text: [Themes: horror, psychological, horror]
  
  Scott Hendrick was 15 but he was still afraid of the dark. He hated it. He didn't let on to anyone that he was afraid, but he was terrified. He was very neat and tidy, but not for the reason's his mom thought. He wanted everything put away so there were no where for dark things to hide at night.
  
  Every night his ritual was to check his closet thoroughly; check under his bed which he kept clean, and put away any cloths or items laying about. He then would plug his cell phone in next to the bed, and put his flashlight under his pillow. Next, he would turn the light out and run and jump into the bed so nothing could grab his feet Once in bed, he would pull the covers over his head while he retrieved the flashlight from under his pillow and flipped it on. lastly, he would peak out and shine the light around the room to make sure nothing had appeared in the darkness. The flashlight remained on all night sometimes. He went thru batteries rather quickly, so he kept a drawer full of new ones next to his bed, along with glow sticks and any items he came across that could illuminate in the dark. He used to keep his television on at night for the light source, but mom made him start turning it off every night.
  
  Scott disliked this quality of his a great deal. He felt it was as bad as wetting the bed. He was fifteen years old for God's sake. He figured he would never get a girlfriend being such a pussy. He couldn't risk his friends knowing, so he hadn't hung out over night at a friends house since he was 6 years old.
  
  It was the end of the summer 2014 break, and Scott had just started his freshman year at Copper Cove High School. Over the summer he had shot up and was now 5 foot 10 inches tall. He was glad he had mowed lawns over the summer, as it had afforded him spending money to save toward his first car. It also resulted in him becoming an Adonis with rock hard muscles, and a golden tan that complimented his light brown wavy hair, and deep blue eyes. He had gone from nerd to hottie overnight. So, far he had managed to act cool, and as if he hadn't noticed all the attention from the girls. His friends thought he was a rock star. So, no one could know his little secret. It would be social suicide.
  
  He was at his locker about to leave for the day, when Reagan Palmer appeared holding her notebook pulled to her chest, peering over at him with those big brown eyes that no one could resist. Brushing her long black hair back over her shoulder, she edged closet to him as if she was going to tell him a secret. He leaned down and she whispered, "When are you going to ask me out?"
  
  [Author's Note: High school student Scott Hendrick, has a secret that could ruin his life. He is fifteen years old and afraid of the dark. He is invited to the party of the year and by the most popular girl in school. The party promises many moments in the dark with a hot girl, if he can face it. Scott faces down his fear and gets more than he bargained for. I am republishing this story after making it a bit longer and giving it more branches. Please let me know if I overlooked a page not linking correct or it does not flow cohesively. Thanks guys. Hope you like the story. M.]
  
  > Have been busy
  He felt his face become hot, and immediately started sweating. "I uh... I umm... I was going to just been real busy ya know?" he said as he casually looked around the hall, feigning disinterest in her.
  
  "Oh..." she said, but the tone revealed her disappointment. "Well, I am having a party this weekend. You should come. It's going to be lit as fuck." She said as she glanced around the hall matching Scott's behavior. "I mean if you want."
  
  "I don't know." Scott paused thoughtfully. "I have a lot going on. I mean I might have plans. When is the party?"
  
  "This ... week ... end." they said at the same time.
  
  They broke into a nervous laughter, "Yeah you said that. Sorry I forgot." Scott awkwardly chuckled. "I don't know, I mean who all is going to be there? What kind of party?
  
  "Well" Reagan paused crossing one foot over the other, shifting into her hip, she reach to her neck and toyed with the lance adorning her neck. "No one that I want to come like I do you." she eyed Scott seductively thru thick eyelashes. "We can watch Netflix after everyone else goes to sleep." She said with a smile.
  
  Watching Netflix is code for having sex. Scott instantly had visions of Reagan naked as he stared at her graceful hand at her neck. His eyes traveled down her body to her breasts. Then it happened. His junk pitched a tent! The damn thing had a mind of it's own! The fucking wind would blow and it would stand at attention.
  
  Scott could feel his face heating up. "Fuck! What do I do?!" he thought frantically.
  
  > leave before she sees your boner
  Scott moved his notebook in front of him to conceal the rock hard boner that had joined the party. He slammed his locker door shut and pushed past Reagan.
  
  "I uh, Have to go" he said pushing past her. "later." he called back over his shoulder as he rushed down the hall.
  
  "What about the party?!" she yelled down the hallway after Scott. "Your coming, right?"
  
  "Text me the address!" Scott responded over his shoulder.
  
  Reagan stared after Scott dumbfounded. She had never had a guy run away from her when she offered up a night alone with her. Of course,this is the first time she had done so. She didn't know if Scotts' reaction was normal or not. She seriously doubted he was into her. She looked down at her feet in disappointment. "Sure I will text you" she said to herself quietly. "It's because I came on too strong!" she said out loud. "I practically thru myself at the guy! Oh my God! I am so embarrassed!" She said talking to herself. "I am such an idiot!" she blurted out. Passing students eyed her as she spoke to herself. "Hi" she chuckled nervously. "Nothing to see here! Just the town floozy making a fool of herself!" she said playfully to those passing by as she hurried down the hall.
  
  Reagan slowed the pace of her march as she was lost in thought. "Hey Chicas!" Reagan's best friend Rain said as she slid up next to her smiling. "You appear to be in a foul mood! Whats up?"
  
  "Oh Rain" Reagan Whined. "I am so stupid! I don't think he likes me!"
  
  "Who?" Rain asked. "Scott!? Of course he likes you! Everyone likes you! Why what happened?"
  
  "Nothing really. I just said we could hang out and watch Netflix and he ran away! I am supposed to text him the address for the party, but what if he doesn't really want to come? Maybe I shouldn't text him?"
  
  "Well how will you ever know if you don't?" Rain queried. "Look, I am sure there is a good reason he left so quickly. Maybe he was late for something. Text him. If he does not come then you will know he isn't into you. If you don't, you will always wonder what if."
  
  "Yeah maybe your right. I will just send the address and keep it simple." Reagan says. "Wait or maybe just say whats up?"
  
  > Just the address. Stick to the facts
  Scott begins realizes he can't go. There is no way he can do this. Everyone will find out. If he doesn't go, she will hook up with some other guy and he will miss his chance.
  
  It is too risky. He will have too lose his chance. He calls Regan to tell her he can't go. The other end of the line rings several times with no answer. Scott presses the red receiver to disconnect the call.
  
  "What am I going to do?" he says out loud. He thinks for it a moment, and decides to try texting her.
  
  Hey, I don't think I am going to be able to come to the party this weekend. Something came up.
  
  She responds almost immediately. Hey. I was changing for practice. Sorry I didn't answer when you called. Why aren't you coming? :(
  
  I forgot about some plans that I had. Sorry.
  
  frfr? Please come, even if it's just for a couple of hours. It will be so lame without you.
  
  Scott thinks for a minute, as he nibbles on his lower lip. Yeah I guess i can come for a couple of hours. I just can't stay over for the night if that's cool?
  
  Your so awesome! ty. ytg! kisses! see ya Saturday. gtg.
  
  Scott sighs with relief. His cell phone dings with a notification. He looks down at the phone still in his head and see's a text from Scott's best friend Adam.
  
  Hey WTF! I thought you were coming over?
  
  Yeah, I don't know man. I'm tired.
  
  Your such a pussy dude. fr man? come on.
  
  > stay home
  Scott decides to stay home. He is tired and he is pissed at Adam over what he did earlier that day when he pulled his pants down at school.
  
  Adam complains, but Scott mutes his phone ignoring him and places it on his dresser in his room. He goes downstairs and finds his mother watching television in the living room. "hey mom." he says dropping into the couch next to her.
  
  "Hi son. How was your day?" she replies
  
  "It was alright. I got invited to a party by a girl." he grinned sheepishly.
  
  "You did?" she asks with dismay. "Really! Oh my gosh. My babies first date!" She exclaims.
  
  "Maaaa! Stop. It isn't a date. Technically. She is really hot though."
  
  "Oh yeah? What's her name?"
  
  "Regan" Scott smiles looking as he stares offf dreamily.
  
  "Regan huh?" his mom says amused. "Well that is wonderful. Did you do your chores son?"
  
  "Can I do them later. I am really tired mom."
  
  "If you will do them. Don't forget. If you forget, no party this weekend."
  
  > do the chores now
  Scott quickly began picking up items in the house and putting them up. His last task to was to put the trash out in the garage. He gathered the bag and tied off the neck and rushed to the garage door. He opened the door and flipped the light and a pop sound came from inside and the light bulb flashed and went dark.
  
  Scott peered nervously into the garage. "Mom! The garage light blew out!" He yelled over his shoulder.
  
  "New bulbs are under the kitchen sink." His mother responded.
  
  "Shit." Scott muttered under his breath.
  
  > replace the light bulb
  Scott peers into the garage trying to decide what to do. "I am 15 years old for fucks sake!" He says out loud. He strides across the kitchen to the sink to and retrieves the light bulb from underneath it. He makes his way back to the garage. He props the door open with the trash can, and grabs the step stool from behind the door. He takes a deep breath and steps thru the doorway into the dark garage.
  
  As soon as he he is submerged in the darkness, he feels hot, and his heart is racing so fast he can hear it whooshing in his ears. He realizes he is panting and tries to slow is breathing down. Scott looks back at the light coming thru the doorway into the garage and and then slowly steps away from it toward the center of the garage. He places the step stool underneath the light fixture. He quickly steps up almost falling over, but catches himself. He reaches up and begins unscrewing height bulb when he hears the garage door creaking.. It has shut slightly but remained open with the trashcan in place.. Beads of sweet are dripping down his back and forehead. "Mom?!" he calls out. "Mom, Why did you move the door?" there is no answer. Then he hears someone walking around in the dark near him getting closer..He can't see who it is. "mom?" he asks timidly. He goes back to the light bub and finishes unscrewing it as quickly as he can, and pulls the new one out of its box fumbling almost dropping it.
  
  BAM! The Garage door slams shut and Scott is in complete darkness with what it is in there with him. He reaches up with the new bulb and begins turning into place. "MOM!" he yells as he frantically works to get the bulb in place. The footsteps are behind him now. He can almost feel their breath on his neck, when he finally gets the bulb in and grabs the chain. click the light comes on and the room fills with the safe yellow glow. Scott jerks around to look behind him, but there is no one there. Only some of his cloths from school on the dryer that his mother washed for him.
  
  Suddenly the garage door swings open. "What Scott?" His mother says peering in at him.
  
  "Did you shut the garage door?"
  
  Scott's mother grimaces and shrugs her shoulders. "No. What do you mean? No of course not. Why?"
  
  "Nothing." Scott mutters as he retrieves his cloths from the on top of the dryer. "thanks for washing my cloths."
  
  "Sure." his mother says. "You okay son?"
  
  "Yeah. It's just ben a weird day its all. I am going to Adam's house."
  
  Adams stops at the front door to grab his phone and debates on leaving the clean cloths here or just tossing them in the car and putting them away later.
  
  > toss the cloths n the car and head to Adams House
  Scott Grabs his cloths for the party and throws them in the backseat of his black, Honda Civic. The drive to Adam's house takes a windy road thru thick woods. Scott hated making the drive at night but he waited to late with the extra stuff he had to do after school, and now it was dark. He tried to drive as quickly as he could without getting pulled over or having a wreck.
  
  There is suddenly a soft sound like someone is chucking in his back seat. Scott looks into his rearview mirror but sees no one in the seat behind him. "I am losing it." He says as he makes his way down the windy dark country road. The wind was blowing particularly hard, and he was fighting it to stay between the lines.. He hears a chuckle again, but this time he is sure of what he heard. "Adam! You fucker!" he says trying to turn to look behind his seat. "he must be ducked down behind the seat." Scott said.
  
  Scott reaches behind him trying to feel for Scott. The chuckle gets louder. "Adam for real man your going to make me have a wreck."
  
  "Adam is not here" A sinister voice whisper back and cackles.
  
  It feels like ice shoots thru his veins. He looks wide eyed into the rear view mirror again. and sees his cloths he had thrown in the back seat with two eyes and a white pointed tooth smile. "Oh my God!" Scott says as he tries to pull his hand away and suddenly feels something cold slice across his arm and something wet begin to drip down his arm.
  
  "Surprise!" The cloths whisper as it lurches over the seat at Scott.
  
  Scott loses control of the car and it launches off a cliff into the air diving straight down. Scott could be heard screaming for miles. Then the car smacks into the rocks below, and Scott's scream is silenced.. The sinister chuckling is the only thing anyone can hear.