I put my keys into the pocket of my jeans. The bookstore was locked. Well, until Monday morning. I walked to the stairwell and pushed open the heavy doors. Standing on the first landing was my brother, Logan. “Took you long enough,” he said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes. “Shut it. We need to get home; Mariah is probably waiting for us.” Mariah is our older sister. She takes care of Logan, and me when I was younger. She has since our parents passed away 11 years ago. Logan and I walked down the stairs. We both worked on the second floor of the Brick, so taking the stairs was faster than the elevator. As we walked, I asked Logan about his day at the diner he works at. Apparently, there was some rude, nasty customer giving him trouble. When I heard that, I jokingly said, “Just get me an address. Nobody will know.” Logan laughed. “No killing today, Elias. Try explaining to Mariah why you came home with a dead body.” I shrugged. We left the Brick and started walking down Boulevard to our house. The sun had set, and the street lamps had not turned on yet.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWAN8wp25m
We left the industrial-factory side of Boulevard and were in the bustling center. Many people were still outside,walking from store to store. My eyelids feel heavy in the cool night air. “Yo, is that Elias and Logan? My besties!” I heard a familiar voice shout from across the street. A figure cane towards us. It was my friend, Maggie Bates. “Hey, Mags. What’re you doing out tonight>” I asked. “Nothing, really. I was bored at home so I came here. Oh, and guess what? I only almost got in a fight with an idiot.”. Logan clapped slowly. “Congrats, Maggie.” She took a quick bow. “Do you want to come back to our place for dinner? Mariah is making grilled cheese.”
“I’m there. Let’s go. Now,” Maggie said. We started walking again. After a few blocks, our trio turned onto a small road. We passed a few houses, then got to ours. The light blue paint gave a splash of color to our bland neighborhood. I walked up the concrete steps and pushed open the front door. “We’re home, Mariah! Maggie is here, too. Can she stay for dinner?” Mariah came around the corner, her blue hair tied up in a ponytail on the back of her head. The roots of her hair had grown out, revealing the dark brown color of her natural hair. “Hello, Maggie. Of course you may stay. Do your parents know you’re here?” Maggie held up her phone. “Yup. I’m good to stay until 11:30.” Mariah gave a thumbs up and smiled. “Great. Dinner will be ready in 10.”
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX46oeYpnXD
Maggie and I went into the living room while Logan went up to his room. We sat on the floor, because the floor is comfy. I took off my backpack and pulled a deck of cards out of it. Then I threw it onto the couch. I shuffled the deck, and dealt 8 cards, 4 each. I organized my cards in a grid for Maggie and I’s favorite game, Golf. We both learned how to play at summer camp when we were 10, about 8 years ago. And we just didn’t stop. 27 games, and 12 wins for me, later, Mariah called out, “Dinner! If you don’t come, that is your fault!” I snickered as Maggie and I made our way to the kitchen. A plate full of grilled cheese sandwiches was on the counter, with a small stack of plates next to it. “Thanks, Mariah. It looks great,” I said as I grabbed a sandwich and put it on my plate. Mariah smiled. “I try.” Maggie and I sat down at the table to eat. Logan appeared and grabbed a plate as well.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZfk4F2HXI
As I finished eating, Maggie said, “I’m going to head out. Dinner was great, Mariah. Thanks. Meet at the spot tomorrow morning, Elias?” I nodded. The spot is this massive tree house we found in the woods. It’s run down and broken. It must be 100 years old, at least. But we’d fixed up all the broken parts and turned it into our own. We hung out there with the rest of our friend group. We have no idea who built it, though. Sometimes we hope to meet the person who built it, or for someone to come claim it. Until then, though, we stick to made-up, creepy legends about its creator. I finished eating and said goodbye to Maggie. I put my plate in the dishwasher and went up to my bedroom. I grabbed my tablet and pulled up the group chat with my friends.
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcARMPJDMXh
Elias_Hemsworth: the spot, tomorrow @ 9:15
Maggie_Bates: got it!
Jay_Keeth: c u then
Sammy_Tye: okay!
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4aqG7VJms
Jay and Sammy are my other two friends. I’d met them a few years after I met Maggie. We quickly became friends. I plugged in my tablet and changed into pajamas. Looking at the glow-in-the-dark clock on my wall, I read the time as 10:05. Sighing, I climbed into bed. I closed my eyes and slipped into a light sleep.
ns 15.158.61.6da2
