It's just a normal day at school for alistair stone, when his friend invites him to go on a ghost adventure at the stanley hotel on halloween night. he doesn't expect to acknowledge that the only girl he had a crush on for years while he hates every...
alistair hardly slept last night. It wasn't only because of his insomnia, but it was because of natalia. he had a bad feeling about later tonight for their ghost adventure. he was even confused as to why they're not just going to a haunted house, or some minor event in town, if there is one being held. and what is lauren exactly up to? she wouldn't use someone else's fear as a "harmless prank" against them, would she?
"alistair! I'm leaving for work!" his mom called from downstairs. the sound of keys being grabbed and the front door opening. "you're still taking zoey trick or treating, right?!"
"yes mom!" he called back, rolling over in his bed. he buried his face in his pillow, attempting to go back to sleep. he tosses the comforter over his shoulder, closing his eyes.
only for him to extend his arm towards his nightstand, to grab his phone and scroll, click through people's stories.
nat
at peace
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
alistair goes to swipe out of it, only to accidentally like her story. "fuck. I didn't want to-" he cursed, quickly turning his phone off and tossing it aside.
how could I sleep now after that?
alistair forces himself to get out of bed, not even bothering to make his bed or fix anything. he just goes in to shower and get ready for the weekend. the steam fills the shower mirrors, the hot water runs down his muscular back and his curls are damp.
the thought of hanging out with natalia, the last place he expected would be a haunted hotel, he was excited and nervous at the same time; excited to be hanging out with her again after a couple weeks ago, and nervous because he has no idea what's going to happen during their time of exploration.
he glances through the curtain once he hears his phone chime.
a couple minutes of letting all the soap rinse off his skin before he switches off the water and takes the towel off the rack to wrap around his torso. he drags his fingers through his damp hair, unlocking his phone with his more dry hand.
nat - liking my story now? bold move
alistair - wasn't sure you'd notice
nat - I usually do, star
alistair - I'll keep that in mind
nat - you should
he can't hold back the smile growing into his face. "star." a nickname she gave him herself, and at first he rejected it but then he grew fond of it. alistair ends up getting dressed, looking around the house to see if anyone else is home. his sister is at a friend's house, his mom and dad are working.
sometimes, it felt uneasy for the house to be more silent than he is used to.
I guess I have time to kill.
alistair exits his empty house, locking the front door and heading towards his car parked under the big, shady tree. he gets in his car to drive to the nearest bookstore, aka his safe space. everyone thinks reading books are boring but because of the shitty textbooks you have to read until the hell finally ends.
the bell rings, to signal a customer entering the store and natalia smirks to see alistair.
"well, look who it is," she teased.
alistair gave her a flat look, despite fighting off a smile behind his serious expression. "don't start."
"I'm not starting anything," natalia said innocently, already rounding the counter with a bounce in her step. "I'm simply observing. like how you've shown up in two days in a row. It's almost like you miss seeing me."
"I miss the silence," he replied dryly, heading straight for the fiction section.
I lied. I do miss you.
"ouch, star," she clutched her chest like he'd wounded her, then trailed after him without missing a beat. "and here I thought you'd actually finally admit for once that you enjoy being around me."
I do.
"I don't hate being around you, if that's a better answer for you," alistair disclosed, patting the top of her head and turns back to the shelf in front of him, his fingers firmly grasping a book or two. she playfully rolled her eyes, leaving him alone in the aisle to return to work. he set down the novels upon the counter natalia is standing behind. "are you... ready for tonight?"
his eyes never leave her as he watches her scan each barcode located at the bottom corner. "who knows? maybe I'm just overthinking it which is my least favorite thing in the world." she replied, and alistair knew that tone of voice; pretending it'll be okay when the complete opposite could happen, and she's feeling it.
"nat-"
"It'll be fun, a little spooky," she cut him off, attempting to keep the mood lightened. "maybe we'll be ghostbusters, but the sweatpants and hoodies version. I don't think I'd look pretty in a uniform."
natalia finished scanning, neatly setting the books in a plastic bag for him. "enjoy your stay, or if you're leaving, I'll see you tonight."
alistair takes the bag, to hold it by his side. "you know, just for the record. I think you'd pull it off well. even if it's in a hoodie and sweatpants."
she observed him walking away, a flutter in her chest. "thanks, star."
