Ghost Boyfriend

telepathy

I watch, my heart thumping as Mark disappears, then a second later reappears right by Reece's table. The restaurant's empty so I can hear every word they say. Tina's laughing as she tells some story about finding frogs in her panties the day before. Reece listens, nodding as he refills her glass of wine.

"That's hilarious," he says sweetly. "What else happened that night?"

"What else do you wanna hear about?" she flips her hair, biting into a bagel. He holds her gaze for a moment.

"Everything,"

"That's gonna take forever. The night was crude,"

"So, tell me about it," he sounds teasing as I gape in horror. They've got a frisson electricity going on and it appears he's seconds close to sucking her face off. What is Mark waiting for?

"Well, I might have ran into Penelope and Fred having s*x,"

Like a professional hypnotist, Mark's got his legs crossed, hovering directly above Reece's hair and muttering rather loudly. How did you feel when Peter left you?

Reece reacts instantly, his eyes glazing with confusion as he turns to look around the restaurant, leading me to shrink farther down my seat to keep out of his sight.

"It was the most odd thing I've ever seen. Penelope is such a pro, I'd give her that," Tina's still talking, oblivious to what's happening. "They were so sweaty..."

How did you feel that night Peter left after you refused to s*x him up? Was your heart broken? Talk to Tina about it! Go on! Talk to her!

"...and shocked to see me. At that moment I caught them, I've never felt so irked. I hope our first won't look like that. I deserve to be treated as a queen," Tina looks up, clearly expecting him to say something but he's still as a sculpture, Mark screaming in his ear. Tell her about it! Talk Reece!!

"Honey?" Tina waves a hand in front of his face. "Were you even listening?"

"I'm sorry!" he blinks, rubbing his face. "Just thought I heard a voice back there. You were saying?"

"Oh nothing. I was telling you about Penelope and Fred sexing themselves in my condo,"

"What? s*x!" he chuckles, struggling to focus on her. "How did it look like?"

"A lot similar to two goats running a marathon. So wierd. Come to think of it, how did the send-forth go?"

Tell her about your relationship with Peter! Say how you felt after he left. Talk about it!

Reece looks as though trying to catch a distant echo of a bird across a lake.

"Babe?" Tina leans forward. "Reece!"

"Damn, I'm so sorry!" he comes around, sighing as he shakes his head. "That's wierd, I've never thought about him in ages,"

"Who?" Tina looks curious.

"Peter,"

"Oh Peter," Tina says, sipping her wine slowly, shoulders relaxed like she's got it all, and she really has.

"I visited him this morning. He's pretty much moved on from Mark and as I learned he's got a new fling with Frank,"

Reece blinks, lost. "Really?"

She nods. "Unbelievable huh? I thought so too but it's not as if they aren't a good match. Why are you thinking about him?"

"I have no idea," Reece sighs as he leans back on his chair, perplexed. "It's been so long I saw him last,"

"Whatever you had with him is in the past now," Tina reaches out subtly, placing her left palm on his arm. "You don't have to think much about it, these things are normal,"

"Yes I know but..." Reece still has a cold, frightened expression which isn't surprising as Mark is on full concentration mode now. Tell her how you felt when Peter left! Tell her! Pour your heart out!

"Darling," Tina drawls, her eyes drawn to the hot sun outside. "It's almost midday. Can we still make it on time to the jewellery shop to get my ring? There's a crystal one Penelope - "

"Sad... Nervous... His departure made me realize how s*x should come secondary in every relationship. I learnt a lot from our break-up,"

"Who are we talking about now?" Tina tries to smile but the impatience in her gestures betray her.

"Peter,"

"Wow, so what happened to you two? How long did your relationship last?"

"Three years. And those are the best times of my life. We'll talk till three in the morning and together sleep most weekends. Sometimes we ate out. Other times he cooked. We were relationship goals and I love his energy and smartness. A deep thinker and a great lover. It was horrible for me to cope after he left. Why was I so stupid to let him go? I mean I knew where it was gonna end but he's the best person I've ever met. It feels wierd telling you all these on our date, Tina. I hope you can forgive me." he gulps at his wine while I look on, smiling stupidly. I'm special. Reece says so.

"It's okay, we're getting married. Besides, no secrets remember? You two were so sweet and sad, it didn't work out. Anyways, we've got a place to go to,"

Well, at least I've heard everything I need to know. I made an impact in his life and for that I'm special. An ideal boyfriend unlike what Mark thinks. Why do I care about whatever he says! He's not alive, just a flaky ghost. I shouldn't put his opinions into consideration.

And where the f**k is he?

I glance back at Reece's table and makes a sign for Mark to come over, but he's defiant. Heck! He didn't look at me, what's he doing?

What are the bad things about Peter? I hear Mark mutter, drowning out Tina's plea to go to the jewellery shop. There has to be some! He's not perfect!

My chest lurches. He's so mean!

"He was a tight-knitted person. Although he made everything seem magical, I never knew most of the things that went on in his mind. I wanted to take our relationship forward but I guess lack of communication, coupled with his demanding nature got in the way. I hated the way he asks for things, without acknowledgement or appreciation like it's my job. His perfume costs three thousand quid and I don't like the smell of it,"

"That's expensive! What - "

"It was his spending habit too. There was never a time we walked into a restaurant that Peter didn't pick the most expensive dish. He's got zero talents and doesn't like sleeping, traveling or music like I do. The only thing he watches are those reality shows about fake rich ladies and he always puts his legs on the couch, not minding that he went into the toilet a few minutes earlier..." Reece suddenly notices Tina, whoose eyes are drained of their spark. She's got tired lines on her forehead and I swear, her ears are beeping red with the effort of listening politely.

"f**k, honey I'm going too fast. You know what, this doesn't matter," he drags a palm down his face. "I didn't sleep well last night. The jewellery shop is almost closing so let's hurry!"

"Um yeah, let's go," Tina stands and I watch them move swiftly between the tables and out the restaurant.

"Sir, your coke? Excuse me?"

I turn my head to see a waiter standing by my table with a tray of coke and a glass cup. He must have been here a while.

"Oh right. Sorry," I say as he places the drink down and pops the cap.

"Thanks,"

I can't drink. I'm too shocked to even think. What's all these Reece just said? How could he have felt this way and never talked it out with me? If he was sad that I didn't like any of his hobbies, he could have told me. And I only said I hated sleeping because when he asked I was Ill and I had nightmares each time I closed my eyes. How was I supposed to know sleeping meant so much to him?!

"Well," Mark saunters over and flops into the seat opposite. "That was interesting. At least you know now that relationships don't have to revolve around s*x to work out well. Feelings are involved. I agree about zero talents though. All I've seen you do is sit home all day,"

I glare at him as I consider overtuning the coke on his head.

"Well, thank you," I try sounding light but my sadness overwhelms me. "He never said a word about it. None of it! I know I can be a lot to take but I could've fixed it. I could've done anything to make him happy," I take a swing from my glass. "Everything would've fallen - "

"Drink up! We have to hurry!!" he interrupts me rudely. "It'd be best if we go home and start early. I'm gonna dress you today,"

"Where are we going?" I look up, confused.

"Oh goodness! Our date!"

Darn.

"It's still five hours away," I point out, consulting my watch. "And it's nothing big. A drink, that's all."

"I love dressing up and yes it sounds boring but it's the best feeling in the world to step out, satisfied with the clothes you have on," he gives me a saucy stare. "This is my date! I've got to look my best for sunshades man and you too honey, since you're my representative. You need to look pristine. A mover and a shaker!"

"I'll give it my best shot okay?" I push the emptied glass and bottle away, standing. "Let's go,"