"Hey Cole! I didn't see you out in the hall." The boy glanced up to see his best friend, Ethan standing by his desk. Ethan wasn't really Cole's best friend, the boy honestly didn't have one, but he was the closest thing to it. The red-haired freckled boy somehow always knew how to make him smile, despite the sourest of moods. "What's wrong?" He asked, dropping in the desk across from Cole. "I got a detention from Mrs. Smith." Cole muttered, deciding not to mention the part about being picked on by Tommy. Ethan made a face, "That old bag? Don't worry 'bout her, she looks like a scarecrow, and sounds like one to." Cole could feel his frown begin to transform into a small smile. Ethan must have seen the smile to, because he drew his face in, vaguely looking like the teacher. His voice elevated to a screech, as he turned to face Cole. "Mr. Sear, detention! Detention I say!" Cole's smile grew to an outright grin, "You sound to much like her!" Ethan beamed back, "I know, isn't it great?" He turned to the door where a hand full of students were wandering in, and picked on a small girl in the back. "Detention Ms. Beth Lark!" The girl laughed, deciding to play along, "For what, Mrs. Smith?" Ethan thrived off the laughter he heard behind his back, "For breaking one of our THOUSAND of rules! You know which one, DON'T you Ms. Lark?" Beth opened her mouth to reply when their teacher strolled in the class, an amused smile on his face. "Good morning class. Let's stop impressions of certain teachers and take our seats." Ethan blushed slightly, yet not as much as Beth, and scurried to his seat.

Cole sunk back down in his seat, shooting a silent laugh at his friend as their teacher prepared himself for the day's lesson. He watched as his teacher, Mr. Rama, moved about his desk, collecting a textbook in his arms. "Okay class, why don't we start with some history today?" He said, dropping the book on his podium. Cole pulled out his history book with a disgusted sigh, it was the most boring class. "Anyone remember what we talked about yesterday?" Mr. Rama asked, clasping his hands together and looking over the heads of his students. Cole sunk lower in his seat, hoping reverently not to be called on. He knew the answer, but he was still very shy.

"Well, Lisa, why don't you tell us?" Cole released his breath as another student was picked on. Lisa would know the answer, she always did. Cole looked out the corner of his eye and saw Ethan had his head down against the desk, eyes closed. Cole pulled out a pencil and began twirling it in his fingers as yet another history lecture began.

The bell rang shrilly, a welcome sound to student's ears that had long since grown tired of hearing their teacher's voice. Cole stood up, stretching his stiff muscles. "Come on, Cole! If we don't hurry, we'll be picked last for dodge ball!" Ethan said, snatching Cole's arm and dragging him out of the classroom. Cole allowed himself to be drug out to the playground where teams for the daily game of dodge ball were already being assembled. There were two captains: Greg, a sandy-haired boy with bright freckles and Luke, an Asian child that had begun to befriend Cole. "Everyone get in line!" Greg was yelling, roughly pushing the players into an uneven line. Cole and Ethan quickly joined the line as Greg and Luke positioned themselves in front. Luke eyed the line, before saying, "I'll take Jack."

"Blake."

"Tommy."

"Tyler."

The two continued to call out names as the lines behind them grew. Cole felt his stomach tighten as the line grew shorter, but he remained. There were still seven left…five…four…and now only three. Ethan had been called to Luke's team, which Cole hoped he would join. There was a girl named Angie left along with Ryan. Greg was eyeing the three, then with a nasty grin at Cole, proclaimed, "Angie." She grinned, scurrying to join his team. Ryan and Cole exchanged nervous glances, neither wanted to be the last one picked. Luke looked torn, not wanting to make either boy suffer the humiliation of being chosen last. "Ryan," he mumbled, looking very apologetic to Cole. He felt his stomach sink as his cheeks turned red. "Oh great, we got the freak." Greg said loudly to Tommy so that everyone head. Cole's head dropped as his eyes burned holes in the ground. Slowly, he shuffled over to his teammates, cheeks red with embarrassment and eyes wet with angry tears that would not be shed.

The game went very slowly for Cole, who sat on the bench when his team was up. His head remained down the whole time, angry thoughts running through his head. ~I wish I wasn't a freak. I wish I didn't see ghosts. I wish Dr. Crow were here still. ~ Cole thought miserably, as more wishes flooded his mind. Finally the whistle blew signaling the end of recess. Cole sighed, trudging across the field toward the school. Ethan yelled at him to wait up, but the boy just pretended not to hear him. Even Ethan wouldn't be able to make him smile; he didn't want to smile anyway. He glanced up as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. There she was, the girl he had seen on his way to school.

She was standing outside of the fence, her fingers laced through the holes. Her brown eyes were focused solely on him; seemingly look straight through to his sole. Cole shuttered, but found his feet moving towards her anyway. Their eyes locked, her holding a sense of urgency, his a sense of fear. He was nearly to the fence when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He jumped, whirling around to see Ethan looking at his confusedly. "Where you going, Cole? Recess is over, we have to get back in school." Cole nodded slowly, his heart racing, "Yeah . . ." He glanced over his shoulder to look at the girl, but she was gone. He blinked, looking at the surrounding area, but there was no sign of her. "Yeah, you're right. Let's go."