If You Need Me... I Talk to the Dead

Chapter 8: Mystery Meat

I woke in a daze. What time was it? There was plenty of sun streaming through the window.

"Morning sleepy head," the voice came from the foot of my bed. I jumped at the voice and looked up to see the smile beaming on Elliot's face.

"Uh, yeah morning to you too. What time is it?" I hadn't finished unpacking the moving boxes yet and found that I couldn't find a clock.

Elliot gave me a weird look and said, "does it look like I'd have a watch on me?" The sarcasm was oozing from his words. I realized it had been a stupid question. After all, he was a ghost, and time really didn't mean much to him.

I simply gave him a look and got out of bed in search of a clock. I had to walk to my uncles room to even find one. When I did, I realized it was fifteen minutes until the first bell rang at school. How could I have slept in? I cursed to myself as I ran back to my room and got dressed in record time.

"What's your rush?" Elliot said as I ran to get my backpack by the door. "I'm going to be late for school, and it's only my second day. That's not going to help my reputation," I yelled to him.

I ran out of the house leaving Elliot behind. I sped all the way to school, and I'm surprised I didn't get pulled over. When I pulled into the parking lot I realized I was only about five minutes late. Relief flooded through me.

When I reached my first class I stumbled in in a hurry. Everyone looked up at me, but I didn't get into trouble. A weight was lifted from my shoulders. I didn't want to be that girl to get detention my second day of school.

The only seat open was all the way in the back. Liam noticed this too and gave me a sad smile. Did he expect to sit next to me? Did he really want to?

This is what I thought of through most of class. I guess I started zoning out so much that I didn't hear the bell ringing to signal the end of first period.

What did get me out of my daydream was a hand that was waving in front of my face. The hand belonged to Liam who was trying to snap me out of it.

"Hey! You ok?" He said making me blush. Oh god! Why am I blushing right now? I probably look like an idiot. I snapped out it long enough to answer him. "Yeah, I'm fine! Just daydreaming." With that I moved to get out of my seat, so I could go to my next class.

"Where were you this morning? I mean with the whole late thing. I was worried you had enough of this place and me and was not coming back," Liam surprised me when he said this. He was afraid I didn't like him. Now I was really blushing. I probably looked like a tomato.

"Woah Liam, chill. My alarm never went off. That's why I was late, not because I didn't want to come back. I'm not tired of you. I actually kind of like it here, and people are nice especially you." Not he was the one blushing. I felt accomplished.

Me and Liam walked to the next class together, and he even invited me to sit with him at lunch with his friends. I still hadn't been in the cafeteria yet, since I hid in the bathroom for lunch yesterday out of fear.

Sitting outside of the cafeteria I got butterflies in my stomach. I knew it wasn't because of Liam. I mean he's cute and sweet but maybe I just wanted a friendship with him. The butterflies were because I was nervous of having to sit with new faces.

I wasn't popular in my old school but I knew enough people to be comfortable. Well when I didn't have to help ghosts.

I knew I couldn't stand out here all period, so decided to go it. I was surrounded by loud 14-18 year olds. Everywhere I turned kids sat at long rectangular tables. The smell of mystery meat filled my nose as I walked deeper into the room.

As I walked I craned my neck to see where Liam was sitting. I had no luck though, and I began getting nervous.

All of a sudden my iPhone vibrated. I took it out of my pocket and was welcomed with a new text. It was from Liam.

The text read, 'turn around, you look like a lost puppy' I found myself smiling at the text. I turned my body and looked up to find Liam sitting with two other people at the far end of the cafeteria.

My legs began walking without my mind realizing it. As I made my way to the table I never let my eyes brake the glance with Liam because I was too afraid of what other kids around me might be doing. I was always afraid of judgmental people.

I finally made it to the table, and Liam broke the glance to stand and introduce his friends. "This is Charlie" Liam said pointing to the guy with glasses and black hair. "...and this is Kara" he said pointing to the perky, red headed girl.

So these were the people Liam spent his free time with. They both smiled and said hi after I introduced myself. Kara told me how I was in her art class which made me look to the ground in shame since I didn't recognize her. She didn't get upset though and offered to sit next to me next class.

I was grateful that my one friend in school now turned into three. Or was it four? Did Elliot count in my group of friends? I found that I kind of hoped in time he would.

I sat with my three new friends until the end of lunch, and when the bell rang Liam stopped me by grabbing my arm. This was becoming a habit. "Hey, wait up. I wanted to ask you if you wanted to come to get ice cream with us after school?" Liam asked. All I could do was nod yes. Liam continued, "ok, we're going to go around five." That made me happy. I'd have time to go home and get changed. With all the chaos today I felt like I've been sweating.

When the final bell rang I went straight to my car and drive home. I wanted to be ready for tonight.