Reapers

"Heads up!" was all I heard before I felt something slam into the back of my head, knocking me to the ground. Why did I bother coming today of all days? I could have stayed in my comfy bed. Oh, how beautiful the thought of you is you amazing, wonderful bed... But no, I chose to go to school, and go to cheer practice. Where did that get me? Oh yeah, sprawled across the astroturf after a freaking football nailed me.

"Holy crap! Jamie, are you okay?" Callie, yells from somewhere above me.

"Ugh... Fine." I blinked. She extended her hand toward me, and I took it, pulling myself up to my feet. Great, I just washed this uniform last night. With both hands, I quickly brushed off my uniform and pulled it back into place.

"Collin! Watch it! You could have killed her," Callie snapped at the quarterback as he stepped up to retrieve the ball. I see it now: Jamie Summers, death by football to the head. What a way to die.

"I said heads up," Collin shrugged, tossing the death ball to another team member.

"Oh! And I suppose that makes it all better then, doesn't it? Are you that dense? Apologize now!" Even when we were kids, Callie always had my back. I stood awkwardly staring at Collin. Being the jerk he is, I wouldn't be surprised if his response was something crude.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry," Collin teased through his helmet. "I'm sorry your friend won't be making the football team in the future. She sucks at catching things." There it was... Callie scowled as he pranced back to his team.

"Who the hell does he think he is?" Callie growled. "Let's see him catch my foot in his-"

"Let it go, Callie." I cut in, "He's not worth it." Though, I did envision many times beating him down, stripping him to his boxers, and tying him to a stake in the fifty-yard line for a Friday night game. Collin Masters was a prick.

"I will not let it go!" Her strawberry blonde hair was coming out of her ponytail from the first workout we did. "Was he raised by monkeys? Who in their right mind just hits someone and runs away making jokes about it?"

"Clearly, he isn't sane," I replied, pulling her back into formation as Coach T came back from the restrooms.

"Darn right he isn't sane." She grumbled. I turned and made my way back to my spot on the other side of the formation.

After practice, the squad walked back to the girls' changing room. Callie continued to carry on to the other girls about how horrible Collin Masters was and how badly he needed to get what was coming to him. I stood at the back of the crowd, watching the girls go in. My thumb twitched, I raised my hand feeling like I had forgotten something, and then it dawned on me, I forgot my water bottle on the practice field. I jogged back to find it.

The field was peaceful when no one was on it, just trees rustling around and the wind blowing softly through the bleachers. I stood there in meditation. After a few breaths, I remembered what I came out there for. My water bottle was still at the foot of the bleachers. I snatched it up and turned back toward the gym. Just before I reached the doors, something pulled my attention back to the stands from where I was. A guy was standing at the top, he looked like a senior, maybe? His shaggy black hair hung just slightly above his ears. He wore a blue button-up, that hung slightly over his tattered blue jeans. I hadn't seen him on campus before. Suddenly I realized he was staring at me, probably wondering what I was looking at. Tearing my eyes away awkwardly, I shook it off and ran the rest of the way to the entrance. My toe knocked the door stopper as I tripped into the gym. I prayed he didn't see, then again, what did I care?

"Jamie?" Callie called at the lockers. "Has anyone seen Jamie?" I sighed and turned the corner.

"Oh, there you are!" She exclaimed, back to her normal peppy self. "We have to get into homecoming prep this weekend."

"You do know homecoming isn't for another two months, right?" I pressed my water bottle to my lips, taking long sips of water.

"Whether it's two months or next year we need to have it planned, Jamie." She put her hands on her hips for emphasis. "Homecoming is everything! We need to have it perfected now so nothing can go wrong later."

"You will jinx it saying that." I rolled my eyes. Truth was, I didn't want to do a homecoming, and I didn't care about the dance or the game. Heck, I didn't even know how I feel about cheer anymore.

"What do you want to do today Jamie?" Callie asked, waking me from thought. "Want to go window shopping for a new dress?"

"Not today, I already have plans," I replied, grabbing my backpack from my locker.

"What are you doing today? You didn't invite me." Callie put a hurt look over her face.

"Yeah, I planned a cleaning day for myself so that when people come over they don't think I'm a pig," I laughed, which was only half true. I did want to clean the house.

"Alright." She shrugged. "Let me know if you change your mind and decide I'm better company than dirty socks and trashcans."

"Will do." I shook my head, fixing my bag on my shoulders, and began my walk.

Most of the school was empty except for all of its students in sports, staying for all hours of practice. I passed through the grounds without catching anyone's eye, surprisingly. My old self would love to get the chance to talk to anyone, to go shopping for a dance that's months away, to go to Callie's and talk about nothing but planning for events to come, but this year that has all changed.

I pushed past the old creaky gate of Shadow Creek Cemetery and went down that long winding path I knew oh so well. The trees that hung over me were so thick I couldn't see the sky. Finally, I made it to the creek, and I crossed the old wooden bridge to a huge tree with three tombstones that reside below it.

"Hey guys," I said weakly, sitting down in front of them, "Happy anniversary." The tombstone on the left read 'Thomas Summers, Beloved Father and Beloved Husband,' the middle one read 'Hannah Summers, Beloved Mother, and Beloved Wife,' and the one on the right read 'Nathan Summers, Beloved Son, and Beloved Brother.' Last year they were all taking a vacation, but I, of course, had to stay so I could try out for cheer captain. I made it. I came home to Sam's police car. Sam had always been there for us, he might as well have been my Uncle Sam.

"Sam." I had said, "What's wrong? Why are you here?"

"It's... your family, Jamie." He had tears in his eyes and told me I should have a seat. I did so at the kitchen table as he continued, "On the way to the airport, an eighteen-wheeler hit their car, running a red light at an intersection. No one survived the accident."

"What?" I couldn't believe it. I had just seen them hours ago right before school. Nathan teased me about my frizzy bedhead, and then hugged me and wished me luck at being captain just before I left. Dad kissed my forehead as he always did in the morning with that coffee smell on his breath. And Mom. Mom hadn't woken up yet because she had to work late the day before. I didn't even see her that morning, the day she died. I slid off the edge of the chair and onto the floor staring down at my hands. The tears stung my eyes but hadn't begun to flow yet, and I begged over and over for this to all be just one big mistake, that this was all just a dream, that Nathan was going to walk through that door with that dorky smile on his face and say just kidding and have a big laugh about it... and I waited. But, as I waited and waited, I finally realized that was never going to happen. I will never see that dorky smile. I will never smell the scent of coffee from the hallway my dad made every morning. My mom won't be there to help me get ready for the dances or tell me to suck it up when I think the world is falling apart. My family, they were all gone. The tears came then.

After that Sam helped me move into his two-bedroom apartment. He let me have the master bedroom so I could have my own bathroom.

I told him I just wanted a small memorial, one that only consisted of close family friends.

"I don't want anyone at school to know," I told Sam. But then how could that even be possible? Shadow Creek was a small town after all. Callie wanted me to move in with her, but Sam insisted I moved in with him as he was my legal guardian now. I didn't have grandparents that I knew of or any other immediate family members, and I was only sixteen so I couldn't live on my own yet. Neither of my parents kept ties with their families. Sam, though, would keep me on track, and he was good at keeping me sane. For the most part, it had worked out for the better. I got a goldfish, one of those celestial cross-eyed ones. His name is Gojo, and he is the only one besides Sam and Callie who have been to this apartment. I'm not ready to talk and be the social butterfly I used to be. I don't know if I'll ever be again.

Now I'm here on the anniversary of that day, talking with my family. Nathan's body wasn't even here. The police said his body was destroyed during the accident. But my parents were here, so I still pretended Nathan was too.

"I got hit in the head today by Collin Masters. He is the captain of the football team, but he is a complete jerk face, Nate. The type you would love to go rough up yourself!" I told the stones, "Callie took your place though, she wants to have a go at him. Yes Mom, the same Collin Masters she has had a crush on since second grade. The guy is a nut case, I honestly don't see what she sees in him, but to each their own, right?" I sat there in silence waiting for a reply but got none in return. What was I expecting? Them to materialize in front of me this time and just start chatting as if nothing had happened? Well, I guess a part of me wished it would, but I knew that was a fool's wish. They were gone. As strange as it sounded, it made me feel sane when I insanely talked to these stones in the ground. It gave me some closure, pretending they were there in spirit, listening to all I had to tell them.

"You may be a bit disappointed in me though, Mom. I'm thinking about quitting the cheer team. I know it was something we shared but I am thinking about getting a job instead. I know Nathan is probably making a few jokes of his own now, but that's what I'm planning to do."

I sat there again for a few minutes, then I turned and leaned against the tree between the stones of my mother and brother. I closed my eyes and listened to the autumn sounds. The trees were swaying, the air was cool and crisp. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. The landscape was relatively bare around my parents, so I guessed the land was recently added to the area. It was beautiful, the tree branched off to make long pathways in different directions. The creek ran all around them as if making this spot a remote island of its own. I never really explored the trails. Sam always told me about wild animals living in the woodsy part of the land and I didn't think being chased by a boar sounded fun, so I let it be.

The sun was going down, which told me it was after five. I picked up my things and began to walk back towards the bridge.

"Hey, Jamie!" I turned and saw Sam, still in uniform, heading towards the bridge with a bouquet in his hand. I didn't reply, only nodded.

"I thought I'd find you here," he said as he made his way to me from the bridge, "I brought flowers. I cannot believe it has already been an entire year."

"It feels like yesterday," I replied shortly. He nodded in response, "I'm sorry I'm late, Blue Jay. They held me up at work for a while. I did everything I could to get here sooner."

"It's okay," I motioned toward the flowers. "Those are pretty."

"Er, yeah." He held the flowers over to me, "Lilies' were always your mother's favorite." They are mine too, another thing that helps me feel her now that she is gone. I took the flowers and helped separate them into three different bundles as we both walked back to their graves. I placed equal bundles on each of the stones. Sam put his arm around my shoulders when I stood back up.

"Fine people," Sam said to no one in particular. Then, to the stones, he said, "Tom, you were the best friend anyone could ask for. You were a good provider for Hannah, but you sure were a lousy fisherman."

I smirked as I remembered the time dad and Sam went to the lake for an all-day fishing trip. Mom and I were preparing the coolers, we made sure we had plenty of space for all the fish they claimed they would catch. Nathan was playing basketball with his friend Cade in the front yard. He was very sure he wasn't supposed to help out in the kitchen since he wasn't female. But that evening when dad and Sam came home, we all ran out to the old pickup truck to help bring the catch in only to find they had only caught a small handful of fish. Nathan made his jokes until my mother shooed him away. Sam kept insisting my father was just bad luck and my father just picked up the fish and took them to the house.

"Hannah," Sam's voice woke me from my memories and brought me back to the present, "you were a wonderful woman, full of spirit and wistful humor. I miss your laugh. It made us all laugh along to it." I looked up in time to see a tear trickle down his face and quickly looked away. It seemed too private to watch him like this.

"And of course you, you gangly, young lad," Sam chuckled. "You were always like a son to me Nathan. You had your mother's laugh and her spark. I'm so sorry you had to end your life so early. If I could, I would take your place in a heartbeat. I love you Nathan, Tom, and Hannah." Tears started swelling and seeping down my cheeks. I shook a little, and Sam wrapped me in his arms and held me until I stopped.

"You ready to go home, blue jay?" Sam asked, nodding toward the exit. Blue jay, that's what he and my dad always called me, since before I could remember. It made me feel a little warm inside, a reminder that I wasn't alone here. I still had Sam.

We walked through the now dark cemetery in silence. The wind had picked up and I pulled my jacket closer around me. Leaves crunched below our feet. Sam stopped and looked over in the trees and pulled his flashlight from his belt.

"What's wrong?" I asked as he scanned the bushes and trees.

"Nothing, I just thought I saw something." He walked closer and after a few minutes of silence, he pushed the flashlight back into its holster and walked back to me. "It must have been my imagination. It's been a long day." He shook his head tiredly and we pushed through the gates and walked over to his police car. I buckled in and peered out the window. I still didn't see anything. As we headed down the road, I looked in the side-view mirror and I could have sworn I saw that kid from school earlier standing behind the cemetery gates watching us drive off.

Back at the apartment, Sam and I had dinner, and then I went to my room to shower and get ready for bed. It was only eight, but I've been enjoying my routine of watching a movie before bed. So, I crawled into my big fluffy comforter, flipped the TV on, and browsed the movie selection.

Gojo stared at me with those big, crisscrossed eyes of his through his bowl.

"Hungry?" I asked leaning over to grab his jar of floating fish food. He kept swimming at the side of the bowl until I dropped a pinch into his tank. I watched as he swallowed them whole. Within seconds he was back at the side of the glass begging for more.

"Gojo, you eat too much." I plopped three more pellets into his bowl. Unfazed by my comment, Gojo kept nipping away at the floating sticks at the surface of his tank. After finishing these last three off, he returned to the tank's side again. I put my finger against the glass in front of him and moved my finger across the surface. Gojo followed my finger around in a complete circle before giving up and swimming off in the opposite direction. I turned my attention back towards the TV and settled in for a horror movie. Of course, because right now, that's just what I need. Well, what I needed was to stop seeing this mystery boy pop up everywhere I go. It was a little frustrating. I paused the movie and decided to call Callie. I searched for my phone in my purse but couldn't find it. Then I heard Callie's ringtone from my pants in the clothes hamper. She always did have a knack for knowing when to call.

"Hey Cal," I answered, throwing my jeans back into the hamper.

"Jay! O-M-G I am so sorry! I don't know how I forgot what today was!" Cal's words all came out in a rush, "I looked at the calendar to see when would be a good day to go shopping for homecoming dresses, and then it just hit me. I'm such a spaz! Jay, can you forgive me? Do you want me to come over? I can be there in seconds with Oreo ice cream and the biggest bag of Cheetos I can find!"

"It's okay Cal," I laughed. "I went to visit them with Sam."

"Sam is so nice," Cal replied. "If he was, like, twenty years younger I'd be all over that!"

"Oh goodness Cal, chill out." I choked, "He's like my second Dad!"

"Yeah... a HOT second dad!" Cal giggled back, "So are you sure you didn't want that ice cream and Cheetos?"

"Well, let me go ask Sam. Hold on, I'll be right back." I put the phone down to my chest and ran to the living room, where Sam was watching his nightly viewing of criminal shows.

"Hey, can Cal come over for like, an hour?" I asked leaning over the couch next to him.

"Sure, you just need to be in bed at ten." He said, not turning from the TV.

"Okay Cal you can-" I started.

"I'm at your door, come open it." She finished, hanging up her line. I shook my head and went to the door.

"Jay!" Callie threw her arms around my neck with a bag of Cheetos in one hand and Oreo ice cream in the other. "We are going to need spoons."

"Hey Callie, that was fast," Sam replied, glancing at her for a brief moment before getting sucked back into his show.

"What if he had said no?" I laughed making way for her entrance.

"Sam likes me. He wouldn't deny me to come over, right Sam?" Sam gave a thumbs-up motion but didn't take his eyes off the TV.

"So spoons?" Callie released me and went to the kitchen and retrieved silverware then ran down the hall to my bedroom. I followed her and shut the door behind me.

"Hey, you think Gojo likes Cheetos?" Callie asked dangling one above the water.

"I don't know," I laughed taking it from her and shoving it in my mouth, "but I don't want to find out."

"So what are we watching?" She looked at the TV, "Horror? Really?"

"It's just what I flipped to," I shrugged.

"What happened to Miss Romantic. Miss comedy? When was the last time you went on a date?" Callie turned the movie off and flipped to something more romantic. "Let's watch a rom-com." I thought back to when the last time I actually went on a date was. It had been more than a year ago. I sighed and sat down on the bed next to her.

"What? We can watch something else if you want, Jay." She patted me on the leg.

"Well, there is something I wanted to ask you about," I replied. She paused the movie and turned her body to give me her full attention and moved the Cheetos between both of us. She stuffed some Cheetos in her mouth and gave me the thumbs up to let me know she was ready.

"Okay well, I have been seeing this boy," I started. I knew that came out wrong when she started choking.

"Not that kind of seeing, it's like he is just kind of everywhere I go and I haven't seen him before today."

"You finally crushed on someone?" Cal shrieked, popping open the ice cream lid, "I must say, Jay, it's about freakin' time."

"No, Cal! I literally have never seen him before, not at school, not around town, not anywhere. And now I've seen him at practice and the cemetery... And this may sound paranoid, but I think he's watching me."

"Maybe he is a transfer student and you caught his eye at school," she suggested. "How about tomorrow you can point this guy out to me and I will find out all I know about him? I'll ask around about a new student."

I nodded. "Maybe you are right. Maybe I'm just overthinking things."

"And maybe this guy is following you because he is hardcore crushing on you too," Cal giggled. "He's at least cute I hope?"

"He is," I admitted. "He's that tall, dark, and handsome type. He looks like our age if I had to guess I would say he is a senior."

"Tall, dark, and handsome," Cal jeered. "I like him already. Was he buff?"

"I don't know." I thought back to when I saw him in the stands. "He had a loose shirt on, but my guess would be yes."

"We have to find this mystery hotty of yours," Callie shrieked, and I could tell she was already making her list of go-to gossip people in her head. "I'll find him and all we need to know before school lets out tomorrow, okay?"

I reached for the Cheetos and popped one into my mouth just as Cal's phone rang.

"Hello?" she answered, "Hey, Mom. Right now? I'm with Jamie. Just a few more minutes? You're being unfair. Fine!" she flipped her phone off and jammed her feet back into her shoes. "My mom is mad at me for not telling her I left the house earlier so she wants me home now. You can keep the ice cream and Cheetos. I wouldn't recommend you eat it all tonight, though."

I laughed and threw her coat at her. She caught it and we went through the door. Sam was digging around in the fridge when we passed.

"Bye, Sam," Cal said as she opened the front door.

"Leaving early isn't like you," Sam replied, popping the top off the beer he finally found.

"Yeah, it's mom's orders." She waved, then we hugged, and she ran to her car. I shut the door when I heard her engine turn on and sat on the couch next to Sam.

"How are you feeling, Blue Jay?" Sam put an arm around me and hugged me lightly.

"Better than earlier," I replied. "What's on now?"

"Another criminal show." He took another drink.

"I should have known," I shook my head at him. "You don't have an early day tomorrow?"

"It's my day off. I can come to get you after school if you don't want to hang out there till the game starts." Sam offered.

"I forgot tomorrow is Friday." I thought for a second, my options were to sit in a gym for five hours or go hang out with Sam until the game started. Figuring I could stand the latter a bit more, I finally said, "I may take you up on that. It depends if Cal wants to practice some or not."

"Okay, I'll just be sitting around until the game so just let me know." Sam turned his attention back to the TV screen, so I went back to my room.

Lying on my bed, I stared at my phone for a while watching the time tick to nine forty-five then clicked it off. I guessed Callie was hearing a mouth full of her mom and that's why she hadn't texted yet. I rolled over to my nightstand, flipped the lamp on, and plugged my phone in. Then I went and turned off the light to my room, something caught my eye. I walked over to the window and looked out across the park. On a bright day, I could see it all from where I stood from the window in my room. But now it was dark, so my vision was limited. There was a light flickering on a post next to an old wooden bench. I squinted my eyes a little more and saw someone sitting on the bench. Someone who was wearing the exact outfit as the boy I'd seen earlier at school and the cemetery. Someone who keeps popping up everywhere I go. Someone who was looking straight into my window! I pulled the blinds shut so hard Sam was calling to see if I was okay. When I didn't answer he came in to check on me and turned the lights on.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, walking over to me as I stared dumbly at the window.

"Yeah, I just thought I saw... something." I blinked a couple of times thinking about whether I should tell Sam about this strange boy. He gets so defensive as it is. What if I was just imagining things? So, this new boy came to my school. Then he's in the cemetery... maybe he's visiting family too? Then he's at my apartment... maybe he lives here too? Maybe I'm growing more and more paranoid as the days go by. Callie's right, I need to stop watching scary movies every night.

Sam pulled the curtains back enough for us both to look out, no one was there. The flickering of the light ceased and was now completely lit. The bench was completely unoccupied. My eyes scanned beyond my window. He was there, wasn't he? Maybe I need therapy.

"Well, there isn't anything out there now," he said half to himself half to me, "Why don't you try and get some sleep? You can leave your door open if you want to. I'll be up for a while." I nodded as he turned and went for the door.

"Sam?" I said, my voice cracked at the end of his name. He stopped and turned back to me before I continued. "Do you think I'm crazy?"

"I think you have had a rough year, Jamie. You lost your parents and your brother. Today is the anniversary of that day where your whole life was changed." He walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "You are not crazy. If anything, you are probably managing things a lot better than I would if I were in your shoes." I nodded and got into bed. Sam walked back to the door. I rolled over before he turned off the light.

"Night, Blue Jay," Sam said retreating down the hall. I nuzzled into my pillow and tried to go to sleep. I felt myself slipping in that direction when my phone went off and woke me back up. Grabbing blindly at it, it fell to the floor. I groaned and bent to pick it up, almost falling out of bed in the process. It was a text from Callie. It read, "Hey, mom's done with her raid. Sorry about earlier, I'll see ya tomorrow. Night." I put my phone back on the nightstand and turned in the opposite direction. This time, I fell asleep instantly.

The next day of school went by quickly and peacefully. There wasn't any sign of a new kid that Callie or I knew of. By the end of the day, I ruled it out as paranoia. I met Callie in the gym, and we went over a few cheers with the rest of the girls. After, Callie and I decided to go for a walk around the field track.

"Have you heard of any new kid?" Callie asked as we left the gym.

"Nope. Nada," I sighed. "I'm beginning to rule it out as paranoia."

"Or, it could be that he skipped today," Cal replied matter-of-factly, "In stalker code, one-o-one you are not supposed to get caught, aka not a good stalker. Maybe he is too embarrassed because he sucks."

"Something tells me I don't think that's it," I laughed.

"Miss Cannon?" We turned to see Mrs. Galvez walking out toward us, "Miss Cannon can I speak with you in my office please?" I turned to Callie, and she shrugged at me, meaning she also had no idea why she was being called to talk with a teacher.

"I'll be back," Cal called over her shoulder, heading back to the gym. "Go ahead and start the trail without me. I'll catch up to ya."

I watched them disappear behind the doors before I continued to the field. Digging my headphones out of my pocket, I plugged them into my phone, flipped on some hip-hop music, and started on my way. Music was always the medicine that cleared my mind. It helped me think. The song that played took me back to when I was in my room getting ready for a dance. I think it was a homecoming dance, my sophomore year. My mom was redoing my makeup for me because I completely ruined my eyes with liquid eyeliner.

"There, now," she said. "That looks a whole lot better. You are becoming such a beautiful woman." I sat there admiring myself. Everything was perfect. My makeup made my face glow like I never knew it could. My blonde curls shaped my face perfectly, showing how grown up I felt at the time. Mom could be a pro hairstylist. My teal dress made my blue eyes pop out, not to mention made me look more like a woman than a girl since it hugged me in all of the right places. It was my first dance, and I was so ready.

"She is too young for makeup." Nathan had said, standing in the doorway of my room eating an apple.

"And you would know the age limit of girls wearing makeup, how?" I whipped back, fingering one of the curls that fell out of place.

"Nathan, please," Mom said before he could respond. "Don't give her trouble tonight. This is her night."

"I don't want guys all over her. She's too young for that," Nathan replied.

"No guys will be near me, Nathan, I'll be fine," I sighed. " Isn't this dad's job, anyway?"

"Yeah well dad's not here, is he?" Nathan muttered. "He never is."

"Nathan," my mom warned, but Nathan was already down the hallway to his room.

I came out of my memory as I smacked into something... or someone.

"Oh wow, I am so sorry," I pulled out my headphones as we composed ourselves, "I have been really out of it today."

A guy stared blankly back at me. It was the guy from yesterday. The guy from the stands, the cemetery, the apartments, he's right here, and I ran him over.

"I, um..." I stumbled to find my voice again. "I'm Jamie. Are you new here?"

"You could say that," the boy replied, skeptically. Up close he was extremely attractive. The type of guy Cal would be drooling over instantly. He had that bad boy look with his black hair messily hanging around his face and ears. His leather jacket had buckles around it but not obnoxiously as if he worked at a carnival. He kind of reminded me of a motorcycle dude mixed with a ninja. A super-hot motorcyclist ninja dude. But his eyes were the most interesting thing about him. They were green. Like dark, entrancing, I-could-stare-into-your-eyes-forever green.

"So what is your name?" I asked, rolling my headphones up and shoving them in my pocket.

"Aiden?" He looked around as if confused. His accent made me do a double take, so of course, I had to ask, "Where are you from?"

"Scotland," he sighed, sounding agitated.

"Is everything okay? You look a little... disoriented." I laughed a little, which put his attention back on me.

"I don't understand," Aiden growled.

"Understand what?" I asked as he started walking away. When he didn't turn back, I called, "Wait where are you going?"

"Hey, Jay," Callie was running my way. When she caught up to me, she continued, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," I replied happily, "I think I just met my stalker."

"Where?" Cal looked around. When I tried to point him out, I couldn't find him either. He sure knew how to hide when he wanted to.

"Did you see the guy I was talking to just a second ago?" I asked, still scanning the track for him.

"Well, I saw you talking..." Cal replied hesitantly, "but no one was there with you, Jay."

"What do you mean, no one was there? He was right in front of me. I ran right into him." I turned to face her again. The gym was a straight shot from where I stood, there was no way she could have missed him, there were only four people on the track.

"No Jay." Cal shook her head, "I saw you trip, and then you stood up and started talking to the air. No one was there." I looked past her. She followed my gaze and then looked back at me with big doe eyes.

"But he was just..." I shook my head and let Callie take my arm and lead me back toward the gym.

I spent the next hours leading up to the game trying to figure out what had happened on that track. As a result, I still came up with nothing. Absolute zero.

"You know, maybe he is a ghost?" Cal offered as we ran onto the field to cheer on our team.

"Yes Cal," I breathed back sarcastically, "I see dead people."

"Can't rule out all the possibilities now can we? Wooh! Go, team! Yeah!" Callie cheered as our football team tore through the banner, we had made in class this morning. It was a cartoon drawing of a wolf pack cornering a cowering lion. Symbolizing our school, Shadow Creek Wolves, versus the Calbert Lions.

"Hey, Cannon!" Collin called to Cal, "Wish me luck!" Cal stuck her tongue out at him and marched us off the field.

"It's a love-hate thing," Cal offered. I raised my eyebrow at her. "No it's true, sometimes I love him, and sometimes I hate him." As if that were to clear everything up.

"He's bad news," I stated, "Why do you even waste your time with him?"

"It's kind of cliché." She shrugged, "Captain of the football team and captain of the cheer squad. It's my own twisted movie inside my head." I made a face that she thought was funny as we got into formation for a routine. I looked up into the stands, half expecting to see Aiden again. Not there. Sam's face, however, did pop up in the crowd, and I waved. He never missed a game. This was a routine for football season. Sam, mom, Nathan and if we were really lucky dad would come along too. Every Friday night they would watch me cheer, watch the game, and then we would all go out to eat afterward. It was kind of comforting knowing something's remained the same, even after a whole year of changes.

We broke for half time, and I went up in the stands to see Sam.

"Hey Blue Jay, looks like the boys are doing well this game, twenty-four to seven, not bad at all," Sam remarked, holding a barrel of popcorn out to me. I waved it away and sat down next to him.

"Yeah, they are great." I hadn't even noticed the scoreboard until just now.

"Your cheer team seems to be doing the trick tonight I guess," he said cheerfully. But my eyes weren't on the field or the girls anymore; I was peering over every face in the stands again.

"Everything alright, Jamie?" Sam asked, trying to look where my eyes kept darting off.

"Do you believe in ghosts?" It came out before I could stop myself.

"In ghosts?" he laughed. "No why?"

"No reason," I replied quickly. Of course, he does not believe in ghosts because there are no ghosts. I'm crazy!

"Uh-huh... If there's something you want to talk about, Jamie, I am always here. You know that, right? Even if you want to have a ghost talk." He nudged my shoulder and I laughed.

"Maybe later," I smiled. "But now I have to go down and pep up the girls."

"Cheer on blue Jay, cheer on." Sam patted me on the back. I stood and ran back down the stands to join my team. I looked as I descended the stairs and thought I saw him twice, though neither of the two was him. Why do I care? He's just some guy, or ghost, or whatever he is. He's weird and mysterious and attractive and.... No, no, no! He is creepy and I just need to stop thinking about him.

"Hey, Jay!" Cal clamped on to my arm and whispered, "Any sign of ghost boy yet?" I groaned and slapped my forehead.

"Hey now, it's nothing to get upset over. I'm sure he will turn up again," she replied in her overly cheery voice.

"No, Cal I'm not-" But then I realized I didn't have her attention anymore.

"Okay girls let's get into formation!" Callie counted off as we quickly jumped into suit along the field.

***

Our team won the game. No one scored anything after halftime, so I guess it was a good game. I never really followed football. I know, weird since I'm a cheerleader. Callie and I were in the girl's locker room packing things up into our backpacks when I finally remembered Callie's meeting with Mrs. Galvez earlier, "Why were you were called to that teacher's office?"

"Mrs. Galvez?" Cal shrugged, "She says I haven't been taking her class as seriously as I should be. She is making me retake my Spanish test next Thursday."

"You're not doing well in a class? You, Callie Cannon?" I replied with mocking wide-eyed shock.

"Yeah," she laughed. "I guess I don't comprendo the lingo very well."

"I can help you," I offered. "I passed that class with an A last year."

"Please, you have more important fish to fry," Cal smirked.

"Like?" Though I had a feeling that I already knew what she was going to say.

"Like how we help send your ghost stalker to the other side so he can rest in peace."

"He's not my stalker, and if he is a ghost, why is he haunting me? I have never seen him before in my life." I thought back to every guy I had ever encountered up to this point.

"Are you sure you haven't? Like at a camp or something?" Cal had a look on her face like she was trying to remember him for me.

"I'm positive I have never seen him before. I would never forget this one, Cal." Aidan's face flooded my head from the first time I saw him in the bleachers to the last when I saw him on the track field. Curious, anxious, and nervous emotions covered his face. He was scared. No, I'm not sure that was it. But yes, I am one hundred percent sure I have never seen him before.

"Hmm." Callie went on with her thoughts out loud. "What if this is like that movie we saw, "Just Like Heaven"? But, what if, he is the one in a coma and you have to save him?"

"Cal," I laughed, "I don't think that's even possible."

"Just as possible as seeing a ghost boy everywhere you go?" she countered.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and sighed, "Okay, I guess nothing has been ruled out then."

Pleased with my answer, Callie followed suit and we walked out of the girl's locker room and into a gym filled with overly excited students and parents.

"I guess it would be kinda silly to ask if you see him now, huh?" Callie had to yell over the noise, even though we were standing right next to each other.

"Hey, Cannon!" Collin called, shoving his way over. "Party at my house tonight, my parents are away. You should come."

Callie looked over at me with eager eyes and didn't care for my expression, "Oh, Come on Jay! It could be fun! When was the last time we had been to a party?"

"I don't think it's a good idea," I sighed. Cal's expression fell, so I sighed again, "But I guess we could go for an hour."

"Yes, we will be there!" Cal called back to Collin, who winked back at her in reply.

"Does he even know your real name anymore, Callie?" I asked as we pushed our way through the gym doors and out to the quieter parking lot.

"Of course he does," she shot back quickly.

"Why doesn't he ever call you it then?"

She stopped by the flagpole and rested against it. "Well, maybe he's including me, like one of the guys?" Cal suggested. "It's kinda cute in a movie way."

"Cal, do you want to be one of his guys or his girlfriend? Because if he's just including you like 'one of the guys'," then that normally is not a good sign."

"Oh, go chase your ghost boy," Cal laughed stiffly.

"I love you and I'm only telling you that because I don't..."

"Like him?" she offered.

"Trust him," I finished. There was just something about him that seemed shady to me, ever since freshman year. He went away on a hunting trip with his dad then came back a completely different person. Collin used to be sweet and optimistic until that summer. Now he was all about being the best at everything, coming out on top, and not caring who got hurt in the process. He changed, but Callie's feelings never did.

"I know Jay," Cal sighed. "Let's just go to the party. It doesn't have to be about boys tonight. There will be others at the party, we can just go and hang out for an hour, have our fun and leave."

"I guess you did already say we would go," I laughed, readjusting my backpack strap.

"I'll pick you up at ten-thirty then," Callie replied.

"Hey, there you are!" Sam called, running over to us. "I was wondering if you made it through that pack alive."

"Hi, Sam," Cal purred at him. I rolled my eyes and suppressed the bile rising in my stomach.

I cut in, "So Sam there's a party tonight and we were thinking..."

"That we should go and I'll have Jay back by midnight." Callie took the conversation back.

"Where is this party?" Sam inquired, looking at me, but Cal answered.

"At Collin Master's house."

"Parental supervision?" he continued, eyes bored into mine. It made me wonder if this was how people felt when he pulled them over. Which then made me wonder how anyone in the world could lie to this guy. He was a bit intimidating with his interrogation.

"About that..." Cal laughed slightly.

"No," Sam answered and looked away from me finally.

"Why not?" I finally said.

"You aren't going to a party with no adult supervision," he said flatly.

"Nothing will happen. We are all underage so it's not like anyone can go get alcohol." My excuse sounded dumber and dumber as I let it flow out.

"I was a teenager once too," Sam laughed. "They may not be of age but that doesn't mean there won't be underage drinking, drugs, or who knows what else at this party. You're not going, Jamie." It surprised me how much I wanted to go to this party now that I was forbidden to go.

"Let's get going." Sam turned back to the police car. Cal took my hand and squeezed it in hers.

"I'll see you later." Cal winked and walked over to her blue Nissan Xterra. With that, I already knew she hadn't given up yet. Knowing her, she would be back at my house by ten-thirty, and I'd better be ready. I smiled an unobvious smile back and walked with Sam to his police cruiser.

"So how was your night?" I inquired, buckling up.

"Better now that I know you and Callie aren't going to that party." He muttered. I smiled slightly. It was a super cheesy-fake smile, so I was incredibly glad he kept his eyes on the road.