Limbo

ASHLEY:

We've had to cut off our day at the studio early again today, thanks to the crazy squirrels, and since Charlie and Susan said this morning that they were going out shopping, we've decided to stop at the cafe for lunch before we go back to the house. I pull into a parking spot, Jinxx and Bob with me, and Jake comes in a couple of slots away, with Andy and CC. Bob looks around as we get out of the car and comments, "Well, at least it looks like we've missed the lunch rush, so maybe we won't have to wait forever to get our food."

"And if we're lucky, we won't get noticed," Andy adds. "Don't get me wrong, I love meeting our fans, but sometimes it would be nice to be able to finish a meal while it's still hot."

We all just sort of nod in agreement and head inside, where we see that there seems to be only one other customer at the moment. Melissa is standing at the counter, and when the buzzer goes off she looks up, a big smile spreading across her face. "Hi there, guys! I haven't seen you for a few days. We were beginning to think we'd lost you to the competition in town."

"No, we've just been really busy in the studio," I reply. "But we had to knock off early today, so we decided to stop and see what's good."

The cafe's owner is bringing some bundles of silverware from the kitchen as I say this, and he calls out, "It's all good, it just depends on what you're in the mood for today."

Melissa takes us to a table, giving us a rundown of the specials, and we make our orders. As we sit back and wait for our drinks, I notice the other customer sort of looking us over. I lean forward and tell the others, "Looks like the guy by the window feels like he needs to check us out."

"Yeah, I can see that, too," Jinxx says. "He doesn't look like a typical fan, so I'm guessing either he's not crazy about our 'type' hanging around, or he's maybe a little paranoid about people he doesn't know, considering what happened to Rachel and the others."

"Oh, well, as long as he keeps his hangups at his own table, and doesn't interrupt our lunch, I'm not gonna worry about him," CC informs us.

Melissa brings our drinks and sets them down on the table. "Your food should be out real soon, fellas," she says, and she gives me a wink before heading across the room to check on the other dude.

As soon as she's out of earshot, CC bursts out, "What's up with you, dude!? She's obviously got the hots for you, and she's definitely your type, so why haven't you made your move? Since we haven't hit any of the titty bars yet, I know you haven't had the chance to get laid since we left LA, and I have to admit that I'm kind of surprised that you're still relatively sane."

Everyone is looking at me, waiting for an answer that I can't give them. After what happened the other night, Rachel and I talked, and we decided not to share this part of our relationship with anyone else, not even the guys. This is obviously partly because they'd probably freak out and think I was nuts, but it's mainly because whatever we do when we're alone is special, something that belongs to just the two of us, and not something to be bantered around like it's a one-night stand on the tour bus. So since they don't have this piece of information, they're under the impression that I haven't gotten any for nearly a month, and I'm not about to tell them otherwise.

Fortunately, Melissa comes back to the table, saving me from having to think of any sort of explanation right now. She seems a bit hesitant as she says, "I kind of need to ask you guys something. It seems that somebody here in town told my cousin over there that you were staying up at the old Berridge place, and he wanted to know if maybe he could come over here and talk to you a bit?"

We all turn to look at him, not even trying to be subtle about it now, and he sort of nods, and lifts his trucker cap just a bit in acknowledgement. "Funny, I wouldn't have pegged him as a fan," Jake remarks, and Melissa shakes her head slightly.

"That I don't know about, really. But the reason he wants to talk to you is to talk about the house. He's a ghost-hunter, and he's trying to write a book. Everybody in town talks about how the place is haunted, but you're really the only ones who have any firsthand knowledge. Could you maybe just tell him what you told me, so he'll stop bugging me about it?"

We look around the table at each other, and Bob says, "Well, I guess if we just stick to the basics, Charlie and Suze shouldn't mind too much. So yeah, go ahead and send him over."

She goes back across the room, and I lower my voice and say, "We don't say a word about Rachel, or the necklace. She doesn't deserve to end up with a bunch of wingnuts hanging around there harassing her. Agreed?"

"Of course, Ash, you didn't even need to mention that," Jinxx informs me. "Hell, if Susan is that dead-set against me having my board there, I seriously doubt that she'd look very kindly on a bunch of people trying to wander around with a bunch of EVP monitors and stuff, either."

"Oh, trust me, she wouldn't," Bob snickers. "They don't have a dog for her to sic on 'em, so she'd probably turn the garden hose on them."

They walk up to the table, and I can see that the guy is maybe Andy's age. He's also quite a bit bigger than he looked while he was sitting down, about my height, but he's bulked up, like a bodybuilder. He has a pretty considerable beard, but when he takes off his cap, we can see that he's totally bald, which makes him look kind of like a cross between Vin Diesel and one of those "Duck Dynasty" dudes. Melissa says, "Guys, this is my cousin, Jimmy. If you're sure you don't mind talking to him, I'll leave you to it while I go check on your orders."

Jimmy pulls up a chair and sits down while we introduce ourselves, and then we have a bit of a pause while Melissa brings out our food. After she sorts it out and heads back to the kitchen, he says, "Thanks for talking to me, you guys. I've been trying to get information about that house from some of the locals, but most of what they've been giving me is just rumor, and a lot of it sounds pretty outlandish. So, since you're staying there, I was hoping that you might be willing to help me weed out the nonsense and give me the real story."

We stick to our previous story, confirming the stories about the lights and things moving, and shooting down the stupider things he's been told, like the idea that there are bloodstains that can't be cleaned up, or creepy figures darting through the halls. He takes notes while we talk, and then says, "Well, it's not quite as exciting as I'd been led to believe, but it sounds like there's definitely activity. Or, not that exciting yet, maybe."

"What do you mean by that?" Jake inquires.

"Well, I've seen cases where things start off slowly, like the entities are trying to get people to feel comfortable, lull them into a false sense of security, I guess. Then, when their guard is down, the activity escalates, and it can be dangerous, if the entity doesn't want to leave, or if it's malevolent."

"Well, I can tell you we haven't seen any sign of that sort of thing since we've been here," I assure him.

"Good, lets hope it stays that way," he says. "But I was wondering if there might be a possibility that I could come and check it out myself? No big set up like the guys on TV do, nothing like that, just me with my camcorder, to see if I might be able get some actual evidence."

We all turn to Bob, and he says, "Well, since it's not our place, none of us can say yes or no. But what I can do is pass your request on to the owners, and let them decide."

"Well, I guess I can't expect any more than that, so fair enough," Jimmy responds. He pulls a notepad out of his pocket and scribbles something, then rips off the sheet and hands it to Bob. "Here's my name and number. If you can give it to your friends and ask them to let me know what they decide, I'd appreciate it."

Bob takes the slip of paper and puts it in his pocket, and we sort of segue off of that topic, and Jimmy tells a couple of stories about other places where he's looked for ghosts. He's telling us about an old school where the ghost actually attacked him and his friends, when CC points, and asks, "Is that where this came from?"

We all turn our heads, and see that he's indicating a scar on Jimmy's thumb, about midway between the base and the knuckle, which is sort of red and jagged looking. He glances at it, then says, "No, that one came from a hunting accident. It got infected, so it didn't exactly heal up pretty. I don't have any actual scars from the ghosts. Not yet, anyway."

After a few more minutes, he excuses himself from the table and calls out to Melissa, "Hey, Missy, I'm gonna go outside and make a phone call. Give me a holler when you come off shift, okay?"

She gives him a thumbs-up, and he waves to us and walks outside. We finish eating, and just before we call for our checks, CC perks up in his seat and says, "Hey, since we've actually got some free time, why don't we just head back into town and have some fun tonight? I know we agreed to limit the partying, but what's one night going to hurt?"

"I tell you what, that actually doesn't sound like a half-bad idea," Jake agrees, and even Jinxx is nodding.

"Oh, what the hell?" Bob responds, "You know how the saying goes; 'All work and no play...', and all that similar agreeable foolishness. Lets do it. And since I'd like to make it back in one piece, I'll even be your D. D."

CC and Andy pull out their phones and start Googling clubs in Edmonton, and I get up and head to the restroom to wash off some sticky sauce that wound up on my fingers. When I come out, I encounter Melissa in the hall, and she says, "I've been sort of hoping that you'd call me."

I look at her, taking in her curvy figure and pouty lips, and compare her to Rachel for just a second. As attractive as Melissa is, Rachel is hands-down much prettier, but Melissa is alive, and looking to have some fun. And as she gazes up at me, I make a quick decision, and ask, "What time do you get off work?"

"In about twenty minutes. Why?"

"Because we were just talking about going back into town and finding something fun to do, so I thought you might like to come along. We can have a few drinks, and get a little better acquainted while they get themselves hammered. So, what do you say?"

Her face lights up, and she answers, "I say yes, I'd love to!"

I go to tell the guys while she gets back to work, and as I'm walking back, I think about Rachel again, feeling a bit guilty. But then I remind myself that we're not dating, and neither of us has mentioned exclusivity, so I don't really have anything to feel guilty for. I really care about her, and I definitely enjoy the time we spend together, but I can't see any hope of a long-term relationship under the circumstances, so there's no reason that I shouldn't explore my options.

But if that's true, then why do I feel the overwhelming need to be very careful not to tell Rachel what I'm doing? Or with whom?

What the fuck have I gotten myself into?

Notes