Oh My Unlucky Happiness

This isn’t fair. I have no idea on what to do! What’s wrong? You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Not that bad? You have no idea! Fine, I’ll tell you.
I have... bad luck... whenever I’m... happy. No really! Don’t laugh please. Every time I get even the littlest happy, bad things happen. The fact that I have newly discovered powers doesn't exactly help either. If I laugh, I blow up things. If I smile, people get tripped by things are moved magically. They're not even powers you would think to be used for good. They're dark and shadow like powers. If you don’t believe me then follow me for the day. Oh forgive me if I complain too much, but this curse has made me a bit crazy and paranoid. Also a fair warning, if I smile the slightest bit, RUN!
"Madeline, I'm going off to work!" 1

That would be my aunt Rose. I'm staying with her for winter break. I decided it be a good idea to stay with her, since I've been fighting so much with my parents lately. Sometimes I worry that I'm affecting their health that way. Sigh. Well I guess I should go say good-bye. 2

"Why don't you go out? Put on a little make-up and something more colorful." starts my aunt as I come downstairs. 3

"Why should I?" I ask. 4

"Well for one thing; people around here think you're..." 5

"Emo?"6

"Not quite that, but yes."7

"Just because hair is black, my eyes are dark, and I have very pale skin does not mean I'm Emo."8

"It's not just that, you never smile or anything and you always wear dark clothing." 9

My aunt opens the door. It's snowing outside. 10

"Eh, I hate snow." I growl.11

"How can you hate snow?"12

"Have you ever driven in it?"13

"Now come on, you don't drive, which is a shame. You're sixteen and you don't even have your permit yet..."14

"Alright I'll go.15

Get her started and she'll talk for hours. Well I guess I should show you around anyways. My aunt lives in Litim Town. There's not much to it. It has stores, a theatre, clubs and a huge clock tower... was that just a flicker of gold locks? Hmm.
"Little Johnny, I know you're there so come out!"16

He’s hiding I’m sure of it.
"Well I guess that wasn't him. So I'll just go and burn down the tree house."17

"Phantom! Phaaaantom!" a little boy with golden brown hair and brown eyes starts screaming. I rush over there and clap a hand over his mouth. 18

"Quiet! I was only kidding." I claim.
Little Johnny lives around this neighborhood. He's one of those boys with a craving for curiosity. He and his friends will sometimes follow me to find out why I am so... bitter. But besides that he's a nice boy, too nice. 19

"I swear you kids cry out to him for the littlest things. Fight for yourself for once." I say to him. 20

"I can't. My mom says I'm not aloud to hit girls." answers Little Johnny.
Okay you got to admit that the kid’s cute. 21

"And you kind of scare me."22

I'm going to let that slide, since I do have the tendency to scare people, especially kids. 23

"That wasn't what I meant exactly." I tell him, "You don't have to fight, just stand up for yourself every once and awhile."
"But I'm too small." sighs Little Johnny.
He looks up with innocent eyes and I have to half smile to that. I quickly catch myself and look around. All of a sudden, a flower pot falls of a second-story windowsill. Screaming I push Johnny out of the way. I collapse over him. 24

Well the good news is the flowerpot didn't fall on Little Johnny. The bad news, it landed on my legs! Oh why on Earth did it have to be a clay flowerpot? Why not plastic? I am trying my best not to swear in front of an eight year old. Oh the pain!!! 25

"Are you okay?!" asks Little Johnny.
If he was just a few years older, I would have slapped him. 26

"No I'm not okay you little brat!" I growl. 27

"Do you want me to get my mom?" 28

"Just leave me alone." 29

"I’m sorry. I didn't know a flowerpot was going to fall."30

"I said just leave me alone!"31

"I'm just trying to help."32

"I don't need your help! I just want you to go away! You little annoying, spoiled brat."33

Little Johnny looks at me sadly. Oh I’m scathing now aren’t I? 34

"Everyone is right! You are nasty, and real mean! I hope your legs are broken!" shouts Little Johnny. He turns around and ran off.
I know, I know. I was a little harsh on him, but what am I suppose to do? You saw what happened. I mean I once nearly got a kid ran over by a truck. If I hadn't blown up the engine... No I'm not going to cry. GRRR! Let's just move on! 35

Oh great, the Dusty Rock Boys. They are a group of guys trying to start a band. 36

"Hey Madeline!" shouts the Dusty Boys.
I'm just going to nod and walk away. 37

"What did you think of the party at Cherry's club?" asks Richey. Richey is tall with light blonde hair and brown eyes. 38

“It was awful! I have no Idea why I left Tiffany and her friends persuade me into going” I say. 39

“Well it looked like you were having fun, till the Phantom totally trashed the place." laughed Steve. Steve had dark black hair and dark colored eyes. 40

"How do we know it was him?" I ask. 41

"Everything was blowing up, things flying around, the lights going crazy lists Steve.
"The guy's powers seem to be going whack lately. Remember when we were playing at the park and Phantom came to join us?" asks Richey. 42

"Oh yeah! He was starting to sing when our sound speakers blow up." chuckle Steve. 43

"Now guys maybe it not his fault. Maybe it happened because he was trying to make Madeline smile." jokes Nathan. Nathan was a short fellow with light brown hair and blue eyes.
Okay all those things were my fault, but I can't let them know that. 44

"Well see you around." I say to them softly. 45

"See ya! Tell the Phantom we said hi if you see him!" shouts the Dusty Rock Boys. 46

The Phantom? Oh he’s no one in particular. How about we go to the park? A lot of people like to come here for some reason. I've seen nicer... A snow fort? Do those little kids actually think I don't know they're hiding behind there? I saw their little heads pop up from there. I am going to walk by it as quickly as possible and...47

"Don't you dare throw that snowball at me!" I threaten Mary Sue. Mary Sue is a five-year old with dark brown hair and green eyes. She and her little friends duck under the snow fort. 48

"You were mean to Johnny!" shouts Mary Sue. Mary Sue is Little Johnny's sister.
Her friends nod with agreement. 49

"Gee I feel like I'm in munchkin land." I grumble. 50

"Well, then you're the Wicked Witch of the West!" shot back one them. I scowl at them. I take a step towards them and... I elbow a guy trying to sneak up on me in the gut. He falls backwards and gasps for breath. He is tall, with brown somewhat curly hair, dark brown eyes, dressed in black, wearing a mask.51

"Phantom!" shout the kids as they rush to him. Yep that's the Phantom. I guess now I have to explain. The Phantom is some random guy who lives in the clock tower. He has powers similar to mine. To all the adults, he's a myth, to the teenagers he's a guy to have fun with, to the kids he's a super hero, and to me he's an annoying guy who follows me like a shadow! And worst of all, he's always trying to make me smile!52

"Are you okay?" asks Mary Sue. 53

"Yeah." answers Phantom as he got up. I head to the bridge. Phantom gets up and blocks my way to the bridge. 54

"Move." I say in a low tone. 55

"You know I ran into Little Johnny today." says Phantom.
Oh great. I really don't need a lecture right now. 56

"You really upset him." continues Phantom. 57

"He'll get over it." I tell him. I push pass him and start crossing the icy bridge. Phantom grabs my shoulder. 58

"Hey the least you could do is to apologize to him." he says. The kids of course agree with them. 59

"Oh just tell the little brat to suck it up." I snap. I turn around. 60

Okay who threw the snowball at me? I am in no mood for jokes!61

I whip around and glare at the kids. The tree shakes. 62

"Madeline!" he shouts. He grabs me. The big oaf slips on the icy bridge and we both fall down. 63

Now don't worry we didn't fall off. Luckily it has a railing. Although for a split second I was happy that we didn't fall off the bridge, so what happens? My hurt leg slid under the rail and got jammed for a bit.64

I practically burst into tears. 65

"Are you alright?" asks Phantom. 66

What an annoying question! Of course I'm not okay! 67

"That what happen when you mean!" says Mary Sue.
Ugh, what’s worse? Getting a lecture or having to listen to all this bad grammar?
I stare at the tree. It shook. Phantom gives me a worried look. Before he could stop me, I shake all the snow off the tree and on to the kids. 68

The Phantom sighs in relief.
Uh, do I need to tell you that he knows of my powers? Or is that obvious now? He doesn't know that I'm the reason for the club and the speakers thought. He thinks he did it, but only probably because my powers seem to mess up his sometimes. 69

"What did you think I was going to do?" I hiss at him. Phantom frowns and shrugs. The kids whine and complain.70

Quick! While they're distracted, let's get out of here!71

"You kids should head home, it's getting dark." the Phantom tells the kids. 72

Head back? Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark. Don't worry, I'm scarier than anything around here... Did you see that? The sudden shift of shadows. Hey wait! I may be crazy but I know when a shadow moves unnaturally. Stand clear of my own shadow. Trust me. 73

I hold up a ball of darkness and blast at my shadow. The Phantom jumps out of my shadow and starts shouting. 74

"Why on Earth did you do that for?" he asks. 75

"I hate it when you follow me around." I sigh. 76

"You looked depressed and I wanted to if you were okay."77

On second thought, let’s head back. 78

Phantom turns into his shadow state slides under my feet and blocks my path. 79

"Can't we talk?" asks Phantom. I try to get past him, but he won't let me. 80

Sigh. Here we go again. Climb up that fire escape and meet me on top of the building. I don't think you can keep up with us, so I suggest you sit and watch. 81

I turn into my shadow state and slither up the side of the building. Phantom quickly follows me. I hop to from one building to another, with Phantom close behind me. I blend into the shadows. Phantom hops on the building I'm hiding on and looks around. He walks over to the edge to the building and looks down. I jump out. 82

"Boo!" I shout. The Phantom gets so surprise that I chuckled a little bit. The Phantom takes a step back, more daze like than surprised, and falls off the building.8983

AHHH! OH MY GOSH! What did I just do?! Oh no oh no oh no! 84

"Madeline?"85

That wasn't you was it?86

"Down here!" 87

I run over to the edge of the building a look down. There hanging on to the rail of a fire escape was The Phantom. 88

I sigh in relief. The railing bends at the Phantoms weight.89

"You got to help me! My powers aren't working!" pleas Phantom.90

Oh great! What do I do? If I save him, I'll be happy that he's okay and then the building will probably collapse or something.91

"Uh Madeline?"92

But if I don't save him, he'll go splat.9993

"Madeline!!!!!"94

What am I going to do! Why me?! How am I going to save The Phantom?! Calm down? CALM DOWN! Are you kidding me? You know what happens when I'm happy!95

The railing screeches as it starts to break off.96

"I'm running out of time here!" shouts Phantom. 97

Alright! Alright! Just do me a favor and be ready to dial 9-1-1 okay? 98

I go to the edge of the building and take a deep breath. I make two long shadowy arms and wrap them around Phantom's arms. I try to pull him up. The Phantom takes a foothold on the platform of the fire escape. 99

Maybe he'll be safe now?100

I slip and fall off the edge of the building. The phantom tries to catch me, but ends up swinging my legs into the railing. I start to cry in pain. 101

I know, I know, it could have been worse, but it hurts so badly right now!102

"Are you okay?" asks The Phantom. I slap him. 103

Of course I'm not okay! Does he think I'm just crying for the heck of it? 104

Phantom waves his hand and moves a shadow. He smiles, picks me up and jumps back to the top of the building. 105

Start climbing down the building. I want to back to my aunt's house as soon as possible. 106

"Thanks a bunch." says Phantom. I nod. 107

"Wow you seem depressed." he says. 108

"I got issues." I tell him. 109

"That doesn't mean you can't smile every once in awhile."110

"I just wish you'd mind your own business."111

"Sorry."112

Oh great! Now I feel guilty. What should say to him? The truth? No way! He pities me enough already, it will just give him more reason to do so. 113

“Why should we be happy anyway? Our powers are dark." I grumble114

"So? I like my powers." laughs Phantom.115

"I don't."116

"You stress out too much. You need to take a breather." 117

Sigh, its times like these I worry I really will go Emo. Not just because I'm always sad, but because if I get happy I could slit my wrist or something. Whoa! Hold on a minute! Don't go getting a therapist. Although I wouldn't mind one, I'm not Emo yet. Well not exactly anyway. 118

"You know, I was starting to think I was the only one like myself, and then you come along with all your grim attitude." laughs Phantom. 119

"Madeline?" he says again when I do not respond. He looks around, then over the building to see me walking down the street. 120

"Where are you going?" he asks. 121

"My aunt's house, it's getting late." I answer. 122

"Would you like me to come along? It can be dangerous…” 123

The Phantom starts to get down the building. I blast him back to tell him not to come. 124

"Well good night." says Phantom, looking a bit hurt. I nod and leave. 125

He always does this to me. He tries to make me happy and in the end I always feel guilty. All because of this stupid curse! Sigh. Well anyways thanks for putting up with me. I know I can be edgy sometimes and with my curse and all I wouldn't blame you if you never came back. But mark my words! If I ever find the person who did this to me, I'll rip them limb to limb! Because it's not fair what I have to go through day after day and it's not fair that I hurt people who are close to me, all because of my unlucky happiness.