Misguided Ghosts

Chapter Fourteen

Fourteen – Tay

As it turned out, Caleb was in my fine art class. As we walked to the art room, we chatted about everything and nothing. I told him about waking up and not having my parents there; how things were at home and about Ed. He tutted sympathetically and made the occasional outburst at all the right places, as if we’d practised having the conversation.

“So what’s the deal with your parents?” He asked as we settled in our seats.

I shrugged. “Honestly? I have no idea. My Mum’s an artist and apart from the fact we can both paint, we have nothing in common. My Dad’s never really had the time for me. In a list of priorities it goes: telly, food, car, Mum, Tay. It’s almost like I’m more of a lodger/housekeeper than their daughter.”

He looked at me carefully, with his head cocked to the side. “And what about Ed?”

Warmth swept through my chest. “He’s… Amazing. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

I could have sworn I saw his knuckles turn white as he gripped his pencil.

At the end of the class, Caleb and I trailed towards the front of school, where we’d arranged to meet Char and Jared. Jared was first to arrive, his hair all askew and papers spilling from the folder he was struggling to carry whilst operating his phone. Finally, Char showed up, linking her arm through mine and giggling.

“What’s up with you?” I grinned.

“Well…” Char was beginning to blush. “There’s this really nice guy in my English Lit class and he asked for my number!”

“I trust you gave it to him?” I said, arching an eyebrow.

She nodded and giggled some more while Jared, Caleb and I exchanged ‘here we go’ looks. Char launched into a massive spiel about how cute this guy in her class was while we walked, not really paying attention to what she was saying. I gave the occasional ‘mm-hmm’ and ‘yeah’, but that was it. My mind was completely focused on my own cute guy. I slipped my phone out of my pocket and dialled Ed’s number.

He picked up on the first ring. “I missed you,”

I smiled. “I’ve missed you too. I was just going to say it’s probably not a good idea for me to come over tonight,”

“I was thinking the same thing,” He sighed. “But I will see you. Soon.”

“Not unless I see you first,” I teased. “I’ll text you later, yeah?”

“I look forward to it. I love you.”

“Love you too. Speak to you soon.”

I hung up and only then did I realise that the others had probably been listening in on our conversation. I bit my bottom lip and began to adjust my hat. No sooner than I’d got it sitting perfectly, it had been swept off my head.

“Jared!” I protested as he held it above my head, enjoying his height advantage. I stopped, squaring my shoulders and folding my arms. “Give it back. I’m not going to degrade myself by jumping for it.”

“Suit yourself,” He grinned, throwing it over my head to Caleb, who promptly put it on.

“Does this suit me?” Caleb asked, grinning cheekily and pouting. He put his hand on his hip and popped his hip out to the side, doing the exaggerated duck-pout that was oh-so hilarious. He then promptly began to strut down the road, swinging his hips from side to side, stopping to turn dramatically and strike yet another pose. By the time we reached him, I was fairly sure I could feel a six-pack coming on from laughing so hard.