Kelly Martin and Stacie Rasp decided by September to buy matching earrings. On the front it would say best friends forever.
Kelly had met Stacie two months before. Having just moved into town, Kelly finally began to feel at home. She met Stacie on a whim at the movies. Kelly had been alone and was rounding a corner with popcorn in one hand and a huge drink in the other. Stacie, with two girlfriends, were approaching in the opposite direction. Well, you can guess what happened next!! It's been love ever since. Or so they tell people.
The two best friends had a lot going on. Stacie was trying to help Kelly transition into her new school without a hitch. She went over the layout of the building, the teachers, and the way everything worked. Kelly took it all in, and was flabbergasted to learn Stacie was one of the most popular girls in school. In her old school, Kelly was a dork. Her new life thus far in a new town was working out pretty well.
That September day when the two girls bought matching earrings, Kelly later looked back, would become her favorite day at Batesville.
When school started for Kelly, she was jittery and nervous. Stacie had helped her shop for all the right outfits and had even made sure she had well- known contacts going in on her first day.
"I'm so nervous Stace," she admonished.
Stacie was literally pulling her by the arm into the building. Now seniors, Stacie had chosen the closest parking spot in the lot, where seniors were reserved for parking. Kelly had ridden in the passenger seat of Stacie's pink wrangler jeep.
That same morning, Stacie had gone over Kelly's makeup and the girls literally took a whole hour getting it just right.
All that day Kelly felt like she had been thrown on a rollercoaster, and by fourth period made an attempt at throwing up. In the restroom, she had to fight off anxiety and calm herself.
Because of different classes, she and Stacie had to separate after homeroom, but every chance Stacie got, she'd meet Kelly at her locker to check up on her. She noticed once or twice how pale Kelly looked. Kelly was never alone between classes though. Stacie made sure she had plenty of support.
High school life was never Kelly's forte. Stacie was the better player as far as that went.
Kelly had to wait in the gym after school ended that day while Stacy met up with her cheerleading coach. Being head cheerleader, Stacie was going to have a tremendously busy year. Kelly had doubts her friendship with Stacie would last for too long. Kelly was not a pep rally girl. She hated football, and she couldn't stand boisterous boys.
She adopted the motto that only time would tell. Stacie, on the other hand, had all the hope in the world that her and Kellys friendship was going to last forever.
Kelly loved all her teachers. She loved the way the school looked. She even loved how every other guy looked better than the models on an Abercrombie and Fitch magazine. She especially loved how Stacie took such good care of her on her first day of school.
Weeks went by. Kelly made perfect scores on all her schoolwork. She was well liked by all of Stacie's friends and her teachers. Both of her parents approved and admired how wonderfully able she was at fitting in. Even Kelly couldn't believe her stroke of luck. All that was about to change.
It started in October. Kelly and Stacie were in town shopping for a few items to use for a project. Having travelled all over town, both girls were exhausted. Kelly easily wore out much sooner than Stacie, and it became repiticious for Stacie to have to slow down to wait up for Kelly.
This particular situation was no different that October evening. The wind held a chill and leaves were blowing everywhere.
"Are you ok Kelly?" Stacie asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," she had replied. They were both leaning against a building in the middle of the town square. The next opening and outlet happened to be a miniature haunted house people had gathered together to open up for Halloween. Stacie had looked toward that direction and was the first to notice.
Kelly saw the strange look in Stacie's eyes and followed the direction of her gaze. When Kelly realized what Stacy was looking at, she stopped dead in her tracks. A haunted house? In this small building? Kelly walked over to the door and attempted to peer through the glass. It was dark inside and nothing could be seen. "The sign says it doesn't open until 9:30 tonight," Stacie declared, looking herself.
"Wow," Kelly responded. "I love this kind of thing around Halloween."
"I don't," Stacie responded. She literally felt cold chills run down her spine. "Everything about Halloween gives me the creeps."
Suddenly Kelly had an idea. "Let's go in. Let's pay the admission fee and go in at 9:30."
To be continued...
