As the moon passed by the midnight sky, an unexpected visitor dropped by the Shack, this was the first time that I laid eyes on Sydney Asher. She approached the diner's owner, Mr.Ramirez, but everyone just calls him "Pops"
"Hi, I called in an order for Asher?" she asked Pops, who was behind the counter
"Three fried chickens and burgers right? It's almost ready but you have to wait for a while" Pops replied
Sydney looks around while she waits—but then she landed her eyes on me, who was also staring at her intently. She approached the booth where Patrick and I were sitting.
"Hi, do you by any chance go to Grim Haven High?" she asked in to which Patrick replied "Yes, yes we do"
She seemed relieved after hearing Patrick's reply, well I guess that's how it feels when you transfer schools.
"That's a relief, my parents and I just moved here from LA, so I'm kinda nervous getting into a school without knowing anyone." She said politely "Sydney Asher"
"Patrick Trinidad and my friend here is—"
"Vincent Price"
"Wait, where have I heard that name before? Oh, I guess you're the one who's giving me my tour, nice to meet you."
Bewildered about what she just said, I checked my phone—which was ringing earlier, and it turns out that I was the one assigned to give her a tour. "Yes, I'll be your guide for tomorrow" I replied.
I guess there'll be no investigation for tomorrow, well I needed a break anyway. Processing all that stuff was hard, it also makes my head hurt. The three of us chatted for a bit while Sydney waits for her order, we talked about our hobbies, what we liked and disliked. And in that short amount of time, I got to know more about Sydney Asher.
After chatting for a bit, Pops handed Sydney her order, three fried chickens, and burgers. Afterwards, Sydney said goodnight and drove back home. Patrick also left because if his parents knew that he's still out this late at night, they'd ground him for a month.
Well, I guess I'll head out as well. I'm currently living in an apartment near the outskirts of town, and sometimes when I don't feel like going home, I stay here at the Shack because it's opened for twenty-four hours non-stop. I also help out sometimes even if it's not my shift.
I already told you half of the reason why I left home, now let me tell you what the other half is. It was a night just like any other for me, Before I head out to the Shack for my daily night shift, I'd say goodnight to my mom and pat my little brother's head on my way to the door. My mother's name is Mariel Price, she's very caring and loved us very much. While my little brother's name was James Price, he always said that he'd wanted to grow up just like me. Never did I thought that that was the last time I'd see both of them.
That night, while I was working at the Shack, my mother and brother were attacked by an unknown assailant. When my father arrived home, he saw the floor filled with the blood of my mother and little brother. My father rushed them to the hospital, but it was too late, my mother and little brother were already dead. When I heard the news, I snapped. Tears started seeping through my eyes, all I could do was cry, if I didn't go to work that night or if dad was just home that night, then they could've still been alive. Three days after the cold-blooded murder of my family, the police caught the assailant. and it turns out that the one who killed my mother and little brother was a member of my dad's enemy gang.
My father and the members of his gang fought with a rival gang, their enemies were beaten up pretty badly. The leader of that gang ordered his men to kill us, I only survived because I was working that night. The man who attacked and killed my family together with his accomplices were sentenced to life imprisonment, but even so, I still can't forgive my dad. Because of what he did, it cost us the lives of our family. I still get nightmares about that tragic night, that's the reason I left the house.
Well enough about that lets fast forward eight hours from now. It was just the second day of school and it's time to choose or form clubs. While I am chatting Sydney, talking about the school's history before we get ready for her tour, Patrick and Pauleen were at the common room talking about what club they should join or if they would just form a new one.
"You ready for the tour?" I asked Sydney and she replied, "Absolutely, and thank god that it's you because from what I've seen so far you're pretty decent,"
"Well I'm supposedly the heir to my father's gang, now you still find me decent?" I asked jokingly
Sydney tapped my shoulder and said, "You and your father are two different people Vince. So, yeah I still think you're decent," her reply was an unexpected one, but it touched me to my core, unexpected right? The new girl touching the delinquent gang heir's heart.
"Shall we get back to the tour?" I asked whilst smiling in to which she replied, "Absolutely,"
After that we proceeded to the long awaited tour, our first stop was the common room where some hang out most of the time—us included, then we hit up the cafeteria where all the students buy their foods. We also took a look in every classrooms, clubrooms, labs, the library and the faculty office. Afterwards we went to the school gym, where the cheerleaders and other athletes train. And our last stop was the School Field, where soccer players and every other outdoor sports athlete train, the bleachers their also serve as a hangout for students.
Sydney thank me in the end of the tour, she said that she'd probably join the cheer-leading squad and she also asked what club am I going to join. I said that I still couldn't decide on whether I'd join a old club or I'd form a new one. And as the Sun creeps in over the horizon, both of us went our seperate ways, hoping that we make more fun and happy memories in this shadow-filled town...