A/N: Bonjour everyone! I'm so happy you all are enjoying my story and I love my reviewers. Just to inform everyone, things from now on will start coming together such as who Jane is and what her connections are with the McFadden family. Enjoy!
P.S: Terribly sorry for the wait, school and such is still a big part of my life.
Two days after the deal had been made, and to the trio's immense annoyance, Jane had stayed true to her word. Not hair nor hide had been seen of the mysterious woman, not even at meals. The only trace of her even being there was the occasional shuffling of feet throughout the house.
It was when the third day came around that Dr. Harvey decided to coax her out into the open.
He had originally decided that it would be best for Jane to connect with them at her own pace. He had even discussed it with the trio and had them agree (albeit reluctantly and with many mumbled threats) to give her space. The only one who disagreed and just flat out refused was Fatso.
It really surprised James how passionate (and annoying) Fatso's constant speeches of developing friendships through interactions were (which he had probably pulled out of a TV show) and eventually broke down James's resolve. Not really convincing him mind you but just wearing his patience thin enough to give in.
As James made his way to Jane's room he took the time to ponder Fatso's motives behind his unusual behavior. It was painfully obvious he was very fond of the visitor, and Jane had accidentally revealed she had some knowledge of the McFaddens, but James just could not come up with a connection. Could he have known her in life? No, that was ridiculous since Fatso had died over a hundred years ago. Could he have previously haunted her? No, that wasn't plausible either since Jane certainly didn't recognize him, and it seems very hard to forget a ghost.
So lost in his musings he had not noticed Jane standing before him in her bedroom doorway. When he had knocked, he couldn't remember, but it seemed like he hadn't spoken yet by the way she stared at him.
Jane quirked an eyebrow and waited for the doctor to come back to earth. She had been taking a nap when he knocked and tried not to show her impatience to return to bed. Clearing her throat she watched as the doctor jumped and look at her quizzically.
"Good evening Dr. Harvey, how may I help you?"
James blinked, forgetting for a moment why he was here. When realization dawned, he almost felt embarrassed.
"Oh, um, yes. Jane, I feel that you are trying to distance yourself from us and I came to ask you if you would join us for dinner. We all really look forward to getting to know you."
James watched her tense at the word "all" and immediately thought of the trio. If she felt uncomfortable about the idea, it was probably because of them.
"Are you sure?" she asked, providing him with an opening to say 'unless you don't want to' and let her escape. Surely, from what she witnessed and because of his job as a psychiatrist, he was great at reading body language.
Wrong.
"Absolutely," he stated with a smile, completely passing her escape route and heading down high way oblivious.
Without batting an eye, Jane returned the smile and informed him that she would be down in a minute. James nodded and left, happy that his mission had gone so well. Going down the stairs, he felt as if he could hardly contain his excitement. Jane was finally going to socialize with them, and hopefully drop clues as to who she was.
XxXxXxXxX
As soon as the door had shut, Jane dropped her casual façade and slid down to the floor.
"Craaaaap…" she groaned, drawing up her knees and settling her face into the valley they created. She was finally going to have to face them. Too bad she still wasn't sick or this could have been postponed. Perhaps if she faked a relapse…
Jane groaned once more and sat up straight.
Now she was just being a coward! This day would have eventually come, she couldn't have avoided their company forever. Plus, she would have needed to find meals soon anyway. She only had about two granola bars left…
Standing, Jane strode with new determination to the bathroom. If she was going to do this, she might as well clean up first.
XxXxXxXxX
Fatso munched excitedly on his roasted carrot. When the doc had come to the dining room and announced that Jane was joining them he had almost squealed. He was finally going to be near her! Close enough to watch every blink, hear every breath, and count every pour of Jane's being!
Casper, upon hearing the news, was glad to have cooked roast beef for dinner. It was one of few the dishes that his uncles would choose over junk food, which gave him cause to make more than enough for just two fleshies.
Casper then looked to his uncles for their reactions.
Stretch acted like he always did when he figured there would be new entertainment by smiling mischievously. Stinkie, having always been the closest to the leader, mirrored his expression. Fatso on the other hand looked like he (if he could) was about to pee himself. His face had lit up like Casper had never seen and then proceeded to nibble on the food he had laid upon the table. It was always a sign that he was either nervous or anxious, which Casper assumed he was a mixture of both.
"So when's the dame get'n here?" Stretch asked impatiently.
"Yeah, I jus can't wait ta see how dis night's gonna turn out!" exclaimed Stinkie, Fatso's excitement having infected him.
They both turned to the middle brother secretly hoping he'd make a stupid comment, but instead came to said ghost gazing longingly and quietly at the kitchen door. They stared for a moment, Stretch giving him his best, 'well, aren't you going to say something?' look which didn't even faze the younger ghost. Getting fed up with the lack of response, Stretch slammed his fist on the table.
"Hey! Fatso! Why da hell are ya-"
"Shh!" Fatso hissed angrily, holding up his hand in the older ghost's face.
Astonished at his brother's actions, Stretch was about to unleash hell before he noticed Stinkie perk up. The youngest had always had the keenest sense of hearing and smell, so he was usually the one to alert them if anything or anyone was near. Following his lead, Stretch tilted his head to the side and listened. It wasn't long before he too picked up on the light tap of shoes on tile.
XxXxXxXxX
Jane walked slowly down the corridors leading from her room to the kitchen. Looking down at her converse clad feet she decided it was time to practice dragging. Having grown up with a strict mother she had never really had the luxury of obnoxiously scraping her feet across the floor. Sure, it slowed her pace, but there is no better time than the present to try new things.
She wasn't stalling. Not at all.
Okay, now I just need to get in there and put on my best smile. If questions are asked, answer vaguely, and at all costs avoid the three other ghosts. Especially that fat one…
It wasn't long before she found herself ten steps from the door. Taking a deep breath, she began to prep herself before meeting her certain doom.
Ten.
Just be calm.
Nine.
Relax.
Eight.
Don't let them in your head.
Seven.
Don't let out any information that can be used against you.
Six.
Don't slip up.
Five.
Don't lie, just stretch the truth if necessary.
Come four steps left, Jane's grandmother's words suddenly popped into her mind.
The fat is never just that.
Three.
Never despise the purple eyes.
Two.
Try not to think of the stink.
One.
Dear lord grandmother give me strength!
XxXxXxXxX
A silence like death hung over the room.
Quite literally.
No one had been prepared to speak when Jane entered. It was awkward, to say the least, as everyone's eyes landed dumbly on the young woman. Still, no one spoke.
Fatso had thought he would have a million things to say once she came, but the lack of words coming from his mouth proved otherwise. Her appearance alone was enough to shock him. She wore a slightly baggy Mickey Mouse t-shirt and dark blue skinny jeans, accompanied by worn checkered converse and little to no make-up. He had expected a simple black dress, or maybe even just a nice blouse and slacks, but nothing like this!
And then it hit him.
Of course she wouldn't get dolled up on a daily basis anymore! She was trying to blend in, and wearing top notch designer clothes was not good camouflage. Dressed this way she looked to be in her late teens, a little older than Kat. In fact, they could almost pass as sisters, cousins even. Fatso inwardly gave her a thumbs up. He was impressed.
Getting tired of the awkwardness, Jane turned slightly to where James sat and smiled. Dr. Harvey was quick to return it.
"Ah, I'm sorry Jane! Please, sit down."
He quickly got up and pulled out a chair that just happened to be straight across from Fatso.
"I hope you're hungry, Casper made enough roast beef to feed an army," he continued cheerfully, returning to the head of the table after she sat down.
Jane nodded silently and watched Casper serve everyone a plate piled high with said meat and vegetables. When he got to her he shyly smiled.
"I didn't know if you liked ketchup with it so I put it on the side."
Looking down she found him true to his word and thanked him. Pushing away the meat politely, she began working on her salad. Glancing up, she noticed that only she and Dr. Harvey ate the salad while the others only had meat. Stretch and Stinkie dug in obnoxiously while Fatso surprisingly seemed to ignore it. There eyes met for a moment, and then he smirked.
"So Jane," he began with a hint of false innocence. "How did you come to stay at our humble abode?"
Stretch looked up at the odd tone his brother used and then at the guest. Stinkie noticed this too but continued eating.
Jane stopped in mid-bite, placing her fork down. Fatso's smile grew wider, a gleam of challenge in his eye. He was rewarded with a sparkle of defiance in her own and inwardly congratulated himself in provoking the response he knew he would get.
"I was traveling. My tires just happened to blow out on a road leading into Friendship, Maine."
"And where were you traveling to? Or better yet, why?"
He could tell Jane was not liking where this was going. Though she showed no physical reaction, her eyes had hardened slightly, calculating.
"I just need to get away, stretch my legs a bit. I'm not the kind of person who can sit around in one place for too long."
"Oh, so you travel a lot? That means you're probably rich."
This caught the doc's attention and he looked up in astonishment. Fatso, in his own less refined way, was cornering Jane to give out answers like a psychiatrist such as himself does to a patient! And Jane was falling for it! It seemed there was much more to Fatso than what meets the eye.
"Yes, I'm pretty well off in my financial status," she replied, her voice clipped and unwilling to elaborate.
Fatso smirked again, letting her return to her salad and he to his untouched plate. Stretch and Stinkie quietly followed suit, a bit disappointed the conversation had ended. Their brother had started to get intense there, using his deductive skills that haven't been used since they were all young and alive. Over the years as ghosts they had forgotten how smart Fatso really was, choosing instead to all act childish since there was no one to force them to grow up anymore.
The rest of the meal passed quietly, and Casper watched intently as Jane scanned her roast beef. She tasted it plain, nodding and then eating more. About halfway through her plate, she stopped and looked at the ketchup. Hesitantly she took a fork full of beef and dipped it. She stared skeptically at the meat before popping it into her mouth. He watched as she chewed slowly, her eyes widening. She then swallowed and continued dipping the roast beef in ketchup at a faster pace.
This was also noticed by the least expected person in the room.
Stinkie had just finished his food the second time through (Casper having picked it up off the floor) and sat back, his eyes landing on the guest for a moment. He hadn't meant to stare, but the strange display of Jane eating the ketchup covered roast beef as if it were poison caught his attention. What was up with her? Had she never eaten it before?
Sensing someone looking at her (other than Fatso who had been ogling at her all through the meal) Jane looked up. Their eyes met, and she surprisingly shied away, feeling as though she had been caught doing something bad. Giving him a quick smile she returned to eating.
Stinkie wrinkled his nose at her, a strange emotion stirring within. It wasn't because the feeling was bad, he was actually a bit confused because it felt…nice.
There wasn't much time to ponder over it though, because James announced he was turning in, as well as Stretch. Leaving with his brothers, Stinkie decided to just let it go.
XxXxXxXxX
Jane smiled slightly as the warm water ran through her soapy fingers.
Who knew doing the dishes was so pleasant?
After everyone had finished eating she had volunteered to clean up. After all she really wanted to thank them for the meal. Casper gave her a grateful grin and flew off to join Kat in her/his bed.
Jane softly smiled then. She could tell Casper and Kat were in love. The way they had been sitting so close together and constantly touching each other in small ways was enough for anyone to at least get a clue. Ah…young love…
XxXxXxXxX
Fatso grinned mischievously as he entered the kitchen. Jane, in her own little world, did not notice. It was time to confront her, and the best way to do it…
"All right Jimmy, it's time," he said, making his voice sound like a middle aged man.
Not a beat was missed as Jane suddenly dropped the dishes and turned around, cupping her mouth with her hands.
"Kick him in the balls!"
XxXxXxXxX
As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt ice run through her veins. Fatso floated not five feet away from her now, his face more smug than she'd seen on anybody.
No…
No, no, no, no, no!
A quick dart of the eyes revealed no escape routes.
Oh…oh dear god! Please don't tell me-!
Sticking out his hand, Fatso's smug look turned into barely contained excitement.
"It's great to finally meet you Jane Parkens."
Only one thought passed through Jane's mind after that.
He knows!
A/N: I'm not too happy with how this turned out since I rushed it at the end. Anyway, hope this little cliff hanger confused the crap out of you!
P.S: Cookie for anyone who can guess which chapter Jane Parkens (her full name) was mentioned!