Ghost Boyfriend

deal

This stinks.

I'm standing, dazed and ignored by the same guy who almost kissed me yesterday. It's like he doesn't even see me as I give a small wave, his whole attention is focused on the chick. They're leaning against the bar, not ordering anything, laughing and talking like long time couples... it's so annoying to watch plus there's a smattering of laughter behind me, probably Clement or Gus mocking me openly. The nerve! I'd show them!

A thick lady jostles me forward toward him and I feel helpless when he finally turns to me, his face blanking out as though he doesn't know who I am. I'm dismayed when the girl says. "Who are you?" like I'm some intruder trying to steal her boyfriend, her heavily mascaraed eyes drilling into me. Well, I want to steal her boyfriend! I called the shots on him first!

But I don't get it. Mag said he's single for the better part (if only I knew what that meant) and was interested in guys. I mean he liked me. I swear he felt the electricity between us the previous night so what's with all this charade he's putting up? Ugh, if only I'd stuck to flicking starters and main courses and not bothering on Gus and the crew shaking hands and greeting people. Here's where my jealousy led me.

"Um..hi," he says after a few seconds, turning to resume his conversation and treating me invisible. The girl casts me a look of pity and I'm stung.

I can't believe it. He's ignoring me after raising my hopes last night. All around us people are staring, some are pointing and laughing out loud it hurts my brain. Even Mag's pulling a face as she walks past me. I'm scourged by virtually everyone!

"Do you know him? Is he your love interest?" a voice punctures my thoughts but I put it off, retracing my steps back to my seat. I might as well leave for Hampshire tonight. Can't stand the disgrace.

"Did he just dump you?" the voice asks louder this time and I casually turn around. It's Mark, hovering above Gus's head. He no longer wore a green shirt and white pants but his chambray is smart, pink and his shorts were still white but with a fix of gold strings on it. His hair was dyed pink at the side and the rest were blue. A feminine appearance, legs crossed comfortably, chewing a gum. "Take heart. You'll find someone much better." he swings off at me. "How's your search for those men going?"

"Tell me about yourself Pete," Clement is saying, eyes searching my face with obvious interest. "Where you live, what you do, the kind of boys you like to date..." he's smirking at me.

I give him a small smile, shrinking down on my chair in uncertainty.

"I'm waiting," Mark's glaring at me impatiently. "I gave you all of today to find. You're supposed to be out looking for them, thinking up ways in which they'd be punished."

The hallucination is back, Peter. Pay him no mind and it'll go away.

"Hampshire!" I say sprightly, leaning forward at Clement with interest. "My parents are from Paris originally but I'm a citizen here, studying medicine and I'm not - "

"Uh-huh," I look up to see that Clement is kissing the back of my fingers, Mag and the others watching on in glee. I jerk away a bit uncomfortably. "Clement - "

"Oh Clem, that's so romantic!" Mag says with eyes shining. "I'll be really glad if you both hit it off together."

"What is wrong with you?" Mark glowers at me, his white face inches away from my nose. My chest is heaving. "Stop answering your lover and talk to me!"

"Get the hell off me!" I say in fright, jerking away as the conversations around come to a halt and Clement's shocked, same goes to Mag and the others.

Shit! I said that out loud!

"Peter, that's not fair," Mag looks at me with reproach. I'm too stricken to move. "He was only being sweet."

"I-Uh -I'm sorry Clement," I stutter, unaware of what I'm supposed to say apart from that. "It was so uncouth of me and I promise to make it up to you."

"You ain't that pricy, you know." Clement's shocked expression is now passed and in his eyes, I detect a hostile glint. "If I wasn't so much into a good f**k, I wouldn't settle for someone so low as you are."

I can feel my cheeks burning up. "Pardon?"

"You're a sucker. A total loser. I'm not a fool. You think so highly of yourself and that no one's good enough for you. It's so amusing watching you fake it all."

From the corners of my eyes, I notice Felipe frowning at us, trying to make out Clement's words because he's so far off. Fake. Clement of all people calls me fake, can you imagine? What a stick!

"Once again I'm sorry," I say humbly. "I'll - be on my way now. Bye Mag! I'll see you at home tonight!"

I hurriedly run out to save my face. This is so embarrassing! Me, Peter Collins running out of Chuck's cause a broomstick named Clement called me fake and I'm too breezy to fight him with words. Am I so obvious? Does he really think I'm unoriginal?

Darn.

I barge into Tweets and sit, calling the waiter over. Not that I'm hungry or anything, I just want to have a nice little drink and go back home. The day's far spent and I'm thinking about moving out of Mag's apartment. I can't stand her. She hates me and it's all my fault.

You're a sucker. A total loser.

"One glass of vintage champagne and that's all," I say in a small voice, face buried in my hands as I try to process it all. An eat-out. Felipe ignored me. Clement smooched on my hand and I snapped. He insulted me, I ran out. That's it. Or... something's missing? Oh god, how could I not include that?

All these happened because a thrifty pretty ghost came into the picture.

The little snot... I glance around to check if he's anywhere nearby and as I do so, the little menace poofs up right in front of me. "I told you to stop doing that."

"Too bad I never learn. Now, what was that all about? You could have just turned him than politely and avoid a show. You're all here by yourself now, sucking it up." his wicked eyes gleam at me in disapproval.

"Don't you start quizzing me for what's entirely your fault. You started it, bugging me continuously so I had to snap to get you off me. Unfortunately, Clement took it personally."

"Here's your champagne," the waiter deposits the tall glass in front of me, chucking the straw in position. "Thanks!" I say sweetly and he nods, retreating.

"Ooh, goody!" Mark sinks into the chair opposite and makes to grab the glass but his hand swishes through. "Dang! I can't even hold an ounce. This is so uncompromising." he pouts, crossing his arms on his chest.

"You're uncompromising! Honestly, I can't still figure out the grievous sin I committed to deserve you. And the funny thing is, you're all in my head! It's all imagined." I chuckle bitterly.

He seemed cross. "What would you know? At least you can see and talk to me."

"You're dead! Supposed to be in the great beyond by now but you're so stubborn that you prefer to torture me instead. I can't help you. My friends all hate me because of you. My parents think I've lost my head because of you. My life's all crumbling because of you!"

Angrily, I chug down some champagne and when I glance up at Mark, he's in low spirits. His head's hanging up at a weird angle and a silver stream trickle down his cheeks. He's crying. In the spirit. His eyes meet mine and I instantly feel bad.

"Look honey, I didn't - oh f**k, okay I'll help you, just stop crying. It doesn't suit you."

"I've been a bug," he sobs, brushing the white tears out. "I've caused you so much pain and trouble, I'm so sorry. You're the only one who can see me, therefore you're the only one who can help me. I've got nothing and no one to turn to."

"Why can't you just forgive them? I mean they killed you but you're meant to forgive them too. Revenge isn't the best choice. You're meant to be a model for Christ! He forgave his murderers too." I say like I'm some dandy pastor addressing a throng. Oh god, this means I can evangelize! Great!

"You don't know what they did to me and my family. They stole it all, made me look like a loser and I can't let that go by. I want to see them suffering, beaten and placed behind bars for a hundred years!" he glowers at me avidly, causing a shiver to run down my spine. He looked mean. "And you'll help me, Peter. Oh, pretty please?"

I sigh, caught in a fix. "Okay, I'll do it. Don't hope I'll spend the whole summer hunting down some thugs,"

"Oh my god that's perfect!" he squeals in delight. "Let's start now! First stop my house!"

"We're going to your house?" I ask in disbelief. It's been three years I've been there last. Goodness! I've been such a horrible boyfriend. Maybe his parents won't think it much of a thing to see me at their doorstep. Or would they? Only one way to find out. "Let's do this."