"How do you like your new room, Raven?" my mother called.
I spun in a slow circle around the loft space. The entire top floor was mine. That was a perk I didn't have when we moved the first twelve times. It's normally small, busy apartments. Having a house is nice for a change.
"It's great," I replied. "All it's missing is a big shiny bow, and a floppy ribbon."
My mother's heels clicked up the stairs. "Can you cut the sarcasm for once in your life?"
I glanced at the ceiling while puffing air into my cheeks. "Hmm, no, it doesn't seem possible."
She threw a list at me. I caught it against my chest. I glanced down the lined paper. "What's this?"
"Last minute shopping list. Run into town while I finish moving our stuff in."
I groaned, snapping my head back.
"It's not that hard, Raven."
That's not the point.
She raised her eyebrows haughtily. "Now you have nothing smart to say? Good. Now get to it."
She swept back down the stairs. I fell backwards onto my bare bed, my faded dark blue tipped-hair fanning around my shoulders. I knew I should go. I just wanted to stay in one place so Nathaniel can find me easier. I told him we were moving and where, but he hasn't shown up yet.
I sat up. He would find me. I'll give him a day before I allowed myself to worry anymore than I already was. Stuffing my mother's list in my back pocket, I thumped down the stairs into the kitchen. I laced up my shoes and slammed the screen door shut behind me.
Leaves crunching under my checkered Vans, I walked along the sidewalk onto main street. If it could even be called that. I tucked a strand of black and blue hair behind my ear and stuffed my hands in the back pockets of my dark wash jeans.
Old buildings mixed with new developments lined the faded, cracked street. I pulled out my mother's list and scanned the items. It mostly consisted of tools and a couple things from the drug store.
I looked around and I didn't see a corner store or drug store of any kind. Pulling out my phone, I searched on Google Maps. There was only one store in the entire town. I followed my directions until my phone stopped me in front of a sloping, slumped excuse for a building.
Sighing, I pushed the door open. A bell chimed as I entered, jingling from above. I moved through the rows of shelves, grabbing my mother some toiletries she left back in the city, along with some instant meals for tonight. I doubted she'd have time to cook, like always.
I slid the products on the counter. The dead-eyed middle aged cashier rung me up and pushed the white plastic bag at me.
"Have a good day."
"You too." I rolled my eyes.
I pushed the door open and stepped out onto the empty sidewalk. Now time for a hardware store. Pressing my thumb into my phone, I unlocked it and opened Google Maps. There seemed to be only one in the entire town.
I'm sensing a running theme here.
I pulled the sleeves of my black and white flannel over my palms as I continued down the street.
A cold shudder passed over me. Goosebumps rose over my skin. A hand ran through my hair. I spun, and the hand disappeared.
Shaking my head, I moved off the main road and into a side street between two buildings. I glared at the faint figure standing in front of me.
"Show yourself before you piss me off any more."
Nathaniel materialized, a smirk playing on his lips. "Miss me?"
"Duh," I replied, wrapping my arms around his neck.
His arms wrapped around my waist and rested gently on my back. "Gotta say, I've missed human contact."
I nodded into his neck. "Me too."
"At least you have the option besides me. You just choose not to be around other people."
I stepped out of his hug. "Because other people are annoying."
He grinned. "So how's the new house?"
I shrugged. "The entire loft is mine, but it feels … fake. The house is warm and cozy but the people who live in it are the polar opposite."
He put his arm around my shoulder. "It'll be okay."
"Easy for you to say," I exhaled. "You're not stuck with my mom or left alone with an annoying nanny every day of your life."
He raised his eyebrows at me. "Really? My life? The one that ended like seventeen years ago?"
I raised my hands. "Right. Sorry."
He rumpled my hair.
"Hey!" I protested, flipping my hair back from my face. I flipped him off as his cackles echoed in my head.
We left the alley, walking towards the hardware store. I pressed my phone to my ear as I spoke to Nathaniel so I didn't seem like I was talking to myself. After all, only necromancers could see or interact with ghosts. I could also raise them from the dead as zombies, but that wasn't anything I ever planned on trying.
No one knew my secret. Only Nathaniel. He discovered me two years ago and we became fast friends. We both felt alone in this world, but together we felt less lonely. He'd been wandering the physical plane as a spectre for fifteen years because "the powers above" or whatever didn't let him pass onto heaven or hell or whatever lies ahead for us when we die.
I bought a few tools for my mother and dropped that bag into the one from the drug store. At least I was done. I saw a large group of teenagers walking down the street towards me. I ducked through an alley, attempting to find a shortcut and avoid any social interaction.
"Someone's jumpy."
I froze. That wasn't Nathaniel. I spun, and a guy was standing right behind me. He looked to be seventeen or eighteen, his black hair spiky and unruly. I felt his alarmingly green eyes capturing my gaze.
"Don't let him see he's scaring you," Nathaniel murmured in my ear. "It'll only make him bother you more."
He was right. I met his gaze with my steady one. "What are you doing?"
"Standing. How about you?"
I rolled my eyes and walked past him.
He shot in front of me.
I stopped short. "Move."
"No."
"Then I'll go around you."
"No."
I crossed my arms. "What's your deal?"
"I saw you."
I raised my eyebrows. "And?"
"In the alley. Earlier. You were talking, but there was no one there."
"So? I was talking to myself. What's it to you?" I sounded collected and snippy, but fear dug its claws into my chest. I'd only been here for a few hours and my secret was already at risk?
"You weren't talking to yourself. You were talking to someone. Someone I couldn't see."
"So the Invisible Man? Yeah, right." I attempted to walk past him again, but he darted in my path.
I gritted my teeth. "Get in my way one more time and I'm gonna lose my shit."
"Doubtful."
"How so? You don't know me."
"Because you're not gonna do it."
I shook my head and spun around. If he was gonna block that direction I'll go the other way. He darted in my way again. I stuck my foot out and tripped him. He stumbled and I darted up the alley. I flew on my feet. Years of track in middle school and the first year of high school had its perks. I may be a junior now but I still moved like a rocket.
Our new house felt like a welcome sight as I pushed the screen door open.
"Raven? Did you get what I asked for?"
I dropped the bags on the counter and ran up the stairs. "They're in the kitchen." I shouted.
"Watch the tone," she warned.
I rolled my eyes, running past the couch and T.V. and around the corner to my room. I pushed my door shut, leaning my back against the frame. I exhaled, trying to calm my racing heart. I stepped into my room, spinning slowly. I pushed my hair back from my face, running my fingers along my scalp.
How could I have been so careless? Emotion overwhelmed me when I saw Nathaniel. The logic part of my brain turned off and now I've created a mess. I only hoped I wouldn't run into that boy again.
I groaned, falling backwards onto my bed. But how could I avoid him? I was starting school tomorrow, and from the looks of him, I'd probably see him there.
Nathaniel popped into my vision, breathing heavily. "Do you have any idea how fast you are?"
I laughed.
He flicked my forehead. "Jerk."
"Me?" I questioned, sitting up.
He sighed. "Okay, not really. It was just a blow to my ego when I attempted to keep up with you and you left me in the dust."
"Sorry."
"Don't be. I should, considering I'm the reason that guy approached you, and saw your secret."
I shook my head. "No. It's my fault. I should've known better."
"Don't blame yourself."
I snorted. "That's all I ever do."
He rolled his eyes. "I know."
I looked at my lap.
"So what are you gonna do tomorrow?"
"Ignore him."
"That's it?"
"Seems like the most promising solution."
"How?"
"If I engage with him he might think I actually have something to hide. Also, I think it'll piss him off."
He shook his head, but couldn't help a small smile lifting the corner of his mouth. "Smart, Wilson. For once."
I threw my pillow at him. He fazed invisible as it passed through him. It was so annoying that he could choose when to be and when not to be solid.
"You cheated."
"It's not cheating if I'm using my resources."
I flipped him off.
He sat where my legs were stretched out and moved them onto his lap. "So what's happening tomorrow?"
I sighed, falling back onto my bed. "My first day of junior year. And hell."
"Junior year's not that bad. You already took the ACT, and the classes are pretty easy. You only need math, english, and science, right?"
I nodded. "But the school wouldn't let me not pick a history course. So I picked psychology. Then there's electives, so it's more than I want right now." I groaned.
"Don't worry, I'll keep you company."
I shook my head, sitting up. "No."
"What do you mean 'no?'"
"I mean I already have that guy watching me. And if anyone else sees something weird, it's gonna raise suspicion."
He rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll see you after school. I can walk you home," he added, a sarcastic lilt to his voice.
"Raven! Get down here!"
"No!"
"It's dinner, so get your ass down here!"
Nathaniel laughed. "Good luck."
"Thanks. I'll need it."