Call Me Ghost ✔️

Chapter Twenty-Three

I thought maybe things could go back to normal after Ghost's text.

I was sorely mistaken.

Aside from the single text there's no follow-up. He doesn't call me and I don't dare call him. I feel like if he really wants to talk to me, he'll try. I don't want to keep forcing it.

But he doesn't try.

It's now Wednesday and, unfortunately, I'm at the mall with my mom.

That sentence makes me sadder than it should. Just the fact that my mom is one of the few people I have left to hang out with makes me feel pathetic.

I'm not even sure how it happened.

Yesterday she called me again and I knew if I kept avoiding her she would just show up at the dorms and start tearing my head off. So I answered, and after the initial criticizing and chastising for ignoring her, she told me she would be coming to the city for a visit.

I couldn't tell her no.

I sip on a smoothie, sitting across from her in the food court as we both glance around, watching the people around us while expertly avoiding talking to each other.

Eventually I feel the need to make some light conversation, though. So I hesitantly ask, "What are we shopping for?"

She finishes chewing her bite of pretzel before answering, "I need a new dress. Your Aunt Lillian is getting remarried, her wedding is next month."

I frown, confused, "She's getting married? Why didn't you tell me? Am I going to the wedding, too?"

She shrugs lightly, "If you want. It's not really expected. You know none of them are that close with us anymore."

By them she means my dad's side of the family. They were all very close and caring after his death, but over the years we've gradually drifted apart from them. I think it's because it's still a little painful for mom to be reminded of him. Dad's brother looks a lot like him, and his sister, Aunt Lillian, can never stop herself from bringing him up in conversation in some way or another.

"I would like to go, actually." I tell my mom, stinging a little bit that she hadn't told me about it sooner.

"Then I guess you need a dress, too."

We finish our food and then begin our shopping. We move from store to store, occasionally trying stuff on, but nothing I find really sticks with me. My mom picks out a few dresses for me as well, but none of them are my style.

As we stand in one store, flicking through items on the rack, my mom comments, "I assume Brody will come as your date, so whatever you choose should compliment him as well."

My movements freeze at her words. So far I've been able to avoid the topic of him like the plague, but I realize it's time to finally drop the bomb. I already know how she's going to react, so at least I can brace myself a little bit.

"About that." I slowly begin, inching further away from her, pretending to be interested in the dresses I'm looking at, but really my heart is pounding as I cast her a sideways glance, "We, uh, we broke up."

Her head immediately snaps up in my direction, her eyes narrowing as she looks completely shocked, "What? What happened? What did you do?"

I try to ignore the sting in my heart hearing her automatically assume I did something wrong. I mean, I did, but she's my mom. She's supposed to be on my side.

"We just, uhm, things just didn't work out." I remark lowly, avoiding her gaze as I continue to flick through the rack.

Mom has forgotten the dresses entirely, turning to face me now with her hand on her hip as she accuses, "It was the new friend of yours, wasn't it? You did something and Brody found out. God, Emerson, I told you to forget about that boy. I told you it would only ruin everything for you. Why didn't you listen?"