Chapter 4 He hears her out.

"Hey". Emily approached him during lunch break, he sat at the garden instead of the school's cafeteria.

He didn't acknowledge her presence but continued sipping on his milkshake.

"Blake is a jerk..he should be punished for what he did to you". She said trying to soothe him.

"I'm sorry about what happened, you defended me when I was in trouble but I just sat there and watched him hit you...I..I couldn't do anything...I'm sorry". She murmured, lowering her head.

He finally raised his head to look at the guilt stricken girl.

"It isn't your fault, don't apologise". He said, then looked away.

"Nobody stood up for you...it's disheartening.." She murmured, still lowering her head.

"I didn't want anybody standing up for me...and I don't blame him for what he did...what's his name again? Blaze?".

"Blake" Emily corrected with a chuckle.

"He must be having a tough time since he lost his girlfriend so...I don't really blame him".

"You're too kind". She said and sighed, then made herself comfortable beside him.

"What are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be at the cafeteria?". He asked.

"I think the garden is more refreshing...I get to stretch my legs and arms freely". She replied, doing as she said.

"Here..." She opened her lunch box.

"Have some fries...I made them myself".

He looked at the French fries and then at her.

"Why do I feel like it's not going to be palatable?". He joshed.

"Huh? Why do you think so?". She scrunched up her face.

"I made them myself". She defended with a pout.

"That's the point". He smiled.

"Aha..." She chuckled and pushed him playfully.

"C'mon...I'm really good at the kitchen". She adjusted her glasses, her cheeks heating up.

"I see you've gotten a new one". He said, pointing at her glasses.

"Oh...um yeah...when I got home with the cracked ones yesterday, my mom got me a new pair from my doctor...after scolding me though".

"You didn't tell her it wasn't your fault?".

"I..I..told her I fell".

"You didn't tell her who pushed you?".

"Well...it..it doesn't matter". She stuttered and looked away from him.

"I see you've gotten a girlfriend.." The hairs on his skin stood and he felt a presence behind him.

He averted his eyes to the side and he got a glimpse of the spirit behind him, without turning his head.

He sighed, rolling his eyes in frustration.

"You bad boy". Stephanie chuckled.

"It's your second day at school and you already have a girlfriend".

He stood up immediately and took his milkshake.

"What's wrong?". Emily looked up at him.

"I think I'll be heading for the next class". He said to her.

"Wait...but it's still lunch break". She also stood up, holding her lunch box.

"The air in the garden isn't refreshing anymore".

"Really??". She asked him.

He nodded his head.

"It has just been polluted".

"Oh no...you don't.." Stephanie bit on her lip pissed.

"Don't you...dare.." She growled at him.

He scoffed and turned to face her, then passed through her like he hadn't noticed her.

"You bastard!!!". Stephanie screamed in horror.

"I'll kill you! I'll fucking kill you!!".

Emily followed him, innocently.

*

Chemistry lab..

"State what would be observed when zinc trioxocarbonate (iv) salt is heated, and then, allowed to cool".

Mr Giovanni, senior class chemistry teacher asked his students as his eyes moved around... looking for who to answer his question.

"New student". He finally said, pointing at Bobby.

He raised his head from the beaker he was holding with a pair of tongs.

He had remembered his former chemistry teacher telling he and his former classmates what would happen and they had done several experiments at the Laboratory.

He carefully dropped the beaker and stood up.

"When zinc trioxocarbonate (iv) salt is heated, it produces..."

"Bobby Adams!!". Stephanie yelled as she barged into the lab.

He stopped, startled by the sudden appearance.

He looked towards the door, she stood fuming and biting the insides of her mouth.

"Why are you doing this to me?!". She yelled at him.

He exhaled sharply and turned to face the teacher again.

The teacher and his classmates were waiting for his answer.

"It produces...."

"Answer me!! Don't ignore me!". She yelled again, cutting him short.

He turned to her direction again.

This time, her eyes were red and he watched as tears trickled down her cheeks.

"Are you alright new student?". Mr Giovanni asked.

He wasn't able to reply as he was lost in the grieving spirit.

Her body shook as she sobbed quietly, staring back at him.

"New student?". Mr Giovanni called out.

He was still staring back at the door, guilt stricken.

"Are you alright Bobby?". Emily tugged at his shirt.

She was sitting close to him because she was his lab partner.

He also ignored her.

"What's up with him?".

"Why's he staring at the door?".

Some girls whispered to each other.

Blake scoffed.

"He doesn't know the answer Mr Giovanni...can we skip him?".

"Freak!". Abby scowled at him.

"Will you help him out Blake? Answer the question". Mr Giovanni said to the latter who was among his blacklist.

He didn't like the student at all.

"Uh...I said to skip him...I didn't volunteer to answer". Blake replied.

"Answer the question...Blake". The teacher ordered, sternly.

The latter was quiet as his eyes travelled around the lab... trying to get someone to help him out.

Abby mouthed something to him.

He blinked repeatedly and raised his eyebrow at her.

"What?". He mouthed to her.

She mouthed an answer again but he still couldn't get it.

"Blake Hudson..." Mr Giovanni called out.

He cleared his throat and stood up.

"Uh..."

"It produces a residue, which is yellow when hot and on cooling, turns white". Bobby Adams finally answered the question, interrupting Blake, then turned to look at the latter with huge scorn.

"Correct...a round of applause for him". Mr Giovanni ordered.

The students clapped.

Abby rolled her eyes, while Blake sat down with a grunt.

"Now, for the practical, we have..."

Mr Giovanni stopped talking when Bobby gathered his materials and headed out of the lab.

"Where are you going to?". He asked him.

"Um..sorry, I need to use the gents". He lied and took off his lab coat.

"Let's go.." He murmured to Stephanie when he got to the door.

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"What do you want?". He asked.

They were at the classroom.

It was empty, so it gave him a chance to speak freely with her.

She sniffed in and wiped her tears.

"I need to speak with my mom". She murmured.

He sighed..

"How do you intend speaking with your mom? No one can hear you or see you".

"That's why I need your help, you're the only one who can see me...I want you to speak with her on my behalf".

He scoffed and stared back at her.

"Seriously? You want me to speak with your mom? And tell her what? I can see you? I can hear you?".

"But...you can see and hear me". She said.

"You think she's going to believe me?".

"Why won't she believe you?".

"Yeah right...like I have superpowers that allows me communicate with the dead huh? She's gonna believe that right?".

"I'm not dead". Stephanie muttered.

He watched her intently as if pondering on what she just told him, then he nodded his head.

Her face lit up.

"You know I'm not dead right? You believe me right?".

He nodded his head again.

"Oh..finally! Thank you.."

"Yeah...I know you're going through the stage of denial". He murmured.

"What?". She was confused.

"When spirits leave their bodies...some walk straight into the afterlife while some wander in the living world for revenge".

"What are you saying?".

"I'm saying...your spirit is still wandering about because it can't rest in peace and it's going through the stage of denial...which is when you try to convince yourself that you aren't dead".

Her face fell once more...

"But I'm not dead". She said adamantly.

"I understand, you'll soon overcome the denial stage and accept the fact that you're no longer in the living world...it'll make it easier for you to go to the afterlife". He said.

"I'm serious Bobby, you have to believe me..I..am..not..dead!".

"I believe you". He muttered, rolling his eyes.

"You're being sarcastic...I know when someone's sarcastic Bobby...why don't you believe me?".

"Look, I missed Chemistry practical because of you...if you aren't going to tell me what you want from me...I'll leave". He said, standing up.

"Wait! Just hear me out okay? Meet with my mom and I'll tell you what to tell her...plus I need you to go to Blessed hands hospital with her".

"Why?". He asked.

"That's where my body is kept". She replied.

"Wasn't it supposed to be taken to the mortuary or something?". He asked again.

"That's it!". She said.

"Huh?". He was lost.

"They haven't taken my body to the mortuary because I'm not dead".

"What do you mean?".

"I'm not completely dead Bobby...that's what I mean". She said.

Everything she said was beginning to make sense to him now.

*

3:00pm after school..

The Myers residence..

"Mrs Myers, someone is here to see you". A young lady announced.

"Who is it?". Mrs Helen Myers grumbled from her rocking chair.

"He's one of Stephanie's classmates from South Central high".

"Let him in".

The room was unusually dark as Bobby walked in and observed.

Stephanie Myers looked like she was from a super wealthy family but what he saw didn't meet his expectations.

Her house was like every average houses.

Her parents are middle-class workers.

He thought, still looking around.

His eyes settled on the rocking chair, close to the TV.

The supposed Mrs Myers was seated on it, backing him, while she rocked the chair.

"Good afternoon Mrs Myers, I'm Bobby, a friend of Stephanie". He said.

She swiveled to face him.

His eyes went to the wool and crotchet pins she held.

She was knitting a sweater.

Her face looked pale.

She's still mourning her daughter...

He thought again, staring at her outfit.

A black dress.

The room was extremely dark, except for the single lit candle beside the woman.

"How are you?". She muttered with a smile.

He knew she forced the smile for him.

"Have a seat". She pointed to the couch.

"Pardon me for the uncomfortable atmosphere...it's dark in here right? I'll get the curtains opened right away".

"Oh...no..it's fine..." He said, trying not to make it inconvenient for her since she decided to lock up... he'll also have to try to fit in.

"Okay". She muttered.

"I..I'm really sorry for your loss ma'am". He began.

"But..there's something you need to know".

She stared back at him, giving him her full attention.

"Your daughter is not dead". He smiled.

She looked like she was stunned but continued knitting.

"Don't try to console me with those words, boy...I've accepted that my daughter is dead". She said.

"Mrs Myers, I'm serious...she also has a message for you..."

She looked up at the latter.

He looked around like he was searching for something.

"What are you looking for?". She asked him.

"I..I'm waiting for Stephanie". He replied.

She scrunched up her face.

"Stephanie?".

He nodded his head.

"Yes ma'am, she'll be here soon". He wore a broad smile to lit her face up but she wasn't buying it...so her expression said.

She sighed deeply.

"Look here...i don't understand what you mean by you're waiting for Stephanie but I understand that you also don't want to accept the fact that she's dead...but we all have to face it".

"No..no...I'm serious...I..."

A chilly wind blew cutting him short, the candle light went off and it was completely dark in the room.

"She's here". He said.

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