"I don't know...but anyone would be inclined to think that, seeing the lack of any evidence." Ned says.

I gulp. "I...I don't know what to make of this. But right now, I guess we can't do anything." I say, suddenly feeling too tired to go on investigating any further. I think I'm a bit shaken as well, after sighting the ghost with my own eyes.

"Shall we go home now? I don't think we'll find anything tonight, or see more of the ghost now." Ned suggests.

I nod in agreement. We step out of the tree house, shut the door behind us, and then Ned assists me in starting down the rope. When I'm almost a feet above the ground, I let go of the rope and fall down on my feet lightly. Ned soon follows suit, and in a minute we're both on ground again.

Taking a last look at the mysterious tree house, we quietly make our way through the silent forest, not saying a word to each other. Finally on the dirt track, Ned says with the twinkle of his eyes returning, "Was this an adventurous enough night?"

"Sure." I make a face.

He laughs out loud, and suddenly I feel heat rushing to my cheeks.

I now realize that though it's been only about one day, I feel as if I've been best friends forever with this boy walking beside me! In school, I'm so reserved and studious...but being with Ned has made me bring out my fun-loving, adventurous side so easily it seems like it was always there on the brink of coming out, but I just suppressed it every time it tried to.

I'm feeling like he's the reason my own, real self has come out into the open so suddenly. I never felt happier.

"What happened? Are you okay?" He asks with concern, probably seeing me lost in deep thought all of a sudden.

I look at him. "I'm fine." I smile.

He smiles back. " 'kay then."

I blush seeing him smile. He is cute, no doubt about that.

We've reached our lane, and Ned house comes first, so I say, "You should go now. Bye."

"Oh no, I'm coming to drop you at your home first." Ned replies.

"There's no need, I can manage well enough."

"And how exactly do you plan to get up to your room without going in through the door? By the window of your room?"

Okay. So he has a point. I hadn't thought about that earlier, I was so excited just to be out on this adventure. "Umm...yes."

"Then I guess you'll need a helping hand, Juliet."

I look at him, and spot a mischievous grin playing around his lips.

"Very well." I wink at him.

Now that we're at my house, I carefully unlatch the main gate leading to the garden, without making a noise, and we tip-toe to the side of the house containing the window of my room.

There's this pipe running along the length of the wall, and holding onto it with one hand, I stick my foot on one of the footholds in the wall, then another a little above it, while Ned holds my other hand till I'm standing with my both feet on the wall. He lets it go now, and I use it to grip a brick sticking out of the wall nicely enough for me to hold it firmly.

Slowly but cautiously I reach my windowsill and grasping the ledge, giving one strong heave to go right on top of it, I eventually jump into my room from the window. Taking a second to catch my breath after all this effort, I turn around to look out the window and see Ned still standing down in the garden. I switch on a light in my room, and it reaches the ground through the window, lighting up his face. He smiles and mouths, "You alright?"

I smile in return and nod. Then I mouth the words, "Go now, bye." He nods to show that he understood, and turns away to walk back through the garden of my house and onto the road, to his house. I keep staring at his back till he's out of sight.

Then, switching off the light, I fling myself down on my soft bed and check the time before falling asleep automatically: 02:46 am.