddles again, do you?” Ethan chuckled as he remembered fondly the days in 8th grade when Puddles was known by family and friends as “Pudgy Puddles”. He sulked around all day and ate, pausing only to pee and sleep. It was only when Dr. Jorlen, the vet, suggested a diet did Puddles begin to slim up.
Just as he was wishing that Puddles would eat his homework, there was a knock on his door. “Come in!” Ethan said. He scrambled to turn off the loud, screaming rock music he was playing and hurried back to his homework. The usually stressed face of his mother greeted him. “Ethan, it’s time for dinner,” she said.

”Sure, mom. I’ll be right down.” Ethan put his homework up on his desk and began walking down to the dining room with his mother. It took a while because of all of the stupid stairs, two whole flights. Why on Earth did people way back when need such huge houses? No wonder Grandma had hip problems. She must’ve walked up and down these stairs at least fifty times a day.

Everybody was already sitting down at the table when Ethan got there with his mom.
Grandma smiled up at him. “Hey, Ethan. I made chicken pot pie, your favorite! How bout that?” Ethan tried to sound enthused, instead of just exhausted.

“Oh, thank you! I love chicken pot pie!”

Ian tried to push his chair out from under him as he sat down but Ethan caught on and pushed it back.
”Mmhm, that’s right, Rose. Chicken is good.” Grandpa muttered. He didn’t seem too well today.
After they said grace, they all began digging in.
”Mom, is it okay if I go over Tyler’s house today after dinner?” Ian had a bunch of food in his mouth, so the result was very gross.

“Sure, honey. Just be back before eight cause it’s a school night, okay?”
Ian just nodded, shoved some food into his face, then got up and made a mad dash for the backdoor.
”Well, he ate all of his food, I suppose…” Grandma said.
”So, Ethe, you make any new friends yet?” Mom asked him.

“N-no. None yet…” He shifted his eyes down, away from her. She nodded.

“Give it some time. You’re a nice kid; you know that.”
“Yeah. Just wait ‘til the girls start noticing him. They’ll be shoving down the door soon, I tell you!” Grandma patted his back, trying to be comforting.

He didn’t tell them that girls, and teens in general, didn’t like nice kids.
”Who wants to go to the grocery store with me?” Mom asked, as if she were inviting people to go to the beach with her. Not surprisingly, nobody answered.

“I guess I will,” Ethan said, sighing. He didn’t feel like going, but he’d feel bad if she had to go alone.
”Thanks, Ethe.”
”Why so late? It’s nearly seven,” Grandma said, fixing her glasses. She took another plateful of chicken pot pie and got up to get some more Coke.
”I just remembered that I’m outta shampoo.”

“Shampoo? Well, gee, you coulda told me, I just went to O’Neil’s today while you were at work and the kids were at school.”
”Sorry, Mom. It’s no big deal; we’ll just run on over to town. Leave the dishes out, I’ll help when I-“
”No, you two go on ahead. I like cleanin’, anyways.”
The car ride to O’Neil’s Groceries was very quiet and short. It was getting to be dark earlier, and by the time they got into town- which was a small circle of shops and a street that ran through it- night had fallen over Farr.

Ms. Luckless parked her car right outside the small brick building with the wooden sign over it and walked inside. A bell chime went off. This came as a bit of a culture shop to Ethan, who was used to Giant Eagle and Walmart, not small town “Ma and Pa” shops. The grocer itself had about six aisles, and a row of freezers on the wall.

Mr. O’Neil was a tiny guy, with a balding head and wide-rimmed glasses that looked like a vulture.

“May I help you with something, Miss?”
”Ah, yes, where’s your shampoo?”
”Second aisle to your left.”

Ethan and his mother walked to this aisle, and she picked up a bottle of Dove shampoo.

“We could use some milk, too,” she said, and turned to walk towards the freezers. However, when they got there, Ethan noticed something strange: a man was standing there. He had greased-back black hair, wrinkles on his forehead, and a pale face. His suit had been ironed recently.

Elizabeth shot a look at him, and he didn’t seem to notice. He did, however, when she reached in to get the milk.

“Hi, ah, Mrs. Luckless?”
”Oh! Uh…hi.”
She blushed and shook his hand. Ethan swiped the milk jug out of the other hand, because it looked about ready to drop.
That’s when Ethan noticed: it was the principal, Mr. Belmonte!
”Actually, it’s just ‘Miss Luckless’, now.”
”Hmm.”
He smiled, and for some reason that smile could almost give Ethan nightmares. It was too white; too…perfect.

“Yes, I’m Ethan’s principle. I know your parents, remember? I helped out when your family put your…aunt, was it?-to rest.”
This seemed to trigger a switch in his mother’s mind.

“Yeah, yeah! My aunt. I remember you now… Belmonte?”
”Please, call me ‘Lane’.”
”Lane. Yeah. We just moved here a week ago. Ethan is adjusting, isn’t that right?”
”Yeah,” Ethan said.

“I’m sure he’ll do just fine. He seems to be an excellent student, very intelligent, if he has your genes, especially.”
”Well, I-“ Ethan’s mother turned an even deeper shade of red, and rubbed the back of her neck. It seemed to just occur to her that she was being hit on.

“How’s about you and me go out for dinner sometime? Here’s my card.”
He handed her a business card, and she looked at it and started stuttering.

“Yeah, dinner would be great. Well, I better get going.”
She laughed nervously, and turned, bumping into Ethan.
”Ow!”
”Yeah, I’ll give you a call, unquestionably.”
”Mom, you’re stepping on my-“
”Sssh, Ethan, let’s go.”
”Hey! You ain’t stealin’ that, are ya, Miss?”
It was Mr. O’Neil. They’d forgotten to pay.

“I’ll cover it,” Mr. Belmonte said, beaming at her.
”Thank you,” she said, and hurried out the door.

“Can you believe that? He paid for our shampoo and milk!”
”I know. He seemed…cool.”
”He seemed like a real Southern gentlemen. Like the kind you see in the movies. Clean-cut, too. Oooh, Ethan, your mom has a date!”
Yeah, Ethan thought, with my principal…

my weirdo principal.

Nightfall soon came. CJ and Will spent the rest of the day going back and forth between CJ’s home and Will’s house, taking clothing and furniture to and fro. It wasn’t a hard task, really: CJ didn’t have very much worth taking, and the main priority was with Jamie’s crib, toys, and the like. Will also didn’t have much room in his home for them, but they made it fit. Jamie’s crib went into the storage room near Will’s bedroom, and CJ set up shop on the couch in the living room. It was a comfortable fit, but hey, it was even nicer than what they were both used to. Miss Friskers seemed right at home, too, even though she didn’t like Will’s big Doberman guard dog and steered clear of him.

When the sun began to set, CJ tied his long hair back in a ponytail and went for the Slayer’s Den. While he was waiting for Will to show up, he decided to poke around a bit in the room. There were various vampire slaying tools laid out on the makeshift altar: several wooden stakes, a few crosses, cloves of garlic, and a silver dagger.

”Just like in the movies…” CJ muttered, smiling. He couldn’t believe what he was about to do: he was seriously going to go out hunting vampires with the preacher of his church. He couldn’t believe that this was reality, he couldn’t believe his parents were gone, but most of all he just couldn’t believe how normal his life was even twenty four hours ago. Well, normal by his standards, which really weren’t all that high to be honest.

“The movies are much safer and they ain’t real, son.” Will’s gruff voice seemed to echo around the small space. He was decked out in a ridiculous outfit. It was a beige, full body work suit with a camouflaged helmet and combat boots. CJ muffled a nervous laugh as he picked up a stake.

“We’ll be needing this, right, Preacher Will?”
”Sure do. That’s the main way to kill a bloodsucker- if you can get that close, that is. Most of ‘em don’t even let ya get within a few feet. They’re mighty strong- the strength of five men, at least- and fast. The older they get, the stronger and harder to kill they are. Silver hurts ‘em plenty bad. Onion and crosses seem to keep the suckers away, I noticed, but they ain’t good weapons and they ain’t practical. What you need, above all, is a stake.”
CJ listened intently as Will handed him off various weapons and tools. He took most of them for himself, although he did give CJ the silver dagger.

“Now, the most important part- the prayer. Kneel down, son.”
CJ did as he was told, and folded his hands in prayer. Will bowed his head, and prayed for God’s blessing upon them.
”Lord, we ask you to grant us protection and victory in the spiritual warfare we are about to engaged in. We ask You to understand that we do this in Your holy name and for the glory and honor of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
”Amen.”
Will patted CJ on the head and got up off his knees. He turned to the altar, and picked up a tiny pocketbook with a ribbon in it.
”What’s that?” CJ asked.

“This here’s the Book of Slayers. All members sign their names before a Slaying. It’s a custom datin’ back to the Medieval Ages. That way, they could tell who wasn’t comin’ back and know they could expect them as a vampire.”

CJ shuddered, and obediently signed his name underneath William Luckless’ name.

He returned the tiny book back to the altar and ducked out of the doorway and Will followed, closing the door and covering the passage up as he went.

“What about Jamie?” CJ suddenly thought of his little sister. She was all he had in the world now, and he didn’t want to just leave her here.
”She’ll be okay- this is actually the safest place for her to be. Vamps can’t enter unless they’re invited, see?”
”I thought that was made up,” CJ said.
”Bet you thought vampires were made up, too.”

CJ and Will walked out into the night, with Will in the lead. They headed off into the blackness of the woods and left the house far behind them. Soon, it was just a tiny, faint light in the distance. A while went by without seeing any vampires at all, and CJ was beginning to get impatient.
When they stopped to sit on a stump and rest, CJ felt like crying again. Will patted him on the back, and shot him a glance that was meant to make him feel strong, but it actually did the opposite.
”Why did they have to die, Preacher Will?! Why? It’s so…so unfair!”
”I know it is, CJ… and sssh, be quiet- they done have hearing like hawks, ya see?”
”I don’t care! I want them to hear! I want those murdering pieces of shit to hear!”
”CJ, calm down, and sit! You gunna get us killed!”
CJ laughed and threw his head back, yelling at the moon. The next thing he remembered was the wind being knocked out of him and the silver dagger going flying out of his fist. Will gasped and sprung up, withdrawing a stake. The vampire was panting and pale as a sheet, its red eyes glowing with murder. He had long black hair, ugly features, and a nose ring. CJ forgot everything Will had told him, and surrendered unconsciously to sheer hysteria. He screamed and beat on the vampire’s chest.
”Oh, Jesus! Help me!”
”GIT OFF HIM YOU PIECE OF-“

CJ felt a huge pressure coming off of his body. He backed against a tree, shaking. Will was now struggling with the vampire, his hulking body falling all over the place with the stake in his right hand. He flailed out pathetically several times, but it was all in vain. CJ felt around and picked up a handful of rocks and tossed them at the bloodsucker.

The vampire hissed angrily. Now his attention was focused on CJ, and all he could see were those glowing red eyes. They were like two huge, terrifying lasers that pierced the night, and they burned an image into CJ’s mind. A haunting image that he wouldn’t soon forget, if ever.

CJ felt around again, and this time his hand rested on the hilt of the dagger. The vampire sprung towards CJ and landed on top of him, and roared into his face. CJ struck out in front of him, still never taking his eyes off the vampires.
He’d hit the heart.

The vampire seemed to melt in front of him. A bloody heap of black clothing was all that remained from the evil creature, and CJ tossed them to the side. Will, who was panting and sweating heavily, hurried over to him and helped him up.
”I…I killed a vamp…”

The moon was in its waning phase.

Ethan jumped suddenly when the bell rang. He had been dozing off in health class. Seriously, who really wanted to see nasty pictures of herpes- infected penises? Talk about disgusting. It almost made Ethan want to never have sex.

Almost.

That was certainly the key word there.

Ethan’s next class was his Advanced Placement English class. A week has transpired since he first set foot in that room, and he would never get used to it. However, he had to get the essay, which was on the other side of the building. He had forgotten it, of course, and was now never going to make it to class on time. Hopefully Mrs. Korvan wasn’t in the room when he arrived.

He was just rounding the corner to get to his locker when, suddenly, he collided headfirst with somebody. This somebody dropped all of her books on the ground, Ethan dropped his, and they both made feeble attempts to pick them up. The girl had brown hair that hung slightly in her face as she scrambled to pick up all of her books.
Much to Ethan’s dismay, people began kicking their books around the hallway. Jerks. The girl looked about ready to burst out into tears any second.

”I’m so, so sorry! I didn’t see you, here, let me help.” Ethan said, forgetting about his own books and reached for some of hers across the hallway. Papers were flying out in every direction, and they both probably looked like two complete idiots flailing around on the ground. “Oh, shit! Oh, man! I’m sorry, really I am, I mean…” Ethan stammered for an apology.
She grabbed what she could, grabbed her orange tote bag with a portrait of a witch on a broomstick on it, and brushed pass Ethan quickly. He immediately felt horrible and embarrassed at the same time.
A large, blonde haired jock kicked Ethan out of nowhere and the wind flew out of his lungs. Tears stung the corners of his eyes out of sheer pain and, forgetting his spare notebook, he rushed off to get to English.

Mrs. Korvan was in the room. She was writing on the chalkboard, and Ethan did his best to slip by unnoticed. It didn’t work. She turned around slowly, and put the chalk down behind her.
”So, Mister…“
”Luckless.”
”Alright, Luckless. I’m glad you decided to grace us all with your presence today. Being the guest of honor, you just have a right to show up whenever you want, right?”
”No, I’m sorry, I dropped all my books-“
”Then pick them up faster. Do it again, and you’ll be spending quality time with Mr. Belmonte.”

Ethan shuddered, and shut his mouth. Then, something weird happened. The girl next to him raised her hand expectantly, but didn’t wait to be called on.

“Actually, he did drop his books, and some people were kicking them all around. He tried to get here, but couldn’t.”
The teacher nodded, and hushed her.

“That’s enough, let’s just forget it happened and get on with class. Essays to the front, please.”
Ethan turned around and mouthed “thank you” to the girl behind him. She had golden-blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and was clad in all pink. Ethan recognized her from being on the cheerleading squad; she was quite a good dancer.

“You’re welcome. And I’m sorry about my boyfriend, Kyle Horton. He just flung the spaghetti wherever, he honestly didn’t mean for it to hit you. I swear, he’s not that bad.”
Ethan nodded, remembering the spaghetti incident.
”It’s…okay.”
She smiled and threw her hair behind her head, before they both began to drift away lazily as Mrs. Korvan lectured mercilessly about Lord of the Flies.

Ethan recognized that girl he had bumped into earlier. When he walked into his seventh period history class he saw her sitting in the back, by the corner. It was the girl he noticed on the first day of school that reminded him of himself. She had medium length brown hair that went to her shoulders, lots and lots of freckles, and was wearing a denim skirt, pink blouse, and a light blue denim jacket. Her black rimmed glasses were almost falling off of her face.

Ethan felt very bad for bumping into her, even if it wasn’t intentional. But he was afraid to approach her. He got that way when he talked to kids his age. Would she think he’s weird? Would she make it awkward and not talk at all?

”Okay, class, in your seat.”

It was Mr. Lame-err, Mr. Lemo. He had on a suit and tie today, and his uncombed white hair stuck out in tufts from his forehead like cotton, kinda like the cotton must have stuck off of the cotton gins in the pictures in the World History 10 Book: by Gillets and Hams.
”Today, we are going to be doing a project. It’s a collage about the Civil War. You are to find articles and paper clippings that remind you of the conflicts occurring before, during and after the Civil War. You are required to work with a partner. That is all; you have the rest of the period to work on this. Can somebody help me hand out rubrics, please?”

Ethan gulped. Great, it was “required” to work with someone. Who would want to work with the weird new kid that never talks?
Wait. The girl in the back is alone, too. This could be my chance.

Gathering up his courage, Ethan grabbed his stuff and walked to the back of the class and sat down in the vacant desk next to her.

He gulped, and then turned to look at her. She was actually pretty, but not in the way that cheerleaders and movie stars are. Just a plain sort of pretty.
”Hey, I’m Ethan. I’m sorry for bumping into you earlier, I’m a big klutz and wasn’t really watching where I was going.” This all came out in one breath.
”Oh, no, it’s fine. I’m used to it. At least you apologized.” The girl smiled and shook her head. Her hair hung like little tendrils all around the collar of her jean jacket.

“And it was truly very nice of you to stop and pick up my books. I’ve never had that kind of treatment before.”
”Used to it? Why?” Ethan asked, curious.
”Well…. Teens in Farr are the cruelest creatures on the face of the Earth, I think. They all generally suck, and the ones that don’t suck are just creepy, weird, or never talk. Like you. Never talk, I mean,” She said, adding that in when Ethan seemed offended.
”I’m new here, from Highland. This is the first time I moved in my life. It’s been hard.” Hard was an understatement.
”Oh… well, you wanna be my partner?” The girl asked, a hint of hopefulness in her voice.
”Sure, I’m Ethan.” Ethan said, smiling.
”Nice to meet ya, Ethan. I’m Holly. Holly Urchin.”

She extended her hand and Ethan took it in his.

For the next 40 or so minutes, they were having a blast doing this project, and it wasn’t because of the project. They got along very well, and were actually very alike. They talked about life in Farr in general. “Yeah, people have called me witch-girl. It kind of sucks, and at first I cried a lot because of it. I eventually got over it, and in fact even started taking it as a compliment, y’know? They also make fun of me ‘cause of my weight. I know I need to loose some pounds, of course, but it’s no excuse for people to treat me like crap.” So that was what the bag is for. Ethan didn’t bother to ask why they called her such a weird name. He could see the weight part, she was a little bit overweight, but who cares about that, anyway? She didn’t look witchy, or gothic, or anything like that at all. Just like a normal -if slightly nerdy- teenage girl.

”Alright everyone, clean up your scraps. This is due in two days. Remain in your assigned seats til the bell rings, please.” Mr. Lemo took his seat at his desk and started reading the newspaper, not really caring if anyone stayed in their seats or not despite what he just said.
”Do you want me to take this home and get it done?” Ethan asked.

“Hmm… well, I could-“ All of a sudden Holly paused.
”Wait. You live in the old Harlow house, on Gutted Drive off of Dead Street, right?” She asked. Ethan nodded.
”Oh!” Holly looked really excited. “That’s right around the corner from me!”
”Well that’s cool. But why aren’t you on the bus?” Ethan asked. He’d never seen her riding the bus in the morning or afternoon before.
”Well, my big sister Deanna takes me to school. She drives, even though she drives like a drunken maniac. But I hate busses. So, phone number?” She took out a pen and paper. Ethan gave her his number, and said she could come over today.

Ethan was very excited. His first real friend in Farr High has been made.

One down, 468 more possible kids to go.

”Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, this is Holly.” Ethan’s family seemed more than thrilled to meet Holly. She came over a little bit after dinner, and they were showering her with hugs and affection.
”Oh, hi honey! How are you?”
”So nice of you to come visit Ethan!”
”Um… hi. Yeah, thanks. Not a problem,” Holly said, blushing a little.
”Come on, let’s go upstairs. We need to be starting on that project.” Ethan gently grabbed Holly by the arm, and dragged her away from his adoring family.
”Uh, yeah, sorry about them… they’re excited about meeting you..” Ethan apologized once they got up to his room.
Holly giggled. “Not a problem. I thought they were nice.” She sat down next to his bed, and Ethan joined her. “They are, actually. Well most of the time. If anything happened to them I don’t know what I’d do.”
”Yeah, my family is interesting too, to say the least.” Holly flipped open a spiral baby blue notebook and started leafing through the pages.
”We’re gunna need some mag-“ Ethan started. Holly interrupted him by whipping out a bunch of old magazines and chucking them on the notebook.
”I got it all taken care of.”

They spent the next half hour looking for pictures that could vaguely be interpreted to have to do with the Civil War. Ethan found a few pictures of five dollar bills, and glued them down. They’d also found some pictures of Southern-style dishes. Ethan wondered if putting down some pictures of African Americans would be considered racist, then just ended up gluing them down anyway.

“Mr. Lemo probably won’t even be able to see the pictures, anyway. I mean, I think he may have lived during the Civil War.”
Ethan and Holly both laughed at her statement.
”Yeah, but it’s true. I mean, the guy probably lived to see the building of this house. How old is it, anyway?”
Ethan furrowed his brow, putting the scissors down. “Well… I’m not sure, actually. It may be 80 years old. It’s at least as old as my grandma, and she’s 71.”
”She’s lived in this old spooky place her whole life?”
”Yepp, all 71 years of it. She inherited it and the Harlow fortune when her mother died about 40 or so years ago.”

Holly nodded. “Oh…. Has she experienced any… you know.” Holly looked down, like she was embarrassed to be bringing this up.
Ethan was confused. “Any… what?”
”Well, the rumors around Farr are that this house is…haunted. Very haunted.” Holly looked up at him with her blue eyes. Ethan just now noticed in the light how many freckles dotted her face. There were at least a hundred, had to be at least a hundred, on it. Her light blue braces shone in the light, and her black glasses reflected light off of her face and onto the wall. She looked very curious right now.
”Actually, you know, Grandpa has claimed he experienced a deal of weird things here. Grandma keeps kinda silent about it. Like, for example, you know the huge chandelier that is in the entryway?”

”The one with the cobwebs? Yep.” There were cobwebs all over the house, and dust. Even though Grandma cleaned religiously, they seemed to always just keep coming back.
”Well, it swings around by itself every once in a while. It’s pretty strange. Grandpa’s seen it, and one time when me and him got back from going fishing a year or two ago I seen it too. It was pretty creepy but I didn’t think much of it. I’ve lived here for almost a month next week and have only heard a few minor bumps in the night, nothing too freaky.”
Holly shuddered. “Well, Ethan, do you believe in things you cannot see?”
The question was very casual, and yet Holly was gazing at him rather intently. Why was she so anxious to hear the answer to this question? Ethan thought about it for a while. Did he really believe in ghosts?

”Yes, I believe in ghosts. I think there’s more to the world than we know. Or think we know. Even though I tend to be a bit of an atheist, myself.”
Holly smiled. “I agree, actually. And trust me, after living in this creepy old town for a while, you’ll believe in more than just ghosts. Kinda like you said, there’s more to this world than meets the eye.”
”Oh, really? What else would I believe in, then?” Ethan asked, a skeptical edge to his voice.
”The impossible. Dreams. Monsters,” Holly said matter-of-factly.

Monsters? What kind of a town was this?

”Uh…64?” Ethan didn’t understand Algebra II at all, and it didn’t help that Miss Worchef always spent most of the period yelling at the various arrangement of wonderful students to shut up. The kid who sat in front of him at least provided a bit of entertainment. Everyday, like clockwork, a small rat-like boy with the name of Chris would come up and ask for drugs. Everyday, be it Meth or weed or chew, the boy in from of Ethan would cough up the goods. Where did he get all of that crap? Some kind of international drug-ring with a plant in Farr? It didn’t make all that much sense, to be honest. For some reason jocks, gangstas, and what have you took delight in pretending they were pretty tough and watching their health rapidly deteriorate before their eyes. Ethan nicknamed this kid in front of him Nyquil Nick, because he seemed to have an over-fondness for Nyquil, and the other kid Crack Chris.

“Alright, since, like, none of you are paying attention… I suggest a pop quiz?”
”Fuck!” Some random black kid proclaimed across from Ethan.
”Sorry, but you guys need to learn to listen.”

She handed out the quiz, her heels clacking as she walked up and down the rows. It was over factoring quadratic equations, which was just great because Ethan didn’t understand this at all. How unfair this was, to be pinning the misbehavior of certain students onto students who actually listened.

After he got almost done with one problem left, the kid in front of him turned around, and swiped the quiz off of Ethan’s desk.
”Thanks, my dude.” He then began copying down the answers that Ethan gave, which were obviously incorrect. Ethan simply sat there and acted like it wasn’t happening. This always worked in awkward social situations. He called this the “Sit and zone” method of avoiding social contact. Just sit there, zone out, and pretend this is not happening.

The bell rang. Skanky Sally got up, and as she walked by Nyquil Nick he shoved a hand up her tiny skirt that barely reached below her groin. Obvious dress code violation.
”I’d like me some of that pussy.” Nyquil Nick said as he turned around, grinned at Ethan, who took his test, books and got up to turn it in.
He then watched as Skanky Sally grinded purposely against Nyquil Nick as she was walking out of the door.

It made him feel exceptionally uncomfortable.

Lunch came soon enough. One could clearly hear the rain and thunder coming from the ceiling in the cafeteria, and it added a sort of depressing ambience to the already depressing lunchroom. Ethan had taken to sitting at a table in the corner all by himself, with some random kid that picked his nose who sat three chairs down. For the past several weeks, Ethan had been prepared with a good book and sat and read while he ate his lunch. But maybe now it was time to say goodbye to his old lonely corner table with the nose picker. You have served your duty, but now its time to go to bigger and better things. And, speaking of food, a semi half step up the High School food chain. Out of the wheats and into the veggies.

Wasn’t Holly in this lunch? Ethan would sit by her for sure if she was. Ethan scoped the room, armed with a tray of chilled beans and a chicken sandwich with chocolate milk, until he finally spotted her. He swooped in for the kill, walking through 230 kids who all seemed to be staring at him. Good thing the lunches were divided into two parts, or else he would have a stroke or heart attack with all these people just sitting there.

Holly sat at a circular table. Two seats down from her sat two fat girls who ate and laughed hysterically, leaning very close to each other.
”Anyone sitting here?” Ethan grabbed the chair to Holly’s left. Holly looked almost beyond herself with excitement to see him.
”Ethan! Oh, no. Sit right down, Ethe.” Ethan felt a blush go up to his cheeks.
Holly was sitting there, her glasses falling off her face as usual, munching on some multicolored jellybeans. In fact, her whole lunch consisted of jelly beans and a pink Vitamin Water.
”Nutritious lunch.” Ethan grinned. The other three girls all looked at Ethan, then the fat one gossiping shrugged her shoulders and went back to laughing.

“Oh. Yeah, I eat jelly beans every day. I enjoy sorting them. They’re jelly bellies, you see.” Ethan looked down on the table. Sure enough they were sorted very neatly according to color.
”Oh, wow. I love jelly beans.” This wasn’t really true. Ethan only kind of liked them, maybe at Easter, but certainly not year-round.

Holly’s face brightened. “Oh my! What a coincidence! I just love them! You should see how many flavors they have.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a card.
”You see? Everything from grapefruit to popcorn to tuna.” She slipped it back into her pocket. Holly sure was a strange soul.

“No kiddin’? Wow. I never knew there were so many. But…tuna?”
Holly nodded grimly. “I have a theory. This is what happens when people who make jelly beans don’t get paid enough. The outcast of the jelly bellies.’ She pointed to a lone gray jelly bean.
Ethan looked at it, and laughed. Holly joined in.
”Ew, that is so gross!”
”Tell me about it, ugh!”

He started eating some fries, then Holly pitched in. “You figure out the seating idea yet?”
Ethan looked puzzled. “Huh?”
Holly looked at him frustratingly. “Oh, Ethe. You really are clueless. You mind if I call you that, Ethe? It sounds cute.” She reached into her bag with the witch on it and pulled out a piece of paper.
”I have lots of spare time on my hands during lunch. This is what I do when I’m bored.”

Ethan’s eyes widened. Holly had made a diagram of every table with who sits at it, and labeled them accordingly.
”See? Here’s the varsity jocks. They’re the biggest jerks of all, complete with letterman jackets and flipped hats to boot. They great each other in interesting ways, ranging from a single smack on the ass to a full ranged jocky greeting of ‘Yo, what’s up dude’”?

Ethan laughed. Holly doing a jock imitation was one of the funniest things he’d seen in a while.
”That’s hilarious, you got them right on the dot!”
Holly looked satisfied. “Really?”
”Yes. Right to a tee!” Ethan grabbed the map. She had labeled everything, every table, in her incredibly neat and floral cursive writing.
The band geeks. The mathletes. The volleyball chicks. The perm girls. The majorettes. The emo kids. Fat girls. All on here, perfectly mapped out. Ethan was astounded.
”So, what table is this?”
”Well,” she said. “This is an unlabeled table. There are about four with such interesting individuals that I simply couldn’t bring myself to label them. The two girls over there are Stacey and Rhonna, and the girl over there is Jaclyn. I knew Stacey and Rhonna because we always worked together in English last year. Jaclyn doesn’t talk much, just reads a comic book.”
”Graphic Novel.” The girl corrected, looking up at Holly.
Holly nodded. “Yeah, graphic novel.”

They ate their lunches for the next few minutes. That was when Ethan looked around the cafeteria and saw him again. The same boy who smiled at him the first day. He sat there all alone, twirling his spaghetti with a plastic fork Jack was wearing dark blue jeans, with a black collared button up shirt and a red tie. His hair was neatly done and combed, and his muscles were very obvious in that shirt. His eyes shone. His-
”ETHANNN!!” Holly practically shouted, shaking his arm. “Ethan, jeeze. We all know Jack Gunlan is mysterious as all get out but you don’t have to make it obvious that you’re staring at him.” Holly said in her usual nasally voice.
Ethan blushed. “Oh…uhh…umm… I wasn’t staring… I was just-“
”Staring.” Holly giggled. Ethan, as embarrassed as he was, giggled with her.
”Yeaaahhhh,” Ethan said, drawing it out, “Did you say his name was Jack? What’s he like?”
Holly let go of Ethan’s arm Her lips pursed together. “Oh, man. Jack Gunlan, junior. Well, he’s… he hardly ever smiles or talks. Very nice body, and I hear he got a six-pac. He got asked out by the whole cheerleading squad last year and he turned all of ‘em down.”
”Does he always sit there alone? Just, by himself?” Ethan asked.
”Major loner. Makes me look like a regular social butterfly. At least I talk to people, even if its just the girls I sit with and you. I dunno. Do I look okay?” Holly was now looking into a mirror, fixing her hair. She was wearing a light blue shirt from some beach in Florida, and dark blue jeans.
”Yeah, you look fine.” Ethan wasn’t really paying attention. Something about him…those eyes…

“Holly…”
”Yeah?”
”…is it possible for someone to have red eyes?”

Holly stopped for a split second, and put her mirror down. “Well, I dunno. If their parents did, I guess. Albino people do. Maybe he’s albino, then. I dunno,” she repeated.
Ethan said nothing, and the bell rang. “See you 7th period.” Holly got up and walked away. Ethan looked up right into the eyes of Jack Gunlan. His eyes were indeed a fiery, erotic, blood red, and they were gazing in Ethan’s deep, introverted aquamarine ones.

Then, in a flash, it was over, and Ethan looked down at the table desperate to break the contact. Holly had gathered up all the other jelly beans except for the tuna one, laying there all alone. Ethan picked it up and threw it in the garbage.

September 26

I’m so glad that I finally found a good friend in Farr. Her name’s Holly Urchin, and she’s pretty freakin’ amazing. Not in that way, but in a best-bud kind of way. She reminds me of the way Gabe was, except Gabe’s a guy of course.

I went out to eat with her downtown last week, in a restaurant called the Swish Diner. It was like an actual diner out of the 50’s! I could hardly believe it. I mean, they actually had malts for crying out loud. We talked about how stupid our teachers were, and how Mr. Lame-o needs to stop handing out tons of homework every night. To think I actually liked him at first. What was I thinking?
Maybe things are looking up for me in Farr. The only thing is, I just don’t understand this house. It’s old, creaky, and everything, but there seems to be something…here. Memories of things that have never happened to me float into my head occasionally, and it drives me totally insane. Memories of a red haired girl… and tonight, I heard someone scream outside my

Wait. There it was again. I just opened the window, and nobody was out there? This is too weird for me. I’m going to bed.

Love,
Ethan Luckless