Hi everyone! I'm Hopefully536, formerly known as Anabelgem14. I haven't written anything in a long while, and this is something different than anything I've ever written. Hopefully, this story can inspire you. That's my ultimate goal in life- to inspire others.

This story is focused on Aiden, and an OC of my own creation. It's based in the future, starting with Aiden's first day of Junior Year. Please, be patient with me on updates because while I have most of the story written, there's still a lot of things I want to finish within the story and because I'm a college student, it will have to work around my schedule.

Please, feel free to read and review. God Bless!

Of course Megan would be lost again. The assistant in the front office only pointed her in the direction of her first class. She'd had to fend for herself the rest of the day. She'd had to explain about five different times that yes, she was new, and if you could just point her in the direction of the class she'd greatly appreciate it. Most of them laughed at her. Cheeks red, she'd walk off quickly, even if it was in the wrong direction, just to get away from the person.

Megan didn't know how she felt about Grandview yet. This was a small town, smaller than Littleton. Whereas her graduating class at Littleton had about 1,000 'fresh faces', as the principal called them, Grandview had a whopping 200. It was only about an hour away from Littleton, which meant she could go and see her friends virtually whenever she wanted. Tori told her that she and Spencer might come up this weekend so they could dish about the first week. That'd be nice.

She couldn't be mad at her dad, though. His job was what gave them a leg to stand on. Sure, her mom worked, but being a seamstress didn't bring home as much as being a lawyer. Her dad always says it's good to have a lawyer in the family.

Megan secretly hoped that moving away from Littleton, and consequently, the city, would allow her a break from her constant headaches. She told her mom, and the doctor said it was probably allergies, and then a reaction to the pollution from the city when the allergy medicine didn't work. Grandview air smelled nice, but there was still a dull ache at the base of her skull as she searched for her history class.

She blew back a piece of short blond hair from in front of her eyes as she looked down at her schedule. Room 209. How hard was it? It should be on the second floor, right across the hall from 208. She saw 208, but the hallway ended. Frustrated, she rounded the corner, and ran right into a person—a boy.

Aiden was walking towards his last class- history. It was the first day of school, and he was already wanted to be done for the day. He didn't know if he could handle Mrs. Green droning on about the Civil War for an hour. He turns the corner and runs right into a person—a girl. He only knows because he got close enough to smell her perfume. It smells nice.

"Excuse me, miss." He steps back and takes this opportunity to take a good look at her. She's blonde, about a head shorter than he is; he inherited his dad's height. Her eyes are blue, and they are surrounded by full, rosy cheeks. She's smiling. It's a nice smile.

"Finally, a person with manners in this town."

"Are you new?"

The girl nods. "My family just moved here from Littleton. I'm Megan."

Aiden extends his hand and shakes hers, gently. "Aiden."

The warning bell rings, and Megan blushes. "I hate to ask, but could you point me in the direction of my next class? I'm a little turned around."

Aiden takes a look at her schedule, and smiles internally. "History. Me too. We can walk together." She smiles and nods. For some reason, Aiden just can't get enough of her smile.

When they reach the room, which was, to Megan's frustration, nowhere near 208, Aiden hangs back. "I'm going to get a drink of water real fast."

When he turns back to Megan after getting a drink, he freezes. She's surrounded by ghosts. At least 15, probably more. She obviously had no idea they were there. If she did, she was the best actor ever. They were all screaming at her. She looked behind her, trying to follow Aiden's gaze. "Is something wrong?" How had he not noticed them before? They were impossible to ignore now.

Aiden shakes his head, putting on a fake smile. "Nope. Just not sure if I'm ready to learn about Teddy Roosevelt for the 5th time." Inside, he was freaking out. So many ghosts.

After the teacher was finished with first day regulations and policies, they had a few minutes of small talk to themselves before the release bell.

"So you said your family moved here from Littleton. Why did you guys move?"

"My dad got relocated. He's a lawyer. Mom works from home. Grandview's still close enough so that I can see my old friends, though, so I'm not too bitter." She laughs, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"Tell me about your family." Aiden is digging, trying to find out if all of these ghosts are personal ghosts. How can one person know so many dead people?

Megan thinks for a minute. Her family was her family—how should she describe them to another person, a stranger? "Well. It's always been my mom and dad and my little brother. He's in middle school. My parents have been married for 21 years. What about you?"

"I've lived in Grandview my whole life. It's just me and my mom and dad. My dad's a doctor and my mom owns an antique shop downtown."

"I love antiques!"

An idea pops into Aiden's head. If he brings Megan downtown, his mom might be able to help them out with the ghost problem. "Her shop's open today. We could go see it, and maybe grab some coffee or tea?"

Megan smiles. "That sounds nice."

They grab coffee from Village Java and start walking down to the shop. "It's such a cute little town."

Aiden snorts. "I'm surprised you say that. Most girls from Littleton are snobby city girls." After Megan gives him a look, he coughs. He didn't mean that the way it sounded. "You're not."

"Thanks, I think. I appreciate that. I've just always loved the ideal of small towns. Everybody knows everybody and is always there to help out. I love being able to walk around the town square and feel so safe."

"You sound like my mom. I bet you guys get along just great."

The door opens and a bell rings. Melinda comes out from the back room, and smiles when she sees Aiden. Her smile fades when she sees Megan's ghosts. Aiden clears his throat. The smile returns. "Hi, honey."

"Mom, this is Megan. She's new in town so I was just showing her around. She really likes antiques."

Megan gives a small wave to Melinda. "Your shop is so beautiful. Do you run this all by yourself?" Megan mills around, taking in everything with big eyes.

Melinda is trying to count the ghosts. She can't. "Yes. I'm looking to hire an assistant, though. The books are getting unruly. Do you know anyone interested that's good at math?"

Megan snaps around. "I am!"

Her peppiness takes Melinda off guard. "Really?" Melinda gives Aiden a look. "How perfect!" Melinda grabs an application off the desk and hands it to Megan.

"Thank you."

"You've been the only applicant all month. If you just wanna fill that out really quick, you've got the job!"

Megan nods, and leans over the counter to begin filling out the application.

"Aiden, could I get your help carrying up a box from the basement?"

Aiden nods, scared that his mother is going to chew him out for bringing a ghost-toting girl into his shop.

When they get downstairs, Melinda turns to her son, arms crossed. "It's so amazing! She's not drained or anything! I've never seen someone so positive!"

Aiden nods, smiling. He knew he made the right choice bringing Megan into the shop. "I'm guessing that's why Megan has a job now."

"I'm guessing that's why you talked to her in the first place?" Melinda said in a motherly tone, shifting on her feet.

"Actually, no. I didn't even notice them until we stopped talking. Honestly, I was kind of distracted." He says, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"How could you not see them? There's at least 15."

Aiden nods. "I'm aware of that now."

Melinda strikes a face of realization. "You like her!"

Aiden blushes. "Mom, stop. We only just met. I was just getting to know her, that's all."

"This is your first crush! Aw, my Aiden's growing up!"

"Mom, keep your voice down! I don't want to scare her off before we get the chance to fix the ghost problem."

"It should tell you something about this girl that you think you liking her would scare her off before the ghost problem. She seems special. Most kids your age think antiques are old and dusty relics. You included." With that, Melinda points to a big box on the floor. Aiden groans.

Melinda heads back upstairs, Aiden behind her. Megan is still working on the application. When she finishes, she hands it to Melinda.

"Excellent! Can you start Wednesday?"

Megan nods. "I'll have to clear this with my parents, of course, but they shouldn't mind. Dad works just down the street. In the law firm."

Melinda smiles and files the application. "You can give them my business card."

Aiden watches the women as Melinda runs down some basics with Megan, and when Megan looks over and smiles at him, his heart flutters.

Around 5, when Melinda closes the shop, she offers Megan a ride home.

"Oh, no thank you. I live close enough to hoof it. It's a beautiful day."

Melinda nods, and clears her throat, throwing a pointed look at Aiden.

"I could walk with you, if you'd like?" He asks.

"Okay."

The walk to Megan's really is close, just about ten blocks from downtown. They moved into an almost new house, so it was impossible that all of her ghosts were attached to the house. It was a beautiful house, but it was obvious they were still moving in. There were boxes thrown out to the curb, and the 'sold' sign was still sitting in the yard.

"Would you like to come in?"

Aiden nods. "Yeah, I can stay for a little bit."

Megan pushes the door open and throws her bag on the box next to the door. "There's a set of hooks in that box that Dad is supposed to hang up this weekend. I'm just giving him some motivation."

Aiden nods, looking around. There are only a few pictures up so far. One of them is a large portrait of Megan and her family. Megan is really very pretty, and the rest of her family is good-looking as well. Megan inherited her blonde from her mother, as well as her smile.

"I'm home, guys!" Megan peeks into the living room, trying to find someone.

Her brother, who Aiden recognizes from the portrait, walks out from the kitchen. "Hey, Meg."

"Hi, Jamie. How'd school go?"

Her brother has a bag of chips in his hand, gaming headphones hanging around his neck, and pays Aiden little attention as he chews loudly with his mouth open. "I don't like my math teacher. She gave us homework."

"Which you need to do before you play any video games." A woman—Megan's mother—walks into the room with a dusting rag and some cleaning supplies. She sets them on the counter, and holds out her hand. Jamie groans and hands her the wireless headphones. "Thank you, sir. Get started after your snack, please."

Jamie nods, heading into the living room.

Megan's mother smiles at Megan and Aiden. "Hi." She isn't very good at hiding her shock at Megan bringing a boy home after the first day in a new school.

"Mom, this is Aiden. He showed me to one of my classes today. We got coffee, which is why I'm a little late." Aiden extends his hand, and Megan's mother shakes it, giving him a warm and friendly smile.

"Hi. I'm Megan's mom. You can call me Mrs. Foster, or Lacey, if you'd like."

"Thank you, ma'am. Your home is beautiful."

Lacey gives him an approving look. "It still needs a few decorations. What nice manners. Your mother raised you right."

Megan's eyes light up. "Oh, mom, you'll never believe it. Aiden's mom owns an antique shop downtown! We went in today and it's so beautiful. She offered me a job!"

Lacey walks into the kitchen, off the left side of the hallway, and Megan and Aiden follow. Megan gets two bottles of water out of the fridge and offers one to Aiden. Lacey stirs what's on the stove. "That's great, honey." She glances to Aiden. "Megan has such a fascination with antiques. I think she was actually meant to be born in a different century." She says, with a laugh. "If you're sure you want to do it, I can't stop you. I would like to run by there tomorrow and talk to the owner. Give her my contact information and introduce myself. Aiden, will you be staying for dinner?"

Aiden checks the clock. It's nearly 5:30, and he didn't want to intrude. "No, thank you, Mrs. Foster. I should be getting home. I just wanted to walk Megan home."

"That was nice of you. It was nice to meet you. I'm sure I'll be seeing you again."

Megan walks Aiden to the door. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

Aiden nods. "See you tomorrow. "

Aiden is kicking himself no sooner than he left her driveway. He hadn't gotten her number. He'd be sure to ask her for it tomorrow, should it come up. Wednesday, for sure. The walk back to his house is about a twenty minute walk, but the weather really is great, so he doesn't even mind. He gets home right as his father is pulling into the driveway. Over the years, his dad moved up in ranks in the hospital, and now his hours were very flexible. He made sure he was home for dinner at least twice a week.

"Hey, champ. How was school?"

"Pretty good, I guess. I don't think any of my classes are going to be too hard this year."

They walk into the house, and smell Melinda cooking something mouthwatering. Jim places his coat and briefcase on the entryway table. "What about Calculus?"

Aiden shrugs. "I met a new girl today and she's apparently some math whiz. She said she'd help me if I helped her a little bit in history."

"And she's going to work in the shop with me." Melinda chimes in, kissing each of her boys.

"That seems a little sudden." Jim suggests, pouring himself a drink.

"Well, it might, if she didn't have twenty something ghosts attached to her." Melinda replies.

Jim's eyes go wide. "Seriously?"

Throughout dinner, they discuss Megan's ghosts. Aiden is excited to go to school tomorrow, for once in his life, to start helping them.