SIGHT

Chapter 4

I woke up abruptly and realized I had fallen out of bed. I was soaked in sweat. I get off the floor and look at the clock. It's already 6.30 a.m. What the hell was that dream all about? That was weird. It's so f*****g realistic too. I never had a dream like this before. Panicked strikes me, what if this is real? What if this is happening? My dream is not just a dream? Wait... no way. There is no way it's real right? I mean come on, it's probably because I think about what happened between Millie and me at school before I go to sleep, so, that could be it right, I dream of Millie because she is the last thing I think about. I steady my breath, shake my head and make my way to the bathroom. I turned on the shower feeling the warm water on my skin. My head still buzzing from the dream I just had.

 After done showering, I get dress, starting my way downstairs when I heard my phone. I turned back and grab it. I see there's a message. Well, it's from Millie. I rechecked the name, it is a message from Millie. I mean, I do have her number but I never knew she had mine, besides that I never dared to text her even for once. Feeling excited, I sit on my bed and open it. "Morning Dan," wait, what? Morning Dan? Did she just call me Dan? She never did that before. I break the thought in my head then continue, "I just want to ask if you would like to hang out with me after school today? What about at the school library?" Did she just ask me to hang out today? I slap my left cheek, it hurts so it means that I'm not dreaming. Another new message from Millie, "I see you at school today, I'll wait for you at the front gate," with wink emoji. What the hell? What is going on? Millie just texted me and to top it all, she asked me to hang out with her? Is it because I bumped my face on the class door yesterday that changes my luck today? I still couldn't believe it so I reread the message over and over again. I was still in so many thoughts when my mom opened my door, "Danny, aren't you going to have breakfast? You're going to school today aren't you?" mom was at the door folding her arm. I stand up quickly "yeah mom, I was just checking my phone, I'll be down in a minute." Mom stared at me "hurry up then", she said as she's walking away. I let out a deep breath and gathered my books and bag and started running out of my room. 

Ash was already waiting for me outside, giving me one of his I told you so smile. "Didn't I tell you so many times already, Dan? She is so into you." He laughed out like a freaking maniac. After I read Millie's text, I immediately message Ash right after that. "You think so? I just think it's weird. I mean why? All of a sudden," I told Ash. "Weird, shmeird, who cares, man. Right now she just asked you out, that's all you should care about" Ash slapped me hard on the back. I winced from the pain "She didn't ask me out, she just wants to hang out at the school library, that's all. There's a difference there you know" and Ash just shrugged and we started walking. 

As we arrived at the school gate, I saw that Millie is already waiting there. I stop and standing at the gate, feeling agitated. Ash notices that I'm being nervous he then grabbed my arm and dragged me through. I was trying my best to pull myself away but Ash grip had become harder. Millie had seen us making our way towards her. She waved at us, "good morning guys" Millie shine us with her radiant smile. "Morning Millie, are you waiting for someone here?" Ash gave me a nudge on the side, "yeah, actually I am," Millie turned and look at me. "Oh well, I had a morning duty today since I'm a school prefect, so, gotta dash," Ash started to leave. I try to grab him but he managed to dodge away. He walked backwards and showed me thumbs up and winked "go get her dude," he mouthed back at me. I hate him so much right now.

 I turned to Millie and saw her turned a little tense. I clear my throat and smile at her. She eases a little and smiles beautifully "So, did you get my text?" I nod my head "yeah I did. Didn't know you had my number." I said while mentally kicking myself for mentioning such a stupid thing. "Yeah, I do have your number. I ask Emma for it," she smiled shyly. I just laughed like an i***t "Emma does have my number." Added me stupidly. Then both of us just stand there in awkward silence. Say something you dumb I said to myself, "I would like to hang out with you at the library after school. I'm on duty today, so it won't be a problem then." Millie's face lightened up and she nodded her head "great, I can give you a hand too." Both of us smile at each other. This isn't so bad I said to myself. "Let's get to class," I said and we walked in together. 

We were on our way to the library, it's just me and Millie. I did ask Ash to join us but he refused, "it's your date, Dan, why the hell am I going to join you for? I'm just going to be third wheeling there only, so, no." that's what he said when I tell him. I was hoping that he would come together because I'm afraid I'm going to be uncomfortable, and I so don't want to ruin the moment for Millie. At least if Ash is around he is very capable of controlling any kind of situation, so, I'm sure he can make it a bit less awkward. I sighed "is something wrong Danny?" Millie stopped halfway and turned to look at me. I realized that I sighed was a little loud, "urm... No, there's nothing wrong. I was just thinking about that history essay that Mr Gareth gives us. Damn, it needs to be at least 300 words. What am I going to write?" I tried to cover it with history homework, good job. Then Millie let out an exasperated groan, "oh my god, I forgot about that essay. Thank god that you remind me, I don't even know what to write to," her shoulder slumped a little. "It's okay, it's due on Friday, so we had plenty of time to copy someone else's" I grinned at her and she laughed. God, I love the sound of her laughter, it's like a beautiful symphony in my ears. 

I don't have too many jobs at the library today, Millie is such a big helper too. After everything is done, we sat at the table in the study section. We continued with our chit chat, so far everything seems going on smoothly. I became less and less awkward, and Millie seems comfortable. To be honest, she loves to laugh at all of my lame jokes. She's way too precious. When we were enjoying the talk, suddenly, I hear it again. The same sound I heard before when I was with Ash. The rustling pages. I tried to ignore it but it won't let me. The sound seems to get louder now. And closer. Behind me. I turn my head around quickly. The sound stopped. "Danny?" I looked back to the front and saw Millie staring at me. She frowns at me, her eyes keep glancing behind me. "What are looking at? Is something there?" she turns her eyes back to me. I fidgeted "nothing, probably just my imagination." I lied. I can't tell her. I don't want her to think of me as a freak. Besides that, this is our first time getting this close; I don't want to ruin it. Millie's eyes still linger on me, "I've been meaning to ask you this Danny, and I've been thinking whether it's a good idea to ask, but I just can't help getting more curious about it. Could it be that you can see something that no one can see? Like a spirit or more precise, ghost?" I turned pale "what do you mean?" I stuttered the words out, "are you trying to say that I had this some kind of weird ability? That I can see freaky shitty things like that?" I almost yelled when I say it, then realizing that I shouldn't have done that. Millie looked taken aback "I. I didn't mean," I stammered. She turned her face down, "No, I was wrong," she shook her head, "I shouldn't have asked you such a stupid question. I didn't mean it in the wrong way, I would never say or think of you as weird," she said almost whispering. I feel so bad right now. 

Why the hell did I scream at her for? That was f*****g mean. She was just asking. I leaned forward and grab her hand, she looked up at me, I can see that she's on the verge of tearing up. I squeezed her hand, "Hey, Millie, I'm so sorry. It wasn't my intention at all to yell or even said those words back at you, it was very stupid of me. I didn't mean it, I swear." I tried to comfort her. Slowly, she smiled, "it's okay Dan, I know you didn't mean it. Just forget about it", she called me Dan again. I let out a shaky breath and managed a smile too. "I think it's getting late, maybe we should head back home now. Time sure flies by when you having a good time," her face was a little disappointed, I grinned back at her and said, " yeah, time sure is very jealous of us." She laughed again. I felt a slight relief. She seems fine now. I make a mental note to not ever do that again. "Can you wait for a little, I need to log off first," I head back to the admin table. Millie slung her bag over her shoulder and helping on gathering some of my stuff. As I was focusing on the monitor that's when I saw something out of the corner of my eyes. My focus quickly shifted to it. It's her. The talker ghost that I met on the train.