Chapter Two --renovated.

As always, tell me what you think.

Reminder: "The Daughter Of" will soon be called "Legacy"

Re-2). Peek-a-Boo

It was something that always really pissed me off in books and movies and all that shet. You know the whole "life goes on after tragedy" bullshit. Hello! A character just DIED! Do you not GET THAT?

. . . And yet it's semi true.

No matter what you do, you can't stop life. Not that I was enjoying it. But I was at school, breathing, even smiling at the side-splitting jokes Stacy would have found hilarious. But I wasn't really with it, if you know what I mean. And I don't think that's unreasonable of me. At least I wasn't, until I was so rudely interrupted with the one and only.

Nick. Nick Slater.

You remember, the man-bitch?

Yeah, decided to grace me with his presence. HARK THE ANGELS BURST INTO JOYFUL SONG!!!!

Not.

"Melinda!" he drawled, "So pleased to see you kitten! But why keep so to yourself on such a beautiful day?"

I just stared at him.

Alannah and the rest of the group stared too. My friend Arabia's boyfriend even did us the courtesy of leaving his mouth open as he stared. And lets just say the school corndogs, that aren't exactly fine cuisine on a good day, look even worse half masticated.

"Please go away," I said in my slowest, most careful voice, the one I use on the really little kids who haven't quite grasped the fact that OVENS are HOT and if you touch them you get BURNT. Then I added under my breath; "Perra."

He didn't react at all to my calling him a bitch in Spanish. Could be because he didn't know. Doesn't speak Spanish, more fool him.

He smiled this condescending little smile at me and said in a slight singsong voice, "Now now Melinda. You wouldn't happen to be wallowing now would you? Because we all know that's unhealthy."

"Muérdame." (A/N: bite me) I replied, knowing full well He can't understand a word I say when I start spouting Spanish.

So where does he get off patronising me? ME! HE only moved here a month ago, I'VE lived here my entire life! Which is a lot longer than he had.

I herd something about Paul's father living here when he was in his teens, Nick thinks he can just worm his way in here straight from Chicago—warmly welcomed by airheads such as Cindy—and starts giving ME health advice?

"Whatever. Go away. You're annoying me."

It wasn't much of a surprise to see him ignore me completely. Nick never listened, really listening, to anything I had to say. He heard what he wanted to. Anything else and you were just wasting your breath.

Proving me right, he said, "Tsk tsk. All this pent up emotion Melinda. Why waste it on me?" he scanned the beautiful courtyard in front of us and suddenly smiled his cold smile, "Now there's a worthy victim," he said indicating at the breezeway though which Brian and some other guy I didn't recognise had walked through. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't I hear a little dispute present itself between you two at Stacy's funeral?"

Snort. Dispute. That implies two different opinions. Really Brian said we should break up and then sat there for the rest of the service. In silence. I didn't say anything either. Because just then I didn't really care. I probably would've reacted a little differently had it been any other time and place. But it wasn't.

So I didn't.

"God, they're very secure." I muttered, indicating at the small—non-existent really—space between them. In hellish joints such as high school that's just asking for trouble.

"I'll say," said Nick, apparently having heard me, "Ha, that why he dump you? Looks like that 'other woman' turned out to be a man."

"WhatEVER! Why?? What did you hear? There was no one else! Whatever you heard was a lie! It was mutual decision! It was such a mutual decision that I'M surprised at the mutual-ness of the MUTUAL decision!"

Huh. Mutual. Yeah. And I'm the tooth fairy.

. . . Maybe that was a Little white lie.

I got all defensive there too; I just have to hope he didn't notice . . .

"Sure, Sure," said Nick slyly, which told me he'd noticed all that I didn't want him to. "I believe you. Don't worry we all heard exactly what happened, so there's no show of any . . . exaggerations."

Which is just the twisted mans way of saying, 'yeah freaking right, we HEARD him dump you. I wont tell. There's no need. Everyone knows.'

Fan-fucking-tastic.

But Brian and that guy did look pretty cosy . . . AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!!!!!!

Dios, I ACTAUALLY made a guy gay. Actually actually.

. . . I don't want to think about that too closely.

How embarrassing.

But at least I was saved the further embarrassment of having to come up with a story to relay to Nick by the sudden arrival of novices, telling us lunch was over and to hurry on to our next class so we wouldn't 'miss a second of our vital tutorage that will equip us with the mandatory tools that we need to face the big wide world.'

I'm not even kidding. That's what the one closest to us said. And in this really high-pitched voice that sounded impossibly cheery. It freaked me out.

I think a little something extra has been added to the sacramental bread.

I'm getting me some of THAT!!!!!

-Legacy-

"MISS DE SILVA! ARE YOU LISTENING??? WOULD YOU KINDLY EXPLAIN TO US THE PURPOSE AND METHOD OF THIS EXPERIMENT?"

Experiment? What experiment? We were working on an Experiment?

Crap.

"Uhh . . . wait . . . don't tell me . . ."

By which, of course, I meant, 'Quick! Somebody! TELL ME!'

I wonder what the nun would do if I said 'fucked if I know!' in tones of utter indignancy and walked out.

. . . Probably chase me down the corridor and drag me back by my ear. This is Sister Ernestine were talking about here.

"I thought not." She said in tones of utter smugness. "KINDLY pay attention, Miss DeSilva, or I will have no other option but to write you up."

Oh, like that would be such a chore for her.

"Sure thing sister, you have my undivided attention."

It didn't take a genius to know I was lying.

And back I went to staring out the window at the ocean.

I wasn't even thinking. I was just staring meaninglessly into the deep, rich blue sea. The deepest thing that went through my head was; ' . . . I wonder what you call male ladybugs? Manbugs?'

Arabia and some other chick I didn't know were staring at me, and some others were staring at them, so I guess I was a distraction. Something Sister Ernestine found important to nip in the bud.

"MELINDA DE SILVA!" she said furiously, swelling in anger, "That is the second time! Out! Outside right now, I'll deal with you after class. Off you trot!"

Oh well. No skin off my ass. I wasn't exactly going to benefit from these hours of science. I think they should know by now that I have no intentions of following a scientific path once I finish school.

Well, not unless I need to sell my organs for rent money.

So off I trotted. All the way to the beach. Hey, Ernestine was the one who told me to go outside, outdoors qualify as anywhere that's not indoors right? So can I be blamed for a little misinterpretation?

No sir!

I think the principal, Father Dominic, almost spotted me in the distance, but I was gone before he could push his glasses a little higher up his nose.

So it was s'all gud.

Have you ever noticed that beaches have always had that calming, tranquil vibe about them?

Its positively gorgeous.

. . . Although the effect was somewhat ruined by the dozens of buzzing tourists and their screaming children demanding another ice cream because mysteriously their current one was shrinking.

So I walked further and further down the shore, until the growing roughness of the water and darkening in colour of the sand meant a depopulation of tourists.

It was great.

Even better than a double buttered toasted sandwich at "Greta's café". And that takes some beating.

Now my new solitary left me free to deeply contemplate what I was in Science Class.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

If anything I was wallowing. Not good, I know, but I couldn't help it.

And when I wasn't wallowing I was just sitting there watching the waves.

I don't know how long I sat there for. A while anyway, because the next time I consciously thought of time, the sun was going down and glinting off the sea, and the sea gulls were just starting to shut up.

And then I hear, faintly, these footsteps compressing the dry sand—you know that sound? The-person-walking-on-dry-sand sound? No? Where have you BEEN? Anyway, I away from the ever beautiful ocean and see the unmistakable figures of Alanna and Arabia approaching. Well that was ok. For some crazy reason, I thought it might've been Nick.

Crazy, huh?

"Girl you got everyone crazy!" called Arabia, "Ernestine may just die from shock any minute now! That was the effect you were after right? Kill the overbearing nun?"

What could you say? 'No I came to be alone so go away?' To my friends? I don't have many friends. I don't know why. Girls just don't like me. And the friends I do have seem to be killing themselves off.

This thought caused me to heave a small sigh and stare at the ink black jandals lying next to my bare feet in the dry sand.

"Oh." Said Alanna, in gentle understanding.

"Yeah. Oh." Was all I said.

Well what else could I have said? "Oh . . .and I-can-see-dead-people-but-my-no-one-thinks-Stacy-will-bother-to-come-back-because-she-killed-herself?

Yeah. Right. I mean, I don't want any MORE trauma on my hands.

"Do you . . . I mean, have you ever . . ." Alanna trailed off confusedly.

"Wondered why she did it?" I finished her question in a dull voice.

"Well . . . yeah. I mean, did she ever say anything to you? . . . Or . . . Or maybe, I did something . . .? Or—"

"No. No way," said Arabia. "If anyone's to be blamed then it should be her!"

Alanna made this squawk of disbelief, and Arabia shrugged. "I mean it."

"And I," I said coldly, "Agree. Stacy just left us. And she's not coming back. Why? Because she doesn't WANT to."

"Um you know. Okay. That's you know . . . Okay. But uh, I don't think you really do mean that," Alanna said, her voice getting stronger with every word, "Either of you. And if you think about it, something's wrong. Something is really screwed up. I . . . I just don't know what it is."

YA' DON'T SAY.

But I didn't say anything. I couldn't. They weren't burdened with my curse. It was mine, mine to endure and conceal. Alanna especially. She was not going to hear it from me that her best friend really did top herself because she WANTED to die.

. . . THAT'S what's wrong.

"So . . ." I said to break the awkward silence, "I think we've all had quite a big enough day . . ."

"Absolutely," said Alanna, always quick to avoid conflict.

At the same time as Arabia said "Fuck yes."

Alanna frowned at her choice of words, and Arabia giggled.

I haven't known Arabia for long but she strikes me as pretty awesome, you know. She's universally liked and really laid back. A good time girl, that one.

Anyhow.

"So. Why don't we all get fat, and laze around watching videos?" said Arabia. "SOME people," she said, glaring at Alanna, "need to eat more."

". . . Its not my fault," Alanna whispered. "I just have a super speedy metabolism . . ."

I laughed. It was true. The girl could eat like a horse. A very enviable quality.

Not that Arabia (Arabia's parents weren't very original were they? I for one would hate to be called 'America,') has any reason to be jealous. She herself was gorgeous. She has a dark chocolate coloured complexion, and curves to die for.

Alanna was a typical ice-cream blonde, tall and skinny with a fair complexion.

"Sure I'm up for videos. "Superbad" all the way."

"I am McLovin . . ." Arabia agreed.

Alanna looked at us like we were potty. Which, we probably are. I have no-idea how a normal person behaves, having never been one of those infamous normalities. "On a school night??" interjected Alanna, scandalised.

"Oh yes dear. It IS on a school night isn't it?" I said in a patronising voice, "how terrible." Then I cracked up. "You know, you should be used to this, being around me and St—such others like myself. For once in your life be a rebel Alanna! Take a walk on the wild side!"

Arabia sniggered.

Alanna caved and together we missioned it back up to my house.

-Legacy -

"MOM!!!! I'm home!" Mom doesn't usually beat me home, but today she had a day off. She works at a psychiatric clinic. She gets a real kick out of helping someone who thinks they're crazy because they've had a supernatural experience. Of course they do drive her up the wall now and again and she comes home and kicks the shit out of the kickboxing bag in the basement, but dad just grins and lets her get on with it.

She loved helping people, much as she'd like to pretend otherwise.

She was happy. And for dad, that was all he cared about.

"Mom!!"

Ooh.

Just had a thought.

School might have rung.

Hmm.

Dad home? Wait no, double shift at the hospital for makes things easier.

"Melinda? That you?" mom said coming into the hall.

"Yeah. Yeah it is. Listen I'm sorry about making you worry, but—"

"I know honey. I know." She said as she pulled me into a tight hug. "But can I just say; don't leave the house again without a cell phone. Deal? I realise you don't need this now, but, please just promise you'll take your phone out next time."

"Deal." I said shaking her hand.

"Well, now that that's taken care of, let me guess, major fat food and movies?"

At our nods she said; "good. Well Cee's here and were gonna sit up the back and throw popcorn at you and whisper really loudly ok?"

Oh god. My mother thinks she cool.

"Muuuuumm . . ." I whinged, following her into the dining room, as she sprang off to set out Dads dinner. I seriously hope I have that much energy when I'm a Mom. And that I like my husband enough to feed him. "Come on . . ."

"Relax, Bowtruckle," she laughed at my less than thrilled expression. "Cee and I will just be in the kitchen. Drinking coffee and talking about married lady things."

. . . Ok, too much information.

I know mom was young when they were married. Mom was only 21 and Dad was 26. They had me a year later—or so they say. Lol.

I once asked them why they got hitched so young and had a kid so soon, and they said that was all they ever wanted. "Why wait when you know you've got the world and time is precious?"

I didn't know about the whole ghost thing then.

Time really was precious.

Not everyone had a hundred and fifty years to spend waiting for true love.

And not every one had well enough luck that their love was able to bring the your dead ass back to life.

Huh. Some people . . .

We walked into the living room and talked Cee Cee into fixing up the D.V.D player, ("ts not that hard really girls . . .") and then we were away. We could hear Mom and Cee, true to their word, laughing a sqwaking even from the kitchen.

Typical.

You'd think they were the 17yr olds.

Then I herd the doorbell ring in the middle of Transformers (all time most AWESOME movie,)

I went to answer it, grinning at the "Can I ride you home?" line, and opened the door.

And the smile instantly turned into more of a grimace.

"Nick. Who else. What do you want? And make it quick I'm busy."

"What? Hosting the marvellous male entertainer Brian? Or should I call him Chi-Chi from now on?" Nick said with a smirk as he stepped around me and indoors.

"Stop it. You're not funny. What do you want?" I repeated.

"Well if you insist I cut to the chase . . . "

"Yes I do insist!" I snapped, slamming the door shut and placing my hands on my hips. "Stop fucking around and say what you have to say and then get out of my house."

"Right here? Are you sure you want that?" he said coyly, reaching out and playing with a curl of my hair. I swatted him away with a frown. "I mean, what if I accidentally say something you don't want anyone else to hear?" he had his 'ooh, look, I'm a goodie wee Samaritan' face on. "Especially them." He said, indicating down towards the sitting room, where the sounds of laughter were drifting down to us.

Nick looked down at me all innocently, which was conclusive enough to prove to me that he was anything but.

He knew something.

"Fine." I growled, "Follow me. But shut up about it."

He smirked then followed me up the stairs.

And I just have to hope, for my own peace of mind, that he wasn't looking at my butt.

But I bet he was. The son of a bitch.

I didn't bother looking into the ornate wood framed mirror as I entered my orange room; I knew what I'd see. Tall and slender, toned limbs and long black hair that went halfway down my back, green flecked eyes and a dark, mocha complexion. My cheekbones were high, my nose straight and my skin flawless.

It was good enough.

"Now." I said as I closed the door, "what was so important that you had to disturb me at my home at what, 10:00?"

"Watch your back kid." He said without more preamble, "I know something you don't. You really don't know what your in for. And I don't want you hurt."

Kid. Who he trying to call kid? I'm almost as tall as he is. No mean feat. And—hang on.

"You don't want me to get hurt? Oh that's just dandy. I thank you for the chivalry, but please. I can handle myself. Ok? You don't even know me. So don't you come in here telling me to be careful!"

"Shut up Melinda. You don't know me either. You think you have me all worked out but you don't know the half of it. And as for you? I know a lot more about you than you think I do. I know that up until YESTERDAY, you didn't even know what you ARE, so how could you know me?"

I scoffed. "Oh, yeah sure. Give me ONE example—"

But a slight shimmer in the corner distracted me, and when I turn around I saw Stacy. Slightly transparent, its true, but nevertheless it was her. She smiled nervously at us and said "hey guys."

Nick looked right at her and said; "Hey Stace."

HOLD THE PHONE!!!!!!

STACY WAS HERE!!! AS A GHOST!!! AND NICK COULD SEE HER!!! NICK COULD SEE HER!!!! NICK COULD SEE STACY THE GHOST!!!!

Then Nick looked right at me and said all calmly; "For example"he mockingly quoted the words back at me, "I know you've had the ability to interact with ghosts your whole life. Something you didn't know up until Sunday."

"So you mean to say—that you—that I—Oh for Christs sake!"

And then I just stoped fighting for consciousness.

And blacked out.

. . . How embarrassing.

I can't wait to read your review!

Love and kisses;

Mariah