Chapter 7

It grips you, so hold me

It stains you, so hold me…

Kat was silent all the way home. From the way she tossed her stuff into the backseat, she was still mad from the unexpected visit by Stretch. Her irritation was made worse by the way her classmates commented on the 'good looking sub with the violet eyes.' Casper wisely didn't say a word, although his mind was full with questions. Did Stretch really take the job? Was it for the sole purpose of getting Kat? He had seen the way his uncle stared at them when Casper arrived, loathing in every glance. This was turning out to be one heck of a week.

Stinkie flew through the double doors, scaring some freshmen as he did so. Normally he would delight in their terror and milk it for all it was worth, but now he ignored them. Racing frantically through the empty hall he realized that he was too late, everyone had gone home. Stretch must've hitched back home. But the ghost did not give up; looking at a diagram of the school on the wall he made out the faculty and staff room and was off. Just as he appeared outside the door, it opened. Stinkie grimaced at the sight at his once dead brother, now very much alive.

"I see fleshie is in this season." Stinkie called, crossing his arms.

Stretch, or Jack, turned to face the ethereal being, smiling. Even though he was the oldest of the brothers, he didn't look it. His young face with the dark hair slightly spilling into his eyes gave him the appearance of a stranger. For a second, Stretch wondered if he had the right person.

"You must've mistaken me for Fatso, I don't follow fashion."

"But you like havin' a pulse." He replied back hotly.

"I don't have time to explain, I've got an appointment for a tux fitting at 3:30."

He walked calmly through the ectoplasm that was his youngest sibling. Stinkie caught up with him.

"But you're Stretch, one of da scariest ghost in da world! And ya turn all soft for a skinbag!" He asked horrified.

"Who gave you the right to lecture me death breath?" Jack stared coldly at him.

"I…" Stinkie was completely caught off guard by this vicious remark, being a fleshie

had screwed his brain up worst than he thought.

Casper wasn't used to doing homework. He found looking over textbooks and trying to figure out physic problems hurt his head, a lot. Kat had finished before the class was even over, so she was now trying to explain to him how much exactly the arrow would accelerate before it hit the target. In truth, he found it hard to pay attention, she had twisted a pencil in her hair to hold it up and a few strands had trickled to frame her face. He loved it when she concentrated, her eyes narrowed and she chewed a corner of her lip.

"…So it'll be 11.3 feet a second, if you round it." She said definitively.

He looked at her sort of lost.

"You know we can stop." She asked. "Or do you want to go on?"

"Only if you want to."

She thought for second, and then shut the books. "I say we break for dinner."

"I second that."

Casper stood to help her clear the table just as the front door banged open and a somewhat noxious voice called out, "I'm home Pretty Kitty!" Footsteps were coming closer to the kitchen door. Kat's eyes grew round and she hurriedly ducked into the pantry and slammed the door "I'm not here!" She called. The kitchen door squeaked opened, revealing Stretch, Jack, or whatever his name is, at the doorway. He had a gold package in his hands; he frowned as he stepped in.

"Where's Kitty?" He remarked, glancing around.

"She went to the store." Casper quickly remarked, thinking on the spur of the moment.

"I'll just have to give her this later then, tell her that I was looking for her."

"Ok, will do."

Jack and his parcel left. Sighing with relief, Kat emerged from the pantry.

"What did he want to give me?"

"I don't know it looked like some Christmas present. I hope he got it legally."

"Great."

Dinner continued on as planned. Jack didn't show up, but the rest of the inhabitants came in at different times. The last was a dejected looking Stinkie who slunk into a chair. He didn't stay long, and then he left, having no desire to remain at the table. He thought he would be glad to be free of Stretch's tyranny, but it felt so odd. No one here to yell at him or make fun of him now that Jack was chasing after Kat. He never understood fleshies, even when he was one.

Kat felt slightly bad about hiding from the amorous uncle, even though he was a stalker. She helped wash dishes and then went up to change into her nightclothes. As the bedroom door breezed open she noticed the desk lamp on, casting a shadowy mood in the room. The balcony doors were thrown open and gusts of cool sea air greeted her and tossed the billowy curtains. He was also on the balcony, his back to her, concentrating on the fading sunset.

"Stretch-" She started.

"Jack." He replied, now swiveling to face her.

"Jack. You can't keep doing this, showing up at my school, my room. I won't let you

stalk me like this."

"I just want to be near you."

He stood right in front of her now. She froze, stunned. Where was the conceited smirk? He was barely smiling from what she could tell in the semi-dark room. Kat couldn't think of a single thing to say. She noticed a box at the corner of her eye, perched on her dresser.

"I got you something." Now the grin returned.

Keeping an eye on him, Kat reached over and plucked up the carton from its resting place.

"Let me guess, rubber snakes are going to come flying out, right?" She asked, shaking it and putting it to her ear.

"That was your birthday last year, remember?" He laughed softly.

"Oh yeah, but they were real."

He looked hurt. "Only a couple of them were. Come on, you can trust me."

Against her better judgment, she sat upon her bed and opened it. She braced herself when she pushed aside the tissue paper. Instead of a wriggling mass of reptiles, a sea of blue silk met her eye. Uncertain, she gently grabbed the small straps and lifted it out. It had rhinestone broaches at the top below each strap and a heart shaped neckline, it flowed to the floor.

"I thought you would like it, since the one from Casper barely fits anymore."

"It's just as beautiful, thank you. Where did you find it?"

For a brief moment, she thought she saw a flicker of pain cross his face. His voice sounded thick with emotion.

"It belonged to someone special, she can't wear it anymore."

"I'm sorry."

He shook his head and stood, bending down to give her a kiss on the temple.

"I hope you think of me when you dance." He whispered into her ear.

He then left, leaving her with the dress clasped in her hands.