Ghostly Heartbreak | Luke Patterson

Chapter 7

I decided to leave my grandma's room at 6 as she fell asleep. Closing the door, I turned and came to a halt. There was Dr. Schmit waiting for me with a clip board in hand. "Miss. Garcia I have some news for you," he looked through the papers. I bit my bottom lip nervously, scared of what he'd tell me.

"It seems that the radiation isn't helping any more," his eyes shifted nervously as he saw my face fall, "the infection is spread to far. There's nothing more we can do, but just let it run it course."

My bag fell down my arm, "What are you saying doctor," voice wavering.

"Your grandmother has less time than we originally thought. By the way her charts look, it looks like she has barely two months left." Dr. Schmit sighed heavily and stuck a hand out to lay it on my shoulder. I stumbled back into the wall, blinking away the water forming in my eyes.

This wasn't supposed to happen. They told me she had till the end of the year. I was supposed to have at least four more months with her, and now they're telling me two. I felt myself become dizzy at the realization that I'm gonna be the last person from my family. Everything is being ripped away from me just as it feels like something were falling into place.

"I'm sorry Nova, but there's nothing more we can do," Dr. Schmit gave me sorrow eyes as he walked away into the next patient's room.

I stood there in the hallway, frozen. Why can't my parents and brother just appear to me like the guys? My world has been falling apart and it feels like there's no way to stop it. I bent down to grab my backpack and sped walk out the hospital, no longer being able to be in the place that only brings me pain.

- - -

When I closed the front door of the house, Ray came out from the kitchen and ran to me, giving me a hug. "I'm so sorry Nova. Dr. Schmit called a little after he saw you," he said as he let go of me.

"It's fine. I'll be fine," I said blankly. I couldn't feel any emotion as I walked home, my body felt numb. I was utterly numb from the world, emotionally and physically at the moment. "I'm gonna go to the studio." I walked out to the studio without a glance back.

Opening the room, I saw the boys, Julie, and Flynn. My eyes furrowed and went from the guys and Julie to Flynn. Julie was in a conversation with the boys as Flynn was there, in front of her. "Um, Julie what's going on?

Flynn jumped up and walked over to me, "Julie told me about the ghosts."

My jaw fell open. I walked over to Julie, "Why would you tell her," I whispered yelled.

"Relax Nov, she's not gonna tell anyone. Plus she had to know. She's our best friend," Jules said with her arms crossed as she gazed at the guys who were playing a song, "Hey, where were you? I thought you were gonna be back after you had lunch with Danny?"

I played with the edge of my sweater, "Oh, um, I went to go visit my grandma after."

"How is she," she hesitated.

"She's doing fine," I said quickly. I didn't want to tell Julie the truth of how my grandma is.

I didn't realize that the music in the room stopped. As I finally glanced at the boys, they were staring at me. Luke had a worried expression as he saw my puffy red eyes. He was the only one to notice.

"Nova," I turned to see Flynn calling for me by the piano, "We need to talk."

I wore a confused look as I walked over, "About what?"

She threw her hair behind her shoulders as she leaned on the piano, "Are you gonna be apart of the band or are you gonna do you're solo act?"

"Yeah, Nova we would totally want you apart of the band. Julie's agreed to. We could really use your wicked guitar skills and your voice," Alex said as he got up from playing the drums and poofed next to me.

I looked around the room. Everyone had their attention on me as they smiled. "I-I don't know guys. I really like playing solo, you know? It kinda of feels like that's what Nathan would've wanted for me," I looked down at my hands.

Luke poofed to the other side of me, "We get it. We know how much your music meant to you and your brother. Just think about it?"

I pondered for a second, "Maybe I can be in the band as a backup singer and guitarist, but," everyone's eyes widen, "I still want to be a solo act."

Luke shined a grin at me. As everyone shifted their attention off of me, he leaned in by my ear, "Can we talk later?"

I nodded with a smile and he poofed back, to Julie. His face lit up as he talked with her. My smile fell as I saw how happy he looked with her. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but he seems a lot happier with her.

"Hm looks like someone has a crush on Mr. Ghost Boy, specifically Luke," Flynn said behind me.

I slowly turned to face her, giving a last glance at him, "I don't know Flynn. He's a great guy and really cute."

"You like him," she gave a knowing look. I closed my eyes for a brief second knowing fully well this girl could read me better than I could understand my own self.

"Just promise me you won't tell anyone about this. Not even Julie," I told her.

Flynn stood quiet, nodding her head slowly, and looked ahead at the newly formed band, "It's not even like I can see them when they're not singing. But... What are you gonna do with Danny? At least he's alive."

I sighed, "He...I think we know that we're not going to last that much longer. Luke makes me feel that spark that I haven't felt before. My parents described their connection as love at first sight. From the moment I saw Luke, something in me sparked. I just know he doesn't feel the same for me."

"He shouldn't. He's a ghost," she turned towards me, "I just don't want you to end up hurt. You don't need anymore pain in your life."

"Thank you Flynn," I smiled at her and we continued to watch the band rehearse new songs.

- - -

I went up to the rooftop to clear my chaotic mind. From finally performing since Nate's death, to going out on a failed date, learning my grandma's current condition, and telling Flynn and my grandma how I feel towards Luke, I need a break. Life continues to go, and sometimes I feel like I'm left behind, drowning.

"Hey Novs."

I didn't need to turn to know that it was Luke. He sat next to me and for a couple minutes we admired the view in silence, comfortable silence.

"What happened earlier," he took his eyes off the sky to look at me. I continued to look ahead, ignoring the question and just wanting to relish in the silence. "Come on Nova you can tell me. Did Danny do something to you," his voice harden at the mention of my boyfriend.

"What no. He wouldn't do that to me. It's just," I brought my knees to my chest, "I went to the hospital after I went out with Danny."

I burrowed my face in my knees, not wanting him to see me fall apart again. "The doctor told me that my grandma has a lot less time than we originally thought," my voice was mumbled.

I felt a cold sensation go through me. I looked up to see Luke trying to put an arm around me, the sight only made me cry harder. The comfort that I wanted from him, I couldn't get ever. "Nova, I know that no matter what I say is gonna help her, but I wouldn't leave you ever. I'll be here for you through thick and thin because," his voice wavered, "I care about you Nova."

I smiled at him, feeling those sparks as I looked into his eyes, while wiping tears away, "I'm just tired. Tired of crying. Tired of being weak. Tired of feeling like a walking zombie," I said emotionless.

"Luke. You are the only person that makes me feel a flicker of true happiness. I mean yeah Julie and Flynn make me feel happy, but when they leave me alone I'm left with..nothing again. I don't feel anything but loneliness that I just want to put an end to."

His eyes widen as he gave me a closed lip smile, "You make me feel happiness too Nova. I'm not ever gonna give up on you, not as long as I'm here," he scooted closer to me, "You're too special to leave this world too soon...to leave my world."