Shadow Souls

Chapter Twelve

"Alice, wake up."

My eyes shoot open and the first thing I see is Tyler's head directly above mine. "Time to get up," he says.

I groan and reach for my blanket to pull over my head.

"Nope! Sorry, Ali-cat." He grabs the blanket and flings it off the bed while continuing to hover over my face.

"You know, it's a good thing ghosts can't get morning breath, or I would be super pissed right now," I say.

"Too bad humans can," he retorts while plugging his nose and wafting his hand back in forth in front of his face.

"Oh, shut up!" I laugh and without thinking I go to push him away. Of course, my hands go right through him instead, and the momentum has me flying off the bed, and onto the floor. "Ouch!"

Tyler doubles over with laughter, and it takes him a full minute before he is able to gain control of himself. "Are you alright?" he finally manages to ask.

"I'm fine," I pout.

Okay, so it was a little funny. I suppose I can't be too mad at the guy.

"Hurry up or you will be late," he continues. "Your dad left already so we are walking today."

"Great," I mutter, heaving myself up and off the floor.

Now running late, I rush through my morning routine of getting dressed and ready, then grab my drool-infested books off the desk. I also remember to gather up all my homework papers and shove everything into my backpack.

I am looking for my phone when I remember tossing it on the bed after talking to my dad the day before. Thinking it probably fell while I tossed and turned, I crawl around on the floor until I finally find it hidden underneath my bed skirt.

"Yep. I think that's everything," I announce, then put on my jacket and shoulder my backpack ready to go.

"Should I ask if you had another dream?" Ty asks softly as we start making our way to the school.

Deciding to no longer hold anything back, I tell him about how this time it felt like the mystery guy wasn't just trying to get to me but was trying to warn me about Finn. Or stop him from being the one to get to me first.

"Well in that case I think I might like this guy," Tyler remarks. "Do you think it means anything?"

I try to contain my shock that he actually asked me that question this time, instead of just blowing it off, and decided to answer truthfully.

"What if it's my mind's way of telling me to stay away from Finn?" I ask nervously. "Warning me against him or something," I add.

"If it means you will listen then I can agree with that conclusion," he teases, and I give him my side-eye stink face.

"Hey!' he holds both palms up in surrender, "All I'm saying is that when I told you to stay away you didn't want to listen. So, if this dream guy manages to accomplish it, then who am I to disagree."

Sometimes I really wish I could smack Tyler.

"So, what are you going to do about Paige?" he continues seriously this time.

"I'm going to confront her," I say with certainty.

"Wow! I like assertive Alice!" he hoots. "Just be careful though, okay," he adds. "If there really is something more going on, you should be on your guard."

I can't disagree with that.

When we get to school, I am feeling determined and march right through the front doors to head directly toward our lockers, hoping that is where Paige will be. I decide that if she isn't there, I won't let myself worry about it too much. I know I will see her in first period, so I can always grab her after class. Or at the very least lunch. Either way I will be confronting her today.