The Phantom by Amber Beck (psychology books to read txt) 📕

I stared at my new house. It was all old and like, from the 100’s. I sighed. I knew moving in with my dad was going to big leap, but I was not expecting him to live in an old house, which looked like it hadn’t been taken care of. I mean on the outside at least. It needed a women’s touch. Good thing I am here. Why was I here? Because my mom died in a car crash a couple of months ago, and my dad was my only relative. I had been staying with my old lady neighbor, Ms. Gard. But a girl can only take so much cat smell. I knew my gardening and artistic skills would come in handy here. I pulled my suitcase out of the taxi trunk and paid him the money my dad gave me. 

As I walked up to my new home, I realized how much my life was changing. My mom was gone, forever. Never to come back. That was hard to take for one. Then, there was leaving my home in New York to move halfway across the country to Colorado. Thats also something I had to get used to. No more loud noises and bright lights. Moving away from my friends. Sure, I could call them or video chat, but it still was not the same. No more milkshakes at Dolly’s Dinner. Also, something to adjust to. 

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. I had not seen my dad in years. Not because he did not want to see me, or the other way around. It was just that dad lived so far away, and he was at work all the time. I held my breath. Then the door swung open, my dad’s eyes were big. He had been waiting for me. I smiled at him. He looked so different than from what I remembered. He hair was not beautiful bright blond-haired anymore, it was gray. He had big purple spots under his eyes from lack of sleep. 

“Vega!” He said in a hushed whisper. I could tell he had waited an exceptionally long time to see me.

“Hey, Dad.”  I said. I was so happy to see him. I missed him so much. I dropped my bags and hugged him. I don’t think he was expecting it though, it took him a minute to embrace me. 

“L-let me show you your room. It’s upstairs.” Dad said. He grabbed my bags and showed me the way. 

“Sorry about how it all looks, I don’t ever really have time to make it look better.” He said sheepishly. 

“It’s okay, dad. It will look a lot better as soon as I start my touch ups.” I smiled.

“I am sure it will.” He said. “You still into art?” 

“Yes, it’s gotten a lot better. They let me do a memorial for mom on the side of Dolly’s.” I said. I pulled out my phone and showed dad. He looked at it and smiled.

“You’re such a talented artist Vega.” He said. Dad opened the attic hatch on the roof. I looked at him. But once we got to the room all of my confusion went away. The Attic was big and spacious. It had a nice circular window and was very bright. There was already a bed in there and a pink dresser. By the bed was a pink lamp and a cute little nightstand.

“I love it dad.” I whispered. He grinned. 

“I knew you would. My friend Sue helped me out a little bit.” He said. He put his bags on my bad and then looked at me. He sighed.

“I am sorry, but I have to go to work. I was worried I would miss you.” Dad said. I could tell he didn’t want to go. Dad worked at a 24-hour Office where he took 911 calls.

“I wish you did not have to go so soon.” I said with a frown.

“Me too, but we are short on staff. While I am gone you can make your room homier.” Dad said. I sighed. I wished dad would stay. But I knew he loved his job no matter what. He also loved me. He needed to go to work. 

“I will dad.” I smiled. I wanted him to know that I was okay.

“Bye sweetie.” He kissed my head and went down the latter. I sat down on my bed and stared at the room. I was not sure how I was going to decorate it. Obviously, I was going to paint the walls. Dad would not care. But what would I paint on them? I pulled out my bag dedicated to art. I searched my paint options and knew right then what I was going to paint. 

I loved it. It was perfect. The colors, the vibrancy! All was perfect. It was a painting of a flower; it was gold and it sparkled. All around it swirled golden swirls that had white flowers in it. I was going to love to wake up and look at that. My bed was made, with its flowery pink bedding, and all my clothes were up in the closet, I was going to use the dresser for other things. My shoes were up, and I was all settled down. Just then my video chat went off. Video chat request from Meghan. I slided right.

“Hi Meg!” I said. It was so good to see her freckled face. 

“Vega!” She squealed. “I have a surprise for you.” She turned the phone and showed me Kaylee and Ross, my other BFF’s.

“Wow the whole gang!” I grinned. 

“We all wanted to call you and see your new room and everything.” Ross said.

“Yes, show us your room. I bet you already did your magic touch on it.” Kaylee said. They knew me so well. I flipped the phone screen and showed them my room. 

“Wow. Vega, you REALLY like flowers.” Megan said. “Not that it’s not great.” She said after the look on my face. After a while we started talking laughing and having a wonderful time. Then it happened. The footsteps. 

“Hey, I thought you said you were home alone.” Kaylee said. 

“I thought I was. Might just be my dad, he probably forgot something.” I said. I took my phone downstairs, and the footsteps got louder. 

“Dad?” I called. No answer. 

“Dad?” I called again. Still no answer. 

“Vega! What’s going on?” Ross whispered. 

“I don’t know!” I whispered back. They were coming from the kitchen. 

“Vega, get out of there.” whisper shouted Megan. Ignoring her, I kicked open the kitchen door. No one was there. I gasped, thinking they had gone out the back door. I dashed to the door, but it was locked. What? I dashed to the front door. Also locked. Dad must have locked the doors on his way out. But if they were locked, how did anyone get in? Telling me query aloud, Kaylee suggested I checked the windows. I rattled everyone. The only ones that did open were the ones upstairs, but there was no way someone could climb the side of the house. Deeply troubled, I went upstairs to my room and locked the door behind me just in case someone was still there. 

“Vega, you should call your dad.” Ross said. Kaylee and Megan agreed. But I did not. 

“Guys, my dad is too busy with other calls.” I said. 

“Fine, but we are not hanging up until you go to bed, or he goes home.” Kaylee said. I rolled my eyes. They acted like I was three. I know they loved me, and I loved them too. But I am sixteen years old. I can handle myself. 

“Don’t be trying to play hero, Vega.” Ross scolded. “Teens go missing all the time” It’s like she read my mind. Ross loved crime shows. 

“Whatever.” I said. “How has school been?” 

“Vega you have been gone for three days.” Megan said. 

“I know! I am missing everything!” I said. We all laughed. 

“Well, the only thing happening is, well, that your gone. Thats all everyone talks about.” Kaylee said. 

“Wow really? I didn’t know that everyone was going to miss me so much.” I said.

“Well, you were the one who did the schools crest.” Ross said. Our school’s crest was a bear wearing a NYHS shirt. I made it 100% better. After that, the whole school knew my name. 

“And you were the best cheerleader on the team.” Megan said. 

“And your mom did just die. It’s gossip.” Kaylee shrugged. Megan and Ross glared at her. She looked away sheepishly. They tried not to talk about my mom. I think they thought it hurt it much. 

“It’s fine guys.” I said.  I yawned and looked at the clock. 10:05 p.m. I had my first day at school tomorrow. 

“Guys, we should hang up, we have school tomorrow.” I yawned. 

“Okay, but let’s check your house one more time.” Megan said. I rolled my eyes and went all over the house, looking in rooms and checking locks. After I assured them, I was fine, I hung up and went to bed, wondering who or what was in the kitchen. 

Beep Beep Beep. My alarm was going off. I yawned. I stretched and turned it off. 5:15 a.m. Already? It was going to be a while before I got used to the time change. After a nice hot shower, I ran downstairs. It was a big day for me. I was going to a brand-new school, filled with kids I had never met before. Good thing I picked the best outfit. I had on a rose flowery dress, with some skinny jeans. My sleeves were open sleeves, so they were almost like a witches’. I had on some cute white high tops. My blonde hair was in a tight ponytail. And I had on a flower necklace. I peeked in my dad’s room to see if he was home. He was pasted out on his bed, still in his clothes from last night. I smiled. He worked too hard. I went into the kitchen and started cooking eggs. I cook and bake really well. I think the smell woke dad up because he come stumbling into the room.

“What smells so good?” He mumbled. I grinned.

“My famous cheesy eggs. Also, my famous crispy bacon.”  I said. He walked over and sat down at the table. 

“Hey, dad?” I said. I bit my lip.