The Spirit Seer

Chapter 9

I sit on a bench between classes. My mind wanders to Heath. I've been thinking about him a lot since we talked the other day. I feel kind of weird about the whole thing. I haven't been that honest with anyone in a long time. I don't really know how to feel about it. It was kind of nice to get to open up to someone even a little bit. I didn't tell him everything, not by a long shot, but it was a start. I also can't help but wonder about the sadness in his voice at the end of our talk. It makes me wonder if it has anything to do with the "deep dark" secret Spencer mentioned. I am seriously curious. But I think to find out I may have to reveal my secret and I just don't know if it's worth it. Even if I do want to help Spencer. And I do, that danged ghost has sort of started to grow on me.

I can't help but worry about what will happen if I can't help him. Does that mean I am going to have to put up with the annoying ghost forever? I definitely don't want that. I just want things to go back to normal.

I grab my backpack and start heading to class. That's when I see her. I freeze in motion. Standing a few feet away from me is Jayne, well her ghost. I can't help but stare. I have never seen anyone as a ghost that I knew while they were alive. It's a little disconcerting.

I guess I didn't really know Jayne. The only reason I really what she looks like, is because her picture has been plastered on every news station for days. It never occurred to me that I would see her ghost.

I am so caught off guard that I don't remember to pretend I can't see her. We lock eyes. I stare into her eyes for a few seconds, and finally shock registers on her face. That's when it clicks in my head what I'm doing, and I look away.

I take a deep breath. I have seen ghosts my whole life and they have never freaked me out this much. My palms are sweaty and I'm having trouble catching my breath.

"Can you see me?"

I don't have to look up to know who asked that. I slipped again. I accidentally let her know I can see her. I looked too long. I could pretend I didn't hear her and go on my way, but there had been so much hesitation and sadness in her voice that I don't have the heart to do that. I also can't help but think of Spencer. I kind of like him being around. It was my fault that I had messed up.

So, I hesitantly look at her as I grab my phone and put it up to my ear. "Yeah, Jayne I can see you."

Her eyes widen in surprise. "Wow, that is so cool. Nobody has been able to see me in a while. I guess since I died."

I nod, "Yeah most people can't see you after you die." I'm just relieved she knows she's dead. Sometimes they don’t, and we have to tell them. It's hard.

Once when I was still seeing ghosts there was a ghost who couldn't remember past a few minutes and she kept forgetting she was dead. My mom and I had to remind her a lot. Most of the time we didn't bother, but when others couldn't see her, or she did something “ghost-like”, she would freak. Then we would have to tell her. It could suck at times, but she was a fun ghost most of the time. She was old and a bit wacky. It was hilarious to my kid self.

"You can see us? That is so weird. I wouldn't think someone like you could do that."

That was a little weird. We didn't even really know each other but she’s talking like she knows me. "Someone like me? Do you even know me?"

She smiles. "Everybody knows who you are. You're Bailey Bennett. Best friends with Rachel and Becca girlfriend of Chad, and one of the most popular girls in school."

Wow, she does know of me. It is a little perplexing. I don't think I know anything about her, other than what’s been reported since she died. Yet she knows my school stats. I knew I was popular, but not quite this popular.

She must see the weirded out look on my face. "I wasn't a stalker or anything like that. I totally swear."

I smile. "I believe you."

The bell rings. I guess our conversation has to end. "What do you need?"

"I need your help. I wouldn't ask, but you are the only one who has seen me."

I nod. I hesitate though. I got roped into helping Spencer but the more ghosts I talk to at school the more chance of me messing up and people thinking I'm crazy. But I'm already breaking my rule for one ghost, why not one more?

"Can you leave campus?"

She quickly nods.

"I don't have time to help you right now, but if you come to my house tonight we can talk about it. I live at 1378 Maple St."

"Ok, I'll be there tonight."

She disappears. She seems really relieved and that's nice. But I am nervous, what if I just made a mistake?

~~~~~

I sit on my bed preparing for my meeting with Jayne in a few minutes. I'm nervous. I volunteered to help her, and I want to, but I'm afraid I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I have Spencer and Heath to deal with, and now taking on Jayne. What was I thinking?

I guess that's the thing. I wasn't thinking. I didn't stop and think it through. I just did it. My first instinct was to help her so I did. It may be a mistake but at least I followed my gut on this.

"When are you going to contact my brother next?" Spencer asks, suddenly appearing in my room.

I jump. I hate it when he does that. One of these days he's going to give me a heart attack. He's going to feel bad then, because there won't be anybody to pass on his messages. "Do you have to do that?"

"What?" He asks innocently.

I don't buy it for a second. We have talked about it way too many times for him not to know what I mean. I give him my best "I'm not buying it" look.

"What do you want Letterman?" I call him the nickname that I had dubbed him before I knew his actual name, because I know how much it bugs him.

He glares at me. Yup, he doesn't like that nickname, and I love to call him it. "I want to know what you are going to do about my brother. And that is not my name."

I smile. "I know that."

He glares again, and I bite my lip to keep from smiling even wider.

Finally, I let out a dramatic sigh. "We made some progress at our last meeting. I don't want to bombard him. I need to use some finesse."

"If you keep going this slowly he's going to graduate before you get close enough to him."

Considering he's a sophomore like me, that seems highly unlikely, but I know he's just exaggerating so I ignore it. "I will find some time to talk to him tomorrow ok?"

He nods. "Ok, sorry I'm being pushy; I just really want to get on with this."

I look at the ghost that has become such a part of my life and I notice he looks worried. I wonder why he's so worried about his brother. I have a feeling it has to do with the secret he refuses to tell me. But I know better than to ask. He won't tell me about his brother until I tell Heath the truth.

So, I decide to change the subject. "I met a new ghost."

He seems surprised and I can't really blame him. It's no secret that I avoid them.

"Who is it?"

"It's a girl named Jayne who was recently murdered. She's coming over tonight, so I can learn what she wants my help with."

"This is going to sound kind of selfish, but is this going to interfere with you helping me?"

I don't think so. I silently answer.

I don't even know what she's going to want me to do. But I am determined to help Spencer, so I think I can make them both work.

"I think I can help you both. I am determined and when I put my mind to something, I stick with it."

"Ok, then this should be interesting to see."

That didn't sound very good. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You are already pretty freaked out about having one ghost in your perfect life. I can't wait to see how you handle two."

Now that was just mean. But unfortunately, also true. Spencer being around has complicated things, am I ready to add more complications on top of it? I don't think I thought this though. I had finally sort of come to terms with things before Spencer showed up today and now I'm more confused than ever. How am I possibly going to help both ghosts and keep the life I've built for myself?