Palpable | Latent 2

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Sophronia

I really hated going to school now that Dustin wasn't being seen by anyone else. He did tag along some days, but it wasn't the same. I couldn't talk to him in the middle of the hallway or hold his hand or hug him.

Not to mention a lot of people were constantly approaching me to tell me that everything was okay, or to ask if I knew anything else about Dustin. I was really hating having to say the same thing over and over again.

Dustin didn't go to school with me this time today. He decided to stay at my house today and sketch his feelings. I was glad he was still able to touch things, otherwise he wouldn't be able to do anything.

Even after his parents found out I could see him and he was a spirit, I guess, right now, they decided to let him stay with me since I was the only one who could see him. Well Astrid could too, but we decided not to tell them that since Dustin didn't really have a connection with Astrid. We didn't want his parents to feel... insulted that someone he didn't know too well could see him rather than his family.

We did tell Blake, and he really was insulted. He kept saying that over and over again. Most of the time, he meant it as a joke, but the rest of the he was a bit serious.

"I really don't like feeling left out," Blake said. Right now, he was with me, Dustin, and Astrid were in my room. "You two can talk to Dustin, and I'm forced to just watch Sophronia make googly eyes at him."

"I don't make googly eyes at him," I objected as Dustin grabbed one of the pillows off my bed and threw it at Blake.

"Wow, floating pillow," Blake said, setting it on the floor beside him before laying down with his head resting on the pillow. "I would throw it back at my best friend, but I can't see him at all because apparently, I'm not important enough to him."

"Oh, don't be like that," Astrid said. "Sophronia and Dustin told me that it happened with you. You were able to see her when I wasn't and you don't see my complaining about it."

"Yeah, but I started seeing her a few weeks after she met Dustin," Blake said. "You got to see him right away."

"Isn't that a good thing?" I asked.

"How?" Blake asked.

"I think I know what she's getting at," Dustin said.

"Right, but you can't say anything because he wouldn't be able to hear you," I said, which caused Blake to sigh.

"Can someone do me a favour?" Blake asked. "If Dustin talks, smack him with a pillow."

"That's harsh," Dustin muttered.

"Anyway, what were you saying, Sophronia?" Astrid asked.

"Well, the only reason why Blake starting seeing me was because my body was starting to wake up," I said. "It wasn't long before I did afterwards. Maybe Dustin won't be in his coma for too long. Maybe that's why Astrid was able to see Dustin right away."

"I sure hope so," Dustin said. "I do not want to be like this any longer."

"You won't be," I assured. "The police know who did it, so they have a lead. They didn't have a lead for my family for a couple months."

"Yeah, I know," Dustin said.

"I'm sorry, is Dustin talking right now?" Blake asked. "Because I said someone needs to smack him with a pillow when he talks so I don't feel even more left out."

"I'm not smacking Dustin with a pillow," I said.

"I am," Astrid said, reaching for my other pillow on the bed and throwing it at Dustin. "Stop making Blake feel left out. He's your best friend."

"Yeah, my best friend that can't see me," Dustin said.

Astrid pointed a finger at Dustin. "No talking," she said and he held up his hands in surrender.

"Thank you, for being considerate," Blake said. "At least someone is."

"Come on, cut Dustin some slack," I said. "It takes a while getting used to being invisible from everyone. Well, only a few people. I remember when Dustin and I first met, it took me a while to get used to the idea that I was actually able to talk to someone. That I wasn't just going to spend the whole time alone. Like I did for four months. He's lucky."

There was a soft knock on the door, then it opened with Mom walking inside. "Hey," she said softly. "Is... Is Dustin in here?"

"Yeah," I said. "Is everything okay?"

Mom sighed. "Yeah. Well, kind of. His parents got another letter. They have to pay more money if they want to see Dustin again."

"Are you serious?" Blake asked.

"Yeah, I am," Mom said. "It's not as much as last time. Only two hundred dollars, and Dustin's dad will be paying it."

"Surprisingly," Dustin muttered and I looked over at him with raised eyebrow. "What? Don't give me that look. It is surprising that he decided to come down for a visit and pay to get me free."

"What's he's saying?" Blake said.

"Uh, I'd rather not say," I said. Dustin just shrugged and laid down on the bed. I looked over at Mom. "Do you think they're ever going to let him go? Or are they just going to keep asking for money until someone finds Dustin?"

Mom sighed and shrugged. "I really don't know what they would do. You can never expect anything when it comes to my sister. Anyway, I just thought I'd let you know. How is Dustin doing?"

"I'm bored," Dustin said.

"He's bored," I said. "And he probably wants food, but he can't eat."

Dustin groaned. "Now I want some lemon sorbet. Or a lemon. Or lemon. I miss my lemons."

"Alright," Mom said. "Just tell me if you need anything."

After she left, Dustin sat up again. "You know what I'm tempted to do? Go out and find myself. It's not like Ally or Jacob will see me searching around."

"That... actually is a good idea," I said. "The only problem is you shouldn't be opening doors or anything with people around."

"Yeah, with people around," Dustin said. "You really think I'll be hidden somewhere with a lot of people around?"

"I think he should do it," Astrid said.

"Once again, I am out of the loop here," Blake said. "What should Dustin do?"

"Look around the town," I said. "My aunt and uncle won't see him looking around." I looked at Dustin. "You want to?"

Dustin nodded. "Yeah, and I promise I'll be okay." He leaned over and kissed my cheek.

"Okay, I'll let you out," I said. We both got up and left the bedroom, then headed downstairs where I opened the door for Dustin.

"I'll be back by seven at the latest," he said, kissing my cheek once again before leaving, so I closed the door behind him.

"Soph, who was at the door?!" Mom called.

I walked into the living room where she was. "No one. I was just letting Dustin leave. He said he's going to walk around the town to see if he could find anything because no one will see him."

"Oh, okay," Mom said. "I think that's a great idea."

I smiled softly. "Yeah, me too." It actually made me feel a lot better. Anyone could get hurt looking for Dustin, but he wouldn't.