Torment

Chapter Fourteen

Hannah's POV

'I don't understand how Matt can love someone who isn't even real anymore! How? I know I sound crazy, talking about someone who isn't real, but this Norah has her hooks on him, she must be putting a curse on him or using ghost powers to reel him in somehow, I've got to put a stop to this, I have got to!'

I quickly shoved my book under my bed and made my way over to Matt's. It was just before midday when I knocked on his door. His mom answered and sent me to his room. I hesitantly knocked, hoping that this time Norah wasn't around. "Hannah?" Matt seemed surprised.

"Is Norah here?" I asked quickly, "N-no, but why- " "Good! Because we've got to talk." I waltzed in.

He closed the door, "What is going on between Norah and you?" I asked. "Well, we uh, we got to talking and…" "And?" I asked, "And Norah seems okay." "Okay? Matt, Norah' s dead, what does it matter if she's okay or not?" I frowned. "Don't say that. She has feelings too, okay!" He yelled at me. "Feelings? Come on! You've got to be kidding me, don't tell me you're falling for her Matt."

He didn't respond, and that confirmed it.

"Seriously?!" I boomed. "Shhh, my parents will hear you!" He tried, and I quickly whispered back. "You've fallen for a ghost?! Matt do you even know how insane that sounds?!" I continued. "Hannah, you don't understand." He spoke, "Oh, then please enlighten me with your philosophical mind." I rolled my eyes. "Norah and I share this bond or connection. She just knows me, and gets me-" "Gets you? Matt, are you listening to yourself, you sound absolutely crazy! And are you sure this bond is even real, I mean what if it's just ghost powers to get her hooks on you?" I continued. "Stop, Hannah! You don't know anything, okay!" He yelled over me.

There was a silence before I spoke, "you're right Matt, I don't know anything. But do you know what I do know- I know that every time I'm with you I get to be this side of me that the world won't accept, because it's too caught up on status and popularity. I do know that when we kissed, it was like I was reassured that everything was going to be okay when I finally chose to be that other side of me, the better side of me. I know that Norah can't be trusted because she lied to us, to you about something so important and I know that I don't want anything to happen to you because it would just break me to bear." A tear left my eye.

I was never so sincere, never so open about my feelings before. It was a scary feeling.

"Hannah-" Matt spoke and pulled me into a warm hug. I felt safe, but I also felt like I never wanted to leave. But I slowly raised my chin, and pulled him into a kiss. It was mesmerizing, before he pulled away.

"Hannah-" he lowered, his eyes still closed. I understood and I didn't push him. I genuinely just wanted him to be okay.

"Just promise me you won't get hurt?" I asked, he looked me in the eye and sincerely responded. "I'll be okay Hannah. It's you I'm worried about." He responded. "I'm okay Matt. And I guess I will be." I spoke and a silence fell over us.

"I best get going." I broke it and headed for the door. "Wait, I'll walk you out." He quickly came after me and we exited together.

Upon our exit I stopped dead in my tracks. Before us was a surprised and anxious looking Norah. Matt and her made eye contact, as if having a whole conversation that I couldn't understand.

A tear left her eye before Matt went after her and with that she ran down the street. Matt called after her but she was too far ahead.

"Matt!" I called back to him, "she's already gone." I grabbed onto his arm. But he still called after her. "Let her go Matt. She'll be back." I spoke and pulled him into a hug.

"Let her go."