Jacob's Ladder

Okay it's been awhile, but holidays are crazy. Anyway I was hoping for a review on this story, but so far nothing. What's up with that. Do you guys not like it or what? Well I'll post this chapter up and see how it does. Please someone leave one tiny, little review.
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The once blue sky had melted into hues of pink and orange, signally the coming night. April had just finished her task of leaving barriers of salt on all her windows. The front door was the last entrance without the barrier. The use of sea salt to keep away spirits and demons was an ancient tradition, though, April hadn't sensed anything in her new home no need to take a chance of something getting in. The only drawback to salt was once you put it down, there the possibility that you lock what your trying to keep out in. That hadn't happened to April as of yet, but she was expecting she may have locked something in her new home, and she just wasn't aware of it. Or it could be that April was just paranoid. In any case, with the last barrier of salt put down, the young woman locked the door and made her way to her truck. She, regrettably, had a date to keep.
The high school was not hard to find, since it was the only high school here. The old building was clustered with the elementary and middle school. All three occupying the same large lot. April dismally noted that the parking lot of the school was nearly full. It would seem everyone in town was turning out to meet the 'New Girl'.
"Oh god..." muttered April, her forehead meeting her steeling wheel "Why me?"
It took the girl six minutes to work up the nerve to leave her truck and enter the building. Following others through the maze of halls, April emerged into the gym area. She thanked the heaven that the place was decorated or anything. A long fold table was set out in the corner, with snacks and drinks set out. A stage had been set up in the middle of the court with a podium set up to speakers. People were mingling amongst themselves talking. Some people were looking in April's direction, some bold enough to point and then whisper to their friends. For the shy person that April was, she wanted to die. She could feel many pairs of eyes watching her, judging, making comments, whispering. Aprils breathing became shallow, her heart began to pound. The room seemed to be slowly spinning, the images slightly blurring. April knew she was experiencing a panic attack, she could feel her dread crawl over her body.
Stop looking, stop looking at me, April thought, the same phase continuing on and on in her head like mantra. The people continued to stare, their whispering became loud in April's ears. She was breaking out in a cold sweat. Stop looking, stop talking...
"Hey, you okay" came a voice cutting through April's chaotic thoughts. Her vision cleared and focused on the person in front of her.
"Looks like you need a drink" said a girl about April's height. Obviously, the girl was a teenager, perhaps sixteen or seventeen. Long chocolate hair hung down in two loose braids over narrow shoulders. She wore a fitting yellow T-shirt that accentuated her sizable chest, while worn blue jeans clung to near narrow hips. The girl's face was slightly round but was more angular with Native American features and three beauty marks set on a healthy moca colored skin. Clear brown eyes stared at April with slight concern.
"Huh?" uttered April in her confusion. The effects of her on-coming panic attack slightly fading.
"Come on" said the girl as she grabbed April's hand and dragged her to the snack table. April, still in a state of awe, let herself be dragged by the girl. April barely noted the paper cup of punch shoved at her.
"Here" the girl said.
"Thanks...um..."
"It's Rode, Rode Wick. You're the new girl right?"
"I guess" softly replied April.
"You looked like you were about to freak. First day is always hard, damn people are really nosy" responded Rode, stealing a cup for herself and taking a gulp. "Better to try an ignore them. Whatever they have to say about ya, their secrets are ten times worse, so no worries"
"Okay" April looked down at her cup, staring at the red liquid. She was about to take a sip when voices to her side stopped her. April turned to see three heavy set middle aged women staring at her, whispering (though with a little effort you could hear what they were saying). the familiar feeling of self conscious reared its ugly head and April felt another attack coming on.
"Don't ya beauty queens got anything better to do?" boldly spoke Rode. "I think the snack table is the last place ya'll need to be lurking around"
Horror struck faces of the women soon morphed into glares, though, this didn't faze the teen. Rode glared right back.
"How rude, I would think the sheriff's daughter would be more respectful" growled one of the women.
"I would if there was anyone worth respecting over here. You would think you would spend more your time keeping track of your brats then gossiping. Sure be a tragedy if one would wonder outside at dusk" spoke Rode looking towards the door of the gym. The color faded of the women's faces as they scurried off.
"Damn housewives, always got to run their mouths" commented Rode, "No need to pay them mind. You alright?"
"Fine" mumbled April.
"Not a people person huh? Don't worry, people around here are busy bodies, but won't go out of their way to bother ya" spoke Rode taking another sip.
Okay April relax, their gone, thought April. "Um...thank you..."
"No problem, I relish in sticking it to those people. We outsiders need to stick together"
"You're new here too?" asked April.
"Well...not really, I've been living here for about a year. My dad's the new sheriff. He moved us to hell just to make better money. Damn place is offering twice what he would get anywhere else, so here we are. Oh an welcome to hell, by the way" spoke Rode nonchalantly.
April stared at the teen for a bit before speaking, "So the rumors are true about this place?"
"Yup, If you don't mind me asking, why move here? I mean I wouldn't wish this place on my worst enemy" asked Rode.
"Um...well...you see..." began April.
"You don't have to say, if you don't want to. I won't pry into your business"
"I'M INTO THE PARANORMAL!" blurted April. Oh god, why did I say that, great now she'll think I'm nuts, thought April dejectedly, as red spread through her face.
"Oh..." began Rode.
Yup, she's thinks I'm crazy. She'll excuse herself now. Great...perfect...way to go April. You win the award on how to alienate people, thought April.
"Well...you're sure to get your fill in this insane asylum. So...your into the occult and crap?" asked Rode, her eyes avoiding Aprils.
"Yeah" wow she didn't leave.
"So you know a lot about that kind of stuff?"
"I guess..." What is she thinking, what going on. I never been in this situation. Is this good or bad. Crap, what do I do? She's not looking at me, that's bad, right? What do I do, thought April franticly.
Rode noticed the panic in April's eyes, "Relax, I'm not going to judge or anything. I...I thinks it's cool..."
"Really?"
"Yeah...I mean...like I said we outsiders need to stick together. I..." but the teenager was interrupted by coughing through the loud speakers.
"Oh, looks like you're on" commented Rode. A shiver of fear ran down April's back.
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Short I know, but please leave me something okay...happy holidays to all