Adaline was throwing a party. Her parents had been out of town, and she decided to tell everyone at the football game to come over afterwards, so they did. Music was pouring out into the backyard, and laughter filled all the rooms.  People walked in and out of the house constantly. It was an open home for the night so when everyone heard a loud knock at the front door, they all stopped laughing.

  
“Adaline, I thought your parents weren’t supposed to be home until Sunday?” whispered her boyfriend, Theo. 

“It’s not them. I just talked to them before the football game. They would’ve told me if they were heading home already,” she assured Theo.  

“Who is it then?” asked Olivia.  

“I’m going to go see. Everyone stay where you are,” Theo shouted. He walked right through the dining room and opened the door. A cold gust of wind rushed through the warm house, but no one was there. Theo shut the door and turned back around. “Maybe nobody actually knocked. It could’ve been anything.”  

“I think I would know if someone was knocking or not,” Adaline told Theo, and Olivia. “It’s my house.” Adaline opened the door again and walked out. She came back a couple minutes later, and said, “Maybe I am just being paranoid. If someone was out there, Theo, you would’ve seen them.”  

“It’s okay. It could’ve been someone knocking on the bathroom door, or maybe someone fell,” Theo said as he wrapped her up in a big hug. “Everything is okay. Let’s just have fun.” 

“Here Adaline,” Olivia said passing her a drink. “This will calm your nerves.”  

Adaline’s friends turned the music back up and went back to talking about the latest gossip. However, Adaline couldn’t even drink the mixed beverage Olivia gave her. She kept looking out the window and went back outside to make sure there wasn’t anyone lurking around.   
Theo watched Adaline. He put his drink down and left the game of pong his was playing. “What happened to you just being paranoid?” chuckled Theo as he sat down in one of the dining room chairs.  

“I just have this gut feeling. I mean I could’ve sworn it was someone knocking on the front door. I mean the sounds are different,” Adaline rubbed the sides of her temples. “Would someone just come out and say, ‘Oh that was just me knocking on the bathroom door,’ or ‘So and so just fell down the steps.’?”  

“Everyone is drunk, and was way before the knock even came,” Theo softly said. “No one probably thought anything of it.” Adaline didn’t say anything. She just got up once more and looked out the window.  

“Can you please just stay here with me?” Adaline asked. 

“Of course. If it makes you feel any better, I’ll stay here with you for the rest of the night.”  
For some time, they just sat and talked. Theo being there made Adaline stop going to the window.  

“I feel much better now,” Adaline said in a soft voice. 

“That’s good. Are you ready to go see what everyone else is doing?” Theo asked. 

“Yeah, I mean I don’t want to spend the whole night just sitting here while everyone else is making memories, and I know you want to have fun too.”  

Theo and Adaline got up and made their way to the living room. Everyone was shouting and playing pong. The TV was on, and the music still was at max volume. All the lights shined over these young and reckless teenagers. It was what was keeping the party going.  

All of a sudden, the electricity shut off. Leaving everyone in silence. No more videos playing on a big screen, no more music, and no more light. It was 1 in the morning. 

“I can’t see anything,” Olivia said in a weak voice. 

“None of us can, Olivia,” Theo added on.  

“Where’s Adaline?” Olivia asked. 

“She was right next to me.” 

Theo turned around, but Adaline wasn’t beside him. The lights turned back on, and everyone’s silence was broken with loud rap music. Adaline was sitting on the couch with tears slipping down her cheek. In only a few minutes Olivia was able to turn off the speakers. 

“It’s too much,” Olivia stated after she did it. “Are you okay Adaline?” 

“I’m just scared,” Adaline said in response. “I mean that random knock, and now this. Nothing like this has happened before. So why is it happening now?” 

“Adaline it could just be a coincidence,” Theo whispered. “Don’t worry.”  

“How can I not worry?” Adaline said as she wiped the remainder of her tears away.  

Everyone slowly left. Leaving only a handful of kids left at Adaline’s home. They stopped drinking and started to clean up their messes. Meanwhile, Adaline was still sitting on the couch.  

“There has to be someone out there. There is no other explanation.” Adaline kept saying. 

“Listen to me Adaline, it could’ve been anything. I mean it has been raining since the party started. It could’ve been that or a squirrel or a bird or literally anything. Thinking the worst isn’t going to help anyone in this situation,” Theo said in a louder tone so that everyone could hear.

  
“We’re all a little scared, but it happens. It’s probably because we all watch a little too many horror movies,” Olivia said in a playful tone.  

“We’re all okay. You’re okay,” Theo said. 

“Are we really though?” Adaline said looking straight in Theo eyes.