Upon hearing the sound of distant banging, my eyelids slowly and groggily opened up. A heavy sigh went out through my nostrils before my body rose from the mattress. After rubbing my eyes a bit, I gazed at my bedroom window, seeing morning's here. Geez...Morning already?

Then my thoughts were onto the howls I heard last night, and they had my eyes drifting down to my lap hidden beneath my bed cover. I remember that I didn't sleep too well the whole night, since I was tossing and turning through half of it before I finally relaxed. I'm certain the reason why was because of those howls. They still bothered me even after I assured myself there wasn't anything to be afraid of.

Guess the joke's on me.

I huffed tiredly. Up to this morning, I still couldn't get them out of my head, and I still remember what they sounded like. Long, kinda scary...And a little weird. I certainly remember, and admit THAT about them. My head shook them out of it. Oh quit thinking about them, Matt. They're just howls. Plus mom said she didn't hear them, so maybe they were all in your head. I wrinkled my face in thought. Tobey heard them...I saw him looking at the woods. Then a thought appeared and contradicted that. Or maybe he didn't. Maybe he just heard something moving in the woods and just put his attention on that, not heard any howls.

I guess that's possible.

I heard bangs somewhere in the house and I turned my attention to my door. What's with all the racket? Mom? I let out a low moan. Well, can't sleep anymore. Time to get out of bed.

And so I did, slipping out of it and putting fresh pair of clothes on a moment later. I left my room, hearing another bang that was coming from downstairs. I strolled to the stairs, heading down them while holding the banister beside me. After stepping onto the first floor, I made my way to the living room and saw mom, already dressed up for the day like me and had her hair tied up in a bun, putting up a large photo of her and dad together on the wall near the fireplace as a hammer she must have used was on the floor close to her feet. It was a photo of them on their wedding day, taken in front of a huge fountain at Point State Park in Pittsburgh as mom was wearing a long white dress and dad having a tuxedo on him. I also found our Chihuahua laying on her stomach on the arm of a chair, her little ears perked up and listening to everything she hears. Brendi saw me as I was coming to her, and mom heard me since the floor creaked by my footstep and turned around to see me.

A smile appeared on her loving face as I stopped near the chair, "Mornin'."

Despite how tired I was I smiled back, "Morning." I reached to pet Brendi, stroking twice across her back, "Hey, Brendi." I had gotten a tiny cute grunt as a response from her. I glanced at mom and asked, "What are you doing?"

Mom answered with a pleased sigh to herself and eyes right on the picture, "Well, I got up a long time ago, and since there was nothing else to do I decided to start putting up some things." She put them back on me with a bit of a playful look, "We still have things in boxes that haven't been put away yet, remember?"

"Oh yeah." That was true. Even though we've got all our boxes in the house yesterday, most of our stuff were still left in them. Mom did say we were planning to put them all in their respective spots in our house today. Looks like she was starting to work on that a bit without me.

I shut my eyes and yawned. Mother giggled at that, "Did I wake you? I tried to be quiet."

I opened them and replied, "You kinda did. I heard you all the way upstairs."

Mom placed her hand on her hip, holding a look of pity in her eyes, "Sorry...Guess the whole house is a little echo-ish."

I waved her off, "Nah, it's fine. I had to get up anyways."

"All right....So how was your first nap here? Well?"

I decided not to tell her that I didn't sleep good and told her what she wanted to hear, "It was. The howls I supposedly heard didn't bother me anymore after I went to bed."

A proud smile showed up on her, "That's good. I told you there was nothing to be afraid of."

I held in a breath and let it out shortly, "Yeah, I guess so." I shot a glance towards the wedding photo, and mom followed it with her face staring at it. She tried to straighten it after she looked at it for a second, since it was a little crooked. I couldn't take my eyes off mom and dad on there, especially dad. I made a look that was totally blank. Seeing his face made me miss him.

Mom asked after straightening the thing out with her hands on her hips, "What do you think? Is that better?"

I answered her without my eyes off it, "Yep. It's good." Honestly I didn't care if it was crooked still or straight. Other than missing father, I was having thoughts about what happened between them. On why dad wasn't with us anymore...

Mom turned around, "Good." A concerned look was on her face as she apparently noticed how blank mine was, "Matthew? Are you okay?"

I tried to brush off her concern by looking at her and responding with a grin, "I'm fine. Sorry."

By her expression, she figured what I was thinking about. Shortly, she walked up and gave me a light, fond hug, her cheek buried in my chest, "It's okay...I miss him too."

I didn't do anything, only just letting my smile wash away during the hug. I curiously said after a second passed between us, "Hey mom...Did you call dad? You know, told him that we were living near Fall Creek?"

"No I haven't yet." Mom unwrapped me from her embrace and took a step back, a breath escaping her lips, "I've been so busy with things that had to do with our move and I haven't thought about calling him. But I will soon...Just need to get totally settled in."

I nodded a few times, "Right."

Then she cleared her throat, putting on a smile for me, "Alright, so...Are you hungry right now? I am."

My stomach made a low growl and that made me grin, "Sure I am." I glanced at the kitchen and made a crack, "But I was hoping you were making breakfast before I woke up. You're starving me, mother."

Mom giggled, "Well there's a reason I'm not cooking anything now." I looked to her as she continued, "Me and you are going to Fall Creek and eat there."

I giggled back, "Well I guess eating breakfast there works too."

Mom remarked, "Better work for you. Are you ready to go?"

"Definitely, let's get going."

Then she frowned, "Wait a minute!" She poked at my chest with her finger, "I don't think you've brushed your teeth yet. Did you?"

I made a frown back with a grin still on me, realizing I forgot, "Uhhhh-"

She smirked as she pointed a demanding finger to the direction of the staircase, "You get upstairs and brush them, young man."

I rolled my eyes playfully, "Yes, sir." I whirled around, making my way out of the living room as my mother chuckled from my words behind me.

*****

As music was being played by the radio while mother drove past the 'Welcome to Fall Creek' sign, I was gazing at the town after we went past it. I let out a sigh as I just relaxed in the passenger seat beside her. My eyes wandered side to side as our car entered Fall Creek, taking in the sights even though there was nothing too exciting about them. Frankly I didn't care if there was something exciting in that town or not. I was happy that I was in a place where there were people around and not in the woods with only my mother and two dogs around. At least mom had a nice idea to take me here today and not just had me helping her out at home.

Mom drove us near a small grocery store while I watched a few people chatting on the sidewalk on the street when we drove past them. Fall Creek...A fairly large town, the place my mother grew up in before she left and moved to Pittsburgh. Population: 2,145. I peered out through my window as my parent kept driving through a street, and slowed down a moment later for a stop sign. Honestly, this isn't my first trip in Fall Creek I ever had in my life. I have been here before, about ten years ago I think. Mom's foot pressed the gas pedal and we moved forward. One day I came here with mom and dad for my mother's high school reunion at her high school where she'd graduated.

I shot a glance at the bank as we went near the huge building. Before we moved into that house in the woods, mother and I hardly came here, after and even before that reunion happened. I'm sure mom hasn't resented anything here and that was the reason why. I think it was because it was a long drive getting here from Pittsburgh, not to mention her job being a cop probably did put a damper on coming here. If the latter was the case, good thing mom was lucky enough to have came here for her high school reunion back then. I made a small smile on my lips. Now, ten years later, here we are driving through it. I remember some of the buildings that my dad drove us near back then, including the bank. I can probably remember the Fall Creek High School building if mother drove past that now, and the restaurant where we're going.

I was tired of listening to music in this thing and decided to turn the radio knob to another station, wanting to know the weather later on in the week. That's when I'd found one, and the news man's voice is heard through the speakers, "Yesterday, a twenty-seven year old woman named Jackie Morales was found dead near her cabin just miles away from the town of Rankin. According to officers who arrived at the scene, her parents showed up at their daughter's home for a family dinner but only to find her missing. When they were searching for her whereabouts, they stumbled across Jackie in the woods that surrounded her home and that was when they called police. Apparently Jackie was a victim of a animal attack, which upon examination by investigators the bites left on her were canine. Leading them to believe that she was attacked by coyotes. Her parents are still in deep shock-"

I clicked the radio off, not wanting to hear that sad, unexpected story blaring through it. My head was down as I was thinking about what I heard. God...A coyote attack...That's awful. I trembled a bit as a cold feeling washed upon me. I live in the woods...Hope that doesn't happen to me...Or to Tobey for that matter since he usually sleeps outside.

I heard mom's voice cutting through my thoughts, "Matthew?" I shot my eyes to her immediately and she asked with a tiny grin, "You alright?"

My eyes trailed up toward the ceiling, "Ugh...It was kinda freaking me out."

Mom had her eyes concentrated back on the road when she smugly replied, "Got you worrying about coyotes again?"

Gee, mother, of course! Why else would I be freaking out now? I nervously sighed, my sight was trailing outside the car now, gazing at each building we drove by, "You can say that, yea. Now I REALLY wish we lived in town."

She chuckled, "Oh don't worry about it. Usually coyotes stay away from people."

I gave her a disbelieving glare, "Then what about that girl we just heard?"

A thoughtful hum rumbled in her throat, "My guess on what happened to her was she wandered out of her house and started feeding a coyote, probably thinking it was a cute animal, then it turned out to be more than one and then they attacked her."

"Cute? Pfft...I wouldn't think a coyote was cute."

She glanced at me for a second before looking ahead, "I guess that woman thought so. And you'd better let that be a lesson to you."

I fearfully nodded, "I think that broadcast taught me well."

"I'm sure it did." Mom gave me a reassured look, "I still wouldn't worry too much about a coyote attack at our house though. They really do stay away from people."

I asked a question about my Labrador Retriever, "What about dogs like Tobey? He's outside all the time."

Her voice still came out to assure me as she focused back on the road, "I'm sure if he doesn't bother any that DO come near our house then they won't bother him."

I looked ahead like her, muttered in worry, "I hope so..."

Mom threw me another smile after she made a turn, and then reached to rub my shoulder fondly, "Also as long as we don't leave food in the woods to feed them and we don't leave trash outside our house except on trash days, I think we'll be fine." She giggled as she drew back her hand and placed it back on the steering wheel, "Hey, you said you were gonna give our house a chance, don't give up on that yet. It's still early to do that."

I rolled up my eyes, sighing, "I know it is." 

"Then stop worrying, buds."

I looked right at her and said as a tiny smile formed on my mouth, "I'll try."

Mom glanced around the street we're on. Then asked me a question a moment later, changing the subject, "Do you remember being here? I don't think the town changed a bit after a decade."

I answered with my sights outside my door window, "I do. I remember the hotel we stayed at for the night before we left Fall Creek...I don't think we went near it yet."

"I think it's at the other side of town." Mother chuckled at her own fond memory, "That hotel...I remember when me and your dad slept in a bed in that place, he didn't like it. Said it wasn't...Firm enough."

I laughed a bit and gazed to her, "I don't remember dad saying that, and I don't think I had a problem laying on one in there."

"Yeah, you didn't complain the next morning." She shrugged her shoulders and added, "And neither did I. And maybe you don't remember your dad saying that because you didn't hear him whine about it."

I gave her a giggle, "Probably."

"Well other than the hotel you'd probably remember the place we ate at before. You loved the food there. I'm bettin' it's still around."

I locked my eyes through the windshield, "Maybe it is. Guess we'll see."

We were in silence after that, then not too long we made it to our destination. After mother found a spot in the parking lot, we got out of the car and I turned to see the front of the small and wide building we're about to enter. A single long, green sign that says 'The Country Cupboard' in bold white letters is held over the front door of the place. I smiled, remebering this place like it was yesterday, and also had a curious brow raised. Looks like the exterior didn't change much like the town. I remember the inside a little bit, but wonder if in there changed any?

Mom strode to the back of the car and stood there, gazing at the restaurant as a fond memory seemed to have flowed through her, "Well, there it is...The Country Cupboard." She looked behind her to see me still standing close to the side of it as a smile was on her, "Remember this place?"

I looked at her, nodding and admitting, "Oh yeah, definitely do." I trotted up and stood beside her, "It looks the same as when I first came here."

"It always does, even when I was growing up here." She giggled and clasped my shoulder, "Well c'mon, let's head inside." The second she said that we began heading to the building. I opened up the door entrance for her like a gentleman and she went in there, then I followed her afterward. Me and her were greeted by warm air, and the smell of food that pretty much made my stomach growl again, as we both stood in a very large room filled with tables, booths and a cashier counter with the entrance to the kitchen behind it. I counted about ten customers sitting at different spots, including three at a large, round wooden table that only six people can sit at that's far across the room.

From my memory, nothing much seemed to have changed inside either.

Mother poked my shoulder and I gazed at her when she beckoned me with a hand. I followed her around as she was the one trying to find a good table or booth to sit. There weren't a lot of people in here, so she had plenty of places to pick. We both strolled near the cashier counter, and the woman behind it, who seems to be in her late 60s with short brown hair, some wrinkles on her face that comes with brown eyes, and a belly that looks a little extended, gave us a very welcoming smile, "Hello there."

Mom and I stopped in front of it as she responded with a smile in return, "Ah, hello to you too." 

I waved with my own, which was smaller, on my face, "Hi."

The woman stated, "Nice to have two more people come in here. Business is slow this morning." Then she went on to wrinkle her brow as she fully concentrated on my mother, "Do I know you?"

Mom obviously knew her, judging by the tiny giggles she had emitting in her throat, "Well maybe you did since I used to live in this town."

The elderly person beamed when she knew who it was, "Oh my gosh, Julia Kessler?"

"Heeey Bess!" Mom laughed as the woman named Bess jogged around the counter in giggles, probably wanting to give her a hug. I just smiled on as I backed up a step for Bess. Her form moved past me in happy bounds, and both her and mom gave each other a hug. I let out a quiet breath. I had a feeling she was gonna have a 'welcome back home' hug from someone sooner or later. I'll bet a dollar that she's going to get another one from another person very soon.

Bess had let go of her afterward and backed away, "Golly, it's been a long time since I'd seen you."

Mom replied, "Yep, been a decade since I came from Pittsburgh and ate here."

Bess frowned in confusion, "A decade? I thought it was longer than that."

Mom said playfully, "What, did you forget that I came to Fall Creek ten years ago for my high school reunion? You know, at the school?"

Bess's body flinched a bit as she must have realized she'd forgot, "Oh!" Then giggled as her hand rose to lightly pat the side of her skull, "I'm sorry. Sometimes I have these memory lapses and I just forget some things."

Mom shook her head, "Oh it's alright. I don't remember everything that happened in my every day life."

"Glad I ain't the only one then." They both gave each other giggles. I still just patiently stood nearby and watched them as Bess asked as her eyes looked mom over, "So how are you doing? You look nice today."

Mom answered in a appreciative tone, "Thank you, and I'm doing fine."

"I suppose you're here for another high school reunion?" Her face frowned up in thought, "I haven't heard anything about it. Either that or I just forgot."

Mom's head shook again, "Oh no. I moved back here since yesterday."

Bess happily stated, "No kidding? You're living in Fall Creek now?"

"Yup." Then mom's head shot to her right, "Well, actually OUTSIDE of town. At a house about twenty minutes away."

"Oh."

I raised my hand like I was sitting in a classroom for my teacher and said, "Actually we both did."

Bess pretty much realized she was ignoring me, other than mom, and turned her form to me with her face still holding curiosity, "You too? With her? And who might you be, young man?"

Mom laughed, making her way to where I am and wrapping her arm around me, "I had a feeling you'd forgotten my son."

"Your son?" Bess sucked in a happy breath, "Oh yeah, I remember you had a child. I've met him before."

Mother acknowledged as the hand that was around me was gently rubbing up and down my arm, "Yep, just that one time in this place." I questionably wrinkled my face as I was staring at the woman in front of us. Honestly, I couldn't quite place her face. I didn't remember meeting her like she did.

Bess looked right at me with a smirk, then moved up a bit and placed her hand on top of my head, rubbing it gently, "The only thing about him that I don't remember is him being this tall." The elderly lady chuckled at her own statment after pulling it off me, "How old is he now?"

Mom proudly stated, "He's nineteen."

"So he is." She said, not taking her gaze off me, "Your name is...Matthew, correct?"

Well, least she got my name right. I answered with a smile on my face, "That is correct."

"Well, I'm happy to see you here again, Matthew, other than your mother. You know, you looked like such a bright little guy when I laid my eyes on your back then...I think you were a little shy too." She giggled deep.

I replied with a bit of shyness in my tone, "Ummm...Thanks."

Then Bess frowned at my mother, "Now I'm thinking about it, I don't think you two were alone when I last saw you...I think there was a man that was with you guys...Was that-?"

Mom answered for her, "My husband, Dan, and my son's father."

Bess blinked happily at hearing that, "Ah, yes, I remember you got married. You weren't Julia Kessler anymore when you came back here."

"No, I wasn't. I was Julia Ludlow...And still am."

That's when she asked a question I knew she was gonna ask, "So, where is your dearly beloved? Is he at home waiting for his family?"

Mom had a bit of a sad look in her eyes but she kept up her happy posture as she explained, "Actually, uh...Me and Dan aren't living together anymore. We...Had a rough patch and couldn't work it out. He's still in Pittsburgh." Some air came out of my lungs as I've thought about this 'rough patch' she's talking about. I knew she wasn't literally going to tell Bess exactly what happened with dad. I'm sure it wasn't the kind of thing you'd really tell someone, and it must be hard for her.

I get that feeling myself.

Bess had pity on her face, "Oh...I'm sorry to hear that."

Mom shook her head and also waved her hand, "No, it's fine. It's been three years since we were living together. Right now it's just me and Matthew."

"Well still, I'm sorry to hear that. I know how leaving someone feels...." Bess then cleared her throat and rebuilt a smile on herself, "Anyways, better go find a table or booth. I'm sure you haven't came here to just talk. I'll bring you both a couple of menus in a minute."

Mom replied with a nod, "Sure." She finally took her arm off me and instructed me, "Come on, Matthew."

I agreed, "Alright." With that, me and mom went off to find a spot to sit while Bess wandered off to get the menus.

Very shortly after that, we stopped when she did first and poked my arm. When I shot a glance at her, her head gestured to a particular spot, "Hey, how bout we sit at that table with them? They seem to be great company to hang with." I looked to where she was reffering, at the round table with the three people who are still sitting at it, apparently eating their food off their plates. One of them was a man looked to be about mother's age, and the other two were a boy and a girl and they were young like me.

I didn't argue with her, "Sure, why not?"

We went over to that table, and me and mom sat together across from those people as they watched us. I looked closely at each of their features. The man around mom's age has a huge build, short brown hair, brown eyes and his face and chin were a little fuzzy since he was growing a beard. The young man sitting near the older gentleman had a very thin figure, and has short hair that was brown, only it was a bit messed up compared to the other guy. He has bushy eyebrows and green eyes, and below them there were dark circles like he doesn't sleep well in the night. And lastly, the young girl has long brunette hair, bangs that cover her whole brow but don't cover her brown eyes, and a good figure as well.

Mother said this to them, "Hi. Lovely morning we're having, huh?"

The middle aged man, who had a piece of bread in his hand, responded in a deep voice after he chewed something in his mouth and swallowed it, "It's just like any other morning."

The young man asked me and mom in a slight geeky tone after placing his fork on the plate, "Are you new here?"

I was shifting around on the chair as mom replied, "We are." She shrugged, "Well, this isn't our first time in Fall Creek, but you can say we've moved here yesterday." She thumbed back over her seat, "We live about twenty minutes outside town."

The older man chuckled with his brows raised playfully, "Well perfect, the more the merrier." Then he squinted towards mom, "Hey...Have we met before? You look familiar."

Mom looked back with squinted eyes too, and replied to his question a second later, "No...I don't think so."

"Oh." Then he went and took another bite out of the bread, chewing it.

The girl across from us, who pretty much just smiled right at me, asked, "So what are your names?"

I answered, "Oh, my name's Matthew. Or Matt if you want." I waved my hand to mom, "And this is Julia, my mother."

That's when the older man frowned again and asked when he swallowed down his food, "Julia?" Mom was staring at him quizzically after he said her name, "As in...Julia Kessler?"

Mom formed a smile, "Yes. Do you know me?"

The man laughed, putting the bread down on the table, "Oh my god, I knew I recognized you!"

"Heh heh, apparently you do."

He asked, "Well do YOU remember me?"

Mom looked at his face for a bit before replying, "Well, your face does seem a bit familiar to me, but I still don't know."

Then he boastfully said, "That doesn't surprise me since we both haven't been at Fall Creek High for a long time and haven't seen each other for ages." He placed a hand against his chest, "Kent Anderson? I was about a few grades ahead of you? The running back for the school's football team?"

That's when she finally knew who he was with a very huge grin, "Kent Anderson? Wow!" She got up from her seat, went around the table, and gave that man a hug after he turned a bit in his seat to hug her back. I snickered. Well...I got myself a dollar.

Mom pulled herself away, apologizing with a friendly giggle, "I can't believe it's you. I'm so sorry about that. You look a bit different."

Then Kent playfully rubbed his hand over his hair, "Yeah, I don't have my long hair anymore. Even guys like me can get tired of it." I frowned upon hearing that. Wow...I don't imagine that guy having long hair.

"I see that. You look good today."

"Hey, you ain't so bad yourself, Julia."

She shrugged, "Well, being a cop has its perks."

Kent hummed, "A cop eh? You're a police officer now?"

She nodded, "As a matter of fact, yes. Been one for a long time."

"And I suppose you're going to patrol our streets since you're living here now, Officer Kessler?"

Mom rose a finger to correct him, "Officer Ludlow, actually." She dropped it back down and went on, "And yes, I'll be doing my job here. Today I'm not working but tomorrow is when I start."

The man nodded, "That's good." Then he glanced at me, frowning a bit, "So I'm getting it straight...This young dude is your son?" He made a grin, "I wondered for a long time if you ever had a nice looking kid or two."

Mom looked to me, "I did. He's the only one I have. He is my good boy."

I chuckled, rubbing my neck embarrassingly, "Mom."

Kent and the two young people laughed a little together. Then he used the back of his hand to softly hit mom's stomach, "Hey, don't embarrass the kid."

She looked at him, shrugging with her hands and a smirk, "It's true. He'd never gotten in trouble for all his life."

I nodded in agreement, "She does point that out well. I never had."

Kent proudly said to me, "That's good to hear. Don't want your mother to arrest you and then ground you when you get home from jail." The young brunette girl near him snickered. Then Kent tilted his head a bit as he asked mom a question, "So...You're not Julia Kessler anymore, huh?" He flicked his hand at me, "Well, since he's your kid and your last name at the moment is 'Ludlow'...That tells me you're married now."

Mom replied in a low tone, "Well...SORTA married."

His face was wrinkled up in confusion, "Sorta? What do you mean?"

That's when the girl was poking at his arm, getting his attention. As Kent looked at her, she was crossing her arms and glaring impatience, "Hey, don't forget about me, dad! I'm right here!"

The young man raised his hand, chuckling as he was saying the same thing as her, "Me too." I just smirked and shrugged my shoulders. Eh...I don't care.

Kent groaned, "Oh god, I'm sorry." He first began to introduce us to the girl, his daughter from I hear, "Julia and..."

I told him my name again when he lost track what it was, "Matt."

"Well Julia and Matt, this is my daughter. Rachel."

Rachel grumbled, "About time."

Her dad gave her a narrowed look, "Rach, be nice." Then he looked at me and my mother, "Sorry about her. She doesn't like being ignored in a conversation."

The young man stated with a shrug of his shoulders, "I don't mind being ignored."

Kent looked at him and nodded with raised eyebrows, "Yeah, you have more patience than her, kid."

Rachel unfolded her arms and sighed with a grin, "Alright, alright...I'm sorry."

Mom said with her eyes on Rachel, "It's fine. No harm done. So you're really his daughter?" Rachel nodded in reply, then mom complimented to Kent, "Well I gotta say, Kent, your daughter looks beautiful."

"Thanks." Kent gave Rachel a knowing look, "And what do you say when someone calls you beautiful, honey?"

Rachel moaned when she rolled her eyes, "Oh, dad." She giggled and said to mom politely, "Thank you." Mother nodded twice to that.

I eyed at the young man near them, "Is that guy your kid too, Kent?"

Rachel wrinkled her face in mock disgust as she glanced at that person, "Him? I hope he isn't."

The young man shot her a glare, "Why not?"

A smirk spread across her face, "No reason." A giggle came along with it.

"Well I hope so. Cause I don't see anything wrong with that if I was."

Kent let out a loud huff, "ANYWAYS." The young man about my age immediately melted that glare and just giggled other than me. Kent then patted his shoulder, "No, he's not my son. This here is Rachel's good buddy. Andy Hickey."

Andy glanced at me then at mom, "Yea, hi." Then announced as he was slowly pushing back his seat, "Hey, I'm going to head back to the house. I'm done eating."

Kent said as he watched him stand up, "What? You're not sticking around to talk to the new people?"

Andy held a fist to his mouth as he closed his eyes and let out a yawn, "I would..." He looked at Kent, "But I'm tired and I wanna head home for a nap. Hope you can pay for my food."

Kent responded in a sure tone, "You know I will." He waved him off, "Alright, get outa here."

"Great." Andy told me from across the table, "Maybe I'll see you around and we can hang out sometime. That cool?"

I slowly nodded, "Yeah, I guess."

He said to Kent and Rachel as he strolled around the table with mom, "I'll see you back home." Then he stopped to say something to my mother, "Hey, sorry I'm running off on short notice."

Mom replied as she was standing behind me, "You're fine. Besides, I'll be patrolling tomorrow, so you'll probably be seeing me later."

Andy rose a brow at that, "Riiight...Okay, bye." Then he began to walk away from all of us and went past Bess who was coming with the menus, "See you later, Bess."

Bess's body turned a bit to keep an eye on him as she was still heading to me and my mom who already took a seat beside me, "Bye, honey." Then as she's gotten close to us, she dropped the menus in front of us, "There you go." She giggled as she took a notepad and a pen out of her pocket, "Sorry it took me long. I was busy doing something else."

As me and mom shook our heads, I said, "No worries." My hand gestured towards Kent, "I'm just meeting another friend of mom's."

Kent then playfully narrowed up his eyes as he stared at the woman, "And, LADY, when were you going to tell me that JULIA KESSLER came back to Fall Creek?"

Bess rose her brows, playfully shooting back, "I wasn't planning to, honey."

"Ah, come on, I like seeing old friends from high school."

"Hey, I figured you'd see her later, and I was right." She gave that guy a wink, and then asked me and my parent as she was getting ready to write down the pad, "Alright, what do you want to drink?"

I answered, "I'll have water."

Mom told her, "And I'll be havin' my favorite: your famous tea."

Bess chuckled upon that as she wrote it down, "Okay, be back with your drinks." Then she headed off to get them. A moment later, I opened up the menu and looked through it and so had mom.

Kent said to mom after I started looking through the food choices in the breakfast section, "You know, the pancakes here are still good."

She replied with a hum of delight, "Hmm...You've read my mind. I'm getting a couple."

He giggled deeply, "Figures."

When I've found what I wanted, I had the urge to head to the restroom. I sighed and pushed back the chair. After I stood up I asked Kent, "Hey, which way's the restroom?"

He pointed away from us at his left, "It's in that hall over there. You can't miss it."

I glanced and saw the corridor that's at the edge of the very large dining room we're in, "Thanks."

I moved myself out from between table and chair when mom said, "Matthew, Bess is probably coming with our drinks right now."

I shook my head as I was walking past her, "It's all right. Just tell her I want hash browns and eggs." I didn't hear her respond as I was heading towards that small corridor. After wandering in there, I was literally walking in fast strides towards the men's room...Before someone came out of the women's room next door and got in my path.

"Oof!" I grunted when my frame accidentally hit and knocked a girl down to the floor. My eyes went wide in concern as the door she got out slowly closed on its own. Crap. I said, being apologetic for my action, "Arrgh, I'm sorry about that. You okay?" A moan came from her as the girl's face was towards the floor as she was trying to push herself off it. I held out a hand for her, "Here, let me help you up."

But she didn't need my help after all, as she had gotten to her knees and then on her feet. She turned to face me, just staring. From the moment I looked at her, for some reason I felt somewhat entranced by her looks. She was actually around the same age as me, with pretty green eyes, cute cheekbones, slight pale skin, a slender body, and long, wavy blonde hair that has strands of it going past her shoulders.

The blonde girl finally spoke to me with a soft voice and a smile, "No thanks. I think I got that covered."

I blinked and stuttered a bit, "Um...Y-Yeah." I mentally snapped myself out of it when I went on, "Are you ok? Listen, I'm very sorry. I just-"

"Oh, I'm fine. Really." She giggled in a cute way, "I think I just need to slow down when I'm coming out of public rooms like that. None of us would never know if anyone's outside these kind of doors or not."

I responded with a giggle myself, "Heh heh...Yeah..."

We stared at each other for a bit. Then she was slowly making her way past my form, saying thankfully, "Thanks for trying to help." I heard her footsteps on the hallway floor and I looked over the shoulder to see her now in the dining room. I sighed and looked at the girl's restroom door. Gosh, Matt...Better watch out next time. I huffed, feeling myself relax and not worried anymore as I made pace to the boy's room.

A couple minutes later, I was done doing business in there, and I emerged back into the dining room and headed back to my table, seeing mine and mom's drinks had already arrived and sitting on it before I sat down on my chair beside her. When I did she told me that she'd ordered my food already and I muttered a thanks to her. As four minutes pass as I was patiently waiting for our food to show with my head either down to my lap or at the table, mom and Kent were chatting with each other while Rachel was in silence like me next to her father. I didn't pay too much thought to what they're saying. I was thinking about that girl I bumped into.

Curiosity about her had bothered me during those minutes, so my eyes began scanning the area, searching for her. And I found her as I looked over my shoulder, sitting at a booth with a handsome man sitting next to her, who was maybe a few years older than her and me. From a distance I can see he has crew cut brown hair on top of his head, seems to pack a bit of muscle judging by the white tank top he's wearing, and has blue eyes. I couldn't see, since there was a wall in the way, but I think they weren't alone, since the guy with her was apparently talking to someone sitting in the other seat in the booth in front of them. But the blonde girl wasn't. She was apparently silent like me.

Then, I saw her staring back at me from afar. As I was caught, I turned my head straight right away. I shifted in my seat. Well, your curiosity's settled, Matt. She's still here. I picked up my cup of water and took a sip as I was back to waiting for my food.

*****

Night was going on outside, as I laid in the bed in my own bedroom with my head pressed against the wall and only my pajama pants on me. I was reading a chapter in one of my mother's Nicholas Sparks novels, 'The Notebook', since I wasn't tired enough to close my eyes and sleep yet. I don't read a lot like mother, but I borrowed it from her since I figured reading would help me do that, other than give me something else to do in the house in the woods.

Well...There WAS something else to do here until me and mom got it all done, and I was back to square one. I breathed in through my nose and let the air out through my mouth. I did wish Dish Network was hooked up here already so I could watch TV, but mom said they'd be here in a few more days since she called them today. So, until then, I'll just have to figure out something else to do. Including figuring out what to do tomorrow, since mom will be working tomorrow on her first day as a cop in Fall Creek and I'll be left alone.

I turned a page in the book, my eyes scrolling through the next one. I had a bit of a fun day, other than it was a bit of a busy one. After me and mom ate at the Cupboard and met some friendly people who live in town, we went to the grocery store and got some food to stock up a bit at home. Not too long after we got home and put the groceries away, we both went ahead and began unpacking things from our boxes. We carried, placed, and hanged anything that we've found. Mom and I didn't have a problem at all finding every spot for every thing we had. After that, and after I squished and picked up all the boxes that we used for the move outside for the trash guy, the inside of our house totally looked like a home now.

Thanks to me earlier, I hanged up my stuff on the walls in my room at different spots, which were posters and photos in frames. Specifically, I have two vintage posters that show a very good rock band during their time in the 80s, Def Leppard, which they're my favorite. The photos I mentioned were just a few beautiful, scenic ones. One was a good view of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, another was a very cool shot of Big Ben, the clock tower in London, and the last one I had in here was the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco, California.

I took my eyes off the book and gazed around my room, trailing off one poster to one photo. That's when I had the abnormal feeling in my chest again. I know my room doesn't look like a empty room now and looks very much like mine back at the house in Pittsburgh. But it was too bad I didn't live in a room in a house at Fall Creek. Right now would've felt the same, and normal, if I did. I brushed both the thought and the feeling away. Matt, mom said you have to try to get used to living in this house, so don't start with this now. I sighed and glanced towards the chest drawer nearby, seeing sitting at the top was a film camera, the Nikon FM10.

I smiled at it. I had that thing since I was eleven. It was a birthday gift from my dad, since I was interested in photography. I had became an avid photographer, used to take some photos around my neighborhood in Pittsburgh and some spots in the city. I even knew how to build a dark room and develop photos myself.

I know what I like, but I haven't used that camera for a long time.

An idea came to me. Maybe that'll give me something to do tomorrow. After all, finding a good place to shoot is pretty much a thing to do. I had my attention back on the book, back to reading the chapter. Or maybe I'll just ride my bike, head to Fall Creek and ride around there. While I'm at it, maybe I'll find someone to hang out too. Maybe Andy. He doesn't seem to mind about the idea of hanging with me.

That's when a image of a certain girl's face popped up in my head. The one I bumped into at the restaurant.

I was finally done with the chapter, since it was a long one. I closed the novel and laid it on the drawer near my camera. Only now I was just sitting on the bed, eyes drawn up to the ceiling. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Frankly, throughout the rest of the day, I've been thinking about her, even while I was working in the house. It's kinda been driving me crazy. And I guess I am thinking about her still cause her face popped up a few times while I was reading.

I opened my mouth to yawn. Well, I think I'm tired now. Time to quit thinking about her and go to sleep. You didn't sleep well last night, don't let a girl's face ruin that tonight! I giggled to myself. Right. I'll just go to bed now and figure out which on what I want to do tomorrow. I was about to shift myself off my bed and turn the ceiling light off when I heard barking outside. I shot my eyes to the bedroom window. It was Tobey, and he was barking non-stop. I frowned in wonder. What's got into him? I got off the mattress and made my way to it. I'll go look and see. I stood real close to the window, squinting to see what is going on since it was another night with not much light out there. I see Tobey near his doghouse still barking at something. I followed where he looked.

I barely found something that was in the yard about a few feet away from the woods. I couldn't tell much in the dark, but I can tell it looked big...And stood on TWO LEGS! I gasped, jerking myself away from the window. There's somebody out there! I spun and ran out of my room. I gotta get mom!

I was in the hallway, darting to my mom's room. I saw through her bedroom doorway that her lights were off, meaning she was asleep, but I didn't care about that. I dashed in there, up to her bed...And shook her awake, "Wake up, wake up, wake up!"

Mom's form shot up from the covers, eyes widened up, "Huh? What?" Brendi who was laying close to her shot up to all fours and was barking at my intrusion, probably confused about what's going on like her. Mother shushed the dog, Brendi did, and then looked at me, blinking tiredly, "Matthew...What's going on?"

I told her in a frantic voice, "There's someone outside."

She said like she didn't get what I was saying as her two fingers swept a strip of her hair away from her eye, "What?"

I said it again, only a bit louder, "There is somebody outside!" I shot my hand towards her window across the room, "I saw someone out my window."

Mom stared at me quizzically for a bit, "Are you sure?" I nodded without doubt. That's when she nodded back and pulled the bed cover off herself, "Alright...I'll take a look."

I asked in a nervous tone as she was piling out of bed with her nightgown on her, "But should we call the police?"

She went up to her dresser, pulled a drawer open, dug her hands in it and yanked out a small flashlight and a pistol. She finally replied when she turned to me, "Not yet. I wanna go out and make sure." My eyes were holding fear at the suggestion. She's going out there without calling for help? That guy could be way beyond dangerous for her! I tried to argue about that but she already trotted fast out of the room and out into the hall. I jogged and caught up to her, following her as we headed down the stairs.

When we made it to the first floor, and as we got near the front door, I tried to protest, "Mom, I don't think-"

Mom spoke as she immediately put her stuff on the ground and began to slip on a pair of shoes on her bare feet, "I'll be fine." After that, she picked up the weapon and flashlight. With the flashlight held by her armpit, she flipped a switch near the door, turning the outside light on. Then she firmly stated over her shoulder when her hand touched the doorknob, "Just stay in here. I'll be right back. If something happens, call the police." With that she yanked the door open, went out in the cool night on the porch and shut it behind her. I nervously sighed as a pit formed in my stomach. Maybe you won't...God I hope you will.

After I went in the living room and turned the light on, I went to a window in here and peered out it. I can see mom had already stepped off the porch and wandered out on the yard, flashlight on in one hand and the gun held close to her chest in the other, being cautious and prepared for what could happen. I saw her head looking back and forth, other than the light in the same motion, trying to find the intruder. She didn't see anyone, and I didn't see anybody from my end either. Mom after several moments of searching at the front yard decided to cautiously stroll around the house. To the left side of the house to be exact.

Since I wanted to help her out a bit by looking outside, I pulled away and jogged, heading for the dining room since it had windows that'll let me peek through that side of the house. I turned on a light in that room, the large square dining table stood in the middle of the floor, and then ran to one of the windows in here, moving the binds to see out. At first I saw the flashlight beam moving around, then I had mom in my sights. I looked for the intruder like she did, and saw nobody. Hmm...Not right there... I looked behind me. Maybe at the other side of the house? I'll go ahead and take a peek out there. If I see anything, I'll holler out the window and tell her where he's at.

I knew where I can look out through that side, either back at the living room or in the kitchen. So I turned around to head back to the living room, turning off the dining room light before I did. After I made several strides to another window in the living room, I squinted in the darkness as my forehead pressed against the glass. My eyes found nothing just like before. Huh...Not there either. I backed away from the window and looked at the kitchen from where I stood, right at the back door in there.

The person I saw was in the back yard, where Tobey's also at. I can use the window on the back door and check out there again. Speaking of Tobey, I realized he hasn't barked since I told mom and came downstairs with her. Worriness clawed at my chest as I went for the kitchen. I hope he's okay...

I made it to the back door, and moved the shade to peer through it. I saw to my relief that my Black Lab was doing fine. He was wagging his tail as he spotted mom who was already at the back yard and had her flashlight shined on him. I concentrated at the spot where I spotted this person, but he wasn't there, which I wasn't surprised. Since I didn't find the intruder again, I frowned when I made a few steps back from the door. Where is he? Then I thought about the forest around the house, thinking he may be hiding somewhere in there and waiting to attack mom. The thought made me swallow a lump. Oh, man...I hope she shoots him. I turned around and strolled back to the living room again.

When I made it back, I just stood around and waited for mom with folded arms, thought of giving her five minutes before I do anything else. Then not too long after that, while I was staring at the floor, the front door quickly opened up.

I sucked in a loud breath, shooting my eyes at it and uncrossing my arms.

It was mother coming back in the house through it, turning off the flashlight after closing it. I held in a breath of relief as she flipped a switch and turned the outside light off. Phew.

Mother saw me and moved to where I was. She stopped in front of me, and told me without any worry in her eyes or tone, "There's nobody out there." She let out a calm sigh, "I had a feeling there wasn't."

I wrinkled my brow, "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I looked all over."

I shook my head a little at that, "But...I saw-"

She made a smile, "I'm guessing the darkness played a trick on you, and you THOUGHT somebody was outside. And I know what you're thinking, trees and bushes around our house and all, but I don't think anyone's hiding in them. Cause if there was, that person would've gotten to me by now."

I pointed one thing out, "But Tobey was barking."

She shrugged her shoulders, "He probably thought he saw someone too. He ain't barking now." Then mother's hand went up to start stroking my arm up and down, "Matt, I'm sure no one's outside, and there never was anybody out there. It was probably your imagination. I promise, ok?" After those words, she pulled that hand away and held it close to her mouth when she yawned. She turned herself to wander away, "Alright, c'mon, let's go back upstairs. I need my beauty sleep for tomorrow."

When she left me, I gazed at a window close to me. So...There was nobody out there? I breathed out in calmness, putting trust in my mother's words. Oh, of course there wasn't! She's probably right. It was probably the stupid dark screwing with me. I should have known. I smiled, then I shortly walked to head back to bed too, seeing mother had just got done taking her shoes off at the front door.

It was just my imagination...Everything is fine.

*****

The creature that can see black and white stood around in the woods, staring at the front of that old house from a distance. A ear twitched on its head. It knows nobody's searching for it now, since it seen the woman who was outside looking for it had went back inside.

It let out a very relieved breath. It's a good thing the creature went in the woods and hid well in them, or things would have been bad. Then it thought about the boy who saw it through a second floor window, thanks to his barking dog who grabbed his attention. It did manage to catch sight of him before it ran back in the woods. It knows where Matthew was sleeping, that's for sure. He looked like he was ready for bed since he apparently wasn't wearing a shirt. It probably ruined his nap, other than the dog, and that boy went and probably ruined his mother's too, which that explained why she was outside in a nightgown. After his mother searched for it and found nothing, he most likely believes now that there was nothing outside at all, except for his pet...And believes it was the dark playing a trick on him. After all, the night can do that.

Which was good for the creature, cause it didn't want Matthew to believe he actually saw it.

When it was feeling a little bit of fatigue, it realized it'll be like Matthew and his mother soon. It'd better get home now and turn in for the night. That's when it began to do so after it turned and started strolling through the woods. After ducking below a huge tree limb, it was thinking about Matthew and his mother.

Ever since it saw them the first time, during the day they moved in that old house, and went back to where it lived afterward, it'd been thinking about them a lot. It wanted to see Matthew and his mom again. And sure enough, it did earlier today. Tonight wasn't the first time it's seen them honestly. It did meet them up close, only in a form like theirs.

A normal human.

Its hairy form trampled through a thick bush. Not only did the creature meet them, but it was right before to believe they were friendly. They really were. Very nice people. It wasn't the only fact it had found out. Julia...It found out that the beautiful woman's name is Julia. It'd also thought right that a woman like her probably had a beautiful name. 'Julia' sounded like it WAS beautiful. That certainly suited her. Least it didn't have to wonder about that anymore. It even knows her last name too...Ludlow. Julia Ludlow. And that must be Matthew's last name as well. But it honestly didn't care about that.

While it still made tracks, the creature thought about what it did minutes ago. Ever since it met them during daytime, it still thought about them. It didn't resist on going to their house during the night, and get a bit closer to it, have a bit of a peek through their windows. Just to see how they were doing.

And trying to do that alerted those people because of their dog.

It shook its head, growling to itself for being foolish. What was it thinking? It was crazy for a creature like it to do that!

It let out a breath. Well, based off that circumstance...It's not doing that again.