Chapter 1
Pov. Kali.
I have three reasons to be nervous right now. three reasons why I should turn around and walk back out of the library and ignore the boy currently sitting at one of the study tables waiting for me.
One. he is a jock. super good looking. popular. rich, but kind of a jerk. ok, he's a jerk. there, I said it.
Two. he has the school wrapped around his little finger, his friends. the teachers. most of them will bow down to him.
and three. he hates me. well, at least I think he does. he's never spoken to me directly, but then he wouldn't, because I'm just the ghost girl.
everyone hates me. I live in a funeral home, so that automatically makes me weird and apparently, I smell of death.
when I offered my time to help students with their English and Math. I only offered it, to gain extra credit. and because I'm smart.
when Logan Fairchild reached out to me and demanded I meet him here, at the back of the library. I honestly don't think he was expecting, well, me.
"You have got to be shitting me."
his face right now as I stand in front of him is a mixture of horror and disgust.
"Tell me this is a joke."
I shake my head no.
"This is not a joke. you need my help and well, here I am."
I stand tall. if you show an inch of fear, he will pounce.
"Absolutely-fucking-not. its social suicide."
he stands up and gathers his things.
"that's your decision. I can't make you stay. but in future, don't waste my time."
"that's rich. if I had known it, was you. I would have asked someone else."
"And who will you ask. I'm the smartest student in the entire school."
"Anyone. I'll find someone. I'll figure it out."
with that he gets up and walks off. what an absolute jerk.
see, I told you so.
I decide since I'm here, I will do some of my own work. not that I have much to catch up on.
once lunch rolls around. I gather my things and wrap the blue scarf my nanna knitted around my neck and head for the door.
the cafeteria here is always a wild affair. I try to avoid it. but my stomach is grumbling and I fancy some soup.
"I see dead people."
"Boo."
"Watch out, it's a real-life ghost."
those are just some of the comments and insults that are thrown at me on the regular.
"Move. freak."
I'm pushed as I enter the food court. jocks are the worst. they think their poop doesn't stink.
most of the time, I let the hurtful words roll off my back. but sometimes. just sometimes. they sting a little.
"Nice scarf. did granny make it."
I ignore Tatiana and her group of friends as I get in line for food.
"Oh look, she has matching mittens."
I look down and curse when I see my matching blue gloves sticking from my pocket.
I get the soup, a bottle of juice and some potato chips. pay and find a seat.
"Hey ghost girl. does your dad fuck the corpses when they come in."
I ignore them. my dad is very skilled at what he does. just like his father before him.
"I bet you fuck them. let's face it. no one else is going to do it. not alive anyway."
the group laugh and I continue to eat.
I'm not what you would call pretty. I'm dull really. plain brown hair. just past my shoulders.
I have grey eyes with a hint of green from my Irish roots.
and my nose tips slightly on the end. but my teeth are the worst problem.
I think they are two big for my mouth and crocked. hence why I have braces.
"How does that work though, with all that metal on your mouth. does it not get caught on their cocks."
Kenny Montgomery is a real piece of poop. he and Tatiana make a good pair.
"What are you lot bitching about."
Logan enters my line of sight and sits next to Kenny.
nice upon a time. I admired him. he is tall, strong and elegant in the way he walks.
but his personality is rotten. he leads the group. everyone doing his bidding. if he said jump. they would shout, how high.
"Ghost girl was just filling us in on her latest fuck."
I cringe on the inside. Kenny has a vulgar mouth.
"Who the fuck would go there. she's a freak."
I blink back hot tears. I refuse to let them see me cry. I refuse to let Logan's words affect me.
"Dead guys. or girls. she's probably a lesbo anyway."
Kenny answers that while Tatiana and her friends giggle obnoxiously.
the group continues to laugh, and I look at the back of Logans bleached blonde hair and curse him to hell.
just one more year and I won't have to see any of these people again.
just one more year and I am off to Thailand to volunteer myself to help out in an elephant conservation project.
it's always been a dream of mine. I have always loved animals, and it will help me to become a big game veterinarian.
"don't look so glum Kali. if the wind changes, you'll stay like that."
my best, and only friend Ryan, sits down in front of me.
he's a goofball. total ginger. his hair is so red, a fox would be jealous.
and before you ask, yes, I was named Kali after the goddess of death.
honestly, google it. its Hindu myology.
"Jerks." I flick my chin in the direction of the laughing hyenas.
"Ignore them. I do." he dips down and bites his sandwich.
"I know you do. and I take my hat off to you." I reply opening my potato chips.
"One year Kal. then you can put up a middle finger and walk away."
I know he's right, but dear lord it gets harder and harder each day
"I can't wait for that day." I whisper still looking at the back of Logans head.
"Stop looking at Logan you freak."
a moist half eaten bread roll lands on the table in front of me. missing my bowl of half-eaten soup by an inch.
Logan turns his head. he looks at me for all of a second and then faces away again.
the group finally finishes their meals and gets up to a lot of back slaps and giggling girls talking about their weekend plans.
just when I think they have left. Logan stops at my table and dumps the rest of his food in front of me. the half empty bowl of soup spilling onto my lap.
"Whoops, sorry about that."
he drops his tray as well, turns and walks away with his friends.
Ryan gets up and fetches me some paper towels.
"I hate them." I whisper, finally letting a tear fall down my cheek.
at the end of the day. I walk home with a heavy heart.
I would like to think my lack of friends has everything to do with where I live and what my family does.
but in all fairness. I still think if I lived in a mansion and was rich. I would still be the target for their ridicule.
if only I knew that tomorrow would bring a certain jock back, begging for my help.
