Ghostwriter

Chapter 19

I left Colton at home with Jason. That's a scary thought, but for some reason I'm more afraid of the task in front of me: dress shopping. I push my large sunglasses up my nose and play with the tips of my hair.

I haven't done this since I tried to rush in Freshman year.

Barbara wheels next to me. I have no idea how someone in a wheelchair is going to protect me, but I trust Jason and by extent her. Two shopping bags full of shoes sit in her lap. Her red curls sway as the chair slides forward, and the playing with my measly brown frizz intensifies. She's beautiful.

"...Do, um, do you want me to push you?"

"No. I can take care of myself." Of course she can. I still feel a little guilty about not helping her though, especially since the other people at the mall are giving us looks. I duck my head.

"Ignore them. So, how are you?" Her crystal blue eyes stare ahead, unwavering.

Basic preliminary conversation starters.

Again.

We've been making rounds.

I know Barbara wants to ask about Jason. He's her friend, after all, and I'm the disbelieving "soulmate".

"I'm good. I haven't gotten to spend this much time with Colton in a long while, so I'm happy about that. I think I'm going to have to introduce him to solid foods soon. What about you?"

She huffs. "Busy. So busy. But it's a part of the job, you know?" She laughs. The sound makes me relax a little.

"Must be." I agree. Jason goes out every night to do something or another. He doesn't tell me; I don't ask.

She doesn't pause. "Have you and Jay kissed yet?"

I balk and my heart rate speeds from one to one-sixty. Apparently, Barbara's tired of me dancing around the topic. "N-no! No. We're not like that. He's just a good friend."

"You're blushing." Barbara probes.

"You embarrassed me. It happens." I throw my hair into my face to hide myself, because she's right and I'm lying. I've thought about it—sue me. He's hot, and I've been stuck in that safehouse with him for a while now. I can't help it! But we're not soulmates, and giving in just because I'm starting to be minutely attracted to him wouldn't be fair to him.

"You're his soulmate. And you don't want to kiss him." She arches her eyebrow. "He has taken off his hood around you, right?"

"Yes, for both, except for the soulmate thing. He's wrong." I watch her for a reaction, for anger or pity, even amusement, but I get none. She's neutral. Darn Bats.

"How could he be wrong? I wanna hear this,"

"It's just," I sigh because I hate telling people this, but she's his friend, and she's the Oracle, so she's not going to leave me alone until she gets proof. I still whisper it out of embarrassment. "I'm a scarmark. And Jason's alive. Very alive."

"I suspected as much. I mean, he did—" Barbara cuts herself off and looks at me out of the corner of her eye. "He hasn't told you, has he?"

My curiosity peaks. "Hasn't told me what?"

"That idiot." Barbara snorts and rolls her eyes. "It's not my story to tell. But me and him are going to have words."