Strawberry ice cream wasn't the only important thing on Seth's mind. Before he became a ghost, Seth also had personal demons. However, doesn't every person alive have them? His demons made him the person he was in 1917. Growing up he never liked the idea of being spoiled, in fact he resented it completely. Though he had his reasons at home as to why he kept the kitchen maid hopping with his demands.

See, Seth's last days were not as simple for a rich kid. His mother had come down with a severe Illness that comes and goes. Things weren't looking up for her so far. Seth, well he still had faith for a good turn around, no matter how bad it was. The main problem for his change in attitude as of late was his father and the kitchen maid. Seth might be a tad hot-headed but not stupid; he knew that his father was being unfaithful behind his mother's back. It's not like his mother was dead.

Seth was passing his pen knuckle to knuckle gleaming out of the schoolhouses window with a look of dismay. Everything around him including the class instructor and the world outside silenced. His eyes would dart occasionally on a student at the head of the class as Seth was seated in the back. Her name was Clara Ross. She was writing down notes. It was funny how her long loosely braided ponytail moved about as she wrote something down getting her thick hair out of the way.

Yes, he had other friends, though Clara was the one who deeply understood him all his life. Well, since both were five. They counted on each other. As friends came and gone, she stayed. He would reciprocate as well with her. It was perfectly mutual between them, though sadly it hadn't been that way for weeks. It wasn't Clara's fault. Seth had pushed her away when things began to get bad. It was when Seth suspected the affair his father had been having before his mother fell ill.

It was unwise of him to let her go like that. He just didn't know how to tell Clara. He missed her so much. It sounded distant, but Seth could hear his name being said. Clara looks at Seth intently. She raises her brow. He heard his name again. He was brought back to the realization that he was in a classroom. His classmates were looking at him from both sides. The startle made the pen he was flicking back and forth drop from his hand onto the desk. The instructor, Mr. Fletcher gawked at Seth. "Seth, are you still with us?"

There were a few giggles that sounded in the room. Clara did not; instead, she had an expression of concern. Seth took his attention from Clara taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry Sir, what was the question again?" Seth asked.

Mr. Fletcher straightened his glasses. He cleared his throat. "What is the major conflict in Beowulf?"

No time passed at all for Seth to answer the question. "Well, there are three main conflicts in the poem, one being Grendel's domination at Heorot Hall, Grendel's mother wanting to avenge his death after he was slain, and lastly the dragon's vengeance after his treasure was stolen."

Mr. Fletcher appeared pleased that his mustache lifted. Seth thought it could've been a smile hiding under his instructor's large amount of mustache hairs. "Just the answer I was looking for." He looked around at the previous students he'd asked for the same answer. "What's all the pouting for, write that down."

The students took up their pens and wrote down what Seth had said. Seth diverted his glance back on Clara. Clara sat sideways in her chair still focused on him. Seth could feel the sadness burning in her eyes. It told him she was missing him as well.

Seth lifted his pen and wrote, "Let's meet after class?"

After Seth was finished, he showed Clara his note. Clara gave a half grin and nodded. After that she put her attention forward again. Seth, he went back into silence but stared forward for the rest of class.

The instructor was at a loss of patience. "I'm having a strong inkling that some of you are not putting any effort into today's lessons. We're done for today. We'll pick everything back up again on Monday. Go and enjoy your weekend." Mr. Fletcher rolled his eyes as though he remembered he had to grade papers.

There was a great amount of shuffling in the room as everyone gathered their textbooks and other belongings to get out and start their weekend fast. Seth took his time getting his textbooks when he looked up, he caught Clara walking out with another guy's arm around her. It was Anthony Thomas. Seth reached for his hat and placed it on his head before walking down the aisle between desks.

"Hold it, Seth."

Seth felt Mr. Fletcher's hand clamp down on his shoulder. Seth bit down on his bottom lip harshly as he cast a glance outside to find Clara. She was already walking across the street with Anthony. Seth was almost out of the schoolhouse. He could make a dash for it however, he got a grip and turned to face his teacher.

"Did you see and write down the assignment given out today on the blackboard?"

Seth tilted his head to see in big lettered words 'ENGLISH EXAM MONDAY!'

Seth chuckled. "There's no need to reassess me about that Mr. Fletcher. That handwriting is massive enough that anyone can confuse for a distress signal."

Mr. Fletcher sighed. It wasn't a relieving sigh; it was one of those sighs of disapproval. He pushed his glasses back up his nose when it got unsteady. "Seth, I'm aware your home life isn't going well. The way you've been cutting up and falling behind these past few weeks has gotten me, worried. Your friend Clara expressed concern for you with me as well." He paused before continuing. "It's not that you're doing horribly with lesson work, you're not alert anymore. If you want to take a break after the exams, I'm offering you'd do that. You can always get caught up. You're a smart kid."

Seth had nothing to say nor had anything to think of what he was being told. It wasn't a subject he wanted to talk about. All Seth was thing about was catching up with Clara.

"Well, why don't you go ahead? I need to grade some papers." Mr. Fletcher walked around his desk and sat down with the papers in hand.

"Have a good one Mr. Fletcher." Seth backed out of the room and couldn't hear if his teacher had said anything else.

Seth stepped out to a clear and brisk day. It was in the beginning of April. The leaves on the trees were starting to grow again after the long winter. Things were green and it was just turning noon. Most of the adult men were at work. He could see younger people around him in the small town and women shopping, walking their dogs or smaller children as he was dodging a couple of slow-moving cars to get across the street.

Seth stood in a courtyard that had large buildings connected around it and a botanic garden in the works. It had a college, church, the courthouse, and the music hall. He stayed on the patio as the rest of the ground was dirt and soil for the garden preparation. if it weren't for that Seth would get through the courtyard quicker.

"Seth!"

That was when the church bell rang. Seth could barely hear his name, but he knew who it was. Just looking at her walking to him brought a sense of peace but was gone in seconds when an unpleasant thought came to him.

"You couldn't have picked a better time to call my name." Seth joked.

Clara stood her ground a few feet away from Seth. He knew that she would still be mad at him. However, she wasn't going to talk about it. Instead, she nervously twirled her fingers.

"How's your mother?" Clara asked after an awkward silence.

"She took another turn for the worse." Seth loosened his arms. His right hand displayed by his side hoping that Clara would take it like she would before when they comforted each other. She didn't. Seth saw that Clara glanced at his hand, but her eyes went back on him.

"I'm so sorry Seth." Clara hugged her books tightly to her chest. "Maybe she will make another recovery. Your mother is a strong woman."

Seth broke eye contact and winced. His eyes found hers again.

Anthony Thomas came up handing a soda pop bottle to Clara. "Here's what was asked my lady." He turns to Seth. "What is he doing here?"

Seth smirked. "What's wrong Anthony? You don't think this town is big enough for the two of us?"

"I'm catching up with my friend, Anthony." Clara said calmly to try and break the tension.

Anthony had a vacant expression. He tossed a glance at Clara and back on Seth. "You think you're smart don't ya?"

Seth hoisted a brow with a furrowed look. "I'm sorry?"

Anthony cackles and Clara winced pushing her dark brown wispy bangs out of her face and behind an ear. She appeared annoyed turning her attention to something else.

"Let's see if you can answer this one like in class?" Anthony bites on his knuckle. He ponders a question to ask. It goes on longer than Seth and Clara would've anticipated.

"If that's all you've got, I hope it's rhetorical from here on out with you." Seth joked and winked with a cocky smile.

"Can't you two stop it?" Clara said with a hoarse whisper but assertive.

Seth knew Clara was right, he stepped away from Anthony, but Anthony shoves Seth off the patio into the soil but balanced himself from falling. Seth silently chuckles and steps up on the patio again.

"You think you're full of it but you're nothing but a simp Seth."

Seth covers his mouth with his hand playing as though he should feel embarrassed. "I'm the simp? I'm not the one with dirty trousers."

Anthony's eyes grew big, and he looks down.

That's when Seth used all the strength in him pushing Anthony off the patio and onto the dirt ground. Clara gasped. Seth could hear her, and he could feel Clara slap his arm.

Everyone that was around pointed, and belly laughed. Anthony clambers up dusting himself off as he jogged away. "My grandfather will hear of this!"

Seth huffs under his breath. "Go ahead. Wisenheimer."

"You do know you're going to get in trouble." Clara spouts.

"It's nothing my father can't fix."

Clara scoffs. "So, it's true then?"

Seth turns around and walks up to Clara gazing square into her eyes. "What is it that's true?" He asked in a confident manner with a side smirk.

Clara shakes her head unaffected by his intimidated stare. "The old Seth is gone." The smirk didn't wipe from Seth's face, he looked proud.

"It wasn't a compliment, Seth. You used to fight your own battles better than this."

Seth shrugged his shoulders. "My old man and Ant's family are always at each other's throat anyway. It really makes no difference when you think about it."

"I assume not. However, it's apparent you love adding the fuel to the fire." Her brows rose.

Seth cocked his head while planting his hands in his trouser pockets. "It was worth it. He deserved that."

He turned away. Seth wanted to walk away when a "Hey!" A demanding explanation came from Clara. He felt Clara's hand press around his wrist. "I am starting to get tired of you shutting me out. A lot of us are."

Without turning to look at Clara, Seth heaves. "Clara, understand that I've missed you so much. When I'm ready to talk about it, I will." He glanced at her.

Clara took a while to respond but she nods understandingly. Seth could see that Clara's eyes were swelling. She looked as if she were about to cry.

He knew she worried for him and cared a lot. Growing up with her it was what Clara was best at. She cared too much about everything. Seth wanted to tell her, very much everything. He was frightened of showing off his vulnerable side, but not to her. He couldn't keep it away from Clara most of their life together. In a crowd, he'd never think of being vulnerable.

Seth found himself changing his mind about walking away from Clara now. "Come on," Seth softly clasped his finger underneath Clara's eyelid where he saw a tear drop forming. "Let's go to our spot."

Clara knew what he meant. They had a secret meetup spot since they were young on the rocks near the towns' beach. She managed a smile. "Okay."

On the way the town lingered behind them, and they were on a gravel road in the woods. There were minimal cars that passed by a few times. Most of the time it was quiet, but they never minded. They always enjoyed the company of each other even when there was no subject of discussion. Clara drifted closer to Seth looking at him. Seth could see this in his peripheral sight. He grinned a little bit but tried to make it unnoticeable. Every time Clara looked away Seth would glance at her. Clara knew of this too.


Author's Note: This story wasn't meant to have more chapters. It was something I wrote a few years ago and found it on my computer when inspiration struck again. I will continue this so I will ready one last chapter or maybe two. I don't know yet. I hope you enjoy.