CHAPTER TEN

"…and so therefore I conclude that Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of the best places to see history." Lily told everybody in the class while I lurked behind her. Our group went back to our seats after the word-for-word discussion.

"Thanks," I whispered to Lily. She beamed.

"If it weren't for your research though it would be lame." She said.

I said nothing.

"Where'd you get all of it?" She asked. Naturally.

"My dad," I said. "He knows stuff."

Lily shrugged and said it was cool. It brightened me up when she didn't ask further. I thought my day was going to be in its usual happy ritual but when April started tormenting me again, well. It started in the cafeteria; there I was getting my lunch when bam! The whole tray splatters on me and when I look up I see April smirking. I just wanted to go over to her and punch her right on her laughing face.

I went to my locker muttering curses under my breath.

"Tina? Who are you talking to?" Somebody said. I looked over my locker door and saw Ethan walking toward me.

"Myself," I said angrily.

"Yourself," Ethan said.

"Yes." I closed my locker door carrying a pile of dirty custard-and-fries covered clothes.

"What happened to you?" Ethan asked.

Tsk. How do I get out of this?

"Er, the tray slipped and it sorta mushed with my shirt." I said.

Ethan nodded and placed his hands inside his pockets.

"Weird. I wonder why?"

Wonder all you want. I doubt you'll ever understand.

"I'm really clumsy, remember?" I said.

Ethan chuckled. Like it was a funny thing! Seriously I'm not even the one who's making all my clumsiness. I turned my back to leave but Ethan spoke again.

"Are you free this Saturday?"

I looked at him and my mind shifted to April.

"No." I said curtly. No, and never will be until I get rid of that stupid ten-year-old.

Ethan blinked. "Are you, really? Lily's going to have a party."

"She didn't ask me."

"She was going to but you left to clean yourself."

"I'll see."

I stared at Austin who was sitting on my window sill, cautiously that night. Being dashing as he always is, I'd think he was actually real if it weren't for the fact that the moonlight was making him blue. All the things I have planned on asking my mother about Lily's party disappeared just watching Austin. A random thought went through my mind.

"Austin?" I called. He looked at me.

"Yes, Christina."

"I want to ask you something—but don't get offended or anything."

Austin placed the book down. "Go ahead."

"Why don't you look glowy?"

Austin blinked. "Pardon me?"

"I mean, why don't you look all translucent and opaque like ghosts in movies?"

He rolled his eyes. "Those aren't real, Christina."

"Why then?"

Austin sighed. "Because you're a mediator."

Oh wow, that completely helped me think. Completely answers everything. Yipee.

"How does that even relate?" I insisted.

"Mi dolce, mediator's work with ghosts. You don't want working with somebody you can't see, do you?" Austin said.

Dammit. He got a point.

Somebody suddenly knocked.

I sighed. "Come in."

Mom peeked in, her hair in a mess and holding out the phone. "A Lily Anderson is looking for you."

I got up and got the phone. My mom left and I barely even said hello when Lily started squealing.

"Oh my goodness that was your mom wasn't it? Oh my god, I heard her voice! Gah, she talked to me!"

I scoffed. "Seriously."

"Yeah, seriously." Lily cleared her throat. "Well anyway, you better be here Saturday or else…"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll ask my mom."

"I love this day! Wait a sec—"She must have covered the phone speaker but I still heard her shout at the other end of the line, "Mom! I talked to Tina's mom! You know, Suze de Silva? We saw her once in CNN…"

"—So, Tina. Be here ok? Thanks!" And then the line died.

I told mom all about it. She merely said "Yeah, go ahead."

And then Jake was suddenly there saying, "Will Amelia be there?"

Right. This guy would do anything.

Turns out my brother was something of a chicken. He just dropped me at Lily's and then drove away without looking twice.

It wasn't much of a party. Just a little get together. That was until I saw Ethan strolling by. Yeah, I knew he would be around. So was the other boys of Pasadena Institute, most, I tell you, I didn't recognize. Though there were familiar faces in the crowd. Lily dragged me somewhere in the middle of her party and announced to everyone, "Hey guys look who's here! Tina de Silva, Suze de Silva's daughter you know? She's very popular in my crowd…" Now if it weren't for the fact that she is close to me I probably wouldn't speak to her if she wasn't. I hate being gawked on. Unlike Jake who's arrogant enough. So I just smiled and tripped even and got along with almost everyone.

And I probably should say as well that all mishap started with that stupid Ouija board.

It was because of Amelia as well when I was just minding my own business in an isolated corner of the house while all the boys were in the basement playing pool.

"Hey, Tina. Wanna see Lily's Ouija board?" Amelia tugged my arm and motioned to a couple of giggling girls huddled in the middle of the living room. Lily was one of them. I snorted. I never really cared about those board things. Well that was until I realized I could see ghosts.

"Tsk. That wastes time," I said.

"So? What gives it's a party anyway."

I couldn't do anything about it.

"Fine."

Amelia literally dragged me over and Lily brightened all of a sudden.

"Tina! Oh, oh, oh! Try this board, it's soooo cool! It's the first time I actually saw it move!" She said. I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes.

"Er, you know, uh, that thing creeps me out so um—"

Too late anyway. Lily made me sit beside a girl named Antonette and made me press my index and middle finger on the glass. Lily placed hers on the glass as well.

"Now, what question should we ask?" Lily asked me. A few girls hooted.

"Er,"

And then good 'ol April appeared by the window looking all gleeful. She giggled at my predicament. And then the glass I was pressing on moved all of a sudden without being asked yet. It went to H, and I.

Lily froze.

"Hello," I told the board and gave an obvious glare towards April. Yeah play with me with the whole I'm-a-ghost-and-I-can-move-things-without-touching-it thing and she'll never get a chance to see heaven.

But unlike me, Lily went into a series of Oh-my-gods before finally asking the board another not so decent question.

She went, "Who does Tina like?" And a couple of girls giggled.

"Who does Tina like?" April echoed her question. I threw a yet another obvious glare towards her.

"I don't like anybody." I said.

A few girls hooted. I heard "Impossible!"s and "No way!"s in the crowd.

"I swear I don't like anybody." I said.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Fine. Who lies Tina then?"

I looked at April immediately in slow motion. She was rubbing her hands together and smiling mischievously.

"Nobody likes me either." I immediately responded.

Lily snorted. "Right. So, er, board? Who likes Tina?"

The glass moved to A. I honestly didn't know where this was going. But then the glass moved to U and then to S and I nearly let it go when it went to T, I, N. My jaw dropped. A lot of girls were now running around the room giggling.

"Who's Austin?"

"Do we know an Austin?"

"Somebody ask the boys if they're Austin!"

They were saying. Goodness.

Lily and a few of my close friends looked at me.

"Who's Austin?" They asked.

I gulped a couple of times. "Er, uh, nothing, no one really. Do I know an Austin? Oh no, I don't know an Austin." But my face was pretty hot already.

Lily poked me. I looked at where April was standing but she had vanished. Just wait when I arrive home.

"Someone's got a crush on Tina!" Someone shouted.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."