Ghosts

Chapter 7

It's been a couple weeks since Max and I made an agreement to work together and help ghosts as a team.

And I truly don't mind it at all.

Max has been coming over every day after school since we made an agreement and we've helped one ghost each day.

As we sit in my room on my bed we talk about the "Ghost of the Day".

"We could just not help him... I mean that guy was not respectful at all to you. If it were possible, I would have punched him in the face until he died. But since he's already dead, and it isn't possible for me to even touch a ghost, it would not have worked in my favor." Max tells me.

"No... We have to help him. Even if he was a big asshole. I wish we didn't but I feel like we need to." I say.

"You know, we should just take a break from this whole Ghost Helpers stuff and get to know each other. I don't even know your favorite food. Or color. Or..." He trails off.

"We should, but what are you getting at?" I feel like I know his answer and I really hope he doesn't say what I think he will.

"I just feel like we should bond. Be like friends or something... That way we can trust each other more, I guess." Max says a little quick.

Why did he say this faster than usual? Thank god he didn't ask me to go on a date with him. I feel like it would be incredibly awkward...

He only wants to be friends. Good.

"Okay. I'll start..." I think for a second to ask him a question. Once I have it I ask, "What is your favorite animal?" It's simple, but a start.

"Why would you start it off hard? I don't know what my favorite animal is. Maybe a dog..." Max says thoughtfully.

"I don't understand how you wouldn't know what your favorite animal--" I start.

"Well, what's yours?" Max interrupts.

"Dolphins. See? It isn't hard." I say simply.

"I never really think about what my favorite animal would be. There's no point." Max says. "Next question. I'll ask you one of my own..." Max stops to think for a little bit. Once he gets one his face lights up a little bit. "When did you realize you could see ghosts?" He asks.

I think for a little bit because I wasn't expecting a question so broad. But I answered quickly. "I was 7. I was playing dolls in my new room which was at an old house. I met a kid who was living in my room. Of course he was dead, but I didn't think so. So I ran to tell my parents that someone was in my room and I had a friend already. When they came in they didn't see him, obviously, and they just thought it was a new imaginary friend. It made sense. But I wanted to know why I could actually see a person who really wasn't there. I couldn't touch him or anything so I knew that he was a ghost. It scared me, but I couldn't say anything because even then I knew my parents would think I'm crazy and take me in to be checked out when I was clearly fine. I never could save the kid because we moved about a year later. He was kind of my friend. I don't remember his name, but he was the first ghost I saw." I finish.

"Wow... I was 13." Max says.

"How is it possible to not see a ghost until then? I thought that you would have seen one before me." I say.

"Nah. It was weird. I really don't want to get into it." Max says as he takes his hand through his hair, combing it out a little.

"Tell me, tell me! Please!" I bounce up and down like a child.

"No. It's embarrassing. It's something for older kids." He says like he's talking to a 5 year old, which I was imitating pretty well.

"Why?" I whine, but then realize that I'm annoying him and myself.

"That's so annoying. Why do kids do that stuff? I'm surprised we didn't annoy ourselves when we would whine like that. Thank god I don't have to listen to that. You, though, must get so annoyed with your brothers." He says with a little chuckle.

"They're the worst." I say. I have 3 little brothers and one older sister who is a freshman in college. I'd do anything to be in her place.

He nods his head. "Sometimes being an only child rocks. Other times it's just boring and terrible. I've never had anyone to tease." Then his face lights up a little and he gets a sideways smile that is a little sexy... But why would I say this? I'm going a little off subject and I can't like him...

Can I?

"Don't you dare!" I say, but he doesn't listen.

He comes close to me and says with a high pitched voice "Your hair is so so terrible." Then "You're so short."

"What are you? A five year old?" I ask with a laugh. "You don't even know how to hurt my feelings!"

"Well, I'm gonna tell mommy." He continues with a whine and a fake frown with his lower lip pushed out. He looked even hotter even though he was trying to act like a little kid. But what am I saying?! I don't like him. I don't.

"Oh shut up already, Max!" I say, acting annoyed but trying hard not to laugh or blush because he is really close to me now.

"Will you go and tattle on me?" He asks, still like a kid.

"Yes." I whine, trying not to giggle. But this is seriously getting annoying.

"I think we should shut up about the kid thing, it's annoying me now..." Max says, pulling a hand through his hair. He's still super close to my face and it scares me a little. What if something happens unexpectedly? I really, really hope not.

I realize we haven't talked for a few minutes, and it's a little more awkward.

"I think we've run out of time to help that one guy." Max says to break the silence. He jumps up and off the bed quickly.

"Crap!" I say as I look at my clock and see that it's seven o'clock-- time for Max to leave.

"I better get going or else my parents will be wondering. Can you give me a ride? Or am I gonna have to walk home? It's freezing outside." He says.

"Oh, yeah. I can give you a ride." I say, then stand up. I grab my keys and shrug my jacket on. Once I'm ready, so is Max. We walk to my car and I drive him home.


The drive is quiet. He looks at me a lot while I'm driving and I'm tempted to punch him or yell at him, but for some reason I don't.

"Thanks for the ride, Marney." He says and then gets out of my car. He smiles at me and then walks off to his front porch and turns around to wave me a goodbye. I wave back quickly, then pull out of his driveway. I thought I didn't like him, but I do. I really do.

I like Max Thompson.


~Author's Note~

Was this a jump? Or is this okay? I'm not so sure I liked how this chapter went, but I guess it just has to do!

I'll probably post another chapter or two tomorrow because I don't have school due to cold weather. Sometimes I'm glad I live where I do!

But the cold is too cold for my liking...

Oh well! Comment, vote, and/or follow!

Thanks for reading!