My Eyes Pick Up What Most Leave Behind

Chapter Thirteen

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Recap:

Scarlett and the ghost of the dead girl that died in her driveway [I never thought I'd say...or write that....anywhere] chatted for a while. Scarlett and Erick make up, and Scarlett hears a piercing scream from Alice's room.

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Chapter 13

Scarlett

I ran to Alice's room to see what wass going on. She has been screaming a lot lately. I get to her room and open the door, and was greatly relieved to see it was only....that girl that was killed in our driveway.

 I should really get her name.

I walked up to the two, Alice sitting up in bed and...that girl...sitting next to her. I waited for a good time to butt in, and when it came I said, "Hey, what's your name?" They both jumped a bit before...that girl...replied. 

"Tanzie. You can call me Tanz, though." I nodded.  

"Pretty name. Catchy." I commented. She smiled. 

"Thanks! What's yours?" She questioned.  

"Scarlett. And that would be Alice," I gestured to Alice.  

"Scarlett. I like that. Alice is pretty, but it reminds me of rabbits," she said with a little giggle. Alice spoke up. 

"Rabbits?!"  

"Yeah, Alice, as in Alice in Wonderland. And that movie reminds me of rabbits," She explained as if it were the simplest thing in the world.  

"A lot going on there," Alice responded. 

"So, Tanzie. What can we help you with?" I asked. 

"Nothing. It's you guys I'm worried about. I really do not want you guys to look guilty. In any way, shape, or form," She said. I nodded, as did Alice. 

"Can't we just explain? We were all asleep at the time." Alice asked. 

"Yeah, you could. But where's the proof?" Tanzie commented. Alice formed an O with her mouth and nodded her head.  

"I think we should just play it by ear. I mean, why fret now, when the police haven't shown any interest in us at all?" I pointed out.

"True," Tanzie said.  

"Yeah," Alice added.

"Well that settles that..." I finished. 

"Oh, Scarlett! Tell me about Erick!" Alice blurted. 

"Erick?" Tanzie asked.  

"Yeah. Scarlett's boyfriend!" Alice said in a sing-song voice.

 I rolled my eyes. 

"Erick. He's a guy who moved here from Ireland. He has an amazing accent!" I fake gushed. 

Tanzie nodded and it was Alice's turn to roll her eyes.  

"But he asked me to go back to Ireland with him all of a sudden. And he expected me to accept.....he did apologize for being so sudden..." I rambled. Tanzie's eyes widened. 

"Did you forgive him?" She asked. 

"Mmhm." I mumbled.

Alice spoke up yet again, "Did his mom ever change her mind?"  

"Not as far as I know." I said. 

Tanzie looked pretty confused as she swiped a brunette curl off of her face. I started explaining.

"Well back in Ireland, he is expected to marry whomever his parents choose. To get money, of course. His mom has him set up with this one chick that he does not want to marry. At all. His way out is paying his mother a fortune to make up for the family's loss." Tanzie nodded.  

"How much?" She asked.  

"I'm not completely sure. Somewhere around 100,000 dollars in American money," I answered as she took in her breath sharply. Alice did the same. 

"You can't help out at all? You have tons of money! Or rather, your family does." Alice offered.  

"I could help out a bit. But considering I don't know him extremely well, my mother would not be likely to grant him the money," I explained.

Alice and Tanzie nodded. Just then I realized I was having a conversation with my friend. And a ghost. A ghost. I must be going insane. Just then I heard my phone go off in my room. I dismissed myself and made my way to my bedside table.

It was a text, from Erick. It read, 'Hey, love. Mind if I come over for a bit? I'm hopelessly bored.' I smiled to myself and replied. 'Sure thing.' I set my phone down again before informing Alice and Tanzie of this.  

"It's cool. I have...things to do. Stuff to take care of." Tanzie said.

Alice and I waved as she vaporized into thin air. Gosh, that's weird to watch. 

"I'll be out too. I told Nate I'd meet him at his house. We are going to see a movie," Alice said quickly.  

"Nate?" I questioned. 

"Yeah. A guy from school. You wont know him."

Sure, she was my friend...but I questioned her choice in guys.  

"Alright then," I said before heading back to my room to change out of my p.j's.

 I had on my favorite light blue skinny jeans and black cami when the doorbell rang. Alice had just left and I bounced down the stairs to answer the door. I smiled and said, "Hey." He smiled even bigger. 

"These are for you, Scarlett. An apology, you could call it, or a friendly gesture," he said with a wink before letting himself in.

 I accepted the bouquet of scarlet (ironic?) roses before shutting the door. I walked to the kitchen and put the roses in a vase. I set them on our kitchen table and I felt his warm breath on my neck. I admit, it did not feel bad. I turned around and bumped into him. He was that close behind me. What has gotten into him all of a sudden?

I stood there for a second, looking right into his green eyes. Not a light forest green like mine, but brighter. More electric.

 "Too close?" He raised an eyebrow. I felt my cheeks get hot before responding. 

"Maybe. I'll let you know," before brushing past him. Maybe, I'll let you know? What has gotten into me?  

"Scarlett?"

I turned and he was inches away from my face yet again. His eyes flicked from my lips to my eyes, and before I could respond, his lips brushed against mine.