Chapter 4: Confusion

As Julia sat across the isle from where Lillian and Connor sat, a small smile made its way to her face. It wasn't a happy smile, this wasn't a happy moment. It was more regretful.

God, she regretted so many things. Maybe it took death to being them all to the surface, but it was regret nonetheless.

She regretted little things like leaving the fridge door open. And big things like not taking her medicine the last night she was alive. And things that seemed small but turned out to be huge. Like refusing her dad's last hug. Like skipping her last dinner to finish math homework.

She wished she had done more things to show her parents that she cared. That she loved them. But it was too late now.

Connor reached up and wiped a tear from Lillian's eyes, earning a small smile from his friend. Julia smiled along with her.

She felt the bus jolt to a stop at the school. Kids flew through the isle to the door, racing to get to the café first.

When everyone else had exited, Connor and Lillian stood up. Julia followed them through the doors, though she could've walked through the wall.

"You want breakfast? I ate at home," Connor said as they neared the cafeteria.

"I'm not hungry." They walked over to a wall of lockers, each opening one and retrieving their things for the first class. Lillian jammed her bag inside. "What did you do this weekend? You know, except having your texts ignored."

Connor chuckled. "My sister had a cheer thing and mom made us all go."

"Sounds fun."

Julia tittered at the sarcasm. Her face fell when she remembered how out of place she was; Lillian wasn't talking to her, she was talking to her friend. The friend that she had actually met.

"Lillian." A obnoxiously grating voice came from over her shoulder. Julia turned around, seeing a boy probably a year older than her standing in front of them. He had short blonde hair and wore athletic shorts and a neon blue shirt. "I haven't heard from you since—"

He stopped abruptly, staring at Lillian's wrist. She glanced down, pulling her arm behind her back.

She wasn't quick enough, the boy's laughter rang through the hallway as he grabbed her.

Connor moved foreword. "Get away from her, Tristan."

Tristan didn't even flinch, just used his other arm to push him into the lockers.

"You lost your soulmate!"

-

"Unlovable." His voice rang through the slightly crowded hallway. "Your soulmate hated the idea of being with you so much they died."

Tristan said the word with too much amusement, too much excitement—as if it was a game.

Lillian shook her head, backing up into Connor, who gripped her firmly while glaring daggers at Tristan.

"Shut up! Her soulmate didn't leave her!" Connor yelled, pushing Lillian away toward the hallway their class was in.

"Why? So you can keep hitting it with someone else's girl?" He laughed coldly. "She lost her soulmate and you want to play the hero, how sweet."

"You know." Tristin leaned in closer to Lillian. "He's not the only one who hasn't met their soulmate, if that's your type..."

Connor pushed him away, drawing eyes back to him. "Don't touch her."

"Don't tell me what to do." Tristan's fist made its way closer to Connor's face. Lillian jumped in front, taking the full impact of the punch. "Get—"

Anger flashed through Julia's mind and all she saw was red. She had never felt an emotion as intense as the hatred for that boy right then.

All she could think about was how much she wanted to protect Lillian from ever feeling that again.

In an instant, she was flying through the air straight at Tristan. Her whole form shimmered and she felt the weight of a body—her body.

She didn't notice the collective gasp through the crowd. She didn't notice the terror on Lillian's contorted face turn into amazement and confusion. She didn't notice Connor's worried look directed at Lillian. She did notice, however, the panic on Tristan's face as she lunged at him.

Her fist connected with his jaw, sending him flying backward. As he fell to the ground, Julia took a moment to look around at the witnesses.

"Stay away from them."

She locked eyes with Lillian and felt her body begin to dissipate once again.

With the small bit of human energy she had left, Julia stepped forward toward her soulmate. She held her hand out and cupped Lillian's face. Lillian instinctively leaned into the embrace.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, knowing she had disappeared completely before Lillian even had the chance to hear her.

When she looked up again, she knew she was invisible. Everyone's eyes were on her, but at the same time, they weren't. They were through her. At Lillian.

Julia had no idea what she did, or if she would ever be able to do it again, making her threat towards Tristan virtually meaningless. She knew she had felt intense anger and hatred, and that was definitely a trigger. But on how she did it, she knew nothing.

She glanced around the hallway where teachers and staff were walking over to Tristan and Julia. Tristan looked shaken, as you do when you see a ghost materialize and punch you in the face. Julia looked somber, face etched in confusion and grief.

She shouldn't have done that, but, as much as she wanted to, she didn't regret it.