Misguided Ghosts

Chapter Eighteen

Eighteen – Tay

The weekend couldn’t come soon enough. What with stacks of catch-up work, swim training, homework and Caleb’s mood swings, I wasn’t sure how much more I could handle. I was ready to kick back and curl up with Ed, whom I hadn’t seen since Thursday, without interruption.

I was stood outside my front door, my hand raised in a wave as my parents drove out of the drive, doing my best not to show how excited I was about their departure. Then they’d know what I was up to. The moment the purr of the engine was out of earshot, I texted Ed.

They’re gone. Freedom at last!

I smiled to myself and went back inside, kicking the door shut behind me. I padded into the living room after finding a CD in the murky depths of my room. I went over to the stereo that rivalled Jared’s, switched it on and cranked the volume.

Ed found me lying on my back in the middle of the floor while The Blackout were making everything in the living room vibrate. He leaned over me, making it look like he had multiple chins. He chucked his bag on the sofa and sat on the floor next to me. I sat up and leaned against him, resting my head on his shoulder.

He nodded towards the Xbox. “What are we playing first?”

I smiled. “Halo 4. Were you expecting anything else?”

He chuckled. “I guess not.”

Had I been playing with Jared, then it would have been more of a competition of who had the most kills between the two of us. With Ed, I was just happy to be with him, attempting to make some progress.

Two hours later, Ed threw his controller down and stretched out his fingers before turning to face me. He gently took my hands and started playing with my fingers. I looked down at my stonewashed skinnies, not wanting to say anything. Ever since he’d met Caleb, things had become more and more strained between us. He was stuck between hating Caleb and trying to make me happy, while I was stuck between keeping both boys happy. I didn’t want to say anything that could risk provoking either of them but I didn’t want to make one or the other of them unhappy. I cared too much about them for that.

“Say something,” Ed whispered.

I looked up from my jeans and through my fringe at him. “Something,”

“You’re irritating,”

“You’re a dumb blonde,”

“You’re a boring brunette,”

“At least I don’t have your face,”

“You love my face,”

That was one statement I couldn’t deny. I didn’t know what I would do if Ed ever stopped seeing me. He was too important for me to lose. He was the reason that I started going to counselling and getting help for my problems. I bowed my head, lost for a comeback. His index finger gently tilted my chin up so I was looking into his silver eyes. He smiled softly before leaning in to kiss me.

Cold swept through me, freezing my blood and stopping my heart momentarily. I froze, praying that Ed couldn’t feel the chill that was pulsing through me.

I pulled away suddenly, his fingertips still lingering on my cheek.

“Did I do something wrong?” Fear was creeping into his voice.

“No,” I whispered. “I just got this funny feeling, that’s all,”

He didn’t look convinced. I kissed him again, pleased that the feeling had gone as quickly as it had come. He ran his hands over my biceps and smiled against my lips. “You’ve got goosebumps.”