𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐋 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐃𝐎 𝐔𝐒 𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 - ᴡᴀʟʟʏ ᴄʟᴀʀᴋ

i.

ONE LESS DEAD FRIEND.

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ONE DUO OF GHOSTS was sitting on the table in the middle of a canteen in the Split River High School. Isabel's head was resting on Janet's shoulder. These two were the closest among the supporting group members.

"Why does it always seem like your brother is watching you?" Hamilton asked for the thousandth time this year. "Like, watching you, not through you."

Isabel chuckled as it was the most ridiculous thing her friend had ever said to her. Truthfully, the girl simply hated lying to Janet with all her guts. "Siblings' bond, remember?" she knew another girl rolled her eyes.

It gave Isabel an opportunity to shot an angry look at Xavier, remembering him that he had no right to expose both of them. The boy nodded, slowly shifting his gaze into his plate.

"Alright, keep watching your little cheater as long as you want, I have to meet Mr. Martin."

"If I could, I would definitely smack him for cheating but...I'm a little bit too dead for that."

"Fuck off," Janet stood up from their place and headed towards the exit. "Wally was looking for you, by the way!"

Isabel smiled shyly, every mentioning of the boy made her cheeks go slightly redder. Even mostly oblivious Xavier began noticing these reactions of his sister. "He can wait, we have plenty of time."

Then, when she made sure that none of the ghosts were around her, Isabel wordlessly showed Xavier that she'd wait for him in his car.

She didn't wait too long until the boy who looked so similar to her got in the vehicle, locking the doors. Isabel was sitting on the passenger seat, one of Xavier's joints in her left hand.

"I told you to stop doing that," he grumbled, referring to her now habit to take his stuff without even asking.

"Or what? You'll kill me?" he shot her a look full of anger and sadness at the same time. Isabel lifted her arms in surrender. "Sorry. Too soon."

For some time, they went silent. Communication wasn't the strongest trait of the Baxters. It wasn't when Isabel was alive, more so, it wasn't now, after the eldest sibling had died.

"What're you planning?" she asked curiously.

"I'll be sitting here, waiting for Claire," every trace of mischievous smirk disappeared from the girl's face. Xavier sighed deeply. 

He knew how low his sister thought of him due to the whole cheating thing but was glad that she stayed by his side anyways. Isabel, as much as she wanted to, couldn't began hating on her brother, especially, when he was the only alive person who could actually interact with her.

"You need to tell Maddie the truth, you dumbass," she responded, taking a drug.

"I don't wanna hurt her."

"Right," Isabel laughed. "Don't wanna hurt her by having sex with Claire behind her back?"

"Shut it," Xavier didn't look at her, texting.