The Plan Unfolds

The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. The hallways quickly filled with students eager to leave, their chatter bouncing off the walls. Lily, Ava, Natalie, Chloe, Jake, Noah, and Ethan slowly gathered near the school's front steps, their usual meeting spot.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the school grounds.

Lily slung her backpack over her shoulder, her eyes bright with excitement. "So, what's the plan for the weekend? We've got to do something fun. I swear, if I spend another weekend just doing homework, I'll lose my mind."

"Same. It's a holiday from now on; we need to plan something for it." Ava agreed, pulling her camera from her bag and flipping through the photos she'd taken earlier. "We need an adventure. Something memorable."

Natalie, ever the dreamer, looked at the group with a spark in her eyes. "You guys remember that creepy house Jake was telling us about? The one with all the ghost stories?"

Jake grinned, already sensing where this was headed. "Ah, you mean THAT house. Yeah, I've been thinking about it."

Chloe, always ready for something exciting, perked up. "Wait, are we seriously talking about staying there? I thought you were joking when you brought it up."

"No joke," Jake said, his voice filled with confidence. "I know how to get there, and it's perfect for the weekend. A few nights in a supposedly haunted house? It'll be epic."

Noah chuckled, shaking his head. "Man, are we really about to do this? I mean, I'm down, but what if it's actually haunted? What if we get, like, possessed or something?"

Natalie rolled her eyes. "You're such a wimp, Noah. It's all just rumors. Besides, it'll be fun! We'll bring snacks, set up a bonfire, tell scary stories—it'll be like one of those campfire movies."

Lily crossed her arms, her practical side kicking in. "Alright, but we need to plan this properly. What's the house like, Jake? Do we need to bring anything special?"

Jake thought for a moment, leaning back against the stone steps. "The house is old, definitely. It's a little run-down, but still in good shape. There's furniture, though it's probably dusty. We'll need sleeping bags, food, and definitely flashlights. Power might be an issue."

"Flashlights?" Chloe smirked. "We're going all in on the spooky vibe, huh?"

"Absolutely," Jake replied with a grin. "I'll take care of the firewood and some other stuff for the bonfire. We can set it up right outside the house. The place has this big clearing where we can hang out."

Ava snapped a quick photo of the group. "I'm definitely bringing my camera. If it's haunted, I'll be the one to capture the evidence. Imagine how cool it'll look in a scrapbook."

"I'm in," Ethan finally chimed in, stretching his arms. "But if there are any ghosts, you guys are on your own."

"Deal," Jake said, clapping Ethan on the back. "So, we're all in then?"

"Hell yeah," Noah said, his usual enthusiasm kicking in. "But I'm not carrying all the snacks this time. You guys always make me carry too much."

"We'll split it up," Lily said, laughing. "I'll make a list of what we need and who's bringing what."

As they started brainstorming, each of them contributed ideas for what to bring—blankets, a first-aid kit, extra batteries, and, of course, enough snacks to last the weekend. It felt like the perfect balance between excitement and just enough nerves to keep things interesting.

Chloe pulled out her phone, checking the weather. "Looks like it'll be clear all weekend. No rain, just perfect spooky night skies."

"Good," Natalie said, standing up. "Because we've got some ghost stories to tell, and it wouldn't be the same without a dark, creepy atmosphere."

Jake looked around at the group, he was pleased with how easily the plan was coming together.

"Alright, it's settled then. We'll meet at my place Saturday morning, pack up the van, and head out. This is gonna be the best weekend ever."

They all nodded in agreement, With the plan set, the weekend ahead promised to be something none of them would forget.

As they started heading their separate ways, Ava paused, glancing back at the group with a curious look on her face. "You know... I have this weird feeling like we've planned something like this before."

The others exchanged glances, confused but intrigued by her comment. "What do you mean?" Lily asked.

Ava shrugged, her fingers absently tracing the edge of her camera. "I don't know. It just feels familiar... like we've done this already."

"Maybe you're just getting into the spooky spirit early," Noah teased. "Or maybe it's déjà vu."

Ava shook her head with a small smile. "Yeah... maybe."

But even as they walked away from the school, chatting about what was sure to be a wild weekend, Ava couldn't shake the nagging feeling that somehow, this trip had already happened before.

...

The sun blazed high in the clear, azure sky, casting long shadows as Lily, Ava, Natalie, Chloe, Jake, Noah, and Ethan gathered around Jake's van. The air buzzed with excitement and a flicker of unease as they loaded the last of their bags. The plan, which had been brewing for weeks, was finally coming to life—a weekend escape to an old, mysterious house Jake had found.

It wasn't just any house though; it had a reputation. Whispers of its haunted history had circulated for years, adding a layer of intrigue that none of them could resist.

"Can you believe we're actually doing this?" Natalie said, her voice tinged with both excitement and nerves as she tossed her bag into the van. "I still can't believe you found this place, Jake."

Jake, the unofficial leader of the group with his fearless, adventurous spirit, smirked from the driver's seat. "Told you guys, I always find the coolest spots. Just wait till you see the house. It's gonna be a memorable trip."

*****

Ohh yeah...it's gonna be MEMORABLE

But you know what?

Even though it's memorable, you have forgotten it...

*****