I'LL HELP YOU

RUBIN'S ROOM

Rubin chuckled softly, turning back to his laptop with his back facing her, "Stop spilling rubbish, Laura", he mumbled, typing something on his machine. "Who says I don't smile, I'm not a non-living thing or something of that sort. I'm human so I definitely smile". He glanced back at Laura who had her eyes fixed on him with a sardonic, mischievous smile.

Noticing the look on her face, he softly chuckled roguishly, facing her in the process which made Laura chuckle witheringly as well. He unexpectedly pricked her nose, playfully with a deadpan look. "Huh, what's with that look –what's funny?". Ouch, hey, that hurts", she cried, not realizing that he was able to touch her. Laura wore an etched look with her fingers caressing her nose, pretending to be in pain. Rubin felt guilty; he immediately pulled her closer with a concerned, worried look, examining her nose. Laura, engulfed with the handsome face close to hers couldn't help it but got mesmerized to him. Rubin's eyes suddenly got locked on the charming close set– blue eyes, glittering at him. His heart fluttered.

"Does it hurt that much", he mumbled faintly. She looked stunned for a moment at his concern towards her but suddenly chuckled at the look on his face. "Hey, why are you laughing again?".

She giggled, "You should have seen the look on your face – were you that worried about me, huh?". She queried with a raised eyebrow.

The look in his eyes became furtive, " what?– me?, in your dreams", he scoffed as he playfully pushed her forehead and returned to his work. "What was I thinking? And that weird feeling?", he whispered. " Ish...", he shook his head.

Laura chuckled, just then, it dawn on her. "Did he just touch me?, No, I mean was he actually able to touch me?", she thought to herself.

"You !", she hit him at the back.

"Hey, what's that for? Can't you see am busy?", he sauntered with a grim humor.

She sharply cuts in without answering his question, "Did you really touch me? No, I mean, did I just hit you...No, I mean – gosh, what am I even saying?".

Rubin scoffed, "yeah, I did and you also just did same. What's so amazing about that?".

She gazed at him with slack- jawed. He chuckled, " It's alright, let me help you shut that mouth.". He exuded as he brought together her slacked jaw. "This isn't new to me, Laura Roberts", he strolled off to his bed and picked a book from there. "I've been seeing ghost since childhood and this had been a part of that package so don't be so dumfounded". He winked at her and chuckled, settling down on the bed.

"Good for you", she said, looking wan. "I wished Mya or Kelvin had this gift", she sniffed, tears slowly dazzling down her eyes, "things wouldn't be so hard like this ", she cried.

"Hey–" He stood up and shuffled over to her. "Come on." He wiped the tears running down her cheeks with his hand. "You don't have to be too hard on yourself. How about this?" He stared thoughtfully at her for some seconds. "I will help you as you wished."

Laura at first couldn't believe her ears. "You will?" She exuded.

Just then, they heard a knock at the door. Both of them deftly glanced at the closed door like they could see through, expectantly waiting to hear who the intruder was.

"Rubin–?" his mother's voice echoed from behind the door. "Oh no." he whispered, turning his gaze back to Laura. Before he could say Jack, the door flew opened. His eyes swiftly flew wide opened as he glanced back at the door forgetting that his mother doesn't even see ghost as he does.

"Who were you here with?" His mother walked in, lurking around. "Thought I heard voices." It was then that it dawn back on him that his mother doesn't see ghost.

"Well, I..." He gazed at where Laura was standing but unknowingly to him, she had already disappeared. "Mm–" He glanced around for anything to make an excuse with and spotted his laptop on. "Ah, I was just watching a movie series." He smiled.

"A series?" His mother muttered sceptically. "Well, whatever. Just get down and join us for dinner." She announced and turned to leave. "The food is getting cold." She added before strolling out of the door.

"Sure Mum–" He replied. When he was sure that his mother had left, he let out a soft sigh. "Woah, that was close." He lurked around once again for any sign of Laura but found her no where. "Guess she got scared also." He scoffed and trod out of his room.

ALIXES' HOME

Alixes laid on her bed, facing the roof. A lot of thought kept racing through her mind. Just then, the thought of what transpired between her and the weird guy from the infirmary flashed back.

"What was with that guy?–", she wondered. "What does she know about Laura which I don't know and what does he mean by, he didn't know he'll meet both of us there?". She kept thinking and it became so intense that her head suddenly start to hurt. "Argh!", she cried. "Why does it have to hurt now?".

She adjusted herself on the bed with her back leaning on the pillow, supporting her back to the wall. She winced and gave a grimace of pain as she reached out for the drugs on the table next to her bed. "Got to find out from him– I really ought to talk to him", she mumbled. She gave an inaudible sigh and gulped down her medicine.

Just then, she heard someone call from the corridor. "Alix ? Alixes–", the voice shouted as it got closer. She instinctively laid in bed and turned to the left side with her back facing the door as it wracked opened, pretending to be asleep since she wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone.

"Alix....", James called again as he trod into the room with a glass of milk, turning towards the direction of the bed. "Oh, she's already asleep?",he whispered with a soft sigh and gently placed down the glass of milk on the table next to the bed.

He drew closer to her and gave a slight grin, gazing down at her. "Poor Alix, I know its quiet tough for you now without Laura but you got to hung in there dear". He kissed her forehead and adjusted the blanket properly, covering her. He turned off the light and strolled out.

Alixes freely let down her tears after realizing James was finally gone. Laura's absence deeply got a Tull on her which made it difficult for her to accept the fact of her absence.