Don't Ghost Me

Chapter 7 - The Spark Between Us

The early morning sun shone brightly, creating a welcoming atmosphere for Cait after her restless night. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she sat up and took a deep breath, ready to start the day. Despite the strange dream about the boys, she dismissed it and prepared herself for the day ahead.

The music studio was devoid of any presence, the silence hanging heavy in the air. Cait was unsure if she could see Reggie. She surveyed the studio before her eyes settled on the coffee table positioned in the middle of the room. Sitting there, a note with a red rose captured her gaze. Cait inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet scent of the flower before her eyes darted to the note in her other hand.

“I promise I’m still here,” Reggie had written. Cait smiled, clutching the note to her chest, taking a deep breath before heading inside the house for breakfast.

As she turned, a wave of astonishment washed over her, causing her soul to momentarily detach from her body as Reggie stood before her with a grin. “Don’t scare me like that,” Cait said with a gleeful tone. Seeing him there brought her a sense of comfort and relief.

“I’m really glad you can still see me,” Reggie said with a laugh. “I wonder if you can see Luke and Alex.” Deep in thought, he absentmindedly massaged his chin, completely unaware of Cait’s unwavering stare.

“Reggie, I have something to tell you,” Cait said, a serious look on her face. “I think you and the others should hear this. It’s about a dream I had and it felt real.”

Right before he could answer, the studio doors burst open, and Julie walked in, her face beaming with delight. “Good morning, Cait!” She looked from Reggie to her friend with a questioning look. “Can you see him?” When Cait nodded, Julie’s smile stretched across her face, and she couldn’t contain her joyful squeal.

Reggie’s laughter filled the air as he covered his ears, coinciding with the arrival of Alex and Luke. Julie enthusiastically raved about Cait’s ability to see Reggie, while the other two boys looked on, perplexed, as they waved their hands in front of Cait.

“I guess she just can’t see Alex and Luke,” Reggie said, observing his friends’ unsuccessful attempts to catch Cait’s eye.

Julie’s conversation came to a halt as she suddenly noticed Luke and Alex standing right in front of Cait, although it appeared she was oblivious to their presence. “That’s very strange,” she said, tapping her chin in thought. “I wonder why she can’t see Luke and Alex.”

“Maybe it has something to do with how they feel about each other,” Alex stated, his arms crossed in thought. Luke, Reggie, and Julie directed their attention towards Alex. There was a glimmer of logic in his statement. Maybe Reggie’s unfinished business was his presence being here for Cait.

If that was truly the situation, what purpose would the universe have in orchestrating a ghost’s love for a living girl? Reggie’s thoughts wandered as he stared off into the distance, deep in contemplation. If his unfinished business is connected to Cait, maybe it was meant to teach her she is deserving of love. He let out a sigh of frustration and absentmindedly raked his fingers through his hair, deep in thought. With a questioning gaze, Cait locked eyes with him, and he sensed the need to describe the electric energy.

“What are we going to do to figure this out?” Cait asked, taking the news very well.

Julie responded with a shrug of her shoulders. “My idea was maybe finding a medium. Or maybe there’s someone in the ghost world that might know of someone who can help.”

Luke pulled Reggie aside and whispered that he didn’t feel the same electric energy as Reggie did when he was around Cait. “Do you think you have to touch her to feel it?”

Reggie responded with a shrug of his shoulders. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Cait, who was deep in conversation with Julie, discussing their next course of action. Luke’s voice faded into the background for Reggie as he zoned out. Reggie disregarded his friends’ questions and made his way towards Cait. As his right hand brushed against her cheek, his other hand securely wrapped around her waist, drawing her nearer. As she looked up at him, a puzzled expression crossed her face, causing him to pause. She could feel his icy breath on her cheeks as he leaned in, his kiss sending a chill through her body.

Cait’s eyes widened in surprise, and the audible gasps of everyone around them filled the air. The moment Cait melted into the embrace, Reggie felt a surge of electricity running through him. It felt as though time stood still, leaving only him and Cait in the room, oblivious to the outside world. As the electricity grew more intense, Reggie swiftly withdrew.

As Reggie stood there, a hushed stillness settled over everyone, his fingertips grazing his lips where he sensed an electric pulse. Cait watched him with a worried look on her face.

“That looked like it hurt…” Alex said, breaking the awkward silence.

Reggie’s lips curved into a smile, and he gave a slight shake of his head. “It felt… I can’t explain it.”

“If it hurt you, please don’t do that again,” Cait said, her voice filled with concern and a slight tremor. With her gaze fixed on the floor, she avoided making eye contact with anyone in the room. Cait’s eyes welled up with tears, but she spun away to conceal her emotions.

Julie rubbed her arm, the gentle motion helping to ease her anxiety. “Guys, I think we should all settle down now before someone gets hurt. We don’t know what this is and we can’t understand it yet.” She paused before looking at Luke. “I think you three should go see Willie. Maybe he can help or guard you in the right direction of someone who can.”

As Luke nodded, his expression softened into one of concern as he locked eyes with Cait. “Cait, I promise you we will figure out what’s going on. Don’t worry, okay? At least not yet.”

He nodded at Alex and Reggie, the echo of their conversation lingering in the air as he vanished from sight, Alex hot on his heels. Reggie approached Cait and her teary eyes met his gaze. His thumb brushed against her cheek, leaving behind a gentle caress and a lingering kiss on the tip of her nose before he disappeared.