Water and Ghosts

Chapter 13

Nigel knocks on my bedroom door before sticking his head in. It’s late evening now, and I’m lying in my bed, thinking about… everything.

I don’t know why I haven’t turned Glenden in yet.

“Colette said you came home in a rage and that I should be careful,” Nigel says warily, coming in and closing the door behind him. “What happened.”

“Nothing,” I say. “I’m fine now.”

He frowns. “You can trust me, Aqua.”

But the problem is, I can’t. I can’t tell him I’m an Elemental.

“I know, and I also know that you value the truth.” My satisfaction slips away. “Which is why I have to tell you that I think we should… stop going out together. You’re like a brother to me,” I hurry to say. “You’re my best friend.”

Nigel looks like he’s been slapped. And then furious.

“You spent the day with Glenden, didn’t you?” He accuses, his voice cold.

I throw my hands up. “Why is that your first conclusion?!”

“Did you?”

“So what if I did?”

“Because every single time Glenden is nice to you, you turn to him. I only won you because he’s an i***t and ignored you.” Nigel, I realize, is bitter and jealous.

My jaw drops. “That’s not true,” I say, the anger seeping from my voice. Is it?

Nigel shakes his head. Without another word, he leaves.

Groaning, I flop onto my pillows and close my eyes.

I’m so done with today.

 Nigel ignores me for the next week, and I’ve never felt so alone. I stay far away from Glenden— I don’t want to risk anything.

I’m walking along the beach, about to pass the bathroom building, when someone grabs my wrist and yanks, hard.

I almost scream when I’m pushed against the wall. It’s darker because of the shade over here, and no one can see me.

See us.

Glenden puts his hands against the wall on either side of my head, and I try to shrink back. It doesn’t work— the wall doesn’t move with me.

“Let me go,” I say quietly, my voice shaking, as I stare at him. 

“I will in a minute. I need to talk to you.”

“I don’t want to talk,” I say, trying to duck under his arm. He moves so that he is blocking me.

“Aqua, I can’t choose who my mother is,” Glenden says, his eyes imploring me to listen and understand. “I know she ruined your life and I know… Gosh, I know.”

I’m frozen in place. He sounds ashamed and… hurt? On my behalf?

“And yes, I was brought back to life and sent here to kill you—”

“WHAT!” I screech, my eyes going wide and forgetting why I’m here, how I got into this position— I don’t care anymore.

Glenden’s eyes go wide.

“You were brought back to life?” I whisper yell. “So… so you died? And were…” I go pale.

A ghost.

Ghosts are real.

My knees go weak and I start to lower myself to the ground, but Glenden catches me and holds me up. 

“Yes, I was a ghost,” he confirms, and my brain just about explodes. I want to cry, but I can’t.

“Cyra brought me back to life so that I could kill you, but I never could,” he explains, his voice soft. “My entire life my mom has worked to make me cold and heartless, but she never could. And you have completely undone anything that worked.”

“I’m not her,” he says, “and I’ve changed. You’ve changed me, somehow, with those brown eyes of yours and your never ending curiosity.” He smiles sadly.

Tears fill my eyes and my chest warms. The compliment is nice, but… can I forgive him for his mother’s faults.

Wouldn’t I want the same thing?

That question sears through my mind, and my smile fades. Yes— if my mother was Cyra, I would want nothing to do with her. I wouldn’t want to be held accountable for her actions.

“I don’t want to be like her,” Glenden whispers. His face is so close to mine. “And I don’t want you to think of me as her’s.”

I stare into those green eyes of his. “Okay,” I say quietly.

His expression brightens. “Really?”

I laugh at the surprise in his voice. “What, you thought I would be hard to convince? I can see reason, you know. And more than that, not only, if I were in your shoes, would I not want to be associated with Cyra, but also… you’re one of my only friends, and you’ve never done anything against me. You saved my life in the mountains and… ” I trail off, blood heating my cheeks. I remember what he said about him caring for me— how he ignored me because he didn’t want to watch me fall for someone else.

It’s a little endearing.

He seems to know what I’m thinking, and he grins as he pulls away from me. I sigh quietly, relieved but also… colder

“Good,” he says, relieved himself and triumphant. “So… do you forgive me for not telling you?”

I pretend to think about it. “Yes. So long,” I add quickly, “as you promise to keep me informed at all times. No more secrets.”

“Deal,” he says quickly. “I promise.”

I beam. I have my friend back.

“I have to go,” Glenden says sadly. “But I’ll see you later, okay?”

I nod, swallowing hard. “Okay.”

He steps forward quickly and puts his hand on the back of my head. He leans down and kisses my forehead, his lips soft. I close my eyes and try to remember to breathe.

And then he pulls back, smiles at me, and disappears.

My heart starts up again, and I sigh as I sink to the ground.

I think about three things:

Ghosts are real. (Okay. I can deal with that.)

Glenden just kissed my forehead. (Oh. My. Gosh.)

I like a ghost boy more than is healthy for anyone.