by West, Tara
Not to mention the ever gnawing threat of Gertrude and Ed floating in and scaring him away for good.
I tried to push it from my mind, but the possibility of my impending embarrassment was always looming.
Inhaling a deep breath, I slowly exhaled, a technique I’d learned in my Yoga-to-Go videos. “I thought we’d just study the elements tonight and worry about the project later.”
“Sounds good.” He smiled, barely casting me a glance before opening his book.
Barely a look, huh? I bet if I was a brownie, he’d notice me.
Ah, well, what was I expecting? I never thought a guy like Bryon would like a girl like me. So why was I feeling totally disappointed?
My head jerked at the rattle of dishes against the table. Sunny had deposited my diet soda and his coffee and brownie with a sneer before turning her back to us and walking behind the counter.
“What’s her problem?” Bryon rolled his eyes in Sunny’s direction.
I shrugged. “She doesn’t like people much.” Bryon’s face dropped as he eyed my diet soda. “That’s all you’re getting?” Then his eyes softened. “I’ll pay if you want something else.”
I heard the pity in his voice as he flashed me a half-hearted smile.
I didn’t need Sophie’s mind reading powers to know what he was thinking. Krysta, the poor kid with a crappy apartment, can’t even afford a brownie.
“I don’t need you to pay for me,” I spat with maybe a little too much edge in my voice. “I have money.”
“Okay.” He held out both hands. “Sorry.” I sighed. “It’s just that I’m on a diet.”
“Why?” His eyes bulged, then trailed up my torso and across my arms. “You don’t need to be.”
Was he checking me out? For some reason, I got the feeling he didn’t like what he saw. Aw, crap!
I blew out a frustrated breath. “That’s what everyone says, but the minute I let my guard down, I know I’ll gain like fifty pounds.”
“So you’re always going to drink diet and skip chocolate?” His gaze scanned me again with raised brows. “Don’t you worry you might be a little too skinny?”
Too skinny? Was he dogging my weight?
A wave of heat rippled through my chest and up my neck before the burn spread to my cheeks. “Are we here to study or to talk about what I eat?” I spat.
I didn’t know if I was more embarrassed or pissed off by his comment, but it cut—hard.
“Maybe both.” He shrugged.
Rolling my eyes, I flipped open my science binder. “Well, let’s not.” I said tersely. “We have a test this Friday and our project is due in three weeks.” Tapping my pencil on my binder, I glared at him while awaiting his response.
So far, my efforts to make Bryon like me weren’t going very well.
His gaze dropped to the table and this time his cheeks turned red.
Good, I thought, before a surge of guilt washed through me. Maybe I over-reacted to his ‘skinny’ comment.
“You two have to leave soon.”
My gaze shot up to see Sunny hovering above us. Like a rain cloud on an already crappy day, her aura seemed to cast a gloom on our table.
Why on earth did her parents name her Sunny?
“We just got here,” I snapped. Geez, I was majorly on edge. Maybe PMS time was around the corner.
“Yeah.” She rolled her eyes in a much more dramatic fashion than I could ever hope to imitate. “My boyfriend wants me to close early.” Rolling her sleeves up to her elbows, she turned her gaze to the window entrance while chewing on the ends of her fingernails.
That’s when I noticed the bruise.
Not just any bruise, but a welt that swelled across the entire length of her forearm like a red and purple plague.
“That’s a huge bruise.” Jaw dropping, I couldn’t help but gawk. “What happened?”
“None of your business,” she hissed, shooting me daggers of venom from her narrowed eye slits.
Beside me, I heard Bryon clearing his throat loudly through a chuckle.
He must have thought he was front row of a boxing match between two rabid cats.
“Sorry for asking,” I grumbled, knowing my eye roll wasn’t nearly as dramatic as hers.
“Sunny, what gives?”
The bark came from the café entrance. I looked up to see some tall, wiry guy with a shaved head and too many tattoos to count. He was glaring at Sunny with his top lip turned up in a snarl.
The guy was probably in his early to mid- twenties. With his lean, muscular arms and pale green eyes, he could have been hot if he cleaned himself up, but something about him gave me the creeps. He had an angry aura about him, and I just couldn’t wait to leave.
Sunny’s wide gaze darted from him to me. “You two have to go—now.”
Was that panic I read in her eyes?
I looked at Bryon, but he seemed to be locked in a staring contest with the tattooed guy. Did he have some kind of death wish?
“Bryon, let’s go,” I whispered.
When Bryon turned his gaze on me, I thought I was looking at someone else. Not the totally sweet baby-faced boy who sat next to me in science class. Nostrils flaring, eyes were on fire. He looked like a wild animal ready to attack.
This guy was majorly pissed.
As he stood, I could see his hands were clenched into two tight fists. Grabbing his binder, he looked at Sunny. “Are you gonna be okay if we leave you here?”
“What are you, my babysitter?” she spat through a shaky voice.
Grabbing my things, I stood and pulled on Bryon’s sleeve. “Let’s go.”
My eyes darted to the guy still standing in the doorway. His angry gaze was bearing down on us and I thought I saw steam shooting from his ears. All I needed was a little red flag and I was sure he would charge us.
Clutching Bryon’s shirtsleeve like it was my lifeline, I pulled him out the door and past the raging bull. Bryon and the guy exchanged glares and growls, coming within inches of each other’s faces, but to my surprise, no one threw a punch.
“Now you know how she got that bruise,” he mumbled as we made it to the pavement—still alive.
On the walk back to my apartment, we both decided this study session was a total waste. As we turned the corner, Bryon’s dad was waiting in his very expensive, luxury car. Without saying a word, he flashed me a half-hearted smile before walking to his dad’s car.
I had the feeling he’d be asking Mrs. Jackson for a new partner come tomorrow.
My limbs still shook and I marveled at how I made it all the way home without wetting my pants. Through all my nocturnal experiences with dead people missing their limbs or eyeballs, entrails hanging out of their stomachs, or knives protruding from their chests, I’d never been more scared in my life than that moment in the café.
My life seemed much less scary when I thought of what Sunny had to endure with her boyfriend. I only wondered how she could live like that.
****
“Have you seen my dad?” Sighing, I dropped my book bag on the floor. Gertrude and Ed were still there, hovering above me with their goofy expressions.
Well, at least they didn’t follow Bryon and me to the café. Not that tonight could have gotten any worse.
“Yeah, he went out with the little lady,” Ed replied.
Rolling my eyes, I kneeled on the floor. “She’s no lady if she’s with my dad.”
I exhaled before folding my legs beneath me in a meditative pose. After tonight, I really needed to de- stress.
Breathe in, breathe out.
First, he felt sorry for me because I’m poor.
“What in tarnation is she doing?”
Ignoring Gertrude’s comment, I continued my breathing exercises.
Sucking in a deep breath of air, I slowly released, feeling the tension roll through my body and exit through my fingertips.
Then, he said I was too skinny.
“Seems like she’s goin’ ta sleep Indian style.” Grr
rr. Dead people can be so annoying. Another deep breath and a slow release.
It was pretty cool how he tried to defend Sunny, even though she’s a b—
“Wake up, Emmy Jane!”
“All right, that’s it!” I glared at the dead people. “I’m trying to meditate! Do you mind?”
Ed rubbed his translucent, scraggly beard. “Med-a-what?”
“Never mind!” I yelled.
Obviously, they weren’t going to give me any peace. Maybe if I talked to one of my friends, I’d calm down. Dad promised he’d paid the cell phone bill today. Hopefully, he’d made good on his promise. Opening my book bag, I reached to pull my cell out of the holder.
Nothing.
Looking inside, I shuffled through papers and pencils, but it wasn’t there.
Oh, crap.
Had I left it at Mocha Madness? Swearing, I rubbed my aching temples.
“What’s the matter, Emmy?” Ed’s hollow voice echoed from above.
“For the last time, I’m not Emmy!” I yelled.
They both jumped, like a shock wave had spiraled through the air, sending their spirits backward. I could tell by their widened eyes and turned down mouths that I had somehow hurt their feelings.
Great.
“Look, I’m sorry, it’s just that I think I left my cell at the espresso bar and I’m afraid to go back there.”
Clasping both hands together, Gertrude’s mouth turned up in a soft smile. “What’s there to be afraid of, dear?”
“Cell? Espresso bar?” Ed itched his scalp, his face scrunched in confusion.
“A cell is how we communicate. I punch some numbers and my friend miles away can hear me. An espresso bar is a place where they serve coffee. It’s also called a coffee shop.”
They both nodded, but I could tell by their drawn brows that they were still confused. Maybe they did need to go back to their graves.
“Look,” I groaned. “There’s this scary guy there and I don’t want to go back.” Leaning back against our small living room wall, I felt my limbs ice over at the thought of facing tattoo guy again.
“What if we go with you?” Gertrude asked.
Startled, my gaze scanned their smiling faces. “What are you going to do if he messes with me?”
“We’ll mess right back.” Ed flashed a huge, lopsided grin. “Don’t worry; we can cause quite a poltergeist if we need to.”
Ghost bodyguards? Who would’ve thought?
****
The lights were still on and through the glass window, I could see Sunny at the rear of the shop, her back to the counter. I didn’t see tattoo guy. He was probably somewhere in the back. Exhaling a deep breath, I opened the door and walked inside. From the corner of my eye, I saw Ed and Gertrude slip in through the windows.
I quickly scanned all the empty tables and the little hot pink phone was not there.
My teeth began to chatter. I didn’t know if the sudden chill that swept up my spine was due to fear or maybe Sunny had the thermostat way too low. I tried to blame it on her, but despite my personal ghostly bodyguards, I was ready to wet my pants in fear.
“Hey,” I called to Sunny’s back through the crack in my voice. “I just came to get my phone and then I’ll be out of your way. Have you seen it?”
When she turned to me, I gasped at the huge black and blue splotches on her face and across her neck. Her eyes looked bloodshot and grotesque, like they were trying to pop out of her face.
“Oh-mi-god, Sunny,” I breathed. “Are you okay?” She looked at me with a glazed over expression. “It was my boyfriend,” she spoke with no emotion in her voice. “He did it.”
“Is he here?” I asked, feeling my limbs turn to jelly.
Shoulders slumping, she shook her head.
Relief washed through me. “Maybe you should quit going out with him.”
Turning her gaze upward, she looked dreamily at the ceiling, right through the bodies of Gertrude and Ed. “I never thought he’d go this far.”
Spying my phone on the counter next to the register, I grabbed it and stuffed it in my pocket. Something about this place gave me an even creepier feeling than before. I just wanted to get out. Even though I didn’t like Sunny, I couldn’t just leave her there. What if he came back?
“Do you want me to call for help or something?” I asked while nervously fidgeting with the phone in my pocket.
“No, it’s too late now.” Shaking her head, she walked into the back room.
Watching the door slam behind her, I was left with the most nauseating feeling in my gut. Swallowing a large lump in my throat, I looked at the ghosts behind me.
Their expressions were heavy—grim.
Something about this night just didn’t feel right. There was a stagnant weight in the air, and though I thought I recognized the familiar feeling, my mind would not allow me to acknowledge it. Turning sharply on my heel, I raced out the door and back home to my apartment.
****
Facebook rant/Four a.m.
No use going back to sleep now. Dad just came home from work, or maybe a bar.
I don’t know and I don’t care.
I woke up when I heard a crash in the kitchen. Dad had fallen, shattering the bottle he was holding. Blood and beer everywhere.
He sat on the floor, slumped against the refrigerator door, swearing while he picked shards of glass from his palm. His hair was a mess, sticking up in all directions like he’d just lost a fight with a rabid cat. He reeked of cheap perfume and rotten alcohol.
Gawd, I just wanted to puke.
I told him we needed to go to the emergency room to remove the glass from his hand, but he swore at me and sent me to my room.
In a way, I’m glad he hurt himself. He had no business getting so drunk. What kind of a father is he, anyway?
This is a time in my life when I need him most. I need someone to talk to, not just about school and normal teenage problems, but my ‘other’ issues.
After my encounter with Sunny tonight, I should have been able to run to my dad for comfort.
AJ’s mom understands her gift because she has psychic abilities, too. At least AJ has an adult she can talk to.
My dad?
He can’t take care of himself. How can I expect him to help me?
Chapter Five
Dragging my feet to the bus stop, I was vaguely aware of my actions as I slumped in the puke-green vinyl seat. I barely slept last night. Something to do with the gnawing fear in my gut.
And guilt.
I hadn’t done enough for Sunny. I should have followed her to the back room, but I was afraid.
I’d tried calling them from my home phone because my cell phone still hadn’t been turned on. No surprise that my dad lied when he said he’d pay the bill.
It took me awhile to remember AJ had a softball game and Sophie was the yearbook photographer assigned to cover it. AJ’s coach didn’t allow phones in the dugout, and they were playing against Central, our toughest rivals. The game probably lasted late into the night.
So I was alone with no one to listen as I confessed my fears. Well, except for the old people, but they cut out not long after I got back to the apartment. And, of course, my dad was out getting drunk. Wherever he was, he wasn’t there when I needed him. I couldn’t tell him about my encounter with Sunny.
She seemed odd. Too odd. I didn’t like the look of those bruises, especially the ones across her neck. I didn’t like the glazed-over expression in her bugged- out eyes.
I thought about walking past the café on my way to the bus stop, but I was too chicken.
And I hated myself for it.
Suddenly, all of my problems seemed insignificant compared to Sunny’s. I just hoped it wasn’t as serious as I feared.
The bus came to a halt. This was AJ and Krysta’s stop. Maybe they’d be able to comfort me.
“Oh-mi-god, Krysta, we’re so glad you’re all right!” Sophie squealed as she rushed down the aisle. AJ was right behind her.
Looking into my friends’ grim faces, I knew they had bad news.
Swallowing back the rising bile, I cleared my throat. “What’s wrong?” I choked.
“We know you go to Mocha Madness, like every night,” Sophie blurted while sliding into the seat next to me, her eyes ready to pop out of her head. “We thought maybe you were her.”
“Her, who?” But I already knew the answer. I’d felt it in my gut last night.
AJ’s expression was as hard as granite as she faced me from the front seat. “A girl was murdered there last night.”
The finality of AJ’s words sliced through my stomach like a cold, hard blade.
She pointed to Paige who was in the seat across from me, gaze engrossed on the screen of her cell phone. “Paige’s sister just texted her the news. Said the girl was strangled.”
“Krysta, are you okay?” Sophie asked, but her voice sounded distant, like she was in a dream.
Maybe that’s what this was, just a bad dream. I closed my eyes, wishing everything would just return to normal. But in my mind I saw her, face and neck blotched with bruises, staring blankly at the wall behind me. Or was she staring at Ed and Gertrude? She could probably see them since she was dead, too.
“Poor Sunny,” I breathed while opening my eyes. “Do you think it was her?” Sophie asked, maybe a little too eagerly.
“Probably,” AJ nodded. “She’s so rude to the customers; maybe she pissed someone off real bad.”
Sophie gasped. “I wonder who did it.”
“Her boyfriend,” I said through the hollow ache in my chest. Yeah, she was rude, but she didn’t deserve to die.
Tilting her head, Sophie looked at me with a quizzical expression. “How do you know?”
Sunny’s haunting words came rushing back to me. It was my boyfriend. He did it.
Leveling each of them a hardened stare, I saw recognition flash in their eyes.
Choking back the emotion in my throat, I spoke through a whisper. “She told me last night.”
****
Bryon was waiting for me when the bus pulled into the school parking lot. I could see through the window that he had the same angry look I’d seen last night.
