Letters With a Ghost

Chapter Two

"You've been back for one day, Ms. Parker."

The White Palm High School principal, Mr. Waters, leaned back in his chair, studying Camryn carefully. "This is not the kind of behavior I would expect from you," he added gently.

Camryn kept her eyes on her feet.

"The loss of Mr. Jaxon was devastating for all of us, but-"

"Not all of us," Camryn cut in sharply. She lifted her gaze from the floor. "No one even remembers Ayden here."

"That's not true," Mr. Waters insisted. "Mr. Jaxon was well-liked here at school."

Camryn scoffed. "Well-liked? You're kidding, right?" She shook her head, her brown eyes meeting the floor once more. She mustered the courage to speak up, then met her principal's gaze. "Ayden was bullied more than any other kid in this school. He was called names because of his lack of skills in sports. He was teased because his dad left him when he was a baby. He was tortured everyday to the point where he swallowed a bottle of pills, thus ending his own life." She paused, taking in Mr. Waters' reaction. "Does that sound like a well-liked person to you?"

Mr. Waters cleared his throat, appearing to be at a loss for words. "There were never any complaints about bullying submitted by Mr. Jaxon-"

"That would've only made it worse!" Camryn protested. She sighed heavily and slumped in her chair. "Just...what's my punishment?"

Mr. Waters reviewed the incident report on his clipboard. He then tossed it down on his desk, along with his glasses. "The normal punishment for fighting is three days suspension," he said, "but given that you've been out of school for so long, that's not a very good option." He glanced over at the clipboard once more. "I'll tell you what," he said. "If you promise to never do something like this again, I'll let you slide."

Camryn looked up, shocked. "W-what?" she stammered, unsure if she heard him correctly.

"I'm letting you off with a warning," he said. "You were close to Mr. Jaxon, and you struck Ms. Benson as a way of defending him. I understand, and also respect, that action. As long as I have your word that this will never happen again, you're free to go."

Camryn straightened in her chair. "Yessir," she said respectfully. "Thank you sir."

Mr. Waters nodded. "Now get to class."

Camryn hurried off. She stopped at her locker briefly and grabbed her notebook.

Dear Ayden,

You'll never believe this! ...

She scurried to class. After two long hours of classes reviewing things that she never learned and pretending to actually pay attention, it was finally time for lunch. Still lacking an appetite, she sat down at a table by herself and started writing...

Mr. Waters let me go. Just like that! I slapped Taylor Benson, and I got a warning. How cool is that? That's perfect. Oh, Ayden, thank you, you...

"Whatcha writing?"

Camryn jumped and closed her notebook. She looked up to see her friend, Kayleigh.

"Oh, um, nothing..."

"Mind if I sit here?" Kayleigh asked.

"Sure." Camryn cleared her books out of the way, and Kayleigh sat down.

"Where's your lunch?"

"I'm not hungry," Camryn replied. "I haven't really eaten much since it happened."

"You still upset over Ayden?"

"How can I not be?"

Kayleigh shrugged, pushing a small dish of fries over to Camryn. "I mean, you guys weren't really a thing, so it's not like you lost a boyfriend or something."

Camryn glared at Kayleigh. "I lost something worse," she said, pushing the fries back. "I lost my best friend."

Kayleigh ignored her remark. "You need to eat," she commented. "You can't let this small incident ruin your whole life."

Camryn shook her head and pushed away from the table. "Too late." She gathered her books into her arms.

"What's the matter with you now?" Kayleigh's voice was tinged with annoyance.

"If you'll excuse me," Camryn shot back, "I'm too busy sulking over my little incident." She hissed the word "little" as she turned and left the cafeteria.

She made her way up to the library, the only place where she knew she could be left alone. She sat at a small table, took out her notebook and pen, and started to write...

You are all that matters to me, Ayden. No one understands me like you do. No one gets me. I have no one to relate to anymore.

They tell me to get over it, but I know I never will. How can I? How would they like it if I just walked up to them and ripped their heart out, then told them to just get over it? That's basically how I feel right now.

I guess I know why you had to leave. Life is pretty shitty, huh? I just wish I had a chance to say goodbye, you know? I wish I would have been by your side, to hold you, to kiss you like I always wanted to kiss you.

To show you how much I really love you.

I'll see you again someday, Ayden. Hopefully sooner than later.

Wait for me, okay?

--Camryn