Ghost Boy (Lams)

The ocean

"What do you m-mean-" Alex muttered, cocking a brow and moving closer hesitantly.
"Stop playing dumb, you know what you fucking did," John growled, stepping away, the white crawling up his arms.
"No I really don't! Enlighten me!" Alex snapped.

"You lied when you said you'd fallen for me!" John cried, cowering and hugging his arms across his stomach. Alex watched him with wide eyes, frowning and shaking his head.
"N-no, no I didn't- John I like you, for real-"
"No shut up!" John spat quickly, his hands snapping up to cover his ears. "If you really liked me I wouldn't be here! My- my unfinished business, you have to- I-"

Alex frowned, reaching out his hand hesitantly towards John, his hand brushing through John's, causing him to scream and jump away.
"Don't touch me!"
"Why not?" Alex pleaded, his eyes glossy as he gazed at John.
"Y-you're a fucking asshole, just- don't come near me!"

With that John flew up into the ceiling, the restaurant falling silent, Alex's breathing heavy.
"John!"
Eliza stared at him with wide, horrified eyes, frozen on the spot.
"Alex what the fuck."

"Sorry, Eliza, I'm so sorry, but I- I need to go," Alex shook his head, sprinting out of the restaurant, biting his cheek nervously. What had he done? "John! Fuck where would he go..." Alex whispered to himself, looking around before starting to run aimlessly.
He whipped his phone out of his pocket to check the public transport times, finding a bus that arrived shortly and running to the stop.

He arrived panting and jumped on, paying his fare and slumping into a seat near the front, his head hitting the window tiredly.
He sat and watched the world pass by through the glass, his stomach churning uneasily.
Isn't that what John wanted? He wanted Alex to like him. Alex told John he liked him. It should all be over- so why wasn't it? Why was John so mad too? Everything was so confusing.

Alex sighed shakily, rubbing his eyes as the bus reached his stop. He gave the driver a small wave and slipped out of the bus, standing as it drove off behind him. Ahead he could hear waves crashing and receding back into the ocean, the tinkling sound of crickets and low whispers of wind ushering him forward. He slipped his shoes off and walked forward, across the pavement and onto the rough wooden boards of the jetty that rattled with each step.

At the end of the jetty was a soft white glow, Alex's face softening as he placed his shoes down at the end and walked with delicate footsteps towards the end.
"It's pretty cold out here." He murmured, looking out onto the dark ocean ahead cloaked by night.

"I like it." John hissed, a voice he attempted to make menacing only weak and timid.  He paused. "How'd you find me?"
"I know you." Alex murmured, John immediately shooting around with a sharp glare, his cheeks glittering with tears and brows drawn in frustration.
"You don't know anything about me!"

Alex winced, shifting his gaze away and pressing his lips together.
"I know you're hurting," he mumbled.
"What else is new?" John spat venomously, his voice cracking slightly and the his ghostly glow dimming.
"I know it's because of me."

John glared down at the water, clutching the wooden boards he sat on in his fists, his mattered curls still semi-floating around his face, giving him an angelic aura all the while.
"Why can't I touch you, John?"
"You lied to me." John growled lowly. Alex knew that wasn't the answer.
"John why can't I- "

"Because we can't be together Alex! You're alive! I'm dead! No matter how you think you feel about me, we- this will never happen!" John yelled, slamming his fists against the edge of the jetty. "You can't hold me, or kiss me, or fucking do anything! Nobody else can see me goddamn it!" He cried, standing up and floating over the edge of the jetty, his back to Alex.

Alex surged forward, reached out and grabbed his wrist, his hand not passing through John. He was cold. Alex's hand was cold too, and clammy.
"Alex let me-" he whimpered but Alex tugged him back onto the jetty, wrapping his arms around John's cold frame. John whimpered quietly, feeling Alex's warmth radiate against him.
They collapsed to their knees on the wooden boards, John curled up against Alex's chest, casting a weak glow against him as Alex held onto him tightly.
"I don't like you, John, I love you," he murmured shakily, clutching onto him as John's glow began to fade. Alex panicked a little, noticing him dimming, hugging him tighter. "J-John,"

"Maybe you should've loved me before it was too late," he murmured just above a whisper, sitting up and pressing his lips to Alex's right as he disappeared completely, the wind whisking him away towards the ocean, Alex's arms left empty as he hugged at the salty ocean air, frozen for a moment and savouring the moment before collapsing into a fit of sobs. He was too late.

John's unfinished business was for Alex to love him

One more chapter :) I'm out of hospital now for those I was speaking to earlier this year!