"Dee I swear," I said as I slid into a crowded booth Lucky's Diner, “That if you ever pop up on me like that again I will slap your pale little butt through twenty brick walls.”
Dee let out a loud laugh and curled up against Tye. "Well you would wouldn't you? You're too uptight Erin. Loosen up. For a chick who hangs out with a bunch of ghosts, and is partly one herself I might add, you need to learn how to take a scare.”
I rolled my eyes as the others nodded in agreement. “C'mon guys. I can take a scare.”
Dee, Tye, Joey, and Melissa looked at each other then burst into laughter.
"You,” Joey said gasping for air, “Take a scare...”
"I don't think so!” Melissa interrupted banging the table with her fists.
I let out a haughty sigh. Okay, so maybe I did get frightened easily. But I couldn't help it. They wouldn't be able to either if one of their parents was human.
"Whatever,” I said as their noise quieted, “So what's going on? And don't tell me I came all the way here just for all of you to make fun of me.”
"Huh? Oh yeah,” Dee wiped her eyes. “I wanted to tell you guys at the same time. Apparently, there's a new one in town.”
I groaned. “A new one? And we have to give him the rundown don't we.”
Dee looked at me.“It isn't that bad, and we were appointed for the job.”
"Stupid Elders Committee. “Joey said brushing his blonde hair back. “ You know, the only reason they gave all of us the position was because we were already friends and 'A new member must feel like they're in a comfortable and friendly environment.' But it's not like any of us actually want to show any stupid new ghosts around.”
Melissa nudged his arm. “Be nice, I thought this welcoming group was a great idea. Besides, we don't even know the guy. Who is it Dee?”
Dee brought her feet up onto the ripped cushions. “I don't know. All Mr. Simmons said was that that he died two months after he moved here.”
"Poor little dude. Stuck in a town he barely knows.” I said.
She shrugged. “Well you never know. He could be a Breaker like you and your dad.”
"Man, if only I were a Breaker.” Tye spoke up, “You have it easy. The Protocol is like a straight jacket. This newbie would be one hell of a lucky ghost if he was one of you.”
"You mean a weirdo?” I scoffed, “Please, you know damn well that we're just freaks with some type of mutation, which is why we don't fit into The Protocol.”
"Still, you get to do things the rest of us can't. Or anymore at least. Things are gonna be pretty bad for the fella when he finds out he can't go anywhere, eat, sleep, or a million other things.” Tye said.
Melissa sighed and re-adjusted her headband. “Well, things are different in the undead world.” She turned towards Dee. “When do the Elders want us to meet him?”
"Two o'clock tomorrow. And don't be late, it makes me look bad.” Dee said glancing at the clock hanging on the wall, “Yikes, it's eleven at night. I've seriously have to go. Mom will probably blow if I show up any later.”
"Parents, always like that.” Joey said rolling his eyes, “Luckily mine didn't end up as ghosts. That would really haunt me.”
"Yeah, so you can torment anyone completely unsupervised.” Dee said as she started fading away. "You get to have all the fun you want messing with the puny humans.”
"Hey!” I exclaimed, “Not fair. Remember me?”
“No exceptions.” She giggled, and fully disappeared.
"That chick.” I said “So mean, but somehow you just gotta love her.”
The others chuckled in agreement. “And crazy too, don't forget crazy,” Tye added.
"Well we're all pretty crazy,” Joey said brushing off his Hawaiian shirt. “Can't be a ghost without being a little crazy. Some of us are borderline insane.”
Tye held up his hands. “Comes with the package I guess. Except none of us bothered reading the warning label.”
I laughed. “That's funnier than it should be."
"Well's it's true isn't it? Or at least for us anyway," He said gesturing to Melissa and Joey. "You didn't really have a choice."
"I guess," I said leaning back into my seat. "But then again maybe it's better that way. Everyone knows I suck at making desicions."
Melissa grinned. "At last! She speaks the truth!"
"Hey!" I kicked her knee playfully. "Very funny. And speak for youself. Looks like all of you made some pretty crappy desicions."
"Touche," Tye said. "But if you ask me, I rather like this 'unknown' zone. Perpetual waiting, being neither dead or alive...it makes me sound interesting."
"Uh-huh. As interesting as a sweater-wearing, kahki lover guy can be." I said. "You know if people could actually see you, you would get beat up pretty quickly."
"Miss skinny pants is right. It ain't the 1920's anymore." Joey joked.
"But it-"
"Yeah yeah." I interuppted. "It was the best time of your life. Supposedly the 'Golden Age' or whatever. But news flash Tye, no one dresses like that any- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
I fell out of my seat and screamed at the top of my lungs.
Everyone exploded into laughter.
In particular, Dee, who had reappeared suddenly and was hovering above me, looked like she having a meltdown. She was laughing so hard that it was almost silent.
"DEE!" I yelled furously.
"GOTCHA!"
