Silence » a.i

2.8

"It's something Mali never tried," Calum admitted. "After she realized that Ashton's memory of her was taken away, it just hurt her too much. She sort of left it at that."

"So she spent so much time trying to conjure up spells and potions, but never bothered trying to kiss the boy?" Michael quizzed.

"Isn't this just some cliche Sleeping Beauty thing?" I sighed.

Calum looked at the floor with an odd expression I couldn't place. It was like he found something confusingly funny.

"But we never tried it," Michael told me, "so it might work."

I groaned from my place on Luke. He had pulled me into his lap after I fought with Michael that I had to go see my brother, and just let me stay there. Mikey told me that Jeremy had died in the house and was stuck there now -- how would he explain that to mom and dad? -- and Ashton goes over there a lot to talk to Jeremy. Why? I don't know.

"We're sending you to your house because he's probably there." Michael told me.

"But what about his powers?" I wondered.

"That potion lasts twenty-four hours." Calum told me as he got off the floor by the coffee table. "Maybe since you have that in your system, that and the kiss combined might do some weird chemical reaction shit."

"Okay," I nodded, "but how do I...do this?"

"Cooper, don't ask us how to suck face with your own boy- erm, with Irwin," Michael said in a disgusted tone. "I think you can figure that out for yourself."

Luke nudged me off of him and stood with me, bringing me to the door and opening it, "Now march your little butt across the street and go get your boyfriend back."

Quietly behind me, Michael added, "Hopefully."

-

I opened the door as quietly as I could, but Jeremy appeared in front of me anyway, making me jump, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Thanks for telling me!" I shouted at him, not really caring if Ashton was around or not.

"T-telling you w-what?" he stammered.

"Luke told me," I stated. "Why wouldn't you tell me? I've been putting up with dead people since you moved in."

He shrugged, "I didn't want to ruin things with you and Ashton."

I stared at him. "What?"

His eyes widened at me, "What are you talking about?"

"You're dead. What are you talking about?"

"Nothing."

"What would ruin things between us?" I asked in a whisper.

"You didn't come here to question me, did you?" he inquired quickly, changing the subject.

While he was right, I still wanted to question him. I was just surprised I wasn't freaking out as much as I should've been. Maybe because I was kind of used to dead people by now. Or maybe because I could still see and talk to my brother. At any rate, I had to find Ashton.

"Is Ashton here?" I wondered.

"He left a little bit ago, but you shouldn't be looking for him anyway." he stated, crossing his arms.

"And why not?"

"You're not immune."

"Am so. Calum gave me an immunity potion," I stated matter-of-factly. Then I added, "You do know about Calum, don't you?"