“I’m looking forward to it.” I nodded. “See you tomorrow and good luck with that.” I gestured to the group of people still waiting for her to amble over in their direction.
She waved at me in response, turning to walk towards her crew as she expelled, “Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.”
Shaking my head playfully, I returned to my bike and quickly hopped on out of their way.
Working with the haunts was going to be so fucking fun. I didn't care how much pay they were offering, I wasn't in it for that. This could be the true jump start I needed to feel inspired. I only had three chapters written for my horror novel, which meant that in the past ten months since starting this adventure with my sister, I'd written a lousy forty pages. I needed to do better to prove to myself that quitting the insurance company wasn't a whim even if that was exactly the truth. I had to get fucking serious about this.
Riding back toward town with the whisper of possibility in the air, I hoped that working in the haunted house would be the true motivation I was banking on it to be.
Chapter 7
"You got a job at a haunted house?"
I shook my head at the heavily draped tone my sister inflicted as I finished getting ready. An orange button up laid easy on my body, my fingers fastening the final button. My black jeans and my typical grey sneakers completed the look, the mirror revealing its approval when I double checked my reflection. I flared the lapels of my collar down before turning back to Myers.
“I got aninterviewat a haunted house.” I corrected her, smoothing my palms over my jeans and plucking my phone off of the counter so I could slide it appropriately into my pocket.
“Are you sure you want to dedicate the time to something like this?” Myers dug the spoon in her hand into the pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream that was harbored in the other, scooping a bite into her mouth. “You know I support you no matter what, but what about writing?”
There it was again. As much as I appreciated my sister pushing me to achieve the goal I’d had in mind by joining her on this road trip across America, it was really starting to get on my fucking nerves how on my case she was getting when it came to how much I had written. Or in this case, hadn’t written. I wasfully aware of the lax job I’d been doing and I didn’t need the negative reminder.
Leaving the mirror and grabbing my shoes by the door to the RV, I sunk into the surprisingly comfortable inset couch and began sliding my black Converses on.
“I know I haven’t been writing lately, but I’m doing thisformy writing, not in spite of it. I think being surrounded by more horror focused stuff will really get my juices flowing.” I nodded, hoping she was hearing me. It’s not like she was doing this road trip for anything else other than the break from school and her normal life. She had different stakes than I did, and I’d made my peace about that. But that didn’t give her the right to critique my methods. “I appreciate you wanting me to dive head first in to writing more, but I’ve got it under control, alright?”
It was hard to confront my sister about things of this nature. I was such a non confrontational person, to a fault. I hated anything unpleasant socially and never made it a habit in squabbling. I just wasn’t that type of person nor was I interested in becoming as such.
Her eyebrows did a little dance in surprise, but she gave me a nod and took another bite of her ice cream before answering.
“I don’t mean to overstep. I’m sorry, Krue.” Her little nickname for me slipped out and I knew she was trying to do vocal damage control. “I just want the best for you, but it’s not my place to keep pushing. Maybe I’m just eager to read it.” She chuckled a bit, and I matched the energy of her smile as a grin of my own appeared on my face. “Maybe the haunted house will get your inspiration tank to full.”
I nodded again. “I really think it will. Plus, having a little extra spending money is great too.”
“Definitely.” Myers agreed, but a sigh fell between her lips in a sizzled exhale. “But what am I going to do with all this time I’ll have not watching you dodge Lincoln?”
I rolled my eyes at her mention of Lincoln. He’d read my last text about how I’d enjoyed our time together, but he hadn’t responded. I never expected him to, but Myers was my sister and she liked to get her ribs in. I shook my head at her, standing up and giving her a spirited glare.
“Ha ha.” I mocked, pausing between each syllable. “You could always join me and work somewhere at the haunted house or the haunted maze. I’m sure they could use the help from what I was told.”
Her eyes moved from side to side as she mulled the option over. “Possibly. I’m not opposed to the idea.” I heard her spoon scrap the bottom of her pint, an exaggerated scoff pouring from her as she placed the empty carton and spoon on the counter by the bench she was sitting on. “I’ll think about it but good luck on the interview. I’m sure you’ll do great.”
“Thanks.” I cut the space between us as she stood up and gave me a hug of encouragement. “I’ll see you later.”
“Let’s do pizza for dinner.” She said once we unfurled our arms from each other. “I’ve got an appetite for something really bad for me.”
“Says the one who just downed a pint of ice cream.” I cut my eyes at her and her jaw dropped playfully.
“Let me have my vices.” She said. “Our trip is almost over and I’ll be good once we get back home.”
“Hey, do what feels right.” Sparkling options danced in her eyes as I could practically see the reply forming in her eyes, knowing that she wanted to tease me again about Lincoln. “Leave it.”
“Fine, fine.” Myers waved me off. “You’re no fun.”
“I’m gonna go.” I laughed. “Later.”
“Later.”
Looking forward to the reprieve from the constant picking about Lincoln, I threw open the door and sauntered down the stairs without a care in the world.
