“O-M-G!” Kadence exclaims appearing on the large front porch causing me to snap my head up. “You are going to love it! I love it! I can’t wait for you to see your room!”
“Are you alright?” Mom asks as she drags me up the stairs.
“Fine, I was, nothing, never mind.” I glance around anxiously. I can feel their presence.
“I left my bag in the suburban. I’ll be right in. Go ahead.” I tell them as I stare at Kadence trying to let her know I want her to follow me.
“You can get it later.” Dad says.
I shake my head no and mom lets me go.
“Okay but hurry up. I really want to show you something.” Mom says before I head back to the car with Kadence following behind me.
“What’s wrong?” Kadence asks.
I look back at the house to make sure my parents have gone inside, when a movement in the upstairs window catches my eye. It’s so quick I can’t tell what it is. “Journey, hello?”
“They are here, aren’t they?”
“You feel them too? They won’t show themselves though. I called out to them and introduced myself as I was walking around.”
“They don’t want us here.”
“You worry to much, they’ll come around. Now come on.” She instinctively reaches for my hand.
“Holy crap!”
We both stare down at our hands.
“What the hello? I can feel you Kay.”
“Awesome, I can too! What do you think it means?”
“I don’t know.” But it’s probably not good.
She starts pulling me towards the house, “Isn’t this great? I love this place already. I can tell that we’re going to have a lot of memories here.”
“Yeah me too.” But I don’t think many of them will be fond.
“Mom, Dad? I call out from the large foyer as I take in my new surroundings.
“Isn’t it cool? Your mom did a great job decorating.” Kadence smiles as she walks around.
“Up here honey.” Mom says and I start up the stairs.
“To the right.” Kadence informs me before I make it to the landing.
I nearly run into mom rounding the corner, “Oh my, did you run up the stairs?”
“No, I took them two at a time.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. Come on.” She turns and I follow glancing around nervously.
“Drew’s room is at the opposite end.” Kadence says.
“Don’t worry your brother’s room is back there.” Mom hitches her thumb over her shoulder. “He can’t complain about your music or giggly girls, and the best part,” she opens a door, “ You have your own bathroom.”
White walls, white tiled floors with small black diamond centers, it looks so… sterile, reminding me of a doctors office.
“We can paint, change the shower curtain and things if you dislike it.” She says noticing my unimpressed look.
“No, it’s okay, I like it. It’s just a lot of white. Very clean looking.”
Mom laughs, “I wanted to do Drew’s bathroom straight black.”
“You should have, you’d never have to see all the grimy hand prints or when he misses the toilet.”
“Boys,” she scrunches her nose, “dirty little things.”
“So true. You know, maybe we could go shopping. Get some stuff to bring some color in.”
“Purple?” Mom asks.
“With a zebra striped curtain!” Kadence adds.
“I think that would look cool.”
“Great.” They both say at the same time and I laugh.
Mom stares at me with a warm smile and it makes me feel uneasy, she’s going to get mushy.
“What?” I ask.
“It’s great to hear you laugh again Journey, it lightens my heart.”
“I’m sorry to worry you.” And I mean it. I really do feel bad for causing them stress and grief but I don’t know how not to. It’s difficult for me to pretend that everything’s alright when clearly it isn’t.
“Everything’s going to be okay.” She says but I’m not sure if it’s for her own reassurance or mine.
“So, how about my bedroom?”
“It’s not white, I promise.” She says smiling and opening the adjoining door to my room.
“Wow.”
“Is that good or bad?” She asks.
“Good, you did good mom.” I tell her as I walk around the lavender room.
“I was worried it might be color overload.” She says sitting on the shiny differently bright colored bedspread with metallic embroidered designs.
“No the light walls keep it balanced and the black furniture helps. I love it, honestly I do.”
“I’m so happy, I’ve been anxious about what you would think. I faxed the interior designer my sketches and plans and he ran with it.”
“Well you guys should collaborate and design together.”
“I’m not sure when I’ll go back to work but I’ll think about it. I want to see how everything goes first.”
Yeah, there’s another thing I feel guilty about. Mom quit her job working for a high-end interior design company a couple of years ago because of me.
Drew bursts through the door, “Oh, I think I’m going to puke!”
“What’s wrong sweetie?” Mom asks rushing to him.
He bellows out a laugh, “It’s so girly in here, I feel like my testosterone level just dropped.”
“Stupid, get out!” I shout throwing a big neon green pillow at him, “You’re so immature!”
He rolls his eyes and hurls it back at me.
“Go on.” Mom ushers him out as I flop on the queen size bed.
“We’ll be around if you want a tour.” She says with her hand on the knob.
“Okay.” I say as she starts to walk out. “Mom.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
She smiles and closes the door behind herself.
“What do you really think?” Kadence asks lying next to me.
“I really like it.”
“Whoa, even I thought it would be to vibrant for you.”
“I’m not that dark of a person.”
She raises her brows, “Have you read your poetry lately?”
“Yes and apparently so have you.”
“I get bored, you are the one who leaves it on your desk.”
“I’ll make sure to put it up from now on.”
She sticks her tongue out. “I could probably get your book out if I wanted so ha.”
“Have you tried to move or touch anything else?”
“Not yet.”
“That’s unbelievable.”
She grins hugely, the wheels in her head turning.
“Not sure I like that look, it usually means you are going to do something crazy.”
“Oh Drew, it’s time for a little payback.”
“Not now, let me enjoy a little peace first.”
“Party pooper.” She says getting up, “How about some music?”
“Sure.” I say sitting up.
“No, let me try.”
“Go ahead.” I say watching her stare at the radio intensely. “Unless being dead gives you telekinetic abilities you might want to try touching it.”
“Building up my confidence here, silence please.”
I giggle quietly but keep my remarks to myself.
She finally reaches out and, “Good evening, this song goes out to Debbie from Steve.”
“Ahh!! I did it!” Kadence jumps around excitedly.
“Awesome, think you can change the station?”
“Not feeling Billy Bob loves Charlene?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Yeah, me neither.” She says channel surfing until she finds a station playing the latest hits.
“Really?” I frown.
“Yep,” she says plopping into the desk chair, “now I’m not forced to listen to your screamo emo bands.” She grins spinning in the chair.
“You know, I thi
nk I liked it better when you couldn’t interact with your surroundings.”
“Ha ha, that’s to bad. I’m enjoying every second of it!” She gets quiet and looks around. “Do you think it’s because of them?”
I shrug.
“Come on, you have to know something or at least have a theory.”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m not buying it.”
I know she’s not going to let it go. I sigh, “It could be because of them or the energy of this place, land and all, but I’m not sure Kay. I’m not an expert on the paranormal.”
“Maybe you could find someone to talk to about it.”
“My parents want me to be normal. Going around asking questions, digging up the history of the house and researching strange experiences that have occurred is not normal.”
“I just said to ask someone, I said nothing about doing detective work but I see you’ve been thinking about it.”
“You know what will happen when I start.”
“You’ll get obsessed.”
“Exactly and my parents will have me back at the shrinks office twice a week, or more.”
“Why don’t you just call them out?”
“The longer I ignore them the longer it stays quiet around here. The moment I seek them out I open a door I can’t shut.”
“It’s already open to you.”
“Yeah but chatting it up with them makes it worse. They start coming around more frequently then crazy things start happening and before you know it.” I stop and shake my head not wanting to finish.
“They’ll insist you have psychiatric problems then you’re stuck yakking up the crazy pills in the bathroom stall at school so you don’t feel like a zombie. Again.” She finishes for me.
“Precisely.”
“But wouldn’t it be cool to find someone else who shares your gift?”
“Gift?” I choke, “Do I look like I’m enjoying this? I’m one freak out away from a paid vacation to a comfy padded room with a new white wardrobe.”
“Your parents don’t have to know you are pursuing this.”
“All it will take is asking one person who can’t keep their mouth shut.”
“Then be careful who you ask.”
“Yeah because that’s so easy, like I know who and who not to talk to.”
“I’ll help, if they can see me then you’ll know it’s okay.”
“You’re not going to let this go are you?”
“Nope.”
“Fine,” I say standing, “I’ll do it.”
“Now?” She asks as I walk to the door.
“No Kay, it’s late. I’m going to check out the rest of the house.”
“I’m staying here then.” She pouts.
Shrugging I leave the room. That suits me just fine.
“So how do you think she’s taking everything so far?” It’s Dad’s voice I hear. I assume he and Mom are talking about me so I stop to listen.
“She seems to be alright but only time will tell.” Mom says.
“I’ve already found the number for a good therapist.” He admits.
“Joe, don’t you think it’s a little early for that? Shouldn’t we see how she does first, give her the benefit of a doubt?”
“Susan, I wasn’t saying we were taking her right away. I meant just in case.”
“I hope she doesn’t need it. I just want her to be a normal teenager, you know do normal girl stuff with other girls.”
“I know honey, I want that for her too.”
“It’s not polite to eves drop.” Drew whispers.
Turning around I glare at him, “Well if I didn’t I’d never know what they really think.”
He cracks a grin, “They think you are certifiably crazy.”
I should have let Kadence scare the crap out of him! “You’re a freaktard, I’m not crazy, you’ll see.”
He snickers, “Yeah, whatever.”
“Are you ready to see the rest of the house now?” Mom asks stepping into the hallway, dad right behind her. He looks at Drew and me curiously.
“Yes.” Get me away from Drew before you’re minus a son.
Following her through the house she stops at every room to tell me about the renovations they had done and show me the secret passage-ways from one room to another that they left.
My curiosity gets the best of me, “Why would they have those in closets?” I ask after the third one she shows me.
“So the house slaves wouldn’t be seen in the hallways.”
“Slaves, like African Americans?”
“Yes sweetie, this is a very old house, it used to be an actual working plantation. Some of the slave quarters are still standing. Your dad and I are going to have them redone. He’s suddenly taken an interest in carpentry and wants a workshop. We could turn one into a place for you and Drew to hangout with your friends.”
I shake my head quickly, “I’ll pass.” The sorrow and anger that those structures hold… I’m not hanging out there. No one should, they should just be left to deteriorate.
“Okay,” she shrugs, “it was just a thought. You can look at them tomorrow, if you change your mind just let me know.”
“Sure.” I tell her as she continues showing me around.
“So how was your tour?” Kadence asks as I climb into bed. She wanted to know the moment I came back but I needed a shower first and she was just going to have to wait.
“It was okay.”
“See anything interesting?”
“Like the secret passage-ways?”
“Well those are cool but I meant apparitions.”
“No, did you?”
“Not yet, maybe tomorrow.” She says hopeful.
“Yeah, good night.”
“Night.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.”
“What?”
“Feel free to screw with Drew. Nothing major, just move his stuff while he sleeps and make sure it’s noticeable.”
She beams a smile, “Can do.”
CHAPTER TWO
“How did you sleep?” Mom asks as I enter the kitchen.
“Surprisingly well.” I smile sitting down on a barstool at the island watching her make pancakes on the griddle. “Need some help?”
“Can you set the table?”
“No problem. Where’s dad?” I ask opening the cabinets.
“Still in bed, I thought I’d let him sleep in. Oh, it’s that one honey.” She says pointing and ending my search.
Nodding I grab four plates. It’s going to take a while to get used to this place. I feel like I should label the cabinets until I remember where everything is.
“We can eat in here, I’m reserving the dining room for large gatherings.”
“Okay, although sitting far from Drew would be nice.” I mumble.
“Why do you two give each other such a hard time? You guys used to be close.”
I roll my eyes before turning to face her, “He’s such a butthole, he’s constantly calling me names and being stupid. You have no idea how annoying that is.”
“Did you forget I’m the middle child and the only girl?”
“No but you get along with Uncle Jerry and Uncle Peter.”
“Believe me it wasn’t always like that. They used to tease me relentlessly. It’s just how boys are, they mature slower than girls,” she smiles, looks around and lowers her voice, “they can’t help that they’re morons until their… thirties.”
I giggle, “I don’t know if I can put up with Drew for that long.”
“You can, family is important Journey, don’t ever forget that. They will always be there for you.” She says suddenly serious.
Well maybe you should have this discussion with Drew… “I know Mom.”
Turning back to the table I start arranging every ones place. “Speak of the devil.” I catch a glimpse of Drew and continue with my task.
“Good,” Mom stops mid sentence as she glances up from the bacon to greet him, “are you alrigh
t?”
Quickly setting the last of the silverware down I look up to see what has mom so concerned. His hair is an absolute mess, way worse than when he normally gets up, and under his eyes are dark. Kadence comes strolling in behind him with a huge smile on her face.
“I didn’t sleep well, think it’s going to take some getting use to.” He shakes his head as he bypasses her and plops down in a chair looking around nervously.
“Well isn’t this a change, usually you sleep like the dead and your sister has insomnia.”
Kadence sits on the table beside him grinning, “Poor thing barely slept a wink.” She brushes his cheek.
He jumps up knocking the chair backwards and I can’t help but laugh.
“What’s wrong?” Mom asks looking at him warily.
“Nothing. Journey can I talk to you?” He asks dragging me out of the kitchen before I can respond.
“Kids?” Mom asks.
“Where are you two going?” Dad asks as we pass him in the foyer.
“We’ll be right back.” I inform him as I follow my incredibly freaked out brother.
Drew shoves me in his room and promptly shuts the door. “Can you see them?”
“Who?”
“Don’t play stupid Journ.”
“You know I hate it when you call me that.”
“Whatever. So can you?”
“Can I what?” I ask sitting on his bed and looking around. It’s the first time I’ve been in here but I doubt he made all this mess over night. His clothes are strewn all over the floor, video games scattered all over his desk and the pictures on the walls are crooked. Mom would throw a fit if she saw this.
“The ghosts, where are they?”
Kadence giggles.
“Oh, suddenly you’re a believer?” I cross my arms.
“I’m sorry I’ve been such a…” he looks away.
“Dick.” Kadence says.
“Yes.” Drew says looking back at me.
“Yes what?” I ask.
“I’ve been a dick, happy now?”
Kadence and I exchange glances.
“I didn’t call you that.”
“Then who did?” He asks disbelievingly.
“Kadence and she’s the one who wrecked your room last night.”
He shakes his head, “I…”
“Don’t believe me?”
“No, I do. It’s just why now?”
“She’s been living with us since she died. I wasn’t lying about that or going crazy like you all thought.”
Spirits (Spirits Series Book 1) Page 2
