Chapter 10

The door creaked open. Was there a ghost around?..My heart started beating real fast. Was someone breaking into skylar's room?. Two heads suddenly popped in. I screamed, throwing myself behind the couch. Two figures I recognized walked in. They were Joshua and AJ. I could have sworn that if I were human I would have given them a serious tongue lashing. Were they trying to scare the bones out of someone?. Because they actually did and that was me. I frowned as they sat on my bed. I meant the couch. I walked through Skylar's door and ended up on his soft, plush bed, forgetting them. Just as I was about to close my eyes, I heard his voice. I jolted from the bed and rushed out hoping to get the dessert I ordered. He had entered the room with Kathy trooping behind holding some bags.

Skylar handed his bags to her as he took out plates from the kitchen cupboard. They served the food on the plates leaving behind the snacks and my dessert in the bag. Scratch the part where I said they forgot my order. I licked my lips as I saw the contents. Seemed like their vicinity had a restaurant which had international or cut across foods because most of the dishes weren't local. Each meal was neatly arranged. The smell of braised pork, rice congee, rice and omelette ramen, salmon papaya salad, tofu and chicken nuggets filled my nostrils. Seeing all that food, I thanked God for once that I was a ghost. Mostly because I had an extra appetite.

I sat by the boys who were seated Asian style in eating. I stretched my hands,ready to dig in when Joshua asked to say the Grace. Like seriously?. I was about to die out of hunger yet he wanted to say the Grace ?. Finally after saying the Grace we dug in. I was surprised that Kathy ate more than everyone else in the room except me. We did have similarities. She piled up the dishes into the sink and returned,opening the untouched grocery bags. She took out the items in them. I frowned and smiled all the same. The displayed items were: my fudge sundae and pink milk, vanilla pudding pie, a slab of cheddar cheese,frosted brownies and a pack of canned alcoholic beverages.

" Are you supposed to drink for Christ's sake?!. You have class tomorrow "I asked beginning to sound more like Kathy. He shrugged.

Seriously, the boy had no respect. He and his friends opened a can each whilst I took out my share from my ordered meal. Within some minutes all the drinks were gone. I stared from face to face as Joshua in AJ had a drunk conversation. They'd turned red. Apparently being the only two people who were not drunk Sky and Kathy laughed at their ridiculous conversation. Since the two boys lived in the same apartment as Skylar did,he and Kathy offered to send the boys to their rooms. They returned after a short while still giggling. Kathy checked the time and announced it out loud. 10 minutes past 11:10 p.m.

" Guess I'll have to spend the night here like I do in such situations. Grandpa would kill me if I go home in this state" she said, walking over to his fridge. She rummaged through it, bringing out four alcoholics beverages. Both walked into sky's bedroom with her taking the lead.

" Since when did you start cleaning your room?. The boys and I always do that for you" she stated. Couldn't she just stop asking questions and stop behaving like his mother. She was getting on my nerves.

Both sat with their legs crossed like they did before and opened their drinks.I stood by the edge of the door which was partly open. I did respect privacy so that's what I gave them all though I stood at the door. Minutes later she bent over and landed a kiss on his lips. He was motionless for some time. After a while of looking into the air,he also bent closer to her face. That was it. I tasted salt. A tear rolled down my cheek. I couldn't watch anymore. After all they did nothing wrong. Maybe they were acting because they were drunk. Gently,I shut the door and left. I couldn't be there anymore. The pain was just too much. I wished to be in the graveyard and suddenly there I was in the house. The keeper dropped the book he was reading on his slap and looked at me.

" What in the world did that kid do to you?. You look...." he sized me up " Disheveled.I mean what are you wearing and God...come here darling" he pulled me into an embrace. " You look broken hearted" the Keeper said in an ' I told you so' voice .

" Explain to me what happened during your stay at the humans side" he pat my head,comforting me. I explained everything from when my feet touched the ground outside the graveyard to the kiss. He said the words I didn't want to hear.

"I told you so". he tucked a few loose strands behind my ear.

" Aww, baby you do like the human don't you?"he asked. Liked him?. This certainly had to be a joke. I looked at the face of the Keeper to be assured he was joking but his face said it all. He wasn't. Well at least his theory give analysis as to why I teared up after seeing the lady kiss him. Merari glanced at my outfit.

" I can't have you looking like this" he said. " I'm changing your outfit now and making sure he won't be able to change it in a while" he muttered some words, clicking his fingers.

Then the crop top, shorts and my being barefooted changed into something prettier. At least to me it looked prettier. I was in a white dress which was floral patterned, midway my thigh,a white shoe and my hair was tied in a messy bun.

" That will do" Merari spoke,satisfied with the makeover he had given me.

" How long do you plan on staying here?" he asked. " My peace of mind is at stake " he added.

I mentally calculated before replying. " I've been here for 30 years. I don't think another 30 will do me harm". The Keeper rose a brow and caressed the silver strands of hair on his chin. He doubted me.

" I'll live to see your next 30 years" he added before going back to the book he was reading when I popped.

I sat on the bench in the house. It was indeed going to be very long 30 years. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes to hours,hours into a day, days into four. It was my fourth day in the graveyard when Skylar's reason popped into my head. I walked to the house,meeting Merari at the front. With one look at me he rose a brow and questioned .

" What is it?" . I started

"I was wondering if I could know about contacting the Dead". He smiled .

" For that human kid you want to break a lot of rules?" he grinned.

" No" my voice was high-pitched. " I just want to know" I replied defending myself. He began.

" To contact another soul,you need someone who sees beyond natural and the person who asked for the contacting.In this case,the human is beyond natural and you're also a ghost. This brings us down to rule breaking. You'll need to possess someone.To possess a person,the soul of that person has to be vulnerable,the individual has to be willing to let you or your ghost form will have to be able to sync with the person's spirit to be possessed.Beware,this can actually deplete your energy and powers. Fortunately for you, we don't even know if you have powers or not".

I nodded in response to his answer and thanked him. I went back to sitting on my tomb , counting the days. It'd been 6 days since I left the place. I realized my life was plain boring. I jumped down from my tomb,noticing a familiar face walk up to me. Skylar. He looked stressed and had tiny eye bags. I almost felt pity.

" Why did you leave?" he asked. I rolled my eyes.

" I left because I had to give you and Kathy the privacy you deserved" I crossed my arms over my chest.

" I thought you'd be at your favorite spot in the building. I waited for you the whole night to return but when you didn't I figured that you must have gone out. But then I didn't know where. I realized how the house became empty without you. Please come back" he begged.

Really?. He didn't notice I was gone till the 6th day?. I rose my brows suspiciously.

" I noticed how much I missed y __" I held up my hands before he could complete his sentence.

" I'll come along with you" I said, earning a relieved expression from him. " But first I have to see the Keeper" I added.

He looked me from head to toe. " I like your outfit. You look prettier in white"

he commented trying to compliment me.

Like I was going to fall for that. I shook my head, yawning as we walked to the house where the Keeper was seated in the same rocking chair. His eyes were closed but I knew better.

" Keeper " I called out his name. Slowly he opened his eyes.

" Well well well. The groom finally comes for his bride" was the first sentence Merari said when he noticed the six zero male standing next to me. The human kid actually blushed.

" Keeper. I'll be going back to his place. I promise I'll try not to drain myself"

" To think you planned on living here for the next 30 years. It's barely been a week" he said,earning a sly smile from me.

" You know me better than anyone" I said joking.

After our meet,we headed for the entrance of the graveyard. I thought I could get out but I was blocked by the barrier. Skylar gave me a look from the outside of the yard.

" What?. Don't give me that look. I don't even know how I got here. I just wanted out and that's what I got" .

He looked at me then run to the keepers house returning with a number of incense sticks. He lighted them, allowing me out of the yard. I noticed Bea glimmering as ever before, parked under shade provided by a tree. I run towards her and hugged her.

" I missed your sleekness" I said to it. The human neared me.

" You missed it and not me?" . I hissed as he opened the car. He wore a hurt expression.

" To hear this when I think I like __" he never quite finished the sentence as he started the engine . We skidded out the place at full speed heading towards the direction of his building.

Authors note: Why do you think Merari keeps helping her even though she'd break some laws?