A/n: I spent a lot of time on this chapter (believe it or not). Please review it sucks when only 1 person does, even though I'm grateful for that one.
Camille
"Are you Craig?" I asked a tall boy with curly hair. I'd seen him around school but had never actually talked to him, that is, until now.
"Yeah, I'm Craig. You're..."
"Camille. I just transferred here about a month ago."
"Oh, ok, hi. What's up?" He asked cheerfully.
"I was wondering—"
"Could we walk and talk, I'm gonna be late for science." He asked closing his locker. I nodded and followed him down the hall.
"I have a question...about a girl you once went out with."
"Ashley?"
"No, Manny." Craig stopped walking. His cheerful expression was gone and had been taken place by a solemn one.
"How do you know about Manny?" He asked me. How did I know about? That was a stupid question.
"How—how do I know about her? Craig she's like my best friend, I see her almost everyday." He gave me a funny look.
"Look, I don't know—"
"I just wanted to tell you how sorry she is for having the abortion, she told me all about it yesterday—" Craig grabbed my arm and pushed me into the janitors closet. What the fuck? I thought he was going to lock me in there until he went in as well and closed the door behind me.
"You're like a psychic right? Or a median?"
"What? No I can't see the dead or anything. Why are we in here? Let me out Craig."
"Not until you tell me how you've supposedly talked to Manny."
"She's around school all the time. I mean, she skips class a lot, but she's cool. You should know, I mean you did go out with her. And why is everyone so shook up when I mention Manny? Emma had a temper tantrum and now you're looking at me like I'm crazy."
"Camille, did anyone tell you?" He asked me worriedly. Tell me? Tell me what?
"No, tell me what?" I asked slowly.
"Manny, she—she committed suicide two years ago." I gasped. No, no this wasn't real, he was playing a joke on me, everyone was.
"No. She talks to me, everyday. She's around this school all the time."
"Are you trying to tell me Manny's ghost is haunting Degrassi?"
"Not her ghost damnit! Manny is not dead."
"Yes she is! Camille I loved her, I'd know if the girl I loved was dead or not."
"Prove it!" He grabbed me once again. He opened the door and pulled me towards the main office.
"I need to see the 2003-2004 yearbook please." He told the secretary.
"Is there a reason, Mr. Manning? And why are you two out of class?"
"Yearbook! Please." Startled, the secretary dug through a cabinet and pulled out the yearbook I'd seen at Emma's. Craig grabbed the yearbook and started flipping through the pages. What is he looking for? I wondered.
"Here." He pointed it out. Craig wasn't joking, he was...dead serious. There was a picture of Manny.
"In memory of Manuella Santos, you're with the angels now." I read. I looked at Craig, who looked at me. Oh my goodness, this can't be—no it is. I can't believe it.
"She...I...I've talked, we've talked. This is so surreal." I said sitting down in the nearest chair. Craig sat beside me, not breaking his gaze.
"So you're a median?" He asked. I nodded no.
"Not me, my grandmother and my mom, well my mom was. I guess, I just never thought I was like them, I never thought...I never." He nodded. I can't believe this.
"Is everything ok Mr. Manning, Ms. Van Zandt?"
"Van Zandt? Are related to—"
"Liberty, yes, but that's the least of my worries right now. Can I make a phone call?" I asked.
"Is it an emergency?" The secretary asked. I nodded.
"It's urgent that I speak to my grandmother." She handed me the phone and I dialed my Grandma's number.
"Grandma?"
"Cammy? Is that you?" My Grandma asked.
"Yes. I have a problem, Grams."
"What is it, baby?"
"I know a dead girl. Grams, this girl she talks to me, but she's—she's not living."
"Baby! You know the what the means?" She asked excitedly.
"Why are you happy about this? Grandma! This is bad, I don't want to see dead people!"
"But you can. Honey there's nothing I can do about it. Tell Manny I said hi though. Bye baby." It took me about ten seconds until I realized that Grandma probably already knew about Manny.
"Camille! Hey!" I turned to find Manny walking towards me as if nothing was wrong.
"You lied to me Manny! You made me think you were normal. That you were my friend, but no, you lied to me. Why didn't you tell me you were dead?!" I yelled. Her eyes grew wide.
"I'm sorry." She said quietly.
"I can't believe this. I'm talking to a ghost, fucking great!"
"Camille, don't act like this." The office door opened. Craig.
"She's here isn't she?" He asked me looking around. I nodded.
"Manny, why are you doing this? Why are you here?" He asked.
"Because I need closure." She said. Not like he could hear her.
"She wants closure." I said.
"But why here? Manny, why are you haunting me? What do you want? If you're looking for help, you've come to the wrong person." I said to her.
"No, you're the right person, Camille. You can help me." She said walking away. I started to grab her, but she disappeared.
"Manny, please say something!" Craig yelled.
"She's gone Craig." I said quietly.
{later that night}
"My mom wanted to make sure you're ok." Liberty said coming towards me. After the incident with Manny I'd called my aunt and explained everything to her and she picked me up early from school.
"I'm ok, I guess. Sit down, Lib." I motioned for her to sit on my bed.
"I've been thinking about how life is too short. I mean, you never know what could happen. I just don't want us to go our entire lives hating each other Liberty. We're family, and I think we should start acting like it."
"You're right. In all honesty, I don't hate you Cammy. I've just always been jealous of you. You've got everything. You're rich, beautiful, smart, funny. I always wanted to be you. I'm sorry." She said.
"Lib, you act like you're not beautiful and smart and funny."
"I'm not beautiful. Look at you, you're skinny, you don't have to wear glasses, you're hair is always perfect; every outfit you put on looks great on you. You're everything I'm not."
"That's not true. Hon, we're family, we all look good! You can get contacts and straighten you're hair, but you'll always be beautiful Lib." Liberty was so insecure about her looks, but she was really beautiful, and I loved the color of her eyes. I just had to prove to her that what I said was true.
"I can't believe it. It's Friday night and we're sitting here in my room doing nothing, I have an idea." I said grabbing Lib's hand and running downstairs. After a little persuasion I got my Uncle to let me borrow his car and we were off. I stopped by Dee Dee's, a beauty supply store and I got some essentials, then we went to the mall and I picked Liberty out a couple of really cute outfits. When we got back home I rushed her up to my room and started the transformation of Liberty Van Zandt.
"Cammy! It's burning!" Liberty yelled. I'd put relaxer in her hair and now she was complaining.
"Come on you big baby." Laughing I rinsed out the chemicals in her hair. After I blow-dried, trimmed, and curled her hair I started applying a little make-up.
"I don't wear make-up."
"You do now." I said applying a little eyeliner and mascara to her eyes.
"Now what kinda of lip gloss?" I asked myself.
"That honey colored one looks nice." Liberty said.
"You're right!" I went towards her with the gloss but she moved away.
"I'll put it on thanks."
"No! You're not allowed to look in the mirror until the makeover is complete!" I dug through the Macy's bag and pulled out the velour mini skirt and matching jacket.
"Got a wifebeater?" I asked.
"Yeah." I smiled.
"Good, good." Liberty went into my walk-in closet to change into her new outfit.
"Ok, close your eyes." Excitedly I covered my eyes waiting for Liberty to come out.
"Ta da!" She yelled. I'm a fucking genius, it was official. Liberty looked great. I took the sheet off my mirror and let her look at herself.
"Oh my God! Cammy I love you!" She said giving me one of the biggest hugs I'd ever received.
"No prob, I just wanted to prove to you that you really are beautiful." I grabbed my brush and put it up against my mouth as if it were a microphone.
"Tell me Ms. Van Zandt, you've gotten a makeover, you've gotten your confidence back, what are you gonna do next?" I pointed the brush towards her.
"I'm going to Disney World!" We collapsed on my bed laughing our asses off.
"Camille! Liberty! Could you keep it down! Henry is trying to—" My Aunt Felicia stopped in mid-sentence.
"Liberty? You look like a different person! Cammy did you do this?" She asked. I nodded.
"You look great baby." Aunt Fe said.
"But still, keep it down, Henry's asleep in the other room." We both nodded.
"Lib?" I whispered.
"Yeah?" She whispered back.
"You're one beautiful dork." We muffled our laughter.