Chapter 3

It was her last day in Riverisle. TJ decided to spend it with all her friends, who were, not shockingly… all boys. TJ was one of the guys as she had been since she was small.

She was 5 when a girl tripped her, and TJ broke her wrist. While she was recovering and couldn’t go out and play, Nat made a few more friends. When TJ or Tiffany, as she was called by then, recovered, Nat took her to see his new friends whom TJ liked immediately.

They taught her how to play soccer, and soon she was a member of their gang. The boys started her calling TJ because Tiffany Josephine was a mouthful for 5-year-olds. She loved the new name too.

As she grew up, her school introduced a new game, Lacrosse. It was a lot like hockey which she used to play with Nat, but more fun. The 10-year-old TJ was hooked, Lacrosse became her first love. When they were old enough to compete with other schools, TJ wasn’t allowed in the team, because it was all boys, and it was against the stupid rules of the school. TJ decided it was time for her to fight to make a female Lacrosse team or get into the boy's one.

She won, a female Lacrosse team was formed, but now TJ wasn’t going to be there. She could only hope the team does well. As she saw her friends laugh and have fun, she cursed herself for being an Enchanter. She was happy being the Captain of Riverisle Academy’s female Lacrosse team.

“Why do you have to go?” Brendon whined, and TJ shook her head.

Brendon Whitman or Bren, as she called him, was the captain of the chess team. Funny as he was a nerd who was friends with the jocks. Bren helped TJ with her Math homework when they were in grade 5. TJ stopped everyone from bullying him in return, and they became good friends. Now Bren was by default the tutor for every jock, and they respected him.

“Because I am bored of you, and I need more cool people to hang out with,” TJ mused, slinging her arm around Bren’s neck.

“Hey! I’m cool,” He defended, pushing her arm away, and frowned.

“Are not!” TJ teased him with a smirk, and Bren scowled at her.

“Aww babe, I think you are cool,” Nat said as he kissed Bren sloppily on his cheek.

“Ew, Nat, Ew,” Bren said, pushing Nat away, and rubbed his cheek furiously where Nat had kissed him as everyone laugh.

“Bren, you’ll get a girlfriend soon,” TJ told him in a sing-song voice, slinging her arm around him once again. “And you’ll excitedly call me, and tell me that you finally had the guts to ask Lindy out,” She smirked as Bren blushed at the name of his Chemistry lab partner slash crush.

“I’m not going to ask her out,” He muttered, still flushed.

“You will my cute, red ripe tomato,” TJ pinched his cheeks as he swatted her hand away and pouted.

“Yeah, Bren, you will. Just like I did,” Nat said, pulling Fiona close as they smiled at each other. The others hooted "whipped", Nat laughed while Fiona blushed profusely.

TJ felt nauseous as she saw Nat and Fiona cuddle. She didn’t like Nat that way, he was a brother to her. It was the sight of Nat and Fiona looking at each other like there was no one around them that triggered memories she tried to bury long back.

“Hey, guys?” TJ decided to divert her mind. “It is my last day today, let's have a party?” She proposed.

“Hell yeah!” Nat, Bren, and Mark, one of TJ’s close friends from the soccer team shouted. They were 5 of them sitting in the park near TJ and Nat’s house, their hangout place.

“My parents are out, we can party there,” Fiona piped in, and TJ gave her an impressed look. She had no idea Fiona was that bold, maybe Nat was rubbing her off.

“You sure, babe?” Nat asked Fiona, who nodded confidently.

“Okay! Let’s go then!” TJ shouted.

“I’ll get the booze!” Mark offered as he was the only one who was 18.

“I’ll get the snacks!” Bren volunteered.

“I’ll order pizza!” TJ said. They all cheered and went to their cars.

Nat and Fiona were in Nat’s car, Mark on his bike. Bren drove with TJ stopping at the supermarket first before reaching Fiona’s house.

Fiona’s house was smaller than Nat and TJ’s, but it was cozy and warm. TJ immediately felt bad for partying and probably trashing her beautiful place. She told everyone to call a few friends, so it would be a small farewell. Fiona smiled gratefully at her.

Within an hour, Ashley, the vice-captain of the Lacrosse team was there with her girlfriend, Melissa. Cara, Mark’s girlfriend came along with her shy best friend Lindy, aka Bren’s crush. They were all dancing to the latest EDM by Skrillex when then the doorbell rang.

“Must be the pizza, I’ll go and check!” TJ shouted over the music and went over to the door to get the pizza.

She opened the door, her flushed face paled the minute she saw the person standing outside the door with his signature devilish grin.

“Delivery for Ms. von Stein,” The pizza guy said, TJ stood speechless.

“Wha…” She stammered, and the grin on his face widened.

“That would be 60 dollars,” The guy said, and TJ handed him a few dollars more as he placed the boxes in her hands.

“Enjoy your pizza,” The pizza boy said and turned away as ‘He’ stood by the door waiting for the pizza boy to go.

He smirked as the pizza guy drove away, and TJ stood there like a statue.

“Long time no see, Annie,” He said, closing the door behind him as he stepped towards TJ who was frozen at her place. “What? Looks like you’ve seen a ghost,” He smirked, TJ backed away, finding strength in her legs again.

“T…this c…cannot b…be p…possible,” TJ stuttered as her back hit the wall in the doorway.

“Oh, but it is,” He smiled like a Cheshire cat as TJ closed her eyes in fear. What was he doing here? She just saw him every time before, he never talked to her.

“Tee?” Nat’s voice broke her thoughts and she opened her eyes to see that there was no one there. She turned to Nat who was looking at her with concern. “What are you doing here?” He asked as dread struck her, was she seeing things again?

“Pizza!” She replied, raising the boxes in her hands and walked towards Nat.

“Are you okay?” Nat asked taking a few boxes from her.

“Never been better,” TJ lied and quickly walked ahead of her best friend.

She was in paranoia throughout the party. She was constantly on guard and stopped drinking after 1 beer.

It was 12 when her father called her to come home, they had to leave at 7 in the morning. All of her friends had gone home, except for Nat who was drunk off his face and. Fiona too was equally drunk, and now they were playing tonsil hockey which grossed TJ out to no end.

“I should leave, Dad wants me home,” TJ said aloud after hanging up the call with her father.

“Drive safe!" He exclaimed and continued making out with Fiona.

TJ shook her head, she took a bottle out of the fridge and gulped it in a go, filled it up, and kept it back.

When she came out of the kitchen she saw Nat and Fiona sleeping on the couch. Nat was sitting as his head rested on the back of the sofa and Fiona sat beside him, wrapping her arms around Nat’s torso.

TJ felt her eyes well up at that sight, and her head buzzed. She wasn’t sure why.

She picked up her car keys, and went out of the door, locking it behind her. She sat in her car and looked in front. The road was empty, there were no cars. Fiona’s house was only a kilometer away from her own, so that was a plus. She put the number one song in her playlist and turned on the engine. Her head bobbed up as her favorite song played through the stereo. Suddenly, the music stopped abruptly and ‘One Call Away’ by Charlie Puth filled the car. TJ’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as her knuckles turned white and her grip on the race loosened and the car came to a rough halt.

The song was nowhere on her playlist. She extended her hand to change the song when a voice stopped her.

“Don’t, Annie. You know how much I like this song” The voice made TJ’s heartbeat accelerate She turned towards the passenger seat to see him, sitting in all his glory and grinning at her.

She coiled away from him, and his grin changed to a smirk which made TJ gulp visibly.

“What do you want?” TJ asked him, her hands trembling in fear.

“Ah, that’s my girl. Coming straight to the point,” He smirked, TJ felt a sudden rush of anger.

“I am not your girl,” She seethed, he smirked widely.

“Still the old feisty, Annie,” He said with a look of adoration in his eyes. But it went away as soon as it appeared. Mirth took its place.

“What do you want?” TJ backed away as he leaned in.

“I think you should change the question. What about ‘How are you here?’” He suggested and TJ scowled at him, not saying anything. “I am here because you asked for me, Annie. You called me here and I came for you,” His words made her more confused than scared.

“I didn’t call you,” TJ refused, shaking her head. She didn’t even take his name since that day.

“You did, Annie. You called me here and I came,” He said casually.

TJ looked at him and thought for a while, she again looked at him, really looked at him. He was the same, he looked the same as the last time TJ saw him. The same blue piercing eyes were looking at her. His thick, kissable lips were formed in his signature smirk. The mark on his eyebrow, which TJ loved, was still there. He was the same gorgeous and dangerous guy as before. Unconsciously, TJ’s hand traced the scar on his eyebrow and she felt a strong gush of breeze pass through her as she touched him.

“I can touch you. You are here for real,” She said, her voice filled with surprise.

“You can. Only you can touch me,” He said, leaning into her touch. TJ’s hand traced his rugged face and he closed his eyes, cherishing the touch of her hands on his face.

“I missed you,” TJ whispered and cupped his face in her hands.

He kissed both her palms and leaned to her touch, closing his eyes. “I missed you too,” He whispered and TJ smiled as tears welled up in her eyes.

“I have no idea how you are here, but I don’t want you to go back Asher,” TJ cried and wrapped her arms around him. “I don’t want to lose you again,” She told him, and Asher hugged her back, tightly.

“I don’t want to go back too. It’s not nice there,” Asher said to her hair, inhaling her similar scent once again.

“Then don’t,” TJ told him with conviction.

“I won’t until you tell me to,” He promised and hugged TJ again. TJ could smell his familiar smell, it was musky with a hint of cinnamon. He was really here. Suddenly she remembered something and pulled back.

“But I’m leaving tomorrow,” She told him with fear in her eyes.

“I know. I would be here with you, appear only when you want me and there is only you who can see me or touch me,” Asher assured TJ and she breathed in relief and nodded.

“Okay, so there is only one thing left to find out,” She thought out loud.

“And what is that?” Asher asked her curiously.

“That how did I call you,” TJ said and Asher smiled.

“You still didn’t get it?” Asher asked as a soft smile formed on his lips and TJ shook her head. “Oh my sweet, oblivious Annie,” Asher said and kissed her temple. “You will soon know, at Aldcoast. I’ll see you there,” Asher said and disappeared.

“Asher?” TJ called with alarm, “Asher?” She screamed again. No, he can’t leave her, she just got him. “Asher!!" She screamed loudly, “Ash…” She couldn’t complete because suddenly the familiar thick lips were on hers shutting her mouth, calming her.

TJ gave in to the kiss, it felt good, it felt real. She could finally touch Asher, “Don’t you dare to leave me. Not before saying goodbye,” She warned him, pulling away, but before he could reply, she crashed her lips on his again. Kissing Asher really did feel nice.

“Woah, tiger! Easy there,” Asher said, pulling away with a grin, and TJ hit his chest. “Ow! You still hit like a man!” He complained.

“You deserved that! I swear if you disappeared on me again I will find you and I will kill you,” She threatened him and Asher laughed. The nerve! That bitch of a ghost was laughing at her. “You…you bitch of a ghost! I hate you!” TJ exclaimed but Asher didn’t stop laughing. With a huff, she started the car and drove towards her house.

“Bi…bitch of a…ghost,” Asher said between laughs. The boy had tears in his eyes from laughing so much. “Oh boy, I love you,” Asher clutched his stomach, TJ’s heart skipped a beat.

“What did you say?” TJ asked Asher, not removing her eyes from the road.

“I love you,” Asher said seriously and TJ couldn’t help but glance at him. His piercing blue eyes were looking into her dark gray ones as if he could see her soul through them and the same fluttery feeling returned to TJ which she thought died with Asher. She fought herself, and looked away, back to the road, and sped up to her house.

She parked her car in her driveway and was about to get off when Asher caught her arm. “What about you?” He asked seriously. TJ knew that stalling would only anger him.

“I don’t know Asher. I thought it was pretty obvious from the way I hugged you and kissed you that I hate you. Don’t you get the signals?” TJ replied sarcastically, Asher rolled his eyes. He was used to her sarcastic comments, but she knew that he didn’t back off easily.

“Say it, Annie,” He said pulling her to him and TJ glared at him. He glared back and TJ rolled her eyes.

“I don’t know if being dead took your memory too. It’s TJ, Asher,” TJ told him, and Asher raised an eyebrow at her. She leaned towards Asher pointing her finger at him. “I still love you, Asher Thedric Black. I have always loved you and will continue to love you. Even though you are a fucking asshole most of the time,” TJ poked her index finger on Asher’s hard chest, he grinned.

He took her finger off his chest and kissed her hand softly.

“Still swearing like a sailor, my Annie,” He said with a smile and ruffled her hair.

“Hey! No messing up with the hair. Also how many times do I have to tell you? Call me TJ like everyone else!” TJ complained and Asher shook his head.

“It’s Annie for me and I told you that pretty clearly or do you prefer Tiffany Josephine von Stein?” He asked her with a smug smile and TJ gave him a sullen look. Asher knew her better than anyone, he knew she liked when Asher called her Annie. Her face would light up differently as if she wanted someone to reach her feminine side, which she buried deep inside her.

“I should go inside. I’ll see you later,” TJ said and left the car without hearing a reply.

When TJ entered her house, she found her mother in the kitchen, TJ rushed to her and assured her mother that she was fine and kissed her mother goodnight before leaving for her room. She quickly changed into her pajamas from the remaining clothes.

Fifteen minutes later, TJ was drifting off to sleep. As sleep engulfed her, she felt a pair of strong arms holding her from behind, snuggling with her from behind. TJ smiled and leaned herself to him, cuddling properly with Asher. This was the first time since the whole year she slept peacefully without nightmares haunting her.

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