Deadly Occupants

by Mads Rafferty

“When I walked back from the bathroom, someone grazed their fingers down my back and then whispered in my ear to run.”

Oh fuck no

Sally’s eyes spark. “I see he wants to come out and play.”

Excuse me?????

“Our friend just got a pat down from a ghost and you’re…clapping?” Violet drawls dryly.

Lmfao

“You guys knew what we were signing up for.” “I didn’t sign up to be groped!”

“You’re talking about the girl who’s studying to cut into people. Of course there’s something fundamentally wrong with her.”

Despite what some may think, she is a walking ball of nerves—not over the house, but our reactions.

I’d say just about anything right now to get the sad, anxious look out of her eyes.

“Damn, I wanted them to play with me.” “By all means, Evie, take their attention away. I don’t want it!”

“I refuse to be bait for your entertainment.”

“I think peer pressure can be a healthy method for character development.”

“If anyone knows about character development it’s Blair, who let me remind you studies psychology, which we should all be grateful for because if anyone goes into that attic, they’ll need therapy.”

“Is neither an option?” I ask as politely as I can.

“Throwing your friend under the bus for an article. Nice, Pheebs,” Violet chuckles.

“Is everyone forgetting that trauma is permanent psychological damage?” I whisper.

I throw my hands in the air. “Does no one care about my well-being?” “No,” they ring out in unison, chuckling when my face falls.

“I now win the battle of who would leave whom in a slasher film. You are officially the worst friend ever.”

After the deaths of my parents and sister, I know what it feels like to be coddled,

I could have said no and not gone up there. I could have stood my ground but the need to make the small group of people left in my life happy won out.

For my own sanity, I need to pretend like it never happened, that it never showed me what it did, and that it never touched me.

“I’ll make you a deal.” My brow quirks. “A deal?” “I’ll slip your friend’s assignment into Mr. Somersby’s pile.” “And what do you want in return?” “A date.”

“I think a date would be a fair trade-off for your friend’s assignment. After all, I’m the one putting my neck on the line.” He leans forward, so much so that I must tilt my head backward to keep our eyes connected. “I’ll sweeten the deal for you, though.” Now it’s time for my brow to quirk. “And how will you do that?” “I’ll make it two dates.”

It’s been years since a man has elicited such nerves from me. It’s exhilarating.

“You don’t want to know.” “I think you’ll find that I want to know everything about you.”

“He’s captain of the hockey team.”

Girl won the lottery dammit

“I am totally claiming matchmaking credit.”

Me coded

My nose rises in the air. “I don’t freak out.” Except I totally freak out.

But if your loved ones continued to die on you, I wouldn’t judge you for being scared of adding to the growing list.

Of course I wasn’t thinking about dating. I had to focus on surviving.

Snap. My eyes pop up to Phoebe’s amused grin, along with her fingers in my face.

Kelsey/Jessie coded

My entire book collection sits between the two, taking up the entirety of the wall space.

Jealous

“Anyone want to watch reruns of The Bachelor

I need to live with these girls lol

I may seem petty, but there’s nothing worse than looking forward to food all day only to find it gone when you go to eat it.

Besides, I’m turning hangry, and it’s in the best interest of my friendships that I don’t respond.

Procrastination at its finest, although I do work better under pressure.”

the only reason I kept the car is because it belonged to my sister.

“It’s a five-minute drive. That’s one and a half songs.” Half of the ten minute “All Too Well,” Taylor’s version at least.

“Okay, if I promise to get you gummy bears for tonight will you let me drive you home?”

Talk dirty to me Xavier

“I’ll accept your formal apology on our second date.”

Intuition is strong in everyone, but not as strong as a woman’s ability to know when someone’s unwanted attention is placed upon them.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re human. You can’t be a walking pep club at all hours of the day.”

Because it wouldn’t have gotten mad if it wouldn’t affect it.

Terrifying

The comment and gift came a short few days after he caught us all singing “WAP” by Cardi B in his backyard. To say Mr. Prescot was mortified is an understatement.

I think it’s a beautiful thing to believe in a higher power, so long as they don’t try to shove it down my throat.

However cute they may be, no third wheel wants to feel like they're intruding on something that is no doubt leading to activity behind closed doors.

“Oh, they’re adorable. But in the passing years, I’ve become almost like a piece of furniture blending into the background.”

I pull out my Kindle and continue reading the small-town, country romance book that helped me get to sleep late last night.

So relatable

And isn’t that a travesty that I missed my name tumbling from those lips?

“I cornered Phoebe the other week on campus and asked her what all your favorites were.”

Thats amazing

“Are you ready to sage the shit out of the fucker in our house?”

I don’t have time to deal with this. I can’t afford for my head to be all over the place.