A/N: I'm pretty sure you get the picture with the disclaimer by now. And as an added note, I am so sorry for the delay in update for this story. School amongst other things have been sort of hectic for me lately, and I've been kind of stressing, with no real time, or muse for the story. But, here comes another chapter! Thank you all for your patience.

"This is it."

As they approached a large house on the corner of the street, Riley spoke. Melinda glanced at it quickly, before pulling in to the curb and parking nearby. As soon as she stopped the car, Riley disappeared. The ghost appeared at the door of the house, looking restless. Melinda sighed, opened her car door, and got out. It closed with a slam behind her as she began to climb the set of stairs that led to the doorway.

"Nice place," Melinda commented once she had reached Riley.

Riley didn't reply to this remark. "Can we just get this over with?"

Melinda surveyed her carefully for a moment, her expression unreadable, before nodding and turning to ring the doorbell.

For a few moments, there was no answer. And then, just as Melinda was about to suggest that he wasn't home, the door opened slowly to reveal a man. He was tall, thin, and muscular with dark brown eyes and hair. He surveyed Melinda for a moment, before speaking dryly. "Can I help you?"

"Uh, yes," Melinda chose her words slowly. "You're Matt Fullard?"

He nodded, looking slightly confused. "And you are…?"

Melinda blinked. "Oh! Sorry, I'm Melinda Gordon." She said, smiling slightly as she held out her hand.

Matt regarded this for a moment, before shaking her hand tersely. He looked her over once, almost in a suspicious manner, before sighing. "Look, if you're here to try to sell me something—"

"No!" Melinda put in quickly, shaking her head. "It's not that. It's…well, this is sort of hard to explain." She paused. "You and Riley…Riley Holt, were close?" It wasn't really a question, but it came out sounding like one.

"Yeah…she was my fiancée. Why, were you a friend of hers? Or are you a reporter?" Matt responded. That last note was edged with irritation.

Melinda hesitated. And…here it comes. "Well, actually, you could say that I…am a friend of Riley's." Friend. For lack of a better word, it seemed.

"Oh, real subtle." Riley interjected under her breath, but Melinda chose to ignore this.

Matt looked skeptical now, almost wary. His eyebrows rose. "Uh…you're aware that Riley is dead?" He answered rather bluntly.

More hesitation. At last, Melinda cast an almost worried glance at Riley. Matt followed her gaze, but, seeing nothing, he returned it to her, confused. But before he could ask, Melinda had turned back to him. "Can I come in for a moment?" She asked quickly.

Now it was Matt's turn to hesitate. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Who are you?"

"I-…no one special. I'm just…Melinda Gordon. I own an antique shop in Grandview." She answered warily, her voice softening now.

"So you are trying to sell something?"

Melinda frowned slightly. "No. The thing is…" She paused, wondering how to put this. "I have this gift. I can see…spirits. Earth-bound spirits who haven't crossed over yet."

Matt looked even more skeptical now. "Ghosts, you mean? Yes, I'm sure you can." The words had a cold, sarcastic edge to them.

Well, they're perfect for each other, I'll give them that. Melinda thought as she tried to hold back her growing irritation. "Riley's here…right beside me now." She added, meeting Matt's gaze directly.

He rolled his eyes. "Well, you've got originality, I'll give you that. Was the candy-selling career track just a bit too boring for you?"

"Told you he wasn't going to like it." Riley warned quietly, her green gaze switching from Matt to Melinda. "Listen; tell him that I can see right through his little act. Whenever he's in pain, there's a light that goes right out of his eyes. I told him so, too, at his dad's funeral."

Melinda, for once, grateful towards the ghost, glanced at her again before fixing her light brown eyes on Matt. "She says that she can see right through you, and that the light goes out of your eyes when you're grieving. She told you that at your father's funeral."

The man seemed unresponsive at first. He avoided Melinda's gaze, a tense silence only following her words.

Melinda glanced at Riley, who frowned slightly and gave a tentative shrug. She sighed. After years of doing this, she could tell when the truth wasn't going over well. "Erm…Mr.Fullard?" Tentatively, Melinda tried him for a response once again. But Matt was shaking his head now, turning back to her with an angered expression. Melinda's brown eyes narrowed in confusion, but before she could speak again, he beat her to it.

"No…no, I don't know how you're doing this, or why. Do think it's funny? Is this some twisted little mind game?" He snarled, taking a step forward.

Instinctively, Melinda took a step back, eying Matt warily. "You don't understand-"

"No, you don't understand." Matt had cut her off. "You…you don't know anything about us. I don't know what you're trying to pull, or how you know these things, but…" He stopped when he realized that he had seemed to have lost Melinda's attention, and that the young woman was instead staring at an unseen point beside her.

"So this is it? He's going to get all 'screw-the-world', he's going to just give up because I died?" Riley had spoken up again, her green eyes burning with undisguised fury as she glared at Matt, who by now had stopped speaking, although he too fumed.

Melinda opened her mouth to speak, closed it again, and turned helplessly back to Matt. She was being put in the middle of something she didn't fully understand, and it didn't feel all that great.

Matt met her gaze, slight confusion added to his expression now. He glanced from Melinda to the spot she had been staring at uncertainly. "What…?" He watched as she winced, apparently reluctant about something. In any case, she didn't answer him, with another unsure glance at…well, whatever she was looking at. For a moment, Matt faltered. If this woman was lying, then she was making a damn good actress. Maybe there was truth in what she said. Or maybe she was just crazy. He gave himself a mental shake. It wasn't true. It couldn't be true. Riley was dead. And death was the end.

"What is it?" He persisted, the sharpness of his tone coming back now with his impatience.

Melinda let out a sigh of seeming resignation. "Riley is mad at you. She thinks you gave up on your life because of her death." She let on at last, growing more uncomfortable by the moment.

Matt blinked. He should have expected this. But even so, he found his own anger boiling inside of him, not directed at Melinda, but at Riley. "Oh, cut the drama!" He spat, almost believing that his old fiancée was actually there. "You just love flattering yourself, don't you? The world doesn't stop for your death, Riley. My world doesn't."

Riley gave another classic eye-roll. "That was cold! It shouldn't stop, but you're letting it, Matty. And…you're being a real asshole." She scoffed as an after-thought, a slight smirk playing across her lips. But Melinda didn't seem to share her amusement. Her eyes widened slightly, and she gave Riley a warning glance.

"I can't tell him that!" The young woman hissed in a whisper, with a fleeting glance at Matt. He only raised his eyebrows in that skeptical manner he had. His 'moment of madness' seemed to be over.

"Don't bother. I don't have time for this crap." Glaring at Melinda, Matt turned, and proceeded to slam the door in her face.

"Wait!" Her protest was in vain, for the door had already slammed shut. Melinda let out a frustrated sigh and stared at the ground for a moment. Behind her, Riley seemed unphased, her expression a grimace. She let Melinda stand there in silence for a long moment. Although the ghost hated to admit it even to herself, she felt rather guilty for her fiancé's behavior.

"…He's a charmer, that Matthew." Riley remarked sarcastically at last. It was her way of trying to comfort the other woman, in spite of the situation.

But Melinda only sighed. If she had actually heard the spirit, she gave no sign. Instead, she lifted her head again, expression determined as her brown eyes bored into the door.

"Mr. Fullard!" She knocked briskly, her voice raised so that Matt would be able to hear her. "I know this is coming as a shock, and I have to right to…barge in like this. I wouldn't, but Riley really needs you. Deep inside, we all have to believe in these things. I don't want money, or anything else. I'm just trying to help your fiancée…and you." She paused. There was no response or sign of movement from inside the house. Melinda didn't even know if Matt had heard her. But either way, she went on.

"All I'm asking for is a chance. Riley needs you." This last statement was softened, and followed by…well, what do you know, more silence. Seeming defeated at last, Melinda sighed and seemed about to leave…when the door creaked open a crack. And then, gradually, Matt stepped outside once again. He sighed briskly.

"Thank you." Riley spoke softly to Melinda, who only gave a half-smile in return, although her eyes didn't leave Matt.

"What if…I did believe all of this? I'm not saying I do, but I'm giving you my interest." Each word that came from the man seemed reluctant almost pained, as if his pride was being wounded by what he was saying. "Ask her, then. Ask Riley…how we met."

Melinda turned to Riley, and narrowed her eyes slightly, beckoning the ghost to answer.

A/N: Alright, hope you all liked it! I thought up several ways to end this chapter, and decided that this worked the best. Awaiting your reviews!

-FP.