by Amy Richie
“No,” he denied quickly - too quickly.
“You disappeared.”
“Did you miss me?”
“I always miss you,” she patted his arm playfully.
If I wasn't dead, I would have been throwing up. Once the kissing noises started -I bolted from the car.
“You're such a dick, Tyler Minx,” I screamed, kicking at the car. It didn't help when my foot went right through it. “How am I going to do this?” I shouted into the empty street. It wouldn't have mattered if it was full - no one would have heard me.
Desperate to get some distance between me and the disgusting couple in the car, I began to run. I had no idea where I was going - just away was good enough for me.
It wasn't until I found myself on a narrow street that I never came down, did I realize where I was going. The Reaper said I needed to find my Vessel. He was the only one who would be able to see me.
The woman in the bathroom had seen me but even if I was willing to go back there, I probably wouldn't be able to find her. And really - I didn't want to find her.
Clark Daniels was gross. He was the perv that got caught hiding in the girl’s bathroom when we were in the seventh grade. He never took a shower, his full goatee made me think of a creepy uncle who played Santa every Christmas just so the girls would sit on his lap.
There was no denying it - Clark was not my first choice of Vessel. If I never laid eyes on him again that was fine with me. But there was one thing Clark had going for him, I knew him. His name was with mine on that stupid cupcake, that meant he would be able to see me.
That's what had me staring at the trashy trailer court. Grady's. It was the trashiest place in our cute little town, by a long shot. In life -I wouldn't have set foot in a place like this. In death - maybe I couldn't be so picky.
I knew he lived in number twenty-six. In sixth grade we had opened bars of soap and covered his tiny front yard with them. Lucky for us, it had rained that night and flooded the place with suds.
There was no soap in the box shaped yard now; the entire space was taken up by a broken-down car. No one was outside.
It wasn't like I could just knock on the door. I shifted nervously from one foot to the other. Coming here was a really bad idea. Disgusted, I turned away from the trailer. I would just have to find a different way.
“Avery Lewis?”
I heard my name from behind me. Turning slowly, I came face to face with Clark Daniels.
Chapter Three
Despite myself, my heart sped up with excitement. “You can see me?” I asked, voice shaking.
He didn't smile. “What are you doing here?”
“I...um...” What could I say that wouldn't sound crazy? “I actually need your help with something.”
Clark's eyes narrowed. Or maybe they were always narrow. He was probably high. As a general practice, I didn't stand this close to him.
His sandy blonde hair was shaggy, but not in a cute way. It was more because he didn't take care of it. Some shampoo, a comb, and a professional haircut would do him wonders. His skin was pale and it was obvious that he spent a lot of time outside.
“I can't help you,” he dismissed me without question.
“Yes, you can.” I sucked in a quick breath. “You're actually the only one who can.”
“Then... I don't want to help you.” His lips twisted, but not into a smile.
“Look, I know I haven't always been nice to you.”
One eyebrow shot up on his forehead. “You could say that.”
“I just need your help on one little thing,” I held up one finger, “then you'll never hear from me again.”
“I have shit to do, Princess,” he glared at me, “I'm sure you can find your way back home.”
“I can't go home,” I blurted out when he turned away from me. “No one there can see me.”
“You're breaking my heart,” he said in a monotone, no expression lighting his face.
“Clark...”
“Not interested,” he cut me off. “Go home.”
“I really can't.” What could I do at home? Sit in my room and wait for the Reaper to come back for me? Unacceptable.
“Then go see one of your fans.”
“I can't do that either. I have to stay here with you.” Did I sound as pathetic as I felt?
“Why?”
“Well... the thing is...”
“Is what?” he growled impatiently.
“I'm dead.”
“Is this some kind of joke?” His lips thinned out. “Are your friends waiting somewhere while you distract me?” He craned his neck to see around me.
“My friends can't see me.”
“So you said,” he continued to glare.
“I mean they physically can't see me. I'm a ghost now.”
His mouth fell partially open. “What are you on?”
“Nothing.”
“Did someone drop you off here?”
“I walked here.”
His gaze traveled slowly down the length of my body and back up again. Why did he have to be so openly creepy? And why did he have to be born on the same day as me?
“What exactly do you think I can help you with?”
“Does that mean you'll help me?”
“No.”
“No one else can see me except you.”
“Why?”
“Just...” I didn't have time to explain everything to him. “You just are.”
“Well then, by all means, I'll drop everything and help you.”
“You will?”
“No.”
“Wh...” I sputtered in irritation. This was why he didn't have any friends.
“Go home,” he ordered again.
“No.”
“What do you mean no?”
I took a big gulp of air. This really was humiliating - having to beg Clark Daniels for help.
There just wasn't anything else I could do. Now that I was in front of him and he could see me, I didn't want to leave him.
Oh my word, I internally flinched. Who would have ever guessed that I would be clinging on to someone like him?
Still...
“I mean,” I flung my arms over my chest, “I'm not going anywhere.”
“You can't stay here.”
“You can't make me leave.”
“Are you kidding me right now?”
“I wish I was.”
The door of Clark's trailer banged open. There was a brief flash of fear on his face, but he masked it again very quickly.
“Boy?” A tall man thundered from the doorway.
He had clearly spilled something down the front of his shirt and the stubble on his chin was not attractive - at all.
My lip snarled up. “Friend of yours?”
Clark scowled back at me. “No.”
“Boy, who are you talking to over there?” the man squinted in our direction.
“It's Avery Lewis,” Clark scowled, “a girl from school.”
“She looks too pretty to be talking to you,” he slurred. His shoulders shook with silent laughter. Evidently, he found himself hilarious.
My snarl disappeared. “You can see me?”
“Of course he can see you,” Clark hissed.
“What, are you invisible or something?” The man stumbled down the steps and sauntered over to us.
“To some people.” The smell of alcohol rolled off of him in strong waves. How could someone be so drunk this early in the day? “When is your birthday?”
“November 12th,” he grinned wide. “Why? You going to buy me something?”
I turned to Clark. “You two have the same birthday?”
“Father and son,” the man swelled proudly, “born on the same day.”
That explained how he was able to see me. That also explained why Clark was so pissed; this drunk slob was his dad.
“So,” Clark's dad closed one eye to peer at me, “are you his girlfriend?”
Horrified, my mouth fell open.
“No.” I just stopped myself from adding ew -I still wanted Clark to help me.
Why were there only gross people that shared my birthday? Out of the ones I had found so far, Clark was easily the best choice.
“She was just leaving,” Clark snapped out, shrugging out from under his dad's arm.
“No, I wasn't.” I dropped my hands to my side. “I need Clark's help with something.”
“He'll help you,” his dad slurred happily. “He'd help anyone.”
“That's... very good news.”
“Go home, Princess.” Clark spun on his heel and hurried inside his trailer.
This was going to be a really weird day. “Can I follow him?” I asked his dad, who was still standing in front of me.
“Sure you can sweetie,” he grinned. “Don't let that boy chase you off.”
“Of course not,” I muttered, jogging after Clark.
I expected the inside of the trailer to be as dingy and dirty as the outside. I assumed it would smell like cat pee and dirty dishes. I thought the furniture would be stained and ripped.
I was wrong.
Someone had clearly taken great care to make that place a home. The pleasant scent of lavender was the first thing that hit me. The curtains were opened wide to let in the sunlight, revealing a light brown couch and matching recliner in a spacious living room. A large blanket was draped over the back of the couch.
“It's so clean in here,” I noted.
“Were you expecting cobwebs?” Clark asked, popping up from behind the door of the open fridge.
“I mean...” I shrugged awkwardly.
“You actually followed me in here?” He snorted his disbelief.
“I already told you that I'm not leaving.”
“Do you need a ride home?”
“No.”
“You didn't come here to hang out.”
“I came here because I need your help.” Pressing my lips tightly together, I plopped down on one of the mismatched kitchen chairs.
“Because you're a... ghost?” His lips twitched.
“This is no laughing matter, Clark.” My lips turn down, creating lines on my forehead. “When I woke up this morning, I was behind a dumpster and wrapped in a blanket.”
“How did you wake up if you were dead?”
“I don't know,” I rolled my eyes. “There was some kind of bus accident, all the Reapers are busy. So I get a second chance.”
“Seriously, what are you on Princess?”
“Stop calling me that!”
“Okay, let's get this straight. You woke up behind the dumpster, and now you think that you died last night? Did I get it right?”
My tongue clicked against the roof of my mouth. “I don't think I died. I know I did.”
“Whatever you know... the one thing I know is that I'm not helping you. Not with anything.”
“But you're the only one who can,” I slapped my hand on the table. “Clark, you're the only person who can see me.”
“My dad saw you just fine.”
“Well,” I rolled my eyes, “besides him. Anyone who shares a birthday with me can see me.”
“You're ridiculous.”
“You wake up dead and see how you feel.”
I glared at him across the room and he glared just as hard back at me. The intense stare down between us was interrupted by a knock on the door.
When Clark answered it, there were three teenage boys standing outside. “Hey man,” one of them sang out. “Your dad said you had some hot girl here.” The trio pushed their way inside without an invitation.
“Don't get your hopes up guys, Avery Lewis is not someone who would be interested in any of you.”
Although I didn't appreciate the tone or the way he clenched his jaw when he said it, Clark wasn't wrong. I had seen this group of boys before, but I had never talked to them. Why would I? It was obvious with one glance that they were drug dealers who were bound for jail.
“Avery Lewis huh?” One of the boys whistled through his teeth. “Where is she now?” He glanced around the inside of the trailer.
How did he even know me? He was quite a few years older than we were. “They can't see me,” I told Clark.
“Don't listen to her,” he told the boy. “She's having a rough morning.”
“A rough morning huh?” The boy wiggled his eyebrows wildly. “I'll make it better for her,” he laughed loudly. “Where is she?”
Satisfied, I saw the confusion on Clark's face. “Right there.”
“Hey Matt,” another of the boys, a darker one, called to the one in front, “check this out.” He held his phone out to show Matt something that must have been amusing.
“I didn't know you were talking to her,” his eyebrows furrowed. “Weren't you dating Cindy's cousin?”
“Yeah,” the boy shrugged. “That doesn't mean I can't talk to Lisa.” He tapped his phone screen.
“Speaking of Cindy,” the third boy covered his mouth with his closed fist.
“What about her?” Clark asked, his face turning red.
“Did you see the shirt she was wearing?” Matt elbowed the boy closest to him. “You could practically see her boobs. They were falling right out.”
“Guys,” Clark glanced uncomfortably back at me, “I'm sure Avery doesn't want to hear about Cindy's boobs.”
“We won't talk about them when Avery gets back.” Matt made a face at his friend.
“What are you talking about? She's sitting right there,” Clark pointed to me.
Tilting my head to one side, I smiled at him. “They can't see me,” I reminded him. “Go ahead and talk about whatever boobs you want.”
“They can see you, you're not a ghost,” Clark scoffed.
“What are you on man?” Matt came further into the kitchen. “Whatever it is - you got any more?” All three boys broke out into obnoxious laughter.
“She's sitting at the table.” Clark's eyes squinted closer together.
“What's it going to take for you to believe me?” I leaned back in my seat so I could rest my hands on my stomach. “Only you can see me. And your dad.”
“I should have known that your dad was full of shit,” the darker boy commented rudely. “What's he had, a six-pack this morning for breakfast? Or a full case?”
“Shut up,” Clark snarled. “What did you guys come here for?”
“You said last night that you wanted to go with us to Hyde Park.”
“Oh...”
“You coming, man?”
“I...um...,” he glanced at me.
“If you leave, I'm coming with.” One eyebrow cocked high on my forehead.
I had come this far - humiliated myself in front of Clark Daniels. There was nothing I couldn't do now. I was determined, there was no way I was leaving his side until he agreed to help me.
I wasn't even sure what I wanted him to do, I only knew it was a relief that he could see me. I needed to figure out what happened at that party and I needed to figure out how I died.
“I'm just going to stay here,” he told his friends. “I have shit to do.”
“Are you just waiting for Avery to come back,” Matt jeered. There was an immediate chorus of laughter at his words.
“Maybe,” Clark shrugged, watching me from the corner of his eye.
“Whatever man.” The boys didn't look disappointed as they left without Clark.
He leaned his body against the closed doorway. “They didn't see you,” he said quietly. He was looking at me now with different eyes.
“No, they didn't.”
“Even though you were sitting right there, they didn't see you.”
“It was a shock to me too,” I sighed. I was more upset about being dead than he was about seeing me when no one else could.
“Out of all the people you know, all the people who worship you, why did you come here?”
“That damn cupcake,” I snarled through clenched teeth.
“What?”
“Never mind.” I gla
nced away from Clark, uncomfortable. We weren't friends and it was weird being here alone with him.
“I'm going to my room,” he said slowly, gathering up a glass of orange juice. “Be gone when I come back.” He went past the couch and down a short hallway and opened the first door he came to. He disappeared inside.
Once again, I was alone. I let my eyes slide closed and leaned forward until my head was resting on the cool wood of the table. It had been an awful morning. All I wanted to do was go home and curl up on my bed, my big beautiful bed. So far, being dead was a lot harder than being alive.
No.
I wasn't just going to give up like this. I was Avery Lewis, damn it. If I wanted Clark to help me, then he was going to help me. And that's all there was to it.
Jaw clenched, I rose from the table and hurried across the living room. I stood outside of his closed door - heart racing. How dare he just leave me after he knew no one else could see me?
“Clark,” I pounded my fist against the door. “Let me in.”
There was no noise from inside the room. Well, I shrugged, at least he didn't tell me to go away. That was progress.
“I'm coming in,” I warned loudly. I'd only grown up with a sister so I wasn't sure what to expect in a boy's room. Biting down on one lip, I pushed myself through the door.
“That was locked,” Clark shouted, glaring at me. He was sitting at a small desk that was just under the only window in the entire room.
“The perks of being a ghost,” I threw up lame jazz hands. Going through Clark Can't's bedroom door was exactly what I always wanted to do, I thought sarcastically.
“So now what?” He turned fully in his chair so he could glare at me. “You're just going to follow me around? Because I can see you?”
“Yep.” Scooting to the middle of his surprisingly soft bed, I pulled my legs under me. “Where else would I go?”
“There's hundreds - maybe more than hundreds - of people who were born on the same day as we were. Go find one of them.”
“I can't just walk around and wait for someone to see me.”
“Why not?”
My lips thinned out. “I'm already here.” This morning had been bad enough, I wasn't going to start looking for someone else to beg.
“Look,” Clark started to roll his eyes but then stopped, “I get that you're in a tough situation.”
