Chapter 14

The four days dragged on like a lifetime, the mood was between sadness and pure excitement. I never really understood it because I never left but I felt the change in the air. A few students stayed over the term break but I was the only one who spent Christmas here as well. This was my home, I didn't have anywhere else to go.

I stood at the door saying goodbye to the Burns. Audrey hugged me like she was never going to see me again when in reality, she'd be back in a fornight. Bernie gives me the smile and nodded and Martha gives me a smile trying to be more grown up then Audrey.

Amber gave me a lecture about staying out of her room, because it was her personal private space, so I planned to snoop in there first thing. Kat told me to take care of myself.

After they all had gone I went to the middle of the oval and waited for the people staying to show up. The Cressy sister's showed up first with their superior glares. One of them was perfect sized girl with the looks of an angel and the other sister was the same expect she was double the size. They were in the same year as Martha but they were very inti-social.

Next to show was our resident skater boy Ozzie and he pulled up on his board of course.

"Tegan, that time of the year again?" He looked over at the Cressy sisters. " Them, again."

" Afraid so." He looked annoyed pushing his over grown hair from his eyes.

" Bitches, the both of them."

" That's not very nice Oz." He shrugged. " What house are you in anyway?" I wondered out loud.

" Mitchy, his my man. I don't like his mate much, Johnstan, his an arse." I stared at him. " Best thing ever when the Nelson boys, Rodger and them broke his nose." I laughed as he re-acted his fall.

"What am I missing?" Caleb strolled over shaking hands with Ozzie like they were best mates.

" I was just saying the work you and Rodgers did to Johnstan face was beautiful."

" Poor Alex." I muttered. He heard me and laughed.

" Later Tegan, I've got a townie to bet in a comp." He waved as he skated off.

" If he is going so are we." Said one of the Cressy sisters.

" He is in year ten, he knows the rules." I grinned as their faces fell, thinking that I was going to give them a lecture. " But I think that can wait until later at dinner."

" Thank-god." The smaller one said, dragging her sister away.

" I guess it's just you and me." Kale grinned cheekily.

We went down to the river and to say the least I was packing it.

"Where is he?" Kale whispered.

" Five meters ahead." I replied staring at the dead form of a boy.

" Want me to come with you?" I was trembling as I walked forward.

" No I am good."

As I approached he noticed me with his piercing eyes. I wanted desperately to run but this time I knew that I had to stay. The boy gave me an amused smile but his eyes poured out pain.

" What happened to you?" I felt myself asking him.

" What does it look like? I am dead Tegan." I was starting to feel nauseous now.

" Why were you the last victim up until two years ago?' Waves of energy were rolling off him. His emotions were like nothing I had felt before. He looked at me confused.

" I wasn't the last victim, I was the first to get away."

After that I don't remember anything but black. Caleb was calling my name. slowly I opened my eyes and stared at him.

We were on the ground, he was pale and panicked.

"What happened? Are you ok?" He said all at once.

" Yeah, my head hurts, Where'd he go?"

I looked around but the ghost had gone. Sometimes he did that but he would show up again in a day or two, it just startled me.

" What did he say?" Kale pulled me up.

" He said he escaped."

" Then why is he dead?"

Kale walked me back to my house were we spent the afternoon watching the tv until dinner time when Ozzie and the Cressy sister appeared. We ate all together in Regina house so I felt like I had to start up the conversation to break the silence.

"What did you two do today?" The Cressy sister glared coldly at the sound of my voice.

"That's none of your business." Snapped angel face.

" Fine be that way." I ignored them and looked at Ozzie." What about you?"

" This guy Drew from town, said he could kick my ass in a comp and I said yeah? Prove it then."

" So then what happened?" Kale was listening now.

" What do you think? I won hands down, mate you should have been there, it was beautiful. The guy threw a tantrum and wanted a rematch. So I said do you really want to be humiliated twice in one day?"

My jaw dropped. " You didn't."

"I did." He took the last mouthful in his fork. " And then, I pissed off before thet gang bashed me. They were fuming, it was hilarious."

" You're an idiot." The Cressy sisters said in tune, then they promptly left the table returning to their house.

" They are seriously weird." Kale stared after them.

"Ah-huh." I nodded. " But they are right, if the townie come knocking, I am sending then straight to you Oz." He winked.

" I can handle them."

Kale raised his eyebrow. " Says the boy who ran away."

" It wasn't running away."

" Fine retreating at extreme speeds." Kale grinned.

" Get stuffed Woods."

" Woods? Look out, I offended him." I rolled my eyes.

" Boys, meals over, get out of my house." I pointed to the door.

" Come on, are you serious?" Ozzie got up with Caleb.

" Highly, see you at Breakie."

He shrugged. " see you tomorrow Tegan."

I smiled. I wasn't having those two fighting under my roof. After they left it was half an hour before the pair of them were back with sleeping bags.

" What are you two doing?"

" it's the holidays, we're camping out on the oval. Want to join us?"

" I don't think so." I didn't think that's why they were at my door.

" Can we borrow a torch?" Ozzie grinned. I knew he wasn't really asking me and I doubt that they were camping either. They were up to something.

" What is going on?" I eyed the suspiciously.

Kale flashed a smile. " Stake out, you know…camping."

" Wait, don't tell me you believe that crap about the gardener being a serial killer." I mocked him.

" Ozzie got us binoculars from Johnstan's room."

Oz cut in. " Which was a pleasure, by the way."

"We were hoping you might let us crash here while we start operation catch the bad guy."

" Operation catch the bad guy? Real original boys." I opened the door for them to come in.

"Besides your house is the closest to the gardener's shed." Ozzie pointed out dropping his bag on the common room floor. I smiled all they had to do was ask for a bed and I would organise one for them but I decided a night on the floor wouldn't kill them. I grinned climbing the stairs to my soft mattress.

The next morning I woke with a jump, quite literally when Ozzie jumped onto my bed crushing me in the process.

" Happy Birthday Tegan!" He said gleefully.

I groaned. " Get off me." Shoving him off my bed.

" Someone is not a morning person."

" You think Oz?" I snapped, blinking my eyes open.

" I might leave you to it Kale. I'll handle breakfast, it's less dangerous." He took off out of the door, I moaned letting my head drop back onto my pillow. I felt Caleb sit on the end of my bed.

" Doesn't he believe in sleeping in to noon?" I groaned, as the morning sun cracked through the curtain.

" You think now is bad, I manage to keep him downstairs, he's been up since six."

" God save us." I pulled at the curtain trying to block the sunlight.

" You should come down soon, he has made the biggest breakfast ever." Caleb got up. " And happy birthday Tegan."

" Thanks." I grunted, huffily. Funny, I didn't even realise it had come around again.

I got up to a sitting position.

" I got you a present, you'll get it when you come down stairs."

" Is that a con?"

He shrugged. " Maybe." He exited, leaving me calling for him to wait up. Tricked, I tell you, tricked. I went down stairs to see Ozzie in only his boxers flipping pancakes, and Caleb on the lounge in his boxer but at least he had a t-shirt on.

"Here Tegan." Caleb pulled out a brightly wrapped gift, waving it at me. I sat down next to him. He handed it to me and watched me unwrap it. Inside was a cd he had mixed himself.

" Should I be worried?" I grinned putting it on.

"Maybe."

We sat listening while Ozzie cooked. " This is the best." I hugged him pulling away, blushing. I felt oddly awkward.

"No problem." He had gone as red as me. The vibe between us was almost unbearable. A pin could drop and we would of stop to stare, anything to change the flow of the air.

"Food!" Ozzie bellowed.

The meal, because it was a meal, not breakie, was delicious. I told Oz to quit trying to be a pro-skater and become a chef, but he declined, telling me it was a once off deal.

After that I went up stairs to change. When I came down I found the pair of them sparing with these solid bread rolls I kept meaning to throw out.

"What is happening here?" The boys froze looking at the door, as did I. there in the doorway was Kat, Mitchy and Bernie.

"I was about to ask the same question." I stared at the two boys, as the other three entered. Ozzie laughed.

"Why, we are fighting for the rights to your virginity."

Caleb whacked him around the back of the head so hard the end of the bread roll snapped off.

" Will you stop saying dumb shit like that? No wonder the townie's want you dead." Ozzie laughed harder pulling on his shirt.

" Yeah but it was worth seeing you go all red." He teased. " Blushing because you…ouch!" Ozzie rubbed his arm where Caleb had hit him again.

I decided to ignore them turning to the visitors, so to speak. " Why are you guys back here? Holidays has a week still."

" We came to say happy birthday and give you this." Kat handed over a present.

Embarrassed, I thanked them, opening it. The quick I got it out, the faster it would be over. " Bernadette picked it." Bernie gave me the thumbs up, as I pulled out a summer dress. It was plain and simple but really nice. It was air and light, perfect for the hotter days.

"Thanks guys."

"Try it on." Begged Bernie. I rolled my eyes and went up and changed for the second time today. I wasn't really a dress person, so I came out ready for their mocking comments. I wasn't a dress girl and I felt strange in one.

" Wow." Ozzie said making me turn pink. " I totally see now, why Kale's in love with you." Jaws dropped and Caleb disappeared in a blink of an eye. I stared at Oz, in shock. "What? You didn't know? Come on people! I don't have anything to do with you and even I can tell he is beyond into you." I just stared unable to form words. "Emission of guilt, he ran off, didn't he?" Oz shrugged childishly.

" Well you didn't have to embarrass him." Kat jumped in.

" Kale embarrassed? He'll get over it." He thought about it for a moment. " Well he'll probably punch me in the face but then he'll be over it. I think. I hope." He frowned suddenly. " I'll leave you to it." he speed off out the door skateboard in hand.

" I hope he puts some jeans on." Alex said, glaring after Ozzie, looking somewhat discussed.

" I think we all do." I agreed.

" Who was he?" Bernie stared after him.

" Ozzie the skater boy." Alex grumbled annoyed. "Bloody pain in the arse."

" So, what's going on?" Kat asked staring at me. " Are they staying in our house?"

" We are meant to be on a stake out but we haven't been very committed as you can tell."

" Stake out? Who are you spying on?" Bernie asked curiously.

" Oh, just the gardener."

For the rest of the day the three of us hung out. Kat trying to get me to stop the gardener watching, while Bernie encouraged me to keep going.

" What's Johnstan's binoculars doing here?" Alex questioned.

" Oz, he seemed to have a grudge."

" Grudge is not the word for it, more like world war." Mitchy said bitterly. " Oz does have motive but Johnstan has more then paid."

" What did he do to Oz" I asked fascinated with what had brought on such spite.

" You remember when Oz was in year eight, he broke his leg trying to skate down the staircase banister?"

" Yes he was in plaster for months."

" Well it didn't happen like that, Johnstan pushed him out the second floor window."

" Shit." Bernie said what we were all thinking.

" But I promise Ozzie has gotten him back ten fold. I just wish they'd call a truce. They are hard work to keep apart." Mitchy sighed tiredly.

" Well I guess we should head home." Kat got up as did the others. " Happy birthday." She and Alex left but Bernie lingered for a moment.

" He is hot." She winked at me. " And he's into you Tegan." She grinned cheekily. " Plus in that dress there is no way he will look at another girl." She winked again leaving as to embarrassment, Caleb walked in. I could feel my face burning up.

" What?" He looked at Bernie leaving, then to me, turning a shade pinker himself. " I thought they'd already be gone." He mumbled.

" Their going now."

" Oh." he nodded as we stood there awkwardly.

" About what Oz said…." He started off.

" Forget it, Ozzie makes up stuff all the time." He moved closer to me, with in arms length.

"Except he wasn't making it up. I am in love with you." He thumbled in his pockets, giving me a moment to process the words that had just left his lips. He pulled out a box, while I stood mutely, unable to think straight. " I wasn't sure when to give you this." He was redder them me, avoiding looking in my eyes at all cost. " Here." He put it in my hands.

Suddenly I couldn't stand him not looking at me, I placed it on the table beside us.

" Your not going to open it?" He looked at me finally. His eyes, his face told me instantly that I had hurt him. He looked to his shoes. I could bare stand the guilt eating away at me, but it would be over soon.

"No, I am not." I put my hand on his face drawing his chin up, so his eyes were on mine. " Because I already got what I wanted for my birthday." He looked confused for a second but finally the realisation set in. he leaned in kissing me gently.

" Get a room you two."

We pulled apart quickly staring at Ozzie, red-faced. He rolled his eyes, dropping his board on the floor. " I am hungry."

After that moment things seemed so different. Caleb's eyes lost their death wish and self-hatred. I didn't know what frightened me more, the fact it had been on his mind or the fact that I had such an affect over him. Time together was scarce but it was enough for now. We would sit there watching the gardener's shed but nothing happened, apparently he got holidays too but still we watched. We sat side by side, fingers linked together.

" This is stupid guys." Ozzie crashed on the floor in front of us. " Maybe we should break in. it's not like he's here for two more days." I looked at Caleb and he nodded.

" Damn!" Ozzie punched his fist into the shed seeing the dirty great big lock.

" Now what genius?" Caleb growled at Oz. " Going to punch your way in?"

" Shut up Kale…." I tuned out letting them argue. I pulled out a bobby pin, which been holding back a stray piece of hair, fiddling with the lock. " Boys!" I snapped. "We're in." Both their jaws dropped.

" How did you do that Tegan?" Kale asked me.

I shrugged. " I learnt it from a professional." the part I left out was, it was my mother. I had learnt how to pick a lock before I had learnt to tie my shoes. Another reason I am not normal, another reason I don't talk about or think about my mother. I remember my first year away from her, when I talked about her, my stories were patchy, full of holes. When people asked what she did for a living, I would lie and say she was a checkout chick, because nobody would ask any further and check out chicks would be twenty times better then master thief and lunatic. The truth about my mother was full of deceit and lies, I not even sure if I can even tell them apart another. With all the lies she told me, I am not even sure I really knew the woman at all.

I pushed open the gardener's shed door. I let out a sigh of disappointment. It was just a shed full of tools and gardening equipment. We began snooping through the stuff, not very hopeful. Maybe we were wrong about the gardener.

" Tegan?" I moved over to Caleb looking into a container he was holding. In side, was filled with jewellery, on top there was a piece I recognised straight away.

" This is Amber's, she left it in the bathroom weeks ago and someone nicked. She whined for ages." I twirled the necklace in my fingers. I had seen it since then.

" What he broke into your house and stole it?" Ozzie asked puzzled.

" No Rowya had it, he took it from her." Caleb stared at me.

" You sure?"

" She was wearing it the day of the fire, I just didn't twig at the time."

"Does this count as proof?"

" No Oz, but this means we were right, we need to find out what he has done with her."

" Tegan?" Caleb gripped me by the shoulder. " You need to realise, she may already be dead." I felt everything drain from my body, my heart racing.

" I am going to find her." I snapped, twisting out of his grip. " Dead or alive."