two ghosts | benoftheweek

ᴏɴᴇ

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tatum's pov

ever since kailey died, everything's been so different. mom stopped cooking dinner and dad started working extra hours.

kailey was not only my sister, but my best friend. we told each other everything. she was 2 years older than me and was about to go to college majoring in music. music was her passion. she wrote songs and always sang them to me on our trampoline in the backyard. i haven't been on there since the accident happened last summer.

my best friends, riley and peyton, have been trying to get me to do things such as going back to painting or drawing, but I just have no energy anymore. i don't have the energy or motivation for anything.

"what's for dinner?" my father asked as he took his shoes off. "we can order pizza." i replied. "works with me." dad said. "jennifer? you fine with pizza?" dad asked. mom took her gaze off of the tv and looked up at him and replied with a, "yup."

-

the table was silent as we all ate. dad forced us to eat like a regular family again, as if we would ever be normal again. not after kailey.

"so you know ben? one of my students?" he asked. "the student who ur close with?" mom asked. "yeah that one." he continued. "well he's having problems at home and his parents are going through a divorce and it's really hard on him. he needs somewhere to stay for a bit so i invited him to stay with us." i stopped chewing.

"for a few days.. right?" I asked. he looked up and said, "for the whole summer. he said he just needs a break from everything." this summer has been the worst without kailey. everyday has been living hell without her. now I have to live with a stranger for 3 months? "why would you invite a stranger to live with us?" i bickered. "it's just temporary, it's for a few months. he really needs a place to stay tate.. put yourself in his shoes." he sighed. "this summer is gonna be weird." i mumbled.

"jenn? how do you think about this?" dad asked. "you're doing a good thing. he can stay in the guest room. tatum you'll barely even see ben you're always in your room anyways." my mom said. i rolled my eyes."whatever.. when is he coming anyways?" i asked. "in two days. he's your age too so i'm sure you guys can get along fine." dad replied. "whatever i doubt it." i muttered.

-

the next morning i woke up to my phone going off.

riley
tate

tatum

bitch

TATUM WAKE UP

tate
what?

riley
oh hi

tate
shut up. what
do you need

riley
can me and pey
come over today?

tate
sure lemme js
get read rq

i then heard the front door open and shut. "hey jenn." i heard a familiar voice say then footsteps coming up the stairs.

i sat up, stretched and rubbed my eyes.
"heyyy" peyton exclaimed as the two opened the door. "bro were you guys outside my house the whole time?" riley started picking up dirty clothes off my floor and into my laundry basket. "so, how are you?" she asked with concern. "i'm doing fine. can you close the curtain?" i said groggily.

"it's literally 2pm." peyton asked. "i slept at like 5. i was on tiktok." i said, still trying to wake up.

then I remembered that my dad said someone was staying with us. what was his name? brad? bill? ben! "oh my god you guys will never guess what my dad told me last night." i said. the two looked at each other, intrigued.

"someone is gonna live with me. a guy." riley's face went from curious to excited. "holy shit tate!! is he cuteee? when's he coming? why is he moving in?" she bombarded me with questions. "i don't know. tomorrow. his parents are getting divorced so my dad volunteered to let him stay with us for the summer." i answered.

"ur lying" peyton said speechless. "i know. it's going to be so weird." i replied. "i hope he's cuteee." riley swooned. yea right...

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A/N
hi everyone!!! welcome to two ghosts, i hope you enjoy this story! writing it has been very fun and i'm so glad this story is getting reads and that i get to share this story with people! i wrote this story when i was like 13 so it might seem a little silly at some parts but i'm back and rewriting some parts and fixing stuff :) - r <3

8-9-22