The Spirit Seer

The Spirit Seer Chapter 4

Letterman wasn’t just talking big, he has stepped up his game. He has now started showing up in my classes and is distracting me. I didn't mind the lunch visits that much, but the class visits have been getting old. It's been a few days and I spend so much time and energy trying to ignore him that I can't focus on class.

Now I'm back at lunch and he is trying a new tactic to annoy me. He is making commentary on everything my friends say. It's unnerving to be the only one who can hear it.

"So, my sister gets jealous because I don't want to let her borrow my shoes that were like 200 dollars. I knew she would totally ruin them if I let her borrow them, so I like, said no. And you know what she does? She washes them in the washing machine to pay me back. And now they're totally ruined. Then when I yelled at her about it she said it was like totally an accident. And my mom totally believed her. Can you like believe that?"

To Rachel, ruined shoes were a catastrophe. She took that stuff very seriously…Maybe a little too seriously; but to each their own, I guess

"Wow, how horrible." Letterman deadpans. "Really these are the people you hang out with? It's a pair of shoes. And who pays 200 dollars for a pair of shoes anyway?"

I had to agree. It was a little ridiculous, but he didn't have to say it. They were my friends. I could think it if I wanted to, but he was just some random ghost.

"I totally get it. My mom once washed this jacket that cost over $100 on sale. It looked amazing on me, and was so comfortable and it was like dry clean only. It shrank and wouldn't fit me anymore. She soooo didn't get it." Becca agreed.

Letterman looks in my direction. "Do you have any friends with anything real to say, or is everyone you know superficial and materialistic?"

So, my friends aren't going to find a cure for cancer, and they prefer to shop. There is nothing wrong with that. The world needs fewer smart and motivated people too. Plus, he died in a Letterman jacket, who was he to judge? Unfortunately, I can't talk back to him. So, I'm stuck listening to him be obnoxious.

"How do you put up with them every day? I would go crazy." Letterman adds for good measure.

I bite my lip to stop myself from telling him where he could go with his annoying, obnoxious comments.

"You know what I mean Bailey?"

Dang it, I got lost in the conversation again while he was distracting me. I really need to get better at multitasking.

"What?"

My friends all look at me suspiciously. "Did you zone out again? What's up Bai? You have never been this distracted before."

Yeah, I have, they just never noticed before. Why do they have to notice now? "I'm worried about my math grade. I haven't been doing very well on my tests." Which was all true, but that wasn't why I zoned out. But they didn't need to know that.

"Don't you have like a B?" Rachel asked me genuinely not understanding my dilemma.

It was a good question. And yes, I have a B. But I am supposed to have an A, and I would if I had a lot fewer ghosts in my life.

"Yeah, I do, but it's my lowest grade. I just don't want it to get any lower."

"I would totally kill for your grades. I think if I came home with even half my grades as high as yours my parents would like throw me a parade."

"Really she isn't on the honor roll? Who would have guessed?" Letterman can’t help but add.

"I know it's not a bad grade, but if I want to get into a good school then I need good grades," I reply trying pointedly to ignore the ghost stalker.

"Or to be a jock. I got into a bunch of schools...full ride. Not that I got to go, but that's beside the point."

It takes all the hard-earned willpower I have not to snap at him. Lucky him that he got into a bunch of schools. I mentally sigh. But he didn't get to go to them because he died…Which makes him a little less lucky. Maybe he has reason to be bitter. Not that I would let him know I was relating to him. Then I’d never get rid of him.

We continued to talk, and he continued to make snarky comments until the bell rings. Eventually, he has to figure out that this won’t work either. Then I hope he'll go away, but something tells me it’s only going to get worse. He doesn't have anything left to lose, and I, unfortunately have everything. How is that fair?

~~~~~

Letterman hasn't shown up yet today. That should make me feel happy, but all it's doing is putting me on edge. I know he's going to show up eventually and until he does I'm left worrying what he's planning. I don't like the feeling very much. I wish he would just show up and bug me already. I know that doesn’t make any sense.

I just know that something is coming and the longer it takes to happen the more I fret about what it could be, and the more nervous and anxious I get. I can’t think of any way he could get me to break but I worry that he’ll figure out a way.

I just want to do my work and be with my friends and be as normal as possible. That’s pretty hard to accomplish when you can see ghosts, I do realize that. I have worked so hard to get that and I hate the idea that one ghost could ruin it all.

I glance around again. I'm not being very subtle, I know that, but I can't seem to help it. No matter how many times I tell myself to relax, it doesn't do any good. I am tenser than ever. Am I being paranoid? Maybe but I think it's warranted in this particular situation.

"Are you looking for someone?" Rachel asks.

"Huh," I say as I face my friends after glancing over my shoulder once more.

"Are you looking for someone? Because you keep looking around like you are expecting someone."

"Oh...um...no" I really need to get myself under control. I don’t want Letterman to know I’m looking for him.

She raises a brow at me. Another one of Rachel's patented practiced looks.

"No, really I'm fine. So, what were we talking about?" I hold my breath hoping she'll let it go. Luckily, she does.

"We're talking about Matt from English. He was clearly hitting on Becca today. But he has a cheerleader girlfriend. You know how all those girls stick together. I was making sure Becca doesn't encourage him."

"I didn't, but he is really cute, and if she doesn't make him happy is that my fault?"

"I have to say, I think it's messed up that he would even go after another girl when he has a girlfriend. A guy should never cheat." Chad says as he squeezes my hand.

I smile at him. That’s one of the many reasons why I like him so much. He wasn't the shady kind of guy. With him, you pretty much got what you thought you would. It was kind of nice. I know how hypocritical that is. I pretty much lie for a living…maybe that’s why I understand the importance of honesty.

"I agree with Rach, it's not worth it, and if he would cheat on her what makes you think he wouldn't cheat on you?"

“I guess, but he really likes me I can totally tell.”

Maybe he does, but I doubt it. He sort of sounds like the kind of guy who always wants someone else, like he isn’t happy with what he has so he’s always looking for something better.

"I’m sure he does Becs, but if he’s a stand-up enough guy to deserve you, then he should be stand-up enough to end it with the other girl first. Otherwise, it just proves he only thinks of you as a side chick. You deserve better than that."

"I guess you’re right. I don’t want to be the other girl. I deserve to be in first place."

"Right," I agree.

Becca doesn’t usually have the best taste in guys. She just wants to be loved so she latches on to every guy who is sweet to her. I worry about that sometimes. I try and help her value herself a little more. I really hope she takes our advice. It could get really messy if she doesn't.

I’m finally starting to relax and focus on something other than that darned ghost, and of course, he picks that minute to pop up...literally. He appears out of thin air and says "boo", loudly.

I jump about ten feet in the air and let out a very undignified screech.

Too late I realize I scared the bajeeses out of my friends. It didn’t do me much good either. My heart is beating a mile a minute and my stomach is in my throat. I hate being scared. I know some people like it, but I’ve never been one of those people.

"What the hell Bailey?" I look at my friends guiltily.

How can I explain this one away? They don't see the very smug-looking ghost standing in front of me.

I plaster on a fake smile. "Um, sorry, I felt like I was going to fall off the bench. It freaked me out for a second." I smile again and hold in the groan that wants to come out with that ridiculous lie. How am I this bad at lying? I’ve pretty much lied to everybody in my life for years now. Shouldn’t I be better at it?

I nearly fell? Really? That was the best I could come up with? Maybe I could have thought better if my heart wasn’t beating a million miles a minute and I wasn’t still terrified.

They give me weird looks. I know I am acting like an i***t, but I don't know what else to do. I can’t believe this is happening I knew this ghost was up to something, the jerk. If I wasn’t trying to act normal I would kill him...again. Is he trying to ruin my life? He must be, that’s the only explanation for his idiotic behavior.

"I'm feeling a little funny, so I think I'm going to go to the nurse. I'll see you guys later."

Yup, escape is the only option. I totally agree. I am barely holding it together. I need a moment to catch my breath and handle the jerk. This is ending now.

They murmured their goodbyes, and I high-tail it out of there. That was so freaking embarrassing. I quickly walk a ways away and then lean against a tree and close my eyes. I fight back the tears of frustration that suddenly fill my eyes. That was an unmitigated disaster.

How am I going to get myself out of this one? They must think I’m a complete i***t. Things have got to change, or my friends are going to start to talk. I have worked too hard to be seen as normal to give it all up now. Contrary to popular belief, my friends aren’t that dumb. They will eventually start to wonder what has gotten into me.

It’s easier most days because they don’t tend to think about other people much, but they are my best friends and they do care about me in their way. They have to notice something is going on eventually. I don’t want them to realize I’ve been lying to them and saying half-truths our entire friendship.

They may not be the most caring people, but they’ve been good to me and I don’t want to lose them. I really don’t have anyone else I’m close to in my life. Frankly, that’s kind of sad considering how many lies and half-truths are between us, but I can’t focus on that now, or I really will cry.

I have to do something. I have to talk to Letterman and try to fix whatever his problem is, so he doesn’t keep trying to ruin me. Something has to change I can’t keep this up. It’s a hard-enough balancing act under normal circumstances. I can’t totally let my guard down ever, because I could slip up and everyone could find out what I can do and that would ruin all my carefully woven webs of fibs and half-truths.

I take my cell out of my pocket and put it up to my ear. "Okay, you win."

"Me?" The infuriating ghost asks. He had followed me of course.

"Yes you... okay, you win. What do you want?"

"I told you, I need your help."

I sigh. "Fine, but I can't talk here, can you leave the school?"

Some ghosts could go places, but others were stuck in one single location. It depends on where and how they died, but also who or what’s tying them to earth. And since he has always come to me at school, He might be stuck here.

"I can leave."

I nod. "Okay, meet me at my house tonight on my back porch and we'll talk about what it is you need."

"Okay"

I didn’t question if he knew where I lived, ghosts had odd senses. They also saw the world differently than we did. I also figured “Mr. Resourceful” could figure it out if he wanted it enough. It wasn’t my problem and I didn’t care much if I ever saw him again. I just want this over and done with.

I had resolved the problem, but it just made me feel worse. I did not have a good feeling about any of this. What will the ghost want me to do?