After apologising for my weirdness to a doctor who didn't want to hear a word of it and apologised himself, Dr Sean promised to see me at the "meeting" in the evening. Then Nathan, Kota, North and I began to walk to the car park. North held my hand tightly as if he was terrified I would run again. I didn't mind at all. There was something about his strong grip and warm musk that grounded me.
When we got to the cars, North explained that he had to stop by his Uncle's diner before going to Kota's place. After we watched him hop on his motor bike and ride off, Kota encouraged me to sit up the front. I declined since I was shorter than Nathan who probably needed the leg space. Nathan also refused the front seat, saying that he'd much rather spend the drive in the back seat with a pretty girl. This rendered me speechless for a few moments.
The drive was filled with bantering, laughter and music, but I couldn't turn my head from the window. We drove through new neighbourhoods - places I had not had the courage to walk to. The houses were different to the ones around the school. I couldn't help but imagine what the indoor layout of the places was like - a habit I picked up from wondering down streets on my own for so long.
I sighed as I thought back to what had happened in the office. Dr Sean, thankfully, didn't push me to go to the hospital. He didn't push me to tell me what had happened. He only told me that they wouldn't be able to help me if I kept it all inside.
I wanted to tell them. I would tell them. But we had all only met today. Meeting them was the most wonderful, most confusing and the most painful thing to happen in my existence as a ghost. Trust wasn't something that came easy to me. Guilt and the need to be approved did. Maybe those habits and feelings were from my old life.
It must have been incredibly sad.
"Sang, what about this one?" Nathan said poking at my arm. He continued to play the air guitar lifting his arms up high as the guitar rift played on the radio. Laughter burst out of me at the scene and Kota's expression- a mix of disbelief and amusement.
"Sit down, Nathan, you're going to get us pulled over."
"We are just two blocks away. It's fine," Nathan huffed, rolling his eyes at his friend. "And we haven't even seen Sang rock the air guitar yet."
Did I hear that right? "Me?"
"It's tradition. All back seat riders must jam to the radio on the air guitar at lease once throughout a trip," Nathan announced officially in a posh sounding accent, "It has been a rule for centuries."
"Now I know it's not a real rule," I giggled. Nathan's teasing grin caused me heart to jump with its warmth.
"Well it's a rule that will have to be exempted for today," Kota said pulling into a drive way of a two story house, "Since we're here already."
"But don't start thinking you've gotten out of it, Peanut," Nathan said as he opened the car door on his side, "you'll be having two rounds of guitar playing next car trip."
I hadn't noticed that Kota was out of the car before he until he was opening my car door for me. He smiled kindly at me when I thanked him. It was very sweet of him, even though it was a little unnessesary.
Standing outside, I could see the whole ranch styled house very clearly. It was two story, with a room above the garage that looked recently built in. The boys began to walk towards the garage after locking up the car and so I quickly followed.
Kota was explaining how is mum was at work when a big golden animal flung itself onto me, causing me to fall back on the floor awkwardly on my hip and right fore arm. The dog gave me a big lick and was obviously excited meeting someone new.
"Max! Off!!"
As Max the dog hops off me, happily wagging his tail, Nathan quickly comes to my aid, helping me up. Shocked, but amused I quickly reasured Kota that it was ok.
"Animals have always seemed to be able to see me," I explained, patting Max on the head and thinking of the cute dog at the park I had played with the other day, "They've have been a sort of company to me."
It took a moment for me to realise how pitiful that sounded. Suddenly uncomfortable with the weight of their too observing gases, I looked at my shoes.
Nathan suddenly bumped his shoulder against mine. "Well, now you have so much company you'll be sick of us."
He smirked and sent me a wink before heading towards the door. I didn't bother telling him how I didn't think it was possible to be sick of their company as I followed him beside Kota.
After walking through a hall, the boys led me up a set of carpeted stairs into a large room that must have been Kota's. It was a spacious, yet warm room with a large bed pushed to the side, a desk and a book case. There were two other doors, one of which was slightly open to reveal a bathroom. The window facing the front of the house had a bench seat, filled with embroidered pillows making it seem cosy.
Kota invited me to sit on his bed, breaking my admiration of the warm environment. After living so long in the cold and lonely school halls, this felt so much better. Miles beyond better. I sat on his bed, feeling the softness of his sheets, listening to them discuss the ridiculousness of the school before Kota talked about making his famous hot chocolate and Nathan complain about how it's not that great.
I could really get used to this.
Nathan suggested that we played some video games while Kota made his "extraordinary" chocolate drink. Kota rolled his eyes, but agreed and led us the the lounge that looked just as warm and inviting as his room. Nathan pulled a few pillows from the couch and placed them in front of the couch itself. He called it his prime gaming spot.
Two racing games and cups of hot chocolate in, I was resorting to cheating tactics to make up for the fact I couldn't play well. I currently had been poking Nathan's sides with my big toe. He dropped a hand from the controller and used it to tickle my foot causing me to jerk around and giggle and my car to drive off the track.
"Cheating will get you no where," he teased.
Not the best multi-tasker when it came to video games and cheating, I needed support. I looked towards Kota who grinned at me and reached towards the controller in my hands. Handling it to him gratefully, I got to work.
I tried to tickle him but there was no response other than tension. I tried standing I front of him, but he moved his head and body to be able to see the screen. The next thing I did was a cheap shot, but it was the only other think I could think of.
I crawled up behind him on the couch and covered his eyes with my hands.
"Hey!"
"Go, Kota, go!!" I cheered, holding on to Nathan as he attempted to shake me off. I could tell he wasn't really mad at me as he was laughing as much as I was.
Nathan's car swerved into another blockade the same time as my car passed the finish line, much thanks to Kota.
As I was celebrating a hard fought win, Gabriel and Victor strolled in.
"What is this?" Victor ask, sounding amused and causing me to blush like crazy. The fire in his eyes was bright and teasing.
"Sang's a little cheater," explained Nathan still laughing, "she made Kota team up against me and covered my eyes."
Gabriel shook his head, "Trouble is trouble."
I grinned cheekily at him in reply.
XxXxXxX
Thank you so much for your comments last chapter! I know, writing in another POV was a bit random and may have not been the best, but I'm really, really happy you guys enjoyed it!
I also know that this chapter is a little slow and not much excitement or action. I'm not super happy with it. I just want to give Sang some time to cool down. Also, I've got the next chapter almost ready to upload! It'll be up tomorrow or maybe sooner. I am very, very excited about it.
See you then!