The cafeteria was unusually noisy, as the senior boys talked about the upcoming football game and the sophomore girls swooned as they walked by. This is what I had returned to over empty summer days. High school. I slumped over in my chair and poked at the hamburger on my styrofoam lunch tray; it jiggled and I stuck my tongue out in disgust. A flash of light startled me and I looked up to see Kristy; a red head with long wavy hair and a camera in her hands.
"Got cha!" She winked, sitting down across from me.
"Whats your project this time?" I asked shoving my tray away from me, to the middle of the table. She played with some buttons on the device before replying, "Physical reactions to cafeteria food."
"That sounds exciting." I guessed, my voice very unenthusiastic.
"Oh it is!" She exclaimed flipping her camera over so I could see the film, "Look I got a picture of Denis Longgate with a cookie in his mouth." The small image showed one of the basketball players, wide-eyed and munching on a hard pastry; crumbs falling out of his mouth onto his jacket.
"If you keep taking pictures of him, he might file a restraining order on you." A deep bass voice added. I glanced up to see James rolling his eyes, some of the 'food' in his hands as well.
"Oh James!" Kristy squealed, "Do you wanna see?"
"No, not really." He sat down and she continued looking through pictures.
"Rebecca are you going to eat," He pointed to my rejected tray.
"No, because this is made of plastic. It's disgusting." I pretended to gag.
"Oh, can I have it?" Kristy's eyes lit up, "Please?"
"Sure."
"Yay." She grabbed they tray and dramatically bit the apple.
"Do you even eat at home?" James questioned me, opening his carton.
"I eat all the time, I'm just always hungry." Kristy interjected.
"Do you want mine?" James pushed his tray her direction, "I'd hate to see you when your starving."
"No thank you." She glared, took another bite and returned to her camera.
"How's Chemistry?" James asked, turning to me again.
"Ugh, we had a test last period and I totally bombed it."
"The final?"
"Mmhmm."
"Yeah, I didn't do so good on that either."
"Oh my goodness!" Kristy exclaimed gazing at her camera "Does it really...?" James and I looked at each other, he shrugged.
"What?" I demanded.
"My camera can film! Up to an hour!"
"Oh good, now you can film Denis playing basketball." James teased.
"Ha, ha, you're so funny." She rolled her eyes and lifted the camera up to my face.
"What are you going to film?" I asked, hoping she would veer away from filming people eating. She shrugged.
"Oh, that reminds me." James exclaimed, pulling a crumpled paper from his backpack. "I got it in my English class." He handed the paper over to Kristy. She studied it over, sipping her milk.
"We're doing it." She concluded.
"What is it?" I asked, leaning over the table.
"We're?" James looked at her.
"Of course we're you gave it to me so you're helping."
"What is it?" I asked again, straining my neck to see it. Kristy turned to me, her red hair shimmered at its new found light.
"It's a contest." She stated. I nodded my head, prompting her to continue.
"Its a scary contest."
"That's it?" I looked at her as she and James exchanged glances.
"Look," James finally said looking at me, "We know you don't like scary things." He looked back at Kristy and her head bobbed for him to continue.
"I mean, we watched War of the Worlds and you looked like you were going to throw up after."
"War of the Worlds is a scary movie." I said defensibly.
"Like I said, we don't want you to feel like you can't come because... well..." He glanced at the demon with the camera again.
"What James is trying to say is that if I win, I get five hundred dollars."
"Well, whats the paper say?" I requested, reaching for it again.
"It says," James read, clearing his throat, " 'Are you afraid of Ghosts? Are you into witchcraft? If so the Theater Department of'" He hesitated "Some name I can't pronounce." He skimmed over a few lines clicking his tongue. " 'Invites you to participate in the annual Haunt Me contest. Applicant's may submit one of the following: poetry, short stories, photography, music, et cetra, et cetra." Kristy mouthed 'five hundred' and held up a five with her fingers.
"So," I countered, "It can't be that bad."
"Well...no." James sighed, giving the paper back to Kristy.
"I want to film in theater two!" Kristy shouted, slamming her hand on the table. Theater two? That place of secrets, my secrets, mine and Miles. I hadn't thought of Miles in months. I had changed. I was different now. Better even.
"Oh." I finally said.
"That's why we didn't ask you to come. Theater two is the most haunted place we know. Even the janitors won't go in there." Kristy leaned her head in and cupped her hand to the side of her mouth, "They say there are ghosts living in there."
"There are no ghost's in theater two," James argued, "It's just an old building and things are falling apart. It's unstable, not haunted."
"There are! And I'm going to prove it, we're going to theater two tomorrow night. After the teachers leave."
"Guys," I hesitantly whispered, "This is a bad idea."
"No." Kristy countered her face full of food, "This is a brilliant idea."
"Then count me out." I said standing up and gathering my books.
"Want us to come with you?" James eyes held concern.
"Nah, the bell's gonna ring soon anyway. See you after school."
"Hey Rebecca, text me if your fears go away okay?" Kristy winked. I nodded. I needed to go back to the theater. I had left some unfinished business there, business from four months ago.
Gender:
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