Young Writers Society

here's part 2 I think this one is a little bit longer though

***

I smiled sweetly. "Why, you're so welcome, Mae! It's so nice to see you again too!"

"Don't call me that. You make me sound like I was born two centuries ago," she whined, crumpling up an empty grocery bag and tossing it at my head. I ducked, and it landed on my broken glass. I had forgotten about that- Oops. Well, I'd just get it later. Right now I needed to think of some believable excuse to go to my room- I had to talk to Zane again. To get some answers! And if I didn't hurry, he might leave for heaven or something- you never know with ghosts; I snickered at the idea.

"Maitlin! I re-use those!" Mom said, marching into the living room to retrieve it. She looked left then right. "Where'd it go?"

"Right here." I bent down and picked it up, holding it out to her. But her soft, brown-eyed gaze was locked on the pile of glass at my feet. I shifted my suede cowboy boots nervously.

"Um, yeah, sorry about that one... I got distracted, and-" I started. Mom rolled her eyes and pursed her lips. "Oh, I don't care about the glass. I got the whole set for eight bucks at Target- Easter sale." She winked.

I grinned.

"But why," she continued, "didn't you just clean it up? And turn on some lights for goodness sakes! Honestly, Vivi, you are so scatterbrained." She sighed and shook her bobbed, auburn head slowly, a smiled twitching at the corners of her thin mouth.

"Sorry, Ma, I got... sidetracked."

"Maitlin, bring me the vacuum, please!" she called loudly getting down on her knees and picking up the big pieces of glass. I stood up to shut the front door that they had left open in their rush inside. Gingerly making my way across the room, I saw Maitlin standing in the doorway, DustBuster in hand, gaping. Drama queen.

"What happened this time?"

"Nothing. I tripped," I replied cooly.

"Geez, you are such a clutz." She handed the mini-vac to Ma.

I crossed the room again and switched on a lamp. "Thanks, I'll add that to the list," I said dryly. Mom sighed. "You girls never seem to stop."

"Sorry, Ma," I said quietly. I hated seeing her stressed- that was a lot lately.

"Well, I'm going to my room. I've got some homework to do," Maitlin announced. She swayed her hips all the way down the hall so widely from the left to the right, then back, I'm surprised she didn't fall over. I watched her disappear into her bedroom, then turned to Ma.

"Want some help?" I asked, regretting it immediately, and hoping she would refuse my offer.

"No, I'm fine. You have homework, you should probably get it done before your dad gets home. You know how he likes everyone to be at the dinner table on time," she grunted. Relief and excitement both flooded through me, and I didn't press her. "Okay. Well, then, I guess I'll go now." My stomach jumped with anticipation, and I tried to conceal it as best I could by shuffling down the same path as Mae. But I turned opposite, to my room. Maybe now I could pick up my conversation with him.

Safely inside my room, I sat at the edge of my bed awkwardly, my eagerness replaced with worry. How should I act now? It felt kind of weird being with him, and the realness of the whole ordeal finally hit me. I had been feeling as if I were in a dream, not really taking it seriously. Now that I realized this, I began to question myself; but then, my attention was drawn to the corner of my small room.

I didn't know how he had gotten in, but I knew he was there by the way the papers on my desk were being lifted into the air and rustled through. The sight somewhat reassured me of my sanity and I began to worry again; and I hoped sincerely that I didn't embarrass myself. I just didn't know what to say; should I start talking, or wait for him to say something?

Finally, I blurted,"You know, just because you're dead doesn't mean you can just go through other people's stuff."

Instantly, guilt flooded through me, and my cheeks flamed. When had I become so cold? This guy just lost his life, and I'm griping about papers! They fluttered back to my desk, though.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that," I muttered staring into my lap. No need to worry now, Vivi. Mission accomplished.

"I died?" he asked abruptly. His reply just about shocked the socks off me. It was not the easy going "s'kay" I had been expecting. He must have come over and sat down beside me, because my white, fluffy comforter sank down flat. I thought this was extremely cool, but didn't say so.

"Y- you didn't know?" I whispered, feeling my eyes grow wide. My face was still hot, and I struggled to overlook my embarrassment.

"I really did die?" he repeated, his low voice cracking.

I cleared my throat. "W-well, if you are who I think you are, then yeah, you did die... I'm sorry."

And then I saw him. Like really, really saw him sitting there on my bed beside me. He had materialized, just like that. His hands were clasped together and hung down between his baggy shorts-clad legs. He was slumped over and staring into the floor, looking more depressed than I've ever seen him to be. It felt weird seeing him without his usual sloppy grin. Of course, that smile was never meant for me. In fact, I don't think he ever even noticed me. But then again, he had said I looked familiar....

I peeked at him again. Even seeing him so helpless and exposed made my heart race and my head spin. My stomach jumped, and it felt like there was a spark behind my belly button. My hands started getting clammy and I got really hot. And then my mouth started twitching- just the corner. It always did.

Well, only when I was around Zane.

But seeing him like that? It tore me apart. I wanted to reassure him that everything was okay, always would be. I wanted to tell him it was just a sick joke, he wasn't dead. I wanted to hold him, touch him.

Just as I was about to, once again, offer him my condolences, he turned to me, his eyes wide.

"How did I die?" he whispered. His eyebrows knit together, and he tilted his head to the left just barely. So cute...

I hated the words that came out of my mouth next. I wanted to tell him how, to at least give him that much. Instead, I gazed into his eyes (ahhh) and knitted my own eyebrows together.

"I.. don't know. Nobody does. I'm really sorry," I admitted softly.

And just like that, he was gone.

***

EDITED!! not much better, though. ah well