Chapter 13 is here! Exams are officially FINISHED:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D Next week of summer school, then one more week of school and I'm FREE!!! Thanks to you reviewers out there who have reviewed my story:)

Chapter 13: Thoughts and Feelings

Leila couldn't help it, but she got the feeling that someone was watching her. Every time she looked away, she felt eyes on her, and when she turned around, the feeling had left her, but not for long.

The girl looked out the window, ignoring the fact she had to keep away from it in case anyone saw her, and then the feeling came back. Leila shook her head. If only she wasn't the way she was now.

Leila closed her dark, violet eyes.

Anything, she thought to herself. I'll do anything to speak to Renatus again.

While Leila thought this over and over again, Arden continued to gaze at her, with Ralph on the floor and looking at the girl as well.

The flame-haired teen sighed, but not too loudly. He didn't want Leila to hear him. The girl's eyes remained closed.

Arden lied back in his seat. If only they were friends again. Just friends. Or maybe something more, perhaps . . .?

The teen shook his head at the thought. Ha! As if that would happen!

He sat up in his seat and looked at Leila, whose eyes were still closed. Without even thinking about it, Arden slowly reached his arm out and touched the still girl's pale cheek with his hand.

It was so cold, so cold that the flame-haired teen had to take his hand back. For a moment, he thought that Leila was dead, but was relieved to see that she was still breathing.

"She's probably sleeping again," Arden said to Ralph, who looked at him with curious eyes, which seemed unusually light. "But I hope she doesn't wake up screaming again."

Ralph cocked his head to the side. Arden didn't expect him to say much. Before he could continue, the dog-like teen said, "You like her."

It was more of a statement than a question, but it was said properly and clearly, which made Arden smile. It also made him blush a deep, fiery red.

"No way!" he replied, "I'm just concerned about her, that's all."

Ralph made a squint kind of look on his face. He was obviously trying to raise an eyebrow, but failed to do so.

Arden chuckled at this, and didn't notice that the sleeping girl was opening her dark eyes.

Leila was back in the void in her old form once more, and Renatus was there as well.

"Back again, Nicodemus?" said Renatus, his ghostly voice sounding less chilling like it was in their last encounter.

Ghostfreak replied with an "Mm".

The elder Ectonurite sighed. "I believe you have a reason for wanting to speak with me?"

"You are the only one I can speak to, Renatus," said the younger Ectonurite, "You should know that since I am here."

"Is that so?"

"Indeed."

"To be perfectly honest with you, young one," Renatus started, "I thought you would be speaking to Celsius, as he is your 'friend'."

As he said the name 'Celsius', Ghostfreak felt something warm touch his 'cheek'. It gave him a warm feeling inside, but it left him quickly.

The young Ectonurite was left with a feeling of confusion. "Celsius? Who is Celsius?"

The elder Ectonurite chuckled. "Ah yes. You do not know the real name of your friend. He is the Pyronite."

Ghostfreak raised – it seemed to be – an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"

"Have I ever lied to you, Nicodemus?" asked Renatus, crossing his clawed 'arms'.

Before Ghostfreak could answer, Renatus then said, "I must go now. I will see you again soon."

"But Renatus-"

But the elder Ectonurite was slowly fading away again, and he said, "Don't worry, Nicodemus, I will see you again very soon. I promise you."

And he was gone.

The darkness engulfed Ghostfreak again, but he didn't start screaming as a familiar pain entered his body. He was used to it now.

Leila opened her eyes to the sight of Ralph making a weird look at Arden. She raised a curious eyebrow at them perfectly. She'll never understand those two.

Arden looked up at her and Leila's eyes widened. It was like she looking at him for the first time.

He looked kind of . . . cute. His hair was all ruffled up and soft-looking, and his eyes . . . oh, those beautiful warm eyes. They were the kind of eyes that you'd want to get lost in. Leila was lost in them, all right. She wanted to look into them forever and run her hands through his hair and . . .

"Leila?"

The dreamy girl snapped out of her thoughts. Arden looked at her with concern, and then he smiled. "You're awake. You really must have been tired today."

"Mm," she answered.

Arden looked a little confused. Personally, he thought she was going to snap at him or something. As he was going to ask her something, Grandpa Max had come back and was back to sitting in the driver's seat.

"Alright," he said, buckling himself up, "We'll be going to my house, and Ben and Gwen will be coming later. Then, we'll start with the training."

"What training?" asked Galvin/Upgrade.

As Grandpa started the engines, he replied, "Training you on how to become proper teenagers."

As the RV started to drive away from the Tennyson house, Leila started thinking about the thoughts that had entered her mind earlier.

What was I thinking? How can Arden be cute? He's not cute! He's SO not cute! Geez, I'm even starting to think like a human!

Leila looked out the window once more. She needed something to distract her. Anything. Just as long she was not looking at the teen sitting opposite her.

Chapter 13 is done! I'm so tired now, and my fingers are sore, but to be honest, I really don't care:) Because exams are over! No more papers, no more maths, Afrikaans, Xhosa, English and so on. :D Uh oh, I think someone is getting a crush on somebody (who has a crush on the someone, of course):)
Reviews are welcome. :)

Til next time! ;)