I had never heard of Sunbury before. It was a tiny little town with a population of 300 or I had never heard of Sunbury before. It was a tiny little town with a population of 300 or something, way out in the middle of nowhere. Up until a couple weeks ago, this place could have something, way out in the middle of nowhere. Up until a couple weeks ago, this place could have never existed, for all I knew. And then all of the sudden, my dad wanted us to move here. In this never existed, for all I knew. And then all of the sudden, my dad wanted us to move here. In this house. Number 7 Primrose Way. No where else.house. Number 7 Primrose Way. No where else.

To be honest, his obsession with the house scared me a little.To be honest, his obsession with the house scared me a little.

““Isn’t it perfect?” my dad said enthusiastically after we set down our few boxes inside Isn’t it perfect?” my dad said enthusiastically after we set down our few boxes inside the house. “It’s just the right size and surrounded by nature. Don’t you love it, Yana?”the house. “It’s just the right size and surrounded by nature. Don’t you love it, Yana?”

““Yeah, Dad,” I said, trying to be happy about it. “It’s nice.Yeah, Dad,” I said, trying to be happy about it. “It’s nice.

It It waswas a nice house, but I just couldn’t share my dad’s enthusiasm about it. Perhaps it a nice house, but I just couldn’t share my dad’s enthusiasm about it. Perhaps it was because I was bitter, but I was rightly so. I had two weeks notice that we were moving, and was because I was bitter, but I was rightly so. I had two weeks notice that we were moving, and then I was dragged halfway across the country in my dad’s old minivan, leaving behind all my then I was dragged halfway across the country in my dad’s old minivan, leaving behind all my friends and everything I had ever known. And to make it worse, the house came fully-furnished, friends and everything I had ever known. And to make it worse, the house came fully-furnished, so I couldn’t even have the small comfort of being surrounded by familiar furniture. All I had from so I couldn’t even have the small comfort of being surrounded by familiar furniture. All I had from home was my clothes and books and things like that.home was my clothes and books and things like that.

But bitter feelings aside, I still couldn’t understand my dad’s excitement. As nice as the But bitter feelings aside, I still couldn’t understand my dad’s excitement. As nice as the house may have been, it was still house may have been, it was still justjust a house. And a house in the middle of nowhere, at that. a house. And a house in the middle of nowhere, at that.

I took my boxes upstairs to the room Dad said was mine, and I cringed when I stepped I took my boxes upstairs to the room Dad said was mine, and I cringed when I stepped inside. Not my style. At all. As much as I hated the thought of opening those boxes and making inside. Not my style. At all. As much as I hated the thought of opening those boxes and making this new home feel permanent, I set to work unpacking.this new home feel permanent, I set to work unpacking.

I hung some of my posters up in an attempt to make the place more I hung some of my posters up in an attempt to make the place more meme, but there , but there really wasn’t much I could do right now. Lying down on my new bed, I sighed. I was trying to be really wasn’t much I could do right now. Lying down on my new bed, I sighed. I was trying to be positive, I really was, but… well, I was a teenager, and I hated this.positive, I really was, but… well, I was a teenager, and I hated this.

But of course, this story is not about my little old teenage woos, so I’ll move on.But of course, this story is not about my little old teenage woos, so I’ll move on.

It wasn’t long before I forgot all about my bitterness against my new home, however. It wasn’t long before I forgot all about my bitterness against my new home, however. There was, as I soon learned, a mystery behind this place.There was, as I soon learned, a mystery behind this place.

And if there’s one thing I couldn’t resist when I was sixteen, it was a good mystery.And if there’s one thing I couldn’t resist when I was sixteen, it was a good mystery.

““Are you the new girl who moved here?” Are you the new girl who moved here?”

I looked up in surprise at the unfamiliar girl who had spoken to me. “Um… yeah,” I said, I looked up in surprise at the unfamiliar girl who had spoken to me. “Um… yeah,” I said, giving the girl a raised eyebrow.giving the girl a raised eyebrow.

““Cool,” the girl said excitedly, walking up to me with a smile. “That means I’m your new Cool,” the girl said excitedly, walking up to me with a smile. “That means I’m your new neighbor. Welcome to Sunbury, where we promise it isn’t as bad as it first seems!”neighbor. Welcome to Sunbury, where we promise it isn’t as bad as it first seems!”

Well, Well, thatthat was reassuring. But it made me laugh. “That’s good to know,” I said with a was reassuring. But it made me laugh. “That’s good to know,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “Oh, and I’m Yana.”roll of my eyes. “Oh, and I’m Yana.”

““I’m Isabelle. It’s nice to meet you.”I’m Isabelle. It’s nice to meet you.”

Isabelle and I clicked pretty much instantly. We hung out for a little while outside Isabelle and I clicked pretty much instantly. We hung out for a little while outside before I invited her in to watch a movie. I was relieved to find a friend so quickly. At least I before I invited her in to watch a movie. I was relieved to find a friend so quickly. At least I wouldn’t be all alone in this place.wouldn’t be all alone in this place.

““I’m glad you moved here,” Isabelle said at one point. “It’s nice to have someone my I’m glad you moved here,” Isabelle said at one point. “It’s nice to have someone my age in the neighborhood. And in this house, no less. I always thought that this place would be age in the neighborhood. And in this house, no less. I always thought that this place would be empty forever…”empty forever…”

That caught my attention. “What do you mean?” I asked.That caught my attention. “What do you mean?” I asked.

““Oh, no one’s lived in this house for… well, as long as I can remember. It’s such a Oh, no one’s lived in this house for… well, as long as I can remember. It’s such a pretty house, so no one ever knew why. Plenty of people have come to look at it, but then they pretty house, so no one ever knew why. Plenty of people have come to look at it, but then they don’t want anything to do with it after they’ve been inside. In fact, some people even seemed don’t want anything to do with it after they’ve been inside. In fact, some people even seemed scaredscared of this house. There’s a lot of theories about why. Some people say that it’s is haunted, of this house. There’s a lot of theories about why. Some people say that it’s is haunted, others say that there’s some kind of curse on it… but most everyone agrees that it has something others say that there’s some kind of curse on it… but most everyone agrees that it has something to do with the last people who lived here. This house is pretty famous around here.”to do with the last people who lived here. This house is pretty famous around here.”

““It is?”It is?”

Isabelle laughed. “Yep. Welcome to small town livin’. Everyone here will grab on to any Isabelle laughed. “Yep. Welcome to small town livin’. Everyone here will grab on to any piece of gossip they can get.” She shook her head and laughed again. “I say it’s all a bunch of piece of gossip they can get.” She shook her head and laughed again. “I say it’s all a bunch of crap, though. I mean, we’re both here right now, and nothing seems out of the ordinary to me. It’s crap, though. I mean, we’re both here right now, and nothing seems out of the ordinary to me. It’s probably just a little urban legend for old ladies to talk about when they’re bored.”probably just a little urban legend for old ladies to talk about when they’re bored.”

I probably imagined it, but just then I saw something flicker in her eyes. Doubt? I probably imagined it, but just then I saw something flicker in her eyes. Doubt? Confusion?Confusion?

Fear?Fear?

““Yeah, probably,” I agreed.Yeah, probably,” I agreed.

““Anyways,” Isabelle said, standing up. “I should probably be getting home. Mary will be Anyways,” Isabelle said, standing up. “I should probably be getting home. Mary will be wondering where I am. See you at school on Monday.”wondering where I am. See you at school on Monday.”

““You, too.”You, too.”

As I heard Isabelle’s footsteps get farther and farther away, I processed what she said. As I heard Isabelle’s footsteps get farther and farther away, I processed what she said. Ideas swarmed through my head, despite my better judgment, as I thought about what could Ideas swarmed through my head, despite my better judgment, as I thought about what could have happened here. I wondered who the people who last lived here had been. Perhaps they had have happened here. I wondered who the people who last lived here had been. Perhaps they had been thieves or murderers. Or witches. I imagined mysteries… mysteries of murder and betrayal, been thieves or murderers. Or witches. I imagined mysteries… mysteries of murder and betrayal, of ghosts and charms… mysteries that could be hiding throughout this very house, waiting to be of ghosts and charms… mysteries that could be hiding throughout this very house, waiting to be discovered…discovered…

And then I felt very foolish and stupid for thinking these things. It was just a house. And then I felt very foolish and stupid for thinking these things. It was just a house. Nothing paranormal. It was just what Isabelle had said, an urban legend.Nothing paranormal. It was just what Isabelle had said, an urban legend.

But still… if there But still… if there waswas something strange about this house, I wanted to know what it something strange about this house, I wanted to know what it was.was.

““Hey, Dad, can I ask you something?”Hey, Dad, can I ask you something?”

““Sure, Yana. What is it?”Sure, Yana. What is it?”

““Do you know who lived in this house before us?”Do you know who lived in this house before us?”

I wasn’t even looking at his face, but I could see the way he tensed up at the question. I wasn’t even looking at his face, but I could see the way he tensed up at the question. “No, I don’t,” he said, perhaps a little too sternly.“No, I don’t,” he said, perhaps a little too sternly.

““Oh, I was just wondering because I heard that there was something strange…”Oh, I was just wondering because I heard that there was something strange…”

He cut me off. “I know the rumors about this house, but none of them are true, Yana, so He cut me off. “I know the rumors about this house, but none of them are true, Yana, so get that in your head. Now, dinner will be ready soon, so go wash up.”get that in your head. Now, dinner will be ready soon, so go wash up.”

““Okay, Dad,” I mumbled.Okay, Dad,” I mumbled.

Something was wrong here. My dad loved this house, but he tended to avoid anything Something was wrong here. My dad loved this house, but he tended to avoid anything paranormal. If he had any idea that there was something strange with this place, he would have paranormal. If he had any idea that there was something strange with this place, he would have never wanted to move here. And yet, I could tell that he was hiding something from me. I wanted never wanted to move here. And yet, I could tell that he was hiding something from me. I wanted to get to the bottom of it.to get to the bottom of it.

~~~~~~

There was only one school in Sunbury… well, technically two, but it was all in one There was only one school in Sunbury… well, technically two, but it was all in one building. The first floor was the grade school, and the second was the high school. My new school.building. The first floor was the grade school, and the second was the high school. My new school.

It may be cliché to say, but being the new kid sucks…It may be cliché to say, but being the new kid sucks…

……especially when you end up with that one teacher who actually does make you stand especially when you end up with that one teacher who actually does make you stand up in front of the class on your first day.up in front of the class on your first day.

““Class, this is Yana Lane. She’s new here, so I want you all to make her feel welcomed.”Class, this is Yana Lane. She’s new here, so I want you all to make her feel welcomed.”

Yeah, it’s just great.Yeah, it’s just great.

But I had most of my classes with Isabelle, and most of the teachers seemed nice, so it But I had most of my classes with Isabelle, and most of the teachers seemed nice, so it wasn’t all that bad.wasn’t all that bad.

““This is our table,” Isabelle told me during lunch as she led me to the table at the This is our table,” Isabelle told me during lunch as she led me to the table at the farthest end of the cafeteria. “Hey guys,” she said, addressing the three people sitting there. farthest end of the cafeteria. “Hey guys,” she said, addressing the three people sitting there. “This is Yana. Yana, met the gang.”“This is Yana. Yana, met the gang.”

““These are the twins, Morgan and Allison,” Isabelle said, gesturing to the two girls at These are the twins, Morgan and Allison,” Isabelle said, gesturing to the two girls at the table, but it wasn’t hard to tell who she was talking about. These two were completely the table, but it wasn’t hard to tell who she was talking about. These two were completely identical, right down to the way they parted their hair. “They’re pretty easy to tell apart, though,” identical, right down to the way they parted their hair. “They’re pretty easy to tell apart, though,” Isabelle continued. “Allison’s the one with the glasses.”Isabelle continued. “Allison’s the one with the glasses.”

““Of course, I could have my sister wear my glasses to mess with people,” Allison said Of course, I could have my sister wear my glasses to mess with people,” Allison said with a sly smile.with a sly smile.

““You mean You mean mymy glasses,” Morgan replied with a grin to match her sister’s. glasses,” Morgan replied with a grin to match her sister’s.

““Hey, let’s try not to confuse the new girl too much on the first day,” said the brown-Hey, let’s try not to confuse the new girl too much on the first day,” said the brown-haired, freckled-faced boy at the table. “Save that until after she’s had some time to adjust.”haired, freckled-faced boy at the table. “Save that until after she’s had some time to adjust.”

““Freckle-face is Blake,” Isabelle said as the two of us sat down. “And don’t let him fool Freckle-face is Blake,” Isabelle said as the two of us sat down. “And don’t let him fool you. He’ll try to mess with you more than the twins.”you. He’ll try to mess with you more than the twins.”

““I resent that,” Blake said, but Isabelle just rolled her eyes, and I laughed.I resent that,” Blake said, but Isabelle just rolled her eyes, and I laughed.

““It’s nice to…” I started, but then I was cut off by a groan.It’s nice to…” I started, but then I was cut off by a groan.

““Ugh, keep your barf bags at the ready, guys,” Morgan said. “The A’s are over there.”Ugh, keep your barf bags at the ready, guys,” Morgan said. “The A’s are over there.”

““The… whats?” I asked, confused.The… whats?” I asked, confused.

““Oh, they’re just your average overly-clichéd mean girl clique,” Morgan explained, Oh, they’re just your average overly-clichéd mean girl clique,” Morgan explained, pointing to a group of girls a few feet away from us. “Alyssa, Alondra, and their blonde leader pointing to a group of girls a few feet away from us. “Alyssa, Alondra, and their blonde leader from hell, Anya. Also known as the A’s.”from hell, Anya. Also known as the A’s.”

(Author's note: I didn’t originally mean for all their names to start (and end) with A. It just turned (Author's note: I didn’t originally mean for all their names to start (and end) with A. It just turned out that way.)out that way.)

““They make me ashamed to have a name that starts with A,” Allison said with an over-They make me ashamed to have a name that starts with A,” Allison said with an over-dramatic sigh.dramatic sigh.

““What’s so bad about them?” I asked.What’s so bad about them?” I asked.

““Oh, don’t even get them started,” Isabelle said. “They’ll give you a twenty minute Oh, don’t even get them started,” Isabelle said. “They’ll give you a twenty minute speech about why the A’s are pure evil personified. With proof and cited sources and everything. speech about why the A’s are pure evil personified. With proof and cited sources and everything. Besides, I’m sure you’ll find out on your own soon enough.”Besides, I’m sure you’ll find out on your own soon enough.”

““She might find out even sooner then you think,” Blake said.She might find out even sooner then you think,” Blake said.

I looked up, and sure enough, the three girls were walking right over to our table.I looked up, and sure enough, the three girls were walking right over to our table.

““Hello, guys,” the blonde girl, Anya, said in a high-pitched, sarcastic voice that made Hello, guys,” the blonde girl, Anya, said in a high-pitched, sarcastic voice that made me instantly dislike her.me instantly dislike her.

““Sorry, Anya,” Allison said in a super-sweet voice. “But this is a snob-free zone. You Sorry, Anya,” Allison said in a super-sweet voice. “But this is a snob-free zone. You guys will have to go.”guys will have to go.”

Anya shoot her a quick glare, but beyond that she didn’t reply. Instead, she turned her Anya shoot her a quick glare, but beyond that she didn’t reply. Instead, she turned her attention to me. Go figure.attention to me. Go figure.

““So, new girl,” she said in an icy tone. “Usually I wouldn’t bother with anyone who So, new girl,” she said in an icy tone. “Usually I wouldn’t bother with anyone who hangs out with… uh, this kind of company… but your new and don’t know any better, so I’ll give hangs out with… uh, this kind of company… but your new and don’t know any better, so I’ll give you a chance. What do you say? Wanna hang out with us?”you a chance. What do you say? Wanna hang out with us?”

Wow. Who did this girl think she was? “No, I’m fine just where I am,” I said coldly.Wow. Who did this girl think she was? “No, I’m fine just where I am,” I said coldly.

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Fine,” she said. “Your choice.” And then the three of She narrowed her eyes at me. “Fine,” she said. “Your choice.” And then the three of them turned around and left just as quickly as they came.them turned around and left just as quickly as they came.

Looking back on it, my first encounter with Anya was… comical, really. But what can Looking back on it, my first encounter with Anya was… comical, really. But what can you do? We weren’t the most mature teenagers.you do? We weren’t the most mature teenagers.

““She’s such a bitch,” Morgan muttered when they left, and we all nodded in agreement.She’s such a bitch,” Morgan muttered when they left, and we all nodded in agreement.

After a moment of awkward silence, Blake said, “So, Yana, aren’t you the one who After a moment of awkward silence, Blake said, “So, Yana, aren’t you the one who moved into Number 7 Primrose Way?”moved into Number 7 Primrose Way?”

“ “Um, yeah. I am.”Um, yeah. I am.”

““See, guys,” Isabelle said. “Somebody lives there now. I told you nothing was wrong See, guys,” Isabelle said. “Somebody lives there now. I told you nothing was wrong with the house.”with the house.”

““I don’t know,” Allison said with a grin. “I still say there’s something weird about the I don’t know,” Allison said with a grin. “I still say there’s something weird about the place.”place.”

It was still so strange how everyone knew about my house. What a weird thing to be It was still so strange how everyone knew about my house. What a weird thing to be known for… But still, maybe they could answer some of my questions. “How much do you guys known for… But still, maybe they could answer some of my questions. “How much do you guys know about the house?” I asked. “Like, what kinds of rumors...”know about the house?” I asked. “Like, what kinds of rumors...”

““Yana,” Isabelle said, cutting me off. “You didn’t really take what I told you to heart, did Yana,” Isabelle said, cutting me off. “You didn’t really take what I told you to heart, did you? You don’tyou? You don’t really really think that your house is cursed or haunted or something, right?” think that your house is cursed or haunted or something, right?”

I bit my lip. I bit my lip. Do I? Do I? “Well, I don’t know. I think that it might be… possible…”“Well, I don’t know. I think that it might be… possible…”

Isabelle scowled. “I’m surrounded by crazy people,” she muttered.Isabelle scowled. “I’m surrounded by crazy people,” she muttered.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “What? I just said that it’sI narrowed my eyes at her. “What? I just said that it’s possible possible.”.”

““There is nothing weird or magical about your There is nothing weird or magical about your househouse,” she replied, sounding ,” she replied, sounding exasperated. “Nothing. I told you, it’s just an urban legend. Something for people to yap about exasperated. “Nothing. I told you, it’s just an urban legend. Something for people to yap about when there’s nothing else to do. We were both there just the other day, and everything was when there’s nothing else to do. We were both there just the other day, and everything was normal.”normal.”

““Then why hasn’t anybody moved in until now?”Then why hasn’t anybody moved in until now?”

““Some houses just don’t sale! There’s more factors to it than ghosts and witchcraft!”Some houses just don’t sale! There’s more factors to it than ghosts and witchcraft!”

““Jeez, Isabelle,” Allison said. “Take a chill pill.”Jeez, Isabelle,” Allison said. “Take a chill pill.”

““Guys, let’s just not talk about this,” Morgan said, sounding nervous.Guys, let’s just not talk about this,” Morgan said, sounding nervous.

With those words, Isabelle’s expression softened, and she looked a little apologetic. With those words, Isabelle’s expression softened, and she looked a little apologetic. “Yeah, there’s nothing to talk about anyways.” Suddenly the bell rang, and she was the first to “Yeah, there’s nothing to talk about anyways.” Suddenly the bell rang, and she was the first to stand up. “Come on. We’ll be late for class.” Morgan and Allison stood up, as well, and the three stand up. “Come on. We’ll be late for class.” Morgan and Allison stood up, as well, and the three of them walked off together.of them walked off together.

““Wow,” Blake said with obvious confusion on his face. “I’ve never seen Isabelle get so Wow,” Blake said with obvious confusion on his face. “I’ve never seen Isabelle get so worked up over something so… stupid. It isn’t like her.”worked up over something so… stupid. It isn’t like her.”

I nodded but didn’t say anything, just trying to process what had happened. The way I nodded but didn’t say anything, just trying to process what had happened. The way Isabelle had gotten so defensive about the house… I got the feeling that she was hiding Isabelle had gotten so defensive about the house… I got the feeling that she was hiding something.something.

First my dad… then Isabelle… There was definitely something going on around here.First my dad… then Isabelle… There was definitely something going on around here.

And I knew that I would do anything to find out what.And I knew that I would do anything to find out what.

>>>>>>

Thank you for reading Chapter 1 of Pages! This is out a lot quicker than I thought it was Thank you for reading Chapter 1 of Pages! This is out a lot quicker than I thought it was going to be, so yay for that.going to be, so yay for that.

I’d like to thank the creators of the CC and lots I used in this story. The high school I I’d like to thank the creators of the CC and lots I used in this story. The high school I used and Yana’s house can both be found at Mod the Sims.used and Yana’s house can both be found at Mod the Sims.

See you soon for Chapter 2!See you soon for Chapter 2!

-Kaylyn-Kaylyn