Hailie was walking alone on the college campus freshly mown lawn. All of her lectures and classes ended, but she took her time going to the car. After spending the whole day with Pride yesterday she had a real rollercoaster in her mind. They didn't talk about serious topics, it was more of a girly conversation about everything and nothing. It was nice, but surreal. Being in the house, she felt like going mad. Who would have thought that college might be a pleasant thing? She had no one here, but at least it was free of ghosts.

"Miss Hailie!"

She turned around, hearing a well known voice. She thought she wouldn't hear it so soon again.

"Officer Blackwell!"

She blushed, seeing him. Happiness spilled all over her body, then she remembered their last meeting and felt embarrassed again.

"We keep encountering each other. I'm starting to like it." He smiled, making her feel instantly better than a moment ago.

"Me too," she admitted, nervously combing her hair. "Sorry about the last one."

"No worries, it was more of my fault, wasn't it?" No it wasn't. "You seem to be shy, but that's a cute trait."

Why would he say something like that? I'm nobody and he probably can have every girl he wants. And why has he seemed so pleased with seeing me?

"What brings you here, officer?" she asked, silently hoping that he came here to find her.

But of course that was not an option. Chances were too small that they would actually meet, besides he wasn't even aware that she was studying here.

"Right, now that might sound really funny, but... My mum works in the college. She's one of the professors. I was just dropping something off.

Hailie wondered if she had any lectures with her. Maybe not in the first year? She didn't meet anybody with the surname Blackwell.

"What does she teach?"

"She's a professor in the third year of business and economics."

She thought that she would like to meet her. Having such a fine son, she must have been a great mother and also a good teacher.

But again, mothers could look like wonderful women and then they could turn out to be real monsters protecting their children at the highest costs.

"And you? Are you a student here?"

"Yes, I'm a freshman, but I'm not that young. I took a gap year."

They've started walking down the alley. It was lovely, all the trees and green leaves around.

„A gap year?"

Right then it felt like the right decision even if staying in her family town after what happened was difficult. But that's what she wanted or at least what she thought would be good for her. Turned out she couldn't stand living there. All the glances, all the whispers. And what's more important, Jay. She was living in constant fear and so she left after a few months to live with her sister in another town. She tried to make some plans for her life. She decided to start college, to move into a new house, to start over. But her past just couldn't stop haunting her.

"I had to take care of myself and my life. A lot has happened so I just needed more time before starting college."

"You're intriguing me."

She didn't want to talk about her past. If she already didn't look weird in his eyes, then she definitely would seem much worse if he found out. A creepy past and an abusive boyfriend? That probably wouldn't make her a good material for a girlfriend.

Not that she wanted to be his girlfriend. He made her feel different from the others, he was adorable and lovely, but she couldn't stop thinking that all of the boys seemed good and romantic at first. Then they turn out to be just like Jayson.

"But I won't be insisting, you surely don't want to talk about your deepest secrets and thoughts with a complete random."

"You're not a random person to me anymore."

It was true. She didn't trust him but at the same time she did. It was scary that being with him felt right. She knew him for only two weeks, but she got the feeling that they would've made a good couple.

Maybe it's the uniform, she thought.

"Oh, don't say that, Miss Hailie, I am a stranger, but I wish not to be."

She looked down so he couldn't see how much she was happy to hear that.

"Do you?" she asked, surprised but content.

"What would you say if I asked you for a coffee?"

"I would say I prefer a hot chocolate."

It was a long time since she had one, but right now she felt like she would love to drink hot chocolate. Without pangs of conscience. Pride told her that she looks pretty so many times that she might have even believed it a little.

"So am I. And I know the best place in the town." Shane blinked. He wanted to take her there, but his radio went on. He wasn't thrilled about it. "Sorry, miss Hailie, work calls. Theoretically I'm on duty right now, but what would you say for a chocolate date tomorrow?"

She smiled with such joy. He wished to see her so happy every day. That must have been stupid, he met her only recently.

"I'd love to."

"Then see you at six. I'll come pick you up."

She gave him her phone number and they've said their goodbyes as he must have been going to the work. Hailie was looking at him until he got into a police car and drove away. She was so excited she couldn't stop thinking about their conversation. It seemed so unreal. She was just an ordinary girl, but right now she felt like some kind of a chosen one. Not only because a cute policeman asked her out. It had a lot to do with the fact that ghosts choose to help her instead of hurt her. It was bizarre and she still wasn't sure if she could trust in Pride. Anyway it was quite great yesterday because for a moment she stopped thinking about her problems. Just like when she was in the company of officer Shane Blackwell.

She came back home, still smiling and feeling butterflies in her stomach. Right now she didn't want to think how ridiculous it was. A lot of things could go wrong but as well she could cross the ghosts at then everything would go to hell too.

"My beautiful friend, how was your day?" Asked Pride who was waiting for Hailie at the entrance.

It was unusual for her. She was used to the fact that nobody waited for her. She used to come back to an empty house.

"Amazing," said Hailie, thinking if she should tell Pride about meeting officer Shane. "I have a date tomorrow."

"Oh my! Who is he?" Asked Pride even though she had some ideas.

After all, there weren't many people Hailie knew around here.

Before she could answer, her cellphone rang. There was an unknown caller and at first Hailie thought it was officer Shane who already called her.

What if he wants to reschedule our date? Maybe I was wrong thinking he could possibly like me more.

She picked up, feeling nervous and uncertain, but the voice on the other side wasn't Shane's. It was way deeper.

"Hello, is this Hailie Millis?"

"Yes, it's me. Who's speaking?"

"My name is Lucian Tuls, I saw your announcement on the internet. Are you still looking for a roommate?"

She glanced at Pride, who knew exactly who was Hailie speaking with. She felt disgust inside, but outside she still looked excited about Hailie's life.

"Um, I do, but-"

"Great!" he exclaimed as if he really wanted to live here. "Would it be okay if I came tomorrow to see the house?"

Hailie was perplexed that anybody answered her offer. Back then it was a brilliant idea, but now she felt scared and insecure. What if that guy turns out to be some crazy murderer? Besides roommates means that she's gonna have to talk with them. She hated being alone, but at the same time she loved it.

"Yes, I think. I'm a student, so after my lectures, at four?"

"Awesome, I'll be there."

She swallowed, still looking at Pride. She felt like a liar.

"There's one more thing you should know," she said, assuming he will resign after hearing it. "That house has a horrible history. Many people died here."

"I know, I read about it. You can tell me everything tomorrow, all right?"

He seemed so confident and decided that she didn't know what to say. She couldn't tell him the truth about Pride, but she had to do something to let him know what he wanted to get into.

"Yes, we can talk about it tomorrow," she said, feeling more and more stressed out.

"See you then!"

She wasn't good in conversations with strangers. Anyway, she was sure he will resign. Nobody wanted to live here. Maybe except her, but she still didn't know what was in this house that she started to feel attached to it.

"New roommate?" asked Pride with doubt.

"I know, I know, I'm gonna send him off, don't worry," she promised, thinking that the ghosts don't want any other residents.

Pride looked at Lust, who appeared next to her. Obviously, only she could see him. Hailie was unaware that they weren't alone anymore.

"Nobody sends me off," he said, surprised that Hailie might have even thought about it.

Pride rolled her eyes and turned to Hailie, who was walking in circles, thinking about a good way out of this situation.

"Give him a chance. I can talk with others and make sure we treat him with no harm," she proposed. "You need company, other than just me." Pride shrugged and suddenly disappeared, leaving Hailie with her thoughts.

What am I getting into?