Noah touched the brim of his cap. "You just missed Bonnie."
"Yeah, I passed her on the way up here," Tabitha said, leaving it at that. "So what's going on with you?" she asked innocently.
He met her eyes. "If you really want to know, I told Bonnie that you guys are a bad fit."
"What?" she said, playing dumb.
"You heard me," he said firmly. "I know you're the one who has been spreading lies about her and me being together."
Tabitha fluttered her lashes. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"I think you do," he said. "I spared her the gory details, but if this is some sick way to somehow keep her tied to you, it's only a matter of time before she sees right through it."
She sneered angrily. "You're crazy."
"What does that make you?" Noah said. "Crazier, maybe. Anyway, I'm on to you and won't let you hurt her."
Tabitha was furious, but also smarter than anyone ever gave her credit for. She leveled her eyes at him. "Whatever I've done, it was out of love. Is that so wrong?"
"It is when you're messing with other people's lives."
"Isn't that what you've been doing?" she challenged him.
He gazed at her curiously. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about sticking your nose where it doesn't belong—just like you're doing now." Tabitha reveled as a look of shock crossed his face. "Oh yeah," she said. "It's all over school about how you are threatening people with this and that, unless they stop doing whatever you think they should."
"I'm not going to talk to you about this," he said harshly. "I'm out of here!"
She grabbed his arm. "Don't bother. I'm leaving. I'd rather be anywhere than here with you."
He sighed as she released his arm. "At least that's something we can agree on."
Tabitha began to walk away, hoping he would let his guard down. He did. She looked over her shoulder and saw him staring at the lake again. It was the opening she was looking for.
She turned and charged at him as fast as she could. Before he could even turn around, she pressed her hands into his back and pushed hard.
He went over the cliff, screaming, but no one heard him except her.
She looked down and saw him lying still against a rock, where he must have hit his head. She was certain there was no way he could survive the fall, which served him right.
Covering her tracks, Tabitha quickly backed away from the scene and made her way down the hill. She had jogged there and took the long way back, avoiding anyone she might know.
Her secret would be safe with Noah dead, and her relationship with Bonnie need never suffer.
* * *
Paige could see the crazed look in Tabitha's eyes as she told her the frightening tale. She had pushed Noah off the cliff due to warped jealousy. And now, she probably intended to kill her as well.
"It wasn't that difficult for the police to be convinced that Noah committed suicide," Tabitha told her. "With his track record of depression and a broken relationship with one of the most popular girls at school, all the pieces fit."
"Except for the fact that he didn't really kill himself, did he?" Paige glared at her. "You did."
Tabitha smiled. "Too bad you'll never get to tell another living soul." She clutched Paige's arms and tried to push her over the cliff.
But Paige, not ready to see her life come to an end early like Noah's had, put up a fight. She held her ground as she struggled to break free of the viselike grip of a psycho.
"Don't fight me, bitch!" Tabitha said sharply. "Or I'll strangle you with my bare hands and then toss you over the cliff."
"Leave her alone!" the voice bellowed.
Tabitha released her when she saw Noah standing beside them. "You..." her voice broke.
"Yeah, it's me," Noah said keenly.
Paige watched with shock that Tabitha could see him, too.
"How are you still here?" Tabitha asked.
"Guess I needed closure," Noah told her. "And you've given it to me. I remember everything now."
Tabitha's brows descended over her eyes. "Doesn't matter. You're dead and she's the only witness. I can't let her live."
Noah glared at her. "You can't kill her either. I won't let you!"
"Try and stop me," she spat defiantly, and attempted to push Paige off the cliff, only to find that she was unable to touch her.
Paige watched with awe as Noah waved his hand and Tabitha was lifted off her feet and tossed solidly to the ground.
"It's over," he told her as she groaned. "You've gotten away with this long enough."
Tabitha attempted to get up, but was pinned down by an invisible force. "Let me up," she cried.
"No way! You don't get to call the shots anymore." Noah stood over her. "You're going to confess to murder and attempted murder. If you don't, I'll haunt you for the rest of your life. Believe me you wouldn't like that, but I would enjoy it."
Tabitha sucked in a deep breath and seemed resigned to her fate.
"Are you okay?" Noah asked Paige.
"I am now." She smiled. "I was wondering if you were ever going to show up."
"Something prevented me from doing so," he said regrettably, looking down at Tabitha. "Maybe it was her negative energy."
"Probably," Paige said, glaring at the girl who tried to kill her.
"But it looks like you were able to take care of yourself," Noah said.
"It was either that or..."
"Follow my path," Noah finished for her. "That wasn't an option for you." He paused for a moment. "It's time to call the police and get them over here. I think they have an investigation to reopen and a suspect ready to come clean, or else—"
Paige smiled as she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. "I think you're right."
She was glad the police and most everyone else had gotten this one wrong. Now the case could be solved correctly and hopefully Noah would finally get to move on, hard as that would be for both of them.
* * *
Two days later, Tabitha O'Brien was charged with Noah's murder and the attempted murder of Paige, after making a full confession. She was to be tried in juvenile court.
Paige sat on the porch steps with Bonnie, trying to console her.
"How could I have not seen what kind of person Tabitha was?" Bonnie asked, wiping tears from her eyes.
"We never want to see anything bad in those we care about," Paige said.
"But to push Noah off the cliff and then try to do the same thing to you—" Bonnie moaned. "Who does something like that?"
"Someone obsessed with you who would do anything to anyone who threatened to come between you," Paige told her.
"That's just it," Bonnie muttered, "Noah was a good friend. He was never a threat to my relationship with Tabitha."
"Well she obviously chose to believe otherwise," Paige said, glancing across the street at her house.
"So Noah really stopped her?" Bonnie asked, facing Paige.
"Yeah," she said. "As strange as that sounds, considering he's a ghost or spirit." Paige thought back to the moment. "He saved my life."
"Maybe that's why he couldn't leave—he had to protect you."
Though she liked the sound of that, Paige said, "I think it was more that he needed to know the circumstances of his death, which was preventing his soul from being able to cross over to the next world. I guess I was somehow able to assist him with that before Tabitha could try to put a stop to it."
"I'm so glad she didn't," Bonnie declared. "And that you're safe."
"Me, too."
"So he's gone now?" Bonnie asked.
"I think so." Paige had not seen him since the police arrived to take Tabitha into custody. He hadn't even said goodbye. Maybe he couldn't bring himself to do so. She understood, as it was just as hard for her to say goodbye to him. She just wished they'd had more time to bond.
Bonnie smiled. "I'm glad you moved here and helped Noah make the transition from death to wherever he
ended up."
"Me too," Paige told her. "He deserves to find peace in the afterlife."
"I agree." Bonnie paused and then muttered: "Now I have two voids to fill in my life. It sucks."
"I know." Paige put her arm around Bonnie's shoulder. "I'll be around if you need a shoulder to lean on."
* * *
A few minutes later, Paige was home and took the garbage out before her mother came home and told her to do it.
When she returned to the house, Noah was standing in the kitchen.
"Hey," he said, grinning.
"I thought you were gone for good," Paige told him, trying to hide her enthusiasm.
"I would never leave without saying goodbye."
Paige frowned. "So that's why you're here? To say goodbye?"
He moved closer to her. "Yeah. Guess I just needed some answers before I could give up on this life altogether."
"Tabitha will pay for her crimes," she told him.
"Yeah, I figured she would once the truth came out. I just wish things would have turned out differently for everyone—especially me."
"Me too." Paige fought back tears. "Will I ever see you again?"
"Someday," he said, "when your time comes. Hopefully it won't be for decades."
That did little to make Paige feel better. "Why couldn't we have met when you were still alive?"
Noah twisted his lips. "I've asked myself the same question a hundred times. Guess we weren't supposed to."
"Maybe, but it still doesn't make any sense why we had to meet at all and start to develop feelings for each other," Paige said, not sure if she was just speaking for herself.
"Yeah, I feel it too," Noah confirmed. "Had I stayed alive, things probably wouldn't have worked out with Amber. Especially after I met you and formed the type of connection I know would have lasted a lifetime."
Tears welled up in Paige's eyes. "I think it would have."
He reached out and wiped a stray tear from her cheek; then took her hands. "At least I can do this—"
Noah tilted his head and kissed her on the lips. His mouth was actually warm and Paige got a slight jolt from the kiss. She closed her eyes and put her arms around his neck, enjoying the kiss more than she ever had with anyone before.
Paige heard Noah say, "Goodbye and have a great life. I know you will."
She opened her eyes and he was gone. This time she knew it was forever.
As she tried to process this whole thing between her and a hot dead guy, Paige's mother walked into the room.
"Hi, honey," she said, standing in the spot Noah had occupied seconds earlier.
"Hey," Paige said, her voice trembling.
"What is it?" her mother asked with concern.
Feeling the emotions build inside her, Paige simply fell into her mother's arms. She couldn't exactly say that she'd just had her heart broken by a ghost who was probably enjoying the good life right now in a different world.
So she simply cried and kept her secret and unbelievable crush to herself.
* * *
Kyle Manning had just finished running when he got back home, ready to jump in the shower. His folks were out doing their thing as usual, meaning more time for him to chill and maybe ask Lora to come over.
After grabbing a water bottle from the refrigerator, he gulped down a generous amount and wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, before stepping into the great room.
"What's up, dude?" the familiar voice asked.
Kyle dropped the water bottle in shock and fear as he saw Noah Snyder standing before his very eyes.
"Noah..."
"Yep, it's me."
"It can't be," Kyle uttered. "You're dead, man."
Noah grinned. "Are you sure about that?"
"Yeah. You went over Dead Lake Cliff and fell to your death."
"If that's the case, then you're obviously talking to my ghost."
"That's impossible," Kyle insisted.
"Actually, it's very possible. I'm here, aren't I?"
Kyle rubbed his eyes, as if that would help. It didn't, as Noah was still standing there staring at him.
"What do you want?" he asked apprehensively.
"I think you know—"
"No, I don't. Why are you here?"
"Okay, if you want me to spell it out," Noah said. "I've seen Cheryl on the other side, dude. She's no more at peace than I am. And you know why. You've got to do right by her and tell what really happened on the boat that day."
Kyle started to perspire even more than before. "You know I can't do that," he said.
"I know you can," Noah countered tersely. "You owe it to Cheryl and her family and friends to man up. Let the chips fall where they may; then get on with a life that neither Cheryl nor I will ever get to enjoy."
Kyle wanted to kick his ass out of the house and pretend this meeting never took place. But something told him that would be impossible to do. Still, fessing up that he caused Cheryl to die was not an option, as his life would be ruined. Wouldn't it?
"Look, you're a ghost, I get that," Kyle said. "And you're here to haunt me or whatever. It won't work, man. I can't come clean. I won't..."
Kyle nearly jumped out of his skin when Noah was suddenly right up in his face, glaring at him.
"You don't have a choice!" Noah told him. "Just like Cheryl didn't and I didn't when we left this place before our time. Do what you need to do and you'll never see me again. Otherwise, you'll never be rid of me and our friendship will take on a whole new level. I doubt you could handle that, but you're welcome to try. We might even be joined by Cheryl. Would you like that, dude?"
"Nooooo!" Kyle screamed. "Leave me alone..."
* * *
"Leave me alone..." Kyle heard himself moaning in terror. He opened his eyes abruptly and sat up in bed. He was sweating profusely and could feel his heart thumping wildly in his chest. It took a moment to regain his equilibrium and realize he had been dreaming. "Oh man, it was only a nightmare," he muttered, catching his breath.
But it definitely left him shaken.
Kyle dragged himself out of bed. He tried to imagine actually talking with the ghost of Noah. Or any other ghost for that matter. Thanks, but no thanks. As far as he was concerned, Noah needed to stay dead. And Cheryl, too.
Kyle was about to go downstairs for something to drink when he stopped in his tracks. Actually, they weren't his tracks.
He looked across the hardwood floor at wet footprints, as if he'd been visited by someone who came straight out of the lake.
Feeling his temperature rise, Kyle knew exactly what he was looking at and who it came from. And, more importantly, what he had to do.
After building up his courage, he headed to his parents' room. He knocked on the door and heard his father say, "Come in."
Opening the door, Kyle saw his parents in bed, but awake.
"What is it?" his dad asked.
"It's about Cheryl," Kyle said solemnly. "We need to talk—"
The next day, accompanied by his parents and their lawyer, Kyle turned himself in, hoping for the best.
* * *
Noah felt himself growing weaker and weaker. He hated having to say goodbye to Paige, knowing that whatever they might have had would never happen now, as fate had other plans for them. Even if he couldn't be with her, he really did want her to have a wonderful life—including a love life. She was entitled to that. Maybe Drew would be that guy or maybe someone else.
He drifted into the house where his mother lived. She was sitting on a chair in the living room knitting. Paige said she had been able to sense when he was there. Would she now?
For a moment, Noah wondered if there would be no opportunity for him to somehow let her know his time was up. Then she turned his way, apparently able to feel his presence.
"Noah—?"
"I'm here," he said, not believing she could actually see him.
She put her hands to her mouth. "Oh, Noah—my son..."
"Can you see
me, Mom? Hear me...?"
"Yes, yes I can," she cried, standing.
Noah choked up. "I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for."
"I'm sorry for not hanging around longer," he told her.
"It wasn't your fault," she said tearfully.
He sighed. "Maybe it was."
"No, it wasn't," she insisted. "You wouldn't have taken your own life—no matter your troubles. You were always someone who tackled his problems head on, even if you had regrets later."
Noah smiled appreciatively. "You always knew the right things to say."
"That's my job as your mom." She met his eyes. "This was something that happened beyond your control."
"I was thinking the same thing," he said.
"I'm glad Paige helped you figure it out."
"Me, too." Noah paused, feeling that his will to live was being drained out of him. "I have to go now," he said sadly.
Her eyes crinkled at the corners. "I know," she said.
"Love you, Mom."
"I love you too, Noah," she cried. "I always will."
"Take care..." he told her.
Before a response could come, Noah felt himself being pulled from this world and into another one full of warmth, beauty, and joy—taking away any reasons to look back.
* * *
On a chilly Wednesday, Paige walked across the wet grass at the Dead Lake Cemetery, a long-stemmed rose in her hand. She saw Noah's mom standing by his grave.
"Hi," Paige said to her.
Helen gave her a tiny smile. "Hello, Paige."
She looked at the headstone and was sentimental in seeing the inscription that Noah had died at seventeen almost seven months ago, though he was very much alive to her much more recently.
"I hope he's at peace now," Paige said, trying to hold back tears.
"I think he is," Helen said assuredly. "Thanks in large part to you."
Paige met her eyes. "I guess I was in the right place at the right time."
"No, it was more than that. He waited for you to come, so that he could be set free."
"I'm happy it worked out," Paige said, never imagining something like this would ever happen to her. "But I'll really miss him."
Helen nodded. "So will I."
Paige wiped away her tears and then set the rose in front of the headstone. She said a silent prayer and then hugged Noah's mom.
Teen Ghost at Dead Lake Page 16
