Haunted

Chapter 8

Songs for this chapter

Sirens - Cher Lloyd

Story of my life - One Direction

I see fire - Ed Sheeran

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"Hey, are you Luke Hemmings?" I turn around to face a guy with black-red dyed hair. "Uhm.. yes?" "Okay, good. So you're the guy who hangs out with Ariana? Clifford?" "Yes.. but who are you?"

That guy is freaking weird to be honest.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot. I'm her cousin, Michael Clifford."

Oh.

"Cool.." He laughs. "That seems weird right now, doesn't it?", he asks. "Actually yes", I grin. "Sorry", he laughs. "Anyway, aren't you hanging out with her right now?" He looks around.

Obviously not.

"I'm having lunch with her Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I have lunch with my other friends Tuesday and Thursday..", I point at our table and add, "So since it's Thursday I'm here." He nods understanding, then he says, "Can you come with me though? I need to talk to you."

Oh god.

"Uhm.. sure, just let me tell my friends." I walk over to Harry, one of Calum's friends, and say, "Hey, I'm having lunch with that Michael guy today, okay?" I point over at Michael and Harry nods. "Okay, I'll tell the others", he says and I thank him.

I walk back to Michael and he says, "Let's go somewhere no one will listen."

What?

"Why?", I ask. "You'll see", he replies. Okay, this is kinda creepy.

What is my life even. I'm having lunch alone with a stranger who's apparently my friend's cousin but I've never heard about him because - well, she doesn't talk.

He guides me into a classroom full of music instruments. I've never been here before, I thought I've already seen everything in school now but seems like I still haven't.

"Are we allowed to be here?", I ask. "That's like my second home so yes. And even if we weren't allowed to - would you actually care?", he grins and sits down on a table. I do the same and he coughs before he says, "So let's talk about Ariana."

I'm not sure if it's a good idea to tell him he's freaking creepy but probably not.

"I've heard she sits next to you in English class?" I nod. "Her mum told me she also let you in when you visited her. And on Tuesday you went to a fair, right?" "Yes.." "Am I creeping you out?" "Yes." "Good."

Oh.

He laughs and says, "Just kidding, I'm sorry but I really want my old cousin back. This is really important to me." He's part of her family, it's probably even harder for him as for her friends so I really shouldn't blame him.

"I understand", I say and smile. "Well, okay. So her mum said Ariana came back totally happy. I don't know how, but you're making miracles possible."

Well, he's not the first to tell me.

"I care about her. It's really important to me that she's happy again, even though I don't know her nearly as long as you all do", I say and I mean it.

"You made a lot of things happen that we thought weren't possible. She sits next to you, she let you in, she smiles from time to time..", he tells me and I add, "She ate on Tuesday, she laughed.." "Wait what?", he nearly drops his sandwich. "She ate? Are you sure?" "Yes, a whole pizza and candy floss", I reply. His eyes widen, "You're Jesus."