The Spirit Seer

Chapter 18

I sit on my bed alone that night. I have an idea but I'm not really sure how to put it into action. Jayne is supposed to be here in a few minutes and now I need one more person to set my plan into motion. I'm just not sure how to get them here.

I don't really know how all this ghost stuff works. I don't know how to contact a ghost. When I was a kid they were just sort of always there. Anytime I wanted them, I just had to sort of think of them. I have an idea, but it might make me look and feel pretty foolish. I guess I can stand to look a little silly for the greater good.

I decide to just go for it, might as well. "Spencer, I need to talk to you. If you can hear me can you come?" I speak out loud into the universe.

I look around waiting, but nothing happens. Guess that doesn't work. How am I going to get Spencer here?

"You rang?" Spencer says as he appears in the middle of my room.

I jump in surprise. "You scared the crap out of me. Can't you like knock first or something?"

"You called me. I showed up. You would think you'd know I was coming."

Well maybe, but "I didn't think it would actually work."

"Well, congratulations it did. What's up?"

Yeah, apparently it did. "Well, I was hoping you'd do me a favor."

"What is it?"

"I told you about Jayne, the other ghost I'm helping. Well, she is pretty new as a ghost and she doesn't really know how to interact in your world. I was hoping maybe you would help her."

"I don't think that's such a good idea, besides I'm kinda focused on my brother right now."

I had kind of expected him to be more on board with helping me, and a fellow ghost. It annoys me that he didn't even think about it before shooting me down.

"Well you know I'm helping you with Heath the least you could do is help me out." I hadn't planned to bring Heath up, really, I hadn't but his instant dismissal of my request had really bothered me. It just came shooting out of my mouth completely against my will...I swear.

"There hasn't really been that much helping as of late." He mumbles.

Seriously? I have gone out of my way for this selfish ghost. "I'll have you know I just talked to Heath today and we are going to have lunch in the next few days...see helping," I say gesturing to myself.

He sighs. I didn't know ghosts could sigh, but he somehow managed it. "Well, when you put it that way I guess I don't have much choice."

Now it's my turn to sigh. "Of course, you have a choice. I was just hoping you'd make the right one."

He's quiet for a minute and I try to think what else I can do to help Jayne. I really can't think of another way to help her.

"You're right; I should help because you asked me to. You didn't have to help me with Heath, but you did. So, I'll help her."

I sigh in relief. Jayne is a nice girl and she deserves better than she has right now.

That's when Jayne pops in. "Hey, I wasn't sure if you still wanted me to come by or not but here I am. You know in case you did, but if you didn’t then I can go, yah know?" She rambles quietly.

"Of course, Jayne. I'm glad you could make it. The reason I asked you to stop by is..." I pause and glance at Spencer, silently asking him if he's sure that he'll help her.

At his silent nod, I continue. "This is Spencer; he's another ghost that I'm helping. He has graciously agreed to show you more about the ghost world. Isn't that nice?" I might be laying it on a little thick, but if I make it seem like it was his idea, maybe he'll be more likely to follow through.

She looks up into his eyes from across the room. And if a ghost could blush she would be doing it right now. "He doesn't have to do that. I don't want to put him out."

I open my mouth to tell her it's fine, but I don't get the chance because he talks first.

"I don't mind. It'll be fun. I can show you all the "haunts".”

She giggles. I almost laugh but I just barely manage to hold it in. They are looking at each other smiling and it's like I'm not even in the room.

They decide to go off to a popular ghost hangout. "I'll see you later Bailey. Is that ok?"

I smile reassuringly at her. "It's fine. Have fun."

They leave, and I lean back against my headboard. I can't help but smile. I was just trying to help Jayne adjust and I may have made a love connection. They were clearly feeling each other. I can’t wait to see how this plays out.

~~~~~

A few days later, I don’t hesitate as I walk towards Heath's table. It's kind of nice not to have to stress out about it anymore. It's not a big deal now. Heath sits alone eating. It must be hard to be so alone. I've never noticed anyone else around him. I’m glad that he has me now.

I silently walk up behind him. He doesn't look up, so I put my hands on his shoulders and say "hey" maybe a little louder than necessary.

He jumps. "Dang, you scared me."

My laugh sounds slightly evil as I sit down across from him. That was way more fun than it should have been. I think I've been spending way too much time with Spencer. His evil ways are starting to rub off on me.

I smile at Heath and try to look even a little bit remorseful. "Sorry," I bite my lip trying to keep the bigger more, wicked smile inside.

He looks at me assessing. "I don't know if I believe that, but that look on your face is so cute, I'm willing to let you get away with it."

My face heats up at his compliment. I don't know why it felt so good coming from him. People have called me cute before. Maybe it was the intensity in his eyes. I don't know, but I'm a little scared to analyze it too closely.

I meet his eyes and there's this moment, I don't really know how to define it, but I couldn't look away even if I wanted to. Our eyes are locked and I'm starting to feel warm all over. We don't say anything, and we don't need to. It's all said without actually being spoken.

I start to worry where this might go, but then we are interrupted.

"Hey, sorry I'm late again. My teacher held me after. Then there was a line but I'm here now."

A girl says as she sits down next to Heath. I don't recognize her. She has this curly, wavy red hair. She has a lot of energy about her. She's the type you might describe as a spitfire.

She keeps talking while she gets situated and then she looks at me and stops talking. She's quiet for a second. "What is she doing here?"

Before I can say anything, Heath jumps in. "This is Bailey, and this is Zoey." He smiles at us.

Who is this Zoey girl? And why does she seem so familiar with Heath? I get a queasy feeling in my stomach, especially after that moment we shared. Did I misread things?

"I know who she is, but why is she here?" Zoey asks giving me the evil eye.

There is a distinct coldness coming from Zoey’s side of the table. Why is she acting like I kicked her puppy? I think I would remember doing something like that. "Did I step into something? Cuz I can totally go somewhere else if there's something going on." I ask waving my hands between them.

It hurts more than I thought it would to offer that. I don’t really understand why though. I like Heath...as a friend obviously, since you know, I have a boyfriend but still it makes me feel uncomfortable that he could have a girlfriend.

Zoey opens her mouth and I get the feeling she's probably going to tell me to hit the bricks, but Heath talks before she can.

"Us?" Heath laughs. "No, we are just friends, you are totally welcome here."

He laughs again and looks at Zoey who laughs as well. But the moment he's not looking anymore her smile turns into a frown.

Maybe there isn't anything going on, but I think she wants there to be. "Um, good then."

"Isn't your project over?" Zoey asks pointedly.

Apparently, Heath didn't pick up on the hostility she was shooting my way. "Yeah it is, and somehow she managed to get us an A. I can't remember the last time I got an A. But this means I can slack off more in that class now."

I give him my mock annoyed face. "Why don't you just keep doing well? Build on the A."

He smiles cocky back at me. "Cuz I have a reputation to protect. What would people think if I actually started doing well?"

"Ohhh gawwwwd forbid people don't realize you’re a slacker. Believe me, your appearance makes that clear."

He laughs. "Well thank you, all part of the image."

Now I laugh. "You are impossible."

We meet eyes again; it's still powerful but not as commanding. The rest of lunch goes pretty smoothly. Heath and I talk, and Zoey adds a few things here and there with urging from Heath. It wasn't the greatest time, but with Heath there it was nice.