Haunted House

“Breakfast’s ready.”

“Oh,” Kim said, surprised. “Thanks.”

“You’re not gonna eat?” asked Kim as Rozii turned on the stereo and started dancing.

“Nah,” grinned Rozii, “ That waffle was supposed to be mine, but yours looked better so I stuffed it into my mouth before we could compete over it.”

“Gee, thanks,” Kim rolled her eyes.

“What kind of dancing is that anyway?” she scoffed.

“Don’t mock the moves man. When’s the last time you went dancing? You’ve got nothing on me.”

After breakfast, Kim took Rozii up on her challenge.

“You’re doing it wrong,” said Rozii.

“As if there’s a right way to dance like this,” retorted Kim.

“You know, I had an idea the other day.”

“What was it?”

“I think you’re really gonna like it,” Rozii said earnestly.

“Lets hear it then.”

“Well, you know how we’ve just moved to this town?”

“Yeah…”

“And we haven’t really been acquainted with any of the neighbors…”

“Get on with it.”

“House party. We put up a couple flyers around town, go door to door, and before you know it, we’re friends with half the town. Howbout it?”

“Hahaha,” Kim laughed mock-gently, still dancing, “Howbout no?”

“Oh, come ooon!” Rozii’s attitude changed abruptly. Kim let out an exasperated sigh.

“We haven’t done ANYTHING since we’ve gotten here, besides redecorate the house,” Rozii rolled her eyes.

“Throwing one party won’t hurt your chances of becoming a doctor any. It’s your chance to meet your neighbors. I’m not saying throw a rave party or anything…although..”

“NO.” scowled Kim.

“You dragged me all the way out here – ” Rozii protested.

“You invited yourself. I told you to stay home, but you wouldn’t stop complaining and ended up stowing away in the moving truck,” Kim said glumly.

“ – telling me lies about how Emerald Harbor was a beautiful city of dreams, with an amazing nightlife, and clubs open 24/7 – ”

“I told you it was a rural and radioactive town that had recently reopened, with hardly any people and rotting buildings with dead things everywhere,” Kim interrupted again, “I said there were demons and evil bald elfs running amok, holding signs like ‘sobriety,’ ‘and ‘sepia,’ and that it was your personal hell,” Kim continued in the same apathetic tone.

“ – and finally convincing me with your plea that your life had no meaning without me in it,” she wailed. “How could you, Kimmy?!” she sobbed.

“I told you that you were nothing but a distraction to me and begged you to leave me alone,” Kim spat out indignantly. It was obvious she was blocking her out.

“Well…although it’s completely your fault that I’m here, I am a reasonable person – howbout we compromise?” Rozii winked.

Kim huffed.

“What’s the compromise?” Better to reach a solution than argue with someone so willfully thick-headed.

“You come with me to this place around town I’d heard about. I’ve been dying to visit it – don’t worry, it’s nothing like a nightclub. No parties. Just..er…getting ourselves better acquainted with the layout of the town, is all. You’ll have to dress up though,” she added.

“And…?” Kim said slowly.

“And I won’t say anything about partying for…the rest of the week,” – Kim raised her eyebrow skeptically – “Or the next two days anyway. Only if you do exactly what I say though.”

“Just don’t make it too outrageous, ok?” Kim said wearily.

“Heh, heh, heh…”

“There’s absolutely no way I’m going in there,” grinned Kim.

“Don’t start with me,” warned Rozii. “I let you wear that hat, remember?”

“Psh,” Kim scoffed. “Whatever, neither I, nor the hat, will be entering this rotting building. You can forget about that already, you hear me?”

“Whats the point of going out in disguise if we’re just going to attract attention anyway,” wondered Kim out loud.

“Look, killjoy,” Rozii put on her reasonable voice, “Since you’re being so difficult, I’ll make you another deal. At least look through the window for me? You don’t have to go inside, but I just wanna take a peak around. You can be my lookout.”

“And if you somehow fail to live up to this simple task, then I get to throw a party at our house. And you’ll have to buy me a bar for my personal use. Otherwise, just stand watch. Just stay put, we’ll go home, and no party talk for 48 hours.”

‘I’ll take it!” exclaimed Kim.

“You’ll have to explain the uniforms though,” Kim said.

“Well, it’s pretty obvious. We look like a couple of crazies, don’t we?” Rozii began.

“But since we’re dressed like this, we’re mostly unrecognizable. No one will suspect it was us….until we meet some of the neighbors maybe. We look pretty colorful for this sort of town.”

“Hey, whats with you?” Rozii nudged her friend. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.”

“It’s a-a-a g-g-girl!….And she’s reading!” Kim whimpered. “In a arm chair! Thats red! And she’s alone!”

“Wha-?” Rozii started backing away.

Suddenly the front door flew open. Rozii let out a loud shriek.

Before they could take a second look, they had jumped over the railing and bolted out of there, with Kim leading the way.

“WAAAAIT, KIM, DON’T LEAVE MEEEEEeeeee…!!”

“DOES THIS MEAN WE GET TO THROW A PARTY..??’ Rozzi bellowed.

“What the heck was that?” said the girl.

“Beats me,” shrugged the teen.

They were on the verge of needing an inhaler by the time they got home.

“Hehehe….so you couldn’t even stand watch,” guffawed Rozii.

“Gotta….out…these clothes…Stupid drawer….open!”

“Ah well, there’s no avoiding it now. We’re obligated to throw a house party by an unwritten contract,” Rozii sighed. “Much as I’d like to spare you the annoyance of socializing against your will, it seems the bonds of our friendship are dependent on it.”

“Ah, thanks. I hate this stupid drawer. We should really get a new one. Or replace it with the bar you’re going to get me,” added Rozii thoughtfully.

“Hey,” Rozii called over to Kim as they changed, “Was the girl a changling kid?”

“Change-what?” Kim replied in an irritated tone.

“Some woman by the Bistro asked me if I was a changling the other day. Cause of my hair, I guess.”

“Oh…well, she had pink in her hair. I think I remember seeing some kids like that around the Diner too.” Kim recalled.

“Well….guess we’ll find out…when we invite the entire neighborhood to our party,” Rozii said cheerfully.

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After Kim changed, she left the house to apply for a job at the hospital. And also because she was peeved at all this party-talk.

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Leaving Rozii at home to plan out the party by herself.