The Phantoms

Chapter 9

Ebony High isn't my kind of scene. It's too quiet,too polished for it to ever be. Back in my old school,the empty fourth floor window I'm staring out of,perfect to hide by because no one frequents near it due to the sickly smell emanating from the floor's only bathroom,would have been a well known spot. Students looking for a break from class would have been crowding it, from horny couples to gossiping freshmen. Me? I'd have been pretending to be casually hanging around,probably flanked by Cam but secretly we'd  be videoing one of the many parentally disapproved scenes happening to use as blackmail later. Here,it hasn't even been discovered yet.
I take my gaze off the morning traffic visible from the window to check behind my shoulder for any newcomers. No one's there.
My tired eyes rove back to the window. I won't be able to duck sleep today,like I have for the past two nights. Fabien's face keeps appearing in my dreams,along with my father's both their eyes closed,their mouths forming the same words.
Not in front of her.
It doesn't matter that the words were meant for different girls. That they were spoken out of two different kinds of love.
Once something rekindles that nightmare,nothing stops it. That means nothing will stop the terrifying images that will plague my sleep tonight. My father's gun turned against it's own master,his curly black hair falling over his face,hiding his expression from me. Lauren shaking on the floor,not just with fear but with the effort it took to keep me behind the partially open door of the closet,out of harm's way. That blinding sense of helpnessness that took away all sense and left only crippling fear.
Even after the hunters left,laughing about the murders they'd just commited and I'd been free of Lauren's power I'd been frozen. I still don't know how long I stood  in that closet,parallyzed. Eventually I'd walked out slowly,my steps faltering as I approached my dead father. I'd kneeled beside him,too shocked to cry. Sawdust and blood prickled my nose,mixed with sweat and a hint of Lauren's pleasantly sharp herbal scent which was  out of place there because it was the scent of safety. Of home.
I remember my lungs feeling like they were entombed in ice,everything fading out of focus except for the motionless body in front of me. That's when I'd started shaking him,my hands pressing urgently against his bloodied chest. There still hadn't been any tears. Like I'd believed if I shook him long and hard enough he'd get up,laughing,life returning into his open eyes,maybe grab me and swing me around onto his shoulder like he always did.
When the police found me,I'd been sitting on the floor,staring dully at the wall. They'd gotten me out with no problem,since I'd been to numb to do anything but be obedient. I hadn't cried at all that night. Mom had been there,pale in a blue business jacket,the same numbness I felt echoing in her face.
The next day had been his funeral. I never got to go to Lauren's. My mom didn't let me. She'd found some sort of twisted pleasure out of that particular denial,her form of revenge for not telling her about my dad's "best friend" sooner.
The moment they lowered him into the ground is when I understood. He was dead. Daddy was dead. He would never pick me up and give me one of his huge,snuggly hugs ever again. I would never fall asleep in Lauren's car on his warm chest with his army jacket wrapped around me ever again.
Then I'd started to cry. Mom's hand had been holding on to mine,but it was stiff. Cold. Without an inch of dad's warmth. The moment people had stopped looking she'd pulled her hand away.
That had just made me cry harder.
The years after that had been hideous. I look away from the window and step back,not wanting to reminisce any more. I head down the stairs,mentally preparing myself for the stalking teachers. It's lunch time according to the hallway's watch.
I've been at that window for hours,too tired to keep track of time.
Maybe I should just sleep in class. Daylight made things easier.
But there's no gurantee I won't be awakened or that I won't wake up screaming.
And unfortunately,I have one last thing left to do.
I walk into the cafeteria in a very disgruntled mood,my very eyelids weighing me down. I make sure Ms.Synder who's looking a little frantic clearly fearing for her stalker money,gets a glimpse of me as I cross to a table . I cut through the lunch line to get to my target and plop down on a chair.
Charlie Ray's eyes take in my uncharachterstically straight uniform and my paint free platform heels,donned especially to manipulate her. I need her in a good mood.Her eyes narrow when they land on my fingerless gloves but I need those to hide my bandaged hands.
"Hey,"I whisper to her,my face apologetic. Her eyes soften a little though she still checks behind her to make sure she hasn't been seen with me. I mentally roll my eyes.
People would call Charlie my eyes and ears but that's just wrong. I could never depend on someone as desperate as her.
I'd call her my link to Ebony. Someone who's been in this  town long enough to know all the inhabitants and what they're like. Who's always quick to know who is sleeping with who and who just had a fight with who.
Of course to me that information has different value to me. It's who to spy on and where. It's who you can bribe or blackmail into helping you stay low for awhile so you can take one fucking second of not running from hunters. Of not being stalked by your mother.
Charlie was a useful tool for the first month I was here,eager to supply me with all the information because of who my mother is. That stopped when  I punched Patricia Williams in the cheek and suddenly being associated with me was the equivalent of severing your social life at the head. And I hadn't minded because I hadn't needed her since.
Until now.
Luckily for me,I can be persuasive. And this girl will take only a few minutes of my time.
"Sorry about Patricia," I continue,still using that innocent,angelic tone. The thing is Charlie believes I'm the naive new girl looking for guidance to become what she so desperately does-popular. It's an illusion I maintain that makes her feel powerful and safe around me. I'm watching her every move with fake wide eyed wonder.
"Lose the gloves,"she hisses at me. I tuck my hands under the table,pretending I am.
"I shouldn't accept your sorry."
"I know. What I did was-horrible." I make sure to add a slight quiver to my words. Like I'm terrified of Patricia's wrath.
"But I got new gossip."
Suddenly I have her complete attention. "What?" There's no beating around the bushes for her when it comes to the latest scandal. Her long red nails start tapping the table,impatience clear in her raised eyebrows.
I lean closer,enough to create a more closed,comfy bubble but not so much that I'd look overeager.
"Evan Andrews is dating someone."
Charlie makes a dismissive sound at the back of her throat.
"He's always hooking up with some underdog chick-"
"Not a waitress or a cashier this time," I say,bouncing up and down in my seat as if I'm bursting with the need to tell her. "She goes to Delanie." A complete and utter lie. The truth is that some assholes who'd been at Pump's that day had reported back to my mom that they'd seen me with Evan in there. To complicate matters Mom had been at home when Gail came over to my house for our "sleepover". Since she's nothing like the people I usually hang out with and happened to be the sister of the boy I'm suspected to be dating,mom is keeping close tabs on her as well as Evan. And the last thing they need right now on top of Fabien's injury is her attention. This is me cleaning up after the mess I always make when I stray too close to people.
Charlie's fingers are flying over her Iphone X frantically. I allow myself a small smile as I watch her shrewdly. I'd bet by the end of the day the whole school will know. And by then mom'll have no way to pinpoint exactly who started the rumour.
My work here is done. Well,almost. I'll have to find Evan and explain what I'd done. I can already see how well that will go.
Charlie looks up from her cell once to give me what she probably thinks is an intimidating look.
"You sure about this?" She has reason to be cautious. From what I've heard Evan is known for his tendency to hook up with what Ebony's snobs have labeled as the lowlife.
Basically anyone who doesn't wear Prada,actually earns their allowance money and doesn't drink champagne and wine only.
"Yeah. Very." I stand and make my way out of the cafe,Ms.Synder in tow. Now I just have to find Evan and convince him to go along with what I'd done. A few publicly viewed trips to Delanie,a well known private school in a neighbouring town,and mom'll be off the Andrews' tails.
Not that I don't believe he couldn't take anything she throws at him. He seems to scare the hell out of everyone in this town. No one wants to talk about him. It's like he's a taboo.
But none of us phantoms can afford to let him be one to me.