"Are you referring to Hans?" Aj asked leaning up against the car. Kim grabbed her organizer that had fallen under the seat, "Yeah, and the rest of the household. I sometimes feel like I am being watched. I mean I love the house in an odd sort of way. It has a lot to offer, but something is definitely there." Aj let out a moan as he stretched his arms. "You tired?" Kim asked. Aj ran his hand through his hair, "Yeah a bit. I think it more of a mental exhaustion. The guys think I am blowing things way out of proportion. I can't make them see what I am seeing or hearing. It is frustrating me. It is such a relief that someone feels the way I do." Kim brought her hand up to his cheek and lightly stroked it, "It's going to be ok. We will just go about things normally and not draw attention to ourselves. If I am not here, you will just have to find ways to keep yourself occupied." Aj grinned at her, "Well I was hoping you would keep me occupied." Kim blushed and slightly lowered her head, "Hmm, interesting Aj. We'll have to discuss that up in my room, because I am getting cold out here." Aj took her hand and led her back into the house and up the stairs to her room.

Nick was racking up the balls and placing them into position on the table, "Are you ready to break?" Laura twirled the pool stick in her hand like a baton and lost control of it and watched it fly and barely miss Nick, "Oops, I am sooo sorry." Nick patted his head and was relieved he came away from her little stunt without any cuts or bruises. Laura picked up her pool stick and leaned over the table eyeing the stacked balls. Nick liked the view he was getting and couldn't help but comment, "You know if you keep bending over like that you are going to ruin what little concentration I have." Laura looked down and saw that in bending the way she was she was exposing a bit too much cleavage, "Well you can look all you want, just ask if you " Laura stopped herself realizing what she was going to say and just slammed the cue ball into the others. "Geez, you don't need to send them into space, just get them in the pockets." Nick said seeing the balls fly. Nick was chalking up his stick and nudged Laura as she walked by. When the turned around the balls were in a completely different position than they had left them. Nick and Laura just stared at each other not knowing what to say. "Um, I don't suppose you did that?" Nick asked trying to remain calm. Laura managed a smile, "Nope, I was hoping you did it. Maybe it was the wind?" Nick gave her a funny look, "I don't think so. Maybe ." Laura screamed when they turned around and saw the balls back in the position they had left them. "Ok this is getting freaky or maybe we had too much to drink? Yeah that could be it. But I think we should clear out of here." Nick said grabbing Laura's stick and putting it back along with his. They ran back upstairs and found Kevin and Kelly snuggled up on the couch asleep. "Aww isn't that cute? Kevin found a friend." Nick said mockingly. Laura playfully smacked him on the arm and made a hushing sound. They went around to the front of the couch and Nick threw his hand over Laura's mouth sensing she was going to scream when they both saw 5 tarantula's crawling on them. Nick grabbed a large book and began hitting them. Kevin and Kelly jumped up and screamed simultaneously both in fear and pain. "What the Fuck Nick!!!!!!" Kevin yelled. Nick and Laura's expressions turned to confusion when they saw no sign of the tarantulas. "Kevin, We came in and saw some tarantula's crawling on you guys and I was killing them. I swear they were here." Nick said apologetically. Kelly was stroking Kevin's back trying to calm him down. She had gotten the brunt of the hitting and hoped she wouldn't have any bruises. "Laura, were there spiders on us?" Laura didn't know what to say, she was confused, "Um, yes Kelly I swear there were, and then they just disappeared." "Maybe we should all go to bed. It seems as if we are all tired and possibly imagining things." Kevin said folding up the blanket. "Yes, I was about to suggest that." Hans said materializing out of nowhere once again. "Why is it you come out of nowhere?" Nick demanded. "Sir, I just move quietly. I can't help it if others are preoccupied and don't hear me." Hans replied quickly. "Goodnight Hans." Kevin and Kelly said at the same time. Nick and Laura just waved and watched him walk out of the room. Kevin and Kelly were standing at the stairs of the west wing. "Well, I could walk you up to your room if you'd like?" Kevin asked fidgeting with his hands. Kelly felt her body get warm, "No that is ok. I am sure I'll be ok." Kevin moved in closer and leaned in kissing her gently on the cheek. "You missed the other side." Kelly said giggling. "How bout I just kiss you here." Kevin said lowering his mouth onto hers and letting his lips linger before he pulled away. "Mmm, that works for me. Good night Kevin." Kelly said as she ascended the stairs. Kevin passed Nick and Laura and said goodnight to both. "He seemed happy. Wonder what happened?" Nick asked laughing wickedly. "Maybe he got something." Laura replied squeezing his hand. "So I guess this is where you gracefully walk up the stairs and I go sulking off to my room only to have vivid dreams about what could have been?" Nick said touching her nose with his. Laura wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him letting her tongue graze his lips as she broke the kiss, "Good night Nick. Sweet dreams." Nick pouted and stomped his feet, "You are cruel but I'll see you tomorrow." Both Kelly and Laura were standing in the hallway with dazed, goofy expressions. "We are seriously going to have to thank Kim." Kelly said slightly snapping out of her daze. Laura nodded and giggled, "He's got the softest lips." Kelly smiled, "So does he!" Their heads snapped in the direction of Kim's room when they heard Aj's voice yell out, "OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DON'T STOP!!!!!!" Kelly and Laura tried to contain their giggles. "I don't even want to know what she is doing in there." Kelly said shaking her head. "For some reason I see her having Aj tied up and she is totally dominating him. But I could be wrong, no wait, let's hope I am wrong." Laura said opening her door and bidding Kelly goodnight.

Aj thrashed his head back and forth as Kim kneaded his back with her hands, "You know you should really do this professionally. You would make a killing and I would be one of your best clients." Kim lifted herself off of him, "Well, I happen to like my job. I just do this to get rid of some of my nervous energy and calm myself. Would you mind keeping the screaming down , they are going to think something is going on in here." Aj rolled over and placed his hands over his head, "Oh really? Need help with the nervous energy?" Kim smiled, "Are you always this much of a flirt?" Aj gave a deep laugh, "Only with those who I like." Kim didn't know whether to pounce on him or play it cool. She loved the way he looked on her bed and was having a hard time resisting. The lights flickered and the power went out. "Shit! What the hell?" Aj shouted. They both heard Kelly and Laura scream and soon after a knock on her door. "Kim? Can we come in?" Kelly said forgetting that Aj was in there. Kim made her way to the door and opened it, "It's just a power outage." Laura peered into the room and saw a figure on the bed and whispered, "Is he still here? Did we interrupt something?" Kim glanced back and smiled, "No you weren't. Let me find the candles I saw earlier and we'll find some for your room." Aj got up off the bed, "Maybe I should go back to my room." Kim turned around, "Aj, are you going to be able to maneuver back without bumping into something? It's pretty dark in here. Why don't we walk you back to your room, that way I can somehow find Hans and ask him for candles." Aj agreed and they all made their way down the stairs. Hans was nowhere to be found. "Oh this is great, the one time we need him to pop out" Aj sighed in frustration. They managed to get to the east wing and found Nick banging on Brian's door. "How long is the power going to be out? Are you guys ok?" Nick said pulling Laura into his arms. "I don't know how long but we can't seem to find Hans anywhere." Kelly said wondering what door led to Kevin's room. All of a sudden a voice came through the hallway, "Attention, we are experiencing a bit of a power outage due to the small storm that has materialized. I suggest you go into your rooms and sleep and hopefully by morning everything will be back to normal." They all looked around at each other and jumped back when Kevin and Brian came flying out of their rooms in a panic. Kelly blushed when she saw Kevin standing there in just his boxer briefs with his hair all rumpled. "Kev? You might want to put on some clothes." Aj said dryly noticing the girls staring at him. A cold breeze came through and knocked the candlelight out, leaving them in complete darkness. "Ok well that's not good." Laura said holding onto Nick. "Aj do you have a lighter with you?" Kevin asked. "No, remember I quit smoking." Aj replied. "I didn't think to bring the matches that I had in my purse." Kim added hoping she wouldn't be questioned. "Why did you have matches?" Kelly said curiously. "I just have a tendency to just pick them up when I see them. So sue me!" Kim replied abruptly. "Ok, Ok, we are all just a bit on edge and we all should really get to sleep and just hope and pray that the power will be on by morning." Brian said getting rather annoyed. A loud boom echoed through the hallway and then a small click was heard. "What the hell was that?" Nick said. Aj ran to the door that led down to the stairs and found it locked, "Shit!!!!! It's locked." Kevin pulled Kelly into his arms, "What????? You must be kidding me. Why would they lock us in?" Where is Howie in all this?" Kim stood in the middle of the hallway and screamed, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Everyone temporarily stopped their yelling and looked at Kim. "Ok now that I have your attention. I think we should all go to our rooms and just sleep it off. It is not doing us any good to stand here in the dark and argue about what we have no control over." Kim said taking a deep breath. "Well I'll take Kelly, Nick you can have Laura, and Aj you can have Kim." Kevin said already pulling Kelly into his room. "What about me? Who gets to comfort me?" Brian asked making a funny face. "Brian you can go get Howie." Nick said laughing. "Oh screw you Nick!!!!" Brian replied stomping back into his room and slamming the door.

Kevin's room

"Well, I'll sleep on this couch and you can have the bed." Kevin said pulling one of the comforters off of the bed. "Kevin that is hardly going to keep you warm and considering that it is getting rather chilly in here without heat in the house I think we might have to um well just combine our body heat." Kelly said shyly. "I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable." Kevin replied. He was picturing her in his arms and could barely hide his smile. "It's fine Kevin. Let's just get to bed. I am tired from all this drama and need sleep and so do you." Kelly said hoping onto the bed. Kevin stood there watching her get comfortable. "Are you coming to bed?" Kelly asked pulling the covers down slightly. Kevin slowly walked over to the bed and crawled in, "Well since you pointed out that we may have to combine our body heat, would it be ok if I wrapped my arms around you?" Kelly tried not to giggle, "Yes it would be fine." Kevin pulled her into him and nuzzled her neck. Kelly could feel his warm breath on her neck and wondered if she was going to be able to sleep. "You ok?" Kevin asked. "Yes, I am getting warmer." Kelly replied slightly regretting the way she phrased it. All she heard was Kevin let out a low laugh into her neck. "Good night Kelly." Kevin said. "Night Kevin." Kelly replied slowly closing her eyes and thinking how perfect it felt.

Nick's room

"You know I am starting to believe Aj and his theory about this house." Nick said straightening up the bed. Laura stood in the middle of the room both excited and afraid of sleeping with him, "Um I can take the couch Nick. Don't worry about it." Nick suddenly stopped and slightly pouted, "I promise I'll be good." Laura couldn't resist his face and shrugged her shoulders and jumped onto the bed. "I hope the power will be on in the morning." Laura said facing him. "Me too." Nick said pecking her on the lips.

Aj's room

"Comfy?" Aj said noticing that Kim was already nestled in the bed. "Oh yes, there is just one thing missing." Kim replied. Aj looked at her and waited for her to finish. "It's kind of empty in this big old bed. Why don't you come over here and help me occupy it." Kim said softly. "Hmm, tempting. Are you always this much of a flirt?" Aj replied mocking her. "Cute, now get your butt in here and warm me up!" Kim demanded laughing. Aj slid into the bed and faced her, "Is this better?" Kim smiled, "Yes, but there is one thing left to make the ritual complete?" Aj scrunched his face up, "Ritual?" Kim laughed, "Yes, ritual. A goodnight kiss." A smile appeared on Aj's face, "I think I can manage that." Aj moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. He gently kissed her nose and saw her disapproving look, "Hmm I guess that wasn't the spot?" Kim waited. He then moved to her cheek and saw a smile appear. Then his lips touched hers. She parted her mouth allowing him to enter if he chose. He tugged at her lower lip and then flicked his tongue at hers. "How long am I suppose to keep this ritual up?" Aj teased her. "As long as you want." Kim replied kissing him back.

"Oh they are going to be so surprised when they see me!" Emily thought to herself as she sat in back of the cab. Kim and Emily didn't really know each other that well but the few times that they were together things usually didn't go well. Emily was 19, just like the others. She stood at 5'4 and her blonde hair cascaded down her back. Her blue eyes seemed to be what other's focused on, being a piercing shade of blue. She was outgoing and friendly and usually didn't have trouble talking with the boys. Emily found out where they had gone through their other friend Sally. Her parents wanted her to get out and have fun and sprung for the airfare to get her there. She assured them that Kelly and the rest of them were expecting her. Her parents insisted that she call them when she arrived at the house and they wanted to talk to Kimberly. Emily was a bit nervous and hoped Kimberly would back her up. She was taking a big chance going there uninvited and hoped they would let her stay. The cab driver sharply turned the car and came to a screeching halt almost missing the gate, "Miss I am going to have to let you off here." Emily couldn't even see the house, "What are you joking me?" The cab driver had already stepped out and popped the trunk and had placed her bags on the ground, "Miss, no one goes in there. Once you go in" Emily became a bit worried, "Finish what you were going to say please." "Oh miss, it's nothing you need to worry about. I am sure once you let them know you are here they'll come and retrieve you. Have a nice stay!!" The cab driver said pulling away forgetting that she hadn't paid him. "This is just great, I am what seems to be in the middle of nowhere and with my luck they won't even be at the house but gallivanting somewhere." Emily said kicking some dirt. She stepped up the intercom and before she pressed any button a voice came out it. "What business do you have here?" The voice came through rather loudly. "I, um, I am friends of Kimberly, Kelly and Laura. They um well they are expecting me." Emily replied screaming into the intercom. "Madam, you don't need to yell and I don't think they were expecting you. It will take me a moment to check with them." The voice said abruptly cutting off. Hans was quietly stepping through the kitchen and out the door to go up to the west wing when he bumped into Kimberly, "Oh, Madam, just the person I was looking for. There is a woman outside at the main gate who says you were expecting her. Her name is Emily. Do you know of this person?" Kimberly was still trying to wake up and made out only part of what he said, "Emily?" Kelly came down and heard Emily's name being thrown around, "What about Emily, are we talking about the same person or I am walking in on this conversation a bit too late?" Kimberly turned to Kelly, "It seems that Emily has made her way and it out at the gate waiting to be let in. Did you tell her where we were going to be?" Kelly nervously fidgeted, "Um no, not that I can recall. I did tell Sally though. She might have spilled the beans." Hans was getting impatient, "Excuse me, shall I let her in and send someone to retrieve her?" Kelly gave Kimberly a pleading look while pressing her hands together. "I'll go get her." Kimberly said walking off to get her keys. Hans went back to the intercom station and pressed the button, "Madam, there will be someone out to get you." Emily breathed a sigh of relief hearing that and waited for some sign of an automobile to come down the long windy dirt road. About 5 minutes later she saw a car speeding down the road. She couldn't make out who was the driver but was nonetheless happy to see someone. The car slowed as the gates opened and Emily went through. She saw Kimberly get out of the car, not looking too happy. "HI! How goes it?" Emily said ignoring the looks she was being given. "Emily, you really should have called before you came all the way out here. It was wrong of you to assume that you were welcome here. My friend after all allowed Kelly and Laura to stay after I did some fast talking." Kimberly said flatly. "Oh obviously it is ok, otherwise you wouldn't have let me in. Can we please just get to the house I am tired and hungry." Emily replied throwing her stuff in the back of the car. Kimberly threw her hands up in the air and mumbled some choice words under her breath and got into the car and sped back up to the house. "I am going to call Darryl and see if it is ok? If not then you will be allowed to stay a night in the house and then you will have to find another source of lodging for the remainder of your trip." Kimberly said not taking her eyes off the road. "Fine then. I do have to ask you one favor. My parents want to here from you that it is ok that I stay here. They were leery about letting me go and I had to convince them that you guys wanted me here." Emily said sheepishly. "Favor? You are in no position to ask for favors. Until we hear the final word from my friend we will hold off on calling them. I am not going to lie to them before I know the final answer." Kimberly said pulling the car under the carport. Kelly must have told Laura about Emily being there, because no sooner than Kimberly shut the car off Kelly and Laura ran outside hugging Emily and jumping up and down. "This house is massive? Are you the only people in it?" Emily asked a bit intimidated by its size. Laura jumped at the chance to tell her, "You won't believe who's staying here. The BACKSTREET BOYS!!!!!" Emily's mouth dropped and her eyes widened, "You must be kidding me." Kimberly had already snuck past them and made her way into the house. "So are you staying?" Kelly asked picking up one of her bags. "Well supposedly Kim has to call some guy for permission. I don't understand why, he's not here and she is pretty much the person who has to put up with me." Emily said rolling her eyes.

Kim sauntered up to her room and grabbed her organizer and dialed Darryl's number. She was hesitant on calling for a few reasons. She was trying to just relax and have a good vacation and not let things get to her but it was proving more difficult than she had thought. "Darryl?" Kim answered hearing the voice on the other end. "Hey there calling me so soon. Did you miss me that much?" Darryl said teasing her sensing the tension in her voice. "It seems we have an unexpected visitor. One of Kelly and Laura's friends seemed to have found us and she is here right now. Is it ok if she stays? We do have rooms to spare." Kim asked flipping off her shoes. "Am I right to assume that you are less than happy about this? I can hear it in your voice Kim. I am sure things will be fine. Yes she can stay. The more the merrier I guess. Have you met the others?" Darryl said laughing. "Yes, and you knew who was going to be here and didn't tell me. You tortured me. I do have a question before I let you go. What do you know about the history of this house?" Kim replied hoping he would give her something to go on. Darryl hesitated and let out a long heavy sigh before beginning. "Ok, the house was built in 1859. It was thought unusual even before it was finished. No one knows the exact truth behind the house. There have been a lot of stories and supposed sightings but nothing really concrete. Not one person has died inside the house or resulting from the house. The contractor at the time of it being built couldn't explain the strange occurrences that were happening. Walls were appearing out of nowhere, doorways coming to life with long passageways behind them. The house was suppose to only occupy ½ of the property but after it was done it had literally taken on a life of its own. There have been two owners of the house that preceded me. The contractor lived in the house but quickly became a lost soul as the towns folk would say and rumor had it he died somewhere in the house. His wife and his daughter left before they were taken down as well. One story says that he use to follow them on their horseback rides and down to the lake where he heard them crying. They had a love so strong yet it couldn't break the hold the house had on him. The second person was a older woman who was said to be bitter before she moved in but once she occupied the house she became rather unbearable to be around. She taunted little kids, she belittled adults young and old. She showed no mercy with, as she called them, the lower species. One town person sought the help of an exorcist feeling that the house had possessed her. The exorcist backed out at the last minute and disappeared and was never heard from again." Darryl finished hearing only silence on the other end of the phone. "Ok now that you have me completely creeped out. Why didn't you tell me this before?" Kim asked a bit upset. "Kim, these are stories. The house isn't haunted and that certainly isn't the reason why I purchased it. You should know me by now. If you are hearing things maybe it is your overblown or their overblown imagination at work." Darryl responded hearing his other line click. "Kim I have to go. If you need anything else just give me a ring." Darryl said saying goodbye and clicking to the other line. She sat there soaking in everything he said. She was going to try and forget about what had gone on in the house and just enjoy her time here. But she threatened silently to the walls, "If I see one more thing suspicious I am taking no prisoners." She heard the girls giggling in the hallway and went out to give them the good news. "Well Emily you can stay. I'll call your parents if you'd like. But not at this moment I want to go into town and get some things." Kim said smiling at all of them. Emily slightly bowed her head, "Thanks Kim." Kim looked at the three of them and wondered how much trouble they could get into, "Don't do any major damage while I am gone, ok?" They all gave her their best angelic faces and then bursting out into laughter. "See that wasn't so bad Emily. She's really a great person." Kelly said patting her on the back.

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