Chapter 3: The Coldest Touch
I wake up to the sight of moonlight shining in on the floor of my room. Ahhh, so nice, a perfect time for a run. 4:00 in the morning, is a time my dad would disapprove of but who cares. I hop out of bed put on a pair of running shorts, a sports bra and shirt, grab my running shoes, and head downstairs for some breakfast. Gabe is already down there staring intently at a word search puzzle that I started from yesterday's paper.
"Having some trouble there buddy?"
"I can't get over how people do these. It just looks like a jumbled mess of letters." His eyebrows furrow together in a look of even more frustration.
"Exactly, that's what its supposed to look like." I grab a yogurt and a banana and begin eating so I can start my run.
"Are you going somewhere Amelia?"
"Yeah, On a run. Want to join me?" You know you've really gone over the edge of the cliff when you're inviting a ghost to run with you. But Gabe is cool and I wouldn't mind his presence there. Actually, I want him to come with me.
"You know, I'm okay actually. I think I'll just stay here." I'm slightly disappointed that he doesn't want to join me, but I hide it easily. Disappointment is not something that is new to me. But I was kind of hoping he would say yes. Every moment I spend with almost makes up for every moment I've been alone.
"Alright, suit yourself. I'll be back soon." And with that, I exit the house ad take off down the street.
GABE P.O.V.
Yes, I want to go with her but I don't want her to know that. See, in my observations of people throughout the years I noticed that its better for girls to think you don't want to do something. But I didn't say I wouldn't follow her...there is no way in hell I'm just gonna it here and wait. That word search would drive me crazy. I wait about thirty seconds before exiting the house after her. I can see her up ahead, bouncing up and down to the rhythm of her run. Is it creepy that I'm following her? No, I do this all the time. Just follow her, and watch her from distance. Oh god, that is so weird.
I follow her like this for about 15 minutes before I notice that a car has followed her. Usually it's not something I would be worried about but this guys isn't searching for houses. I speed up my pace and get about 30 feet away from Amelia, when she stops, and walks towards a park that's just off the path. I do the same, keeping the same amount of space between us. The car stops also when it gets to the park and I see the driver get out. It's a man, with meeker build, but a good six feet tall. He silently walks up behind Amelia, and snatches her in his arms. He puts a cloth ever her mouth and she stops fighting him. How could se not here that? She must have her headphones in. Dammit it Amelia! I don't think twice before rushing over to help her.
With all the force I can gather I push the man away, and it works. Although all he'll feel is a cold wind push him away. He drops Amelia and I bend over to gather her into my arms, not knowing f it will work. Her body is limp and am easily able to pick her up. I may be a ghost bur I'm real enough to do things others can do. I have the ability to control things like that. The man who attacked her is getting irritated, I can tell and looks confused, probably because this girl is floating. We're going to have to get out of here and soon. I close my eyes and imagine we are in the living room of her house and when I open my eyes, there we are.
The couch isn't probably the most comfortable place for her to be so I run her upstairs and place her on her bed. I make sure she's still breathing and has a pulse before going downstairs and grabbing some Tylenol and ice, since she'll more than likely have a headache. And with that I make my way downstairs and wait for her to wake. Perhaps I'll try that word search.
AMELIA P.O.V.:
I wake up once again to the feeling of cold ice on my head. Not that I remember much of what happened this time. I remember going out for a run this morning, and then being attacked? It's a fuzzy memory, but still there. And then I remember being in Gabe's arms before completely losing consciousness.
I try to get up out of bed, but fail miserably, sending my body falling to the floor just as Gabe walks in. He rushes over immediately and I can see the concern written clearly all over his face. How embarrassing...
"Amelia! Are you alright? You should probably stay in bed after what happened today." He helps me back into bed and under the covers.
"You followed me this morning Gabe. Didn't you," I don't even wait for him to respond. "Why didn't you just say you wanted to come with me?" I wonder if he can actually understand me, I'm mumbling so badly.
"I-I well that's beside the point. What matter is that your ok. Do you remember anything?" I've never had anyone care for me so much…
"Uhm…Some but not all."
"Probably a good thing…..and Amelia? I'm sorry I didn't just tell you upfront about wanting to come. I know I should have."
"It's fine. I'm used to people not telling me things. I just assumed you didn't want to be seen wit-" His eyes turn cold at my remark and he gets up to leave.
"Wait Gabe, please. I'm sorry. Ugh I can't do anything right. Things are going good for a little while and then I always say something that messes them up. And look here I am doing it again," I can feel the tears begin to fill up in my eyes. "I wouldn't be surprised if you just walked out the door and left me here forever…friendl-"
"You think I would leave and not ever talk to you ever again because you said one thing that only kind of offended me. Stop feeling sorry for yourself Amelia." I don't even bother to stop them from rolling down my checks now. Why am I even crying? He just said he wasn't leaving.
"I'm not feeling sorry for myself. It's the truth. Y-you know I did have friends at some point. I don't tell people about them though because they told me not to….because they were embarrassed of me…"
"They don't really seem very good friends."
"I know, I know. I see that now, but back then I was so desperate to be liked and to have friends that it didn't matter if they didn't like me. I just needed some one to like me besides my parents. Someone who would make me feel less awkward, and weird, and more attractive, and liked…" I trail off and Gabe makes his way back over to the bed and sits on the edge.
"You don't need people like that to see how special you are. I mean, christ! You're the first person who has been able to see me that hasn't run away and left. If it makes you feel any better, you're the first friend I've ever had too. And in the few weeks that I've known you, I feel like I've known you forever." I smile at that thought and wipe away my tears.
"Yeah it does. Thanks Gabe…Come on, help me out of this bed. I'm not disabled. I am most certainly not spending anymore time here." he laughs at my sudden burst of energy and helps me up.
"By the way, how are you able to do that?"
"Do what?" He looks at me confused.
"Well the first time I grid to touch you, all I got was air. But this morning and now you were able to touch me and hold me."
"Oh..I don't know. It's always been something I've been able to do. Go back and forth between having real substance, I guess and not."
"Oh…I see" I don't really but I can tell he doesn't know how else to explain it. So I'll live with that answer.
"By the way…while you were sleeping I may have finished you puzzle…I hope you're not too upset. But I couldn't help it! First I found one word, and then another, and another, and before I knew it I was done! It was the most fun I've ever had with words." He seems so excited and I'm not really upset, I mean it's just a word search.
"No, no. I don't mind at all. I have a to-" Before I can finish my sentence I trip and fall causing both of us to crash to the ground.
I land with Gabe below me and our faces just inches apart. His eyes bore into mine and suddenly I drop the remaining room(where he was laying) of the floor.
"Uoof. Wow gave you really know how to be a gentleman and stop a fall." I turn around from my position on the floor to find him standing behind me with his face beet red. I almost burst out laughing at the sight of him being so flustered.
"I-I…I…uhm… yeah. Your welcome?" Aw, he doesn't know what to say. But to be honest I'm using my cockiness to cover my feelings. Obviously better than he is.
"I'm being sarcastic Gabe. Now, will you help me up?"
"Erhm…Oh yeah, of course." He extends a hand, which I so gratefully take, and pulls me up. We then continue our journey to do something…I don't know what.
GABE P.O.V.
Way to go Gabe! Not only did you make a fool of yourself but now you've bona and made everything awkward! Or maybe not. I mean she hasn't said anything…but she hasn't, not said anything either. It could just be though because she's reading right now. I don't know…Maybe. Or maybe because she's thinking about it too. Ugh, thinking about what? Nothing happened!. But something could have…and almost did. She didn't even look phased though…Ugh I don't know.
Boy she does look good right now though. Her air just falling over her shoulders that way. And how into her book she looks! I don't know if she notices but she's a very animated reader. It's like every time the character stays something she thinks is funny or doesn't like she like, she shows it. Wow…and if only I could tell her that thing I figured out while she was sleeping…but i can't now without making everything weird. Not until I know she feels the same way.
Agh Gabe! Stop staring she'll think your even weirder…which is pretty hard considering the fact that you dead…
"Is my reading distracting you Mr. Goodman?" Her voice seems so businessy, but I can tell she's messing with me.
"Huh?…Oh no. I was just….uhm…noticing that your hair was dark brown." Wow, you really are good my friend…
"Hmm, interesting. And you just discovered this now?"
"….yes?" She pauses from her reading and looks up at me, the amusement clearly shown in her eyes.
"….Alright. If you say so. But you look bored. Shall we do something? How about a movie. There's one I brought with me that has Demi Moore in it. I've never seen it but she's one of my favorite actresses."
"Uhm..yeah sure. sounds gre-good. Sounds good."
"Alright cool!"
She turns on the movie and we watch for about 45 minutes before I can feel the tension. But whether it's because the movie is about the relationship between a ghost and a girl or if it' because there's a ghost in it, I can't tell. But she stands up and turns it off.
"Why'd you do that? We were ju-"
"Gabe don't pretend like you were okay with that. It was awkward and I'm sorry. I should have noticed from the title what it would be about."
"Amelia, it didn't offend me or anything. I mean it's not like being a ghost is a nationality. But I do agree it was awk-….I mean…never mind." Dammit! Why did I say that?
"Wait Gabe. What were you gonna say?" Ugh….looks like I can't back myself out of this corner. I may as well say it now.
"Well I thought it was awkward because…well because. I have feelings for you."