Chapter 6

The final bell rang and Nate immediately grabbed his backpack and left class. For some reason, he felt like he just needed to get home. Something was drawing him back…secretly, he wondered if it was Mitchie playing with his head, or if he was seriously just going insane. He was considering both of them rather deeply, which might explain why he suddenly smacked into a water fountain.

Swearing under his breath, Nate shook his head, trying to clear it, when a voice called out "Nate!"

It was Beverly, of course. She bounced up to him, her curls flying behind her. Nate groaned internally. Beverly was most likely going to ask him to hang out this afternoon, like she did almost every day.

"Hey," he greeted her civilly, slinging his backpack on his other shoulder and starting to move along with the crowd to get outside.

"Hey, so, I was wondering if you would like to hang this afternoon?" Beverly didn't miss a beat and fell into step beside him, her arms clutching a small stack of books to her chest. "I mean, a bunch of us were just going to head down to the mall, just hang out and chill for a while. I thought maybe you'd like to come…might make you feel better?" she ended hopefully.

Nate sighed, brushing his curly hair out of his eyes. Suddenly, he just couldn't say no to those sky blue eyes. Hating himself, he managed a weak smile as he replied "Sure, I'll meet you in the parking lot in ten?"

Beverly beamed. "Awesome! See you then, Nate."

She melted away with the crowd, leaving Nate standing by his locker, which he had just realized was his. Shaking his head, he unlocked it and threw in some books, taking the ones that he needed for homework only. Then, he grabbed out his cell phone, texted Shane (Going to B l8, going 2 mall w/ friends) and shut the door.

Beverly was already waiting for him when he made it outside. She sat primly on the low wall outside the school, her head bent over a thick book, her blonde-ish hair falling over her face. For a low key sass master, Beverly was a major bookworm.

She looked up as he approached, and smiled. "Hey, Nate," she greeted him sweetly. "Ready to go?"

"Sure," Nate shrugged and looked around. "Are we walking?"

"Oh, no," Beverly smiled. "You and I are in my car, and Ben, John, Cassadee and Blake are in Blake's car."

"Oh." Somehow, Nate knew he and Beverly were going to be alone at one point or another. Surprisingly, he didn't mind as much as he thought he would. With a small smile in Beverly's direction, he followed her as she packed up her book bag, tucked the thick book away, and led him to the small Honda Civic she and her brother shared.

"Here, you can put your bag in the backseat," Beverly said, unlocking the car and tossing her stuff in the back. Nate mimicked her and climbed in the passenger seat. Beverly started up the car and after a wave to Blake in her car, pulled out of the high school's parking lot.

Silence closed in around them as Beverly concentrated on driving (she'd only gotten her license a few months ago, but was a very good driver besides) and Nate thought back to what had transpired that morning in his bathroom.

Did he really see Mitchie? Or rather, Mitchie's ghost? Nate normally didn't believe in that kind of supernatural stuff, but now he wasn't so sure. Ever since she'd died…he'd felt her. Somehow, he'd always known it was her who was stroking his cheek as he paused by the mirror in the bathroom, or hummed him to sleep at night…somehow, he always sensed that she was nearby. It just never really crossed his mind before.

Beverly broke his thoughts by saying conversationally "So…do you want to talk about it now?"

Nate hesitated. "Not really," he admitted finally. "It's kind of personal…I mean, I don't meant to shut you out," he added, seeing Beverly's hurt expression. "It's just that…it just has to do with New Jersey, stuff from home…"

Beverly nodded curtly. Everyone knew Nate didn't like to talk about his past in New Jersey, and anyone who tried to get him to was responded with "It's an old part of my life, I like to look in the past…"

Many rumors had gone around that he was actually a juvenile delinquent, fresh from Juvy and trying to murder a famous celebrity…or something like that. Nate ignored the stares he got, and the whispers he heard…most of the time.

Nate looked out at the sidewalk of happy people, shopping about and walking and talking in groups. He saw a mother with a young toddler crossing the street, and an old man with two Dalmatians resting on the steps of a restaurant. He saw three teenagers roll by on skateboards, saw Mitchie about to cross the street and…

Nate's insides turned to ice. His eyes widened.

He was hallucinating…he was crazy, dehydrated, something…he could not really be seeing Mitchie…right there in front of him…

But he was.

Nate inhaled sharply, his hands tightening. Beverly was at a red light. She looked over at him worriedly. "Nate?" she asked softly. "What is it?"

Nate's heart was pounding, his skull throbbing, his eyes seemed stuck on the person ahead of him. There was no doubt that it was Mitchie, in the flesh, like he'd last saw her…her lips had the pink tinge of lip gloss, her eyes outlined by light eyeliner, her shirt a bright blue, her skinny jeans black…

Nate tried to swallow. Nothing.

"Nate?" Beverly repeated. "Nate, what's wrong? What is it?"

"S…See that girl over there?" he croaked out, pointing. "With the blue shirt and black skinny jeans?"

For one terrible moment, Nate was afraid Beverly was going to say no…call him crazy…but she simply nodded and responded "Yeah…why?"

"I…I know that girl," he said weakly. His forehead was sticky, he felt warm, then cold again. His hands were trembling. This was the longest red light he'd ever known.

To make things worse…Mitchie was now staring directly at him, the playful smirk he knew so well on her face.

"Really? Cool," Beverly said, trying to figure out why he was acting so weird. "Who is she?"

"Her name's Mitchie," Nate whispered. "And…"

"What?"

"She died…six months ago."

Beverly slammed on the brakes.

Hey guys! just thought I'd update really quick before I went to bed...I was just struck by a writing need and just decided to, well, write :) And I'd promised an update to a reader, so I decided 'Why not?' I hope you liked this chapter! Review? And those of you who haven't yet, please go to my profile and vote for the poll I posted; I would really appreciate it!!! Thanks so much!