Okay here is the second to last chapter of Thinking About You Lately! Exciting, no? Sorry I wasn't back when I said I was going to be but a lot of stuff happened and I'm currently nursing a broken heart and I thought since I've passed the chocolate diet stage I should go and write romance. I've planned this chapter out so it will be a lot better than the other. The complete truth about the curse comes out and…well… you'll just have to see, I don't want to spoil it. Hope you all like it and please R&R!

Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Thinking About You Lately

Chapter 12

Race Against Time

Fi and Clu had just pulled up to the school and the car hadn't even come to a stop when Fi jumped out of the car and ran towards the entrance.

"Fi!" Clu shouted then he quickly turned the car off and got out and ran after her. He being taller than her caught up to her and grabbed her upper arm and turned her towards him, "Fi, what the hell, are you trying to get yourself killed."

"Clu, there's no time, the anniversary is today! Julie is the next victim! She could be up there right now!"

"Yeah, I get that, but my mind doesn't work like yours. I'm still a little confused and before we go barging in to save the day, I'd like to have some idea what we are dealing with." Fi nodded,

"Follow me, I'll fill you in as we go." He let her go as they raced up the stairs.

Alex stood by the window where Katie fell all those years ago. He gazed out at the scenery of the gloomy day. He heard the door to the room opened and turned to see Julie entering. He gave a small smile,

"I'm glad that you chose to come today." She tilted her head to the side and gave him a sad smile,

"How could I not considering the day and all. You shouldn't be alone today," she paused as she walked towards him, "I wasn't going to considering what is supposed to happen, but I know you'll protect me and I know that you need me today." He stepped closer to her,

"Thank you, Julie, that means a lot to me. I promise no one else will hurt you while I'm here." She gave him a sweet smile her eyes sparkling with love. He smiled back. He lifted his chin slightly as a thought came to him, "Julie, I was wondering if I could show you something." She nodded and he turned to let her pass him, in the direction of the windows.

"It's Alex McKay, Katie's boyfriend. The murdered of Jessica Martin," Fi started.

"That murder I think was well intended I mean she did murder his girlfriend," Clu said.

"I'm no so sure of that Clu. I'm now thinking that maybe Katie's death was an accident. Maybe they were joking around and Jessica playfully pushed Katie, Katie lost her balance and fell. Jessica would still feel like it was her fault, and would ask for forgiveness and Alex would hear and kill her," Fi took a breath, "I mean Clu imagine you were in love with Annie." Clu cringed at that. "Just work with me here," Fi said, "lets say you were in love with Annie and so was Jack and Annie ended up choosing Jack and they got engaged or something, would you kill him?"

"No," Clu said, "Jack's my best bro, and I want him to be happy. Also if I loved Annie so much and she wanted Jack and he made her happy, they I'd be happy too."

"Exactly," Fi said, "Jessica and Katie were as good a friends and you and Jack. I don't think that Jessica could have killed Katie no matter how much she cared for Alex."

"Fi that still doesn't explain why Alex is killing these other girls," Clu sighed as they passed the second floor.

"Well after he died, he realized he was a ghost, thus, stuck in some kind of limbo for his sin. He thought what he did was right and was going to wait until he passed over to be with Katie again. As time went on the solitude must have made him a little crazy, like prisoners in solitary confinement. So one day I think a class must have come into the room and he saw a girl who looked a little like Jessica, but in his mind was Jessica. He must have been enraged, confused about how Jessica was back, but his beloved Katie wasn't. Now I'm sure there was a girl there who probably looked a little like Katie, but since Alex was so crazy in love with her he would know little things that he wouldn't have noticed about Jessica. Freckles, beauty marks, the shape of her nose, stuff like that. He probably decided that since Jessica didn't die the first time it was his duty to kill her again, thus he murdered the first girl, earning him more years in purgatory. I think time went on and another girl came and he killed her again. Then the room was shut off. He probably would have passed on, but the ambassadors started to investigate. Since it wasn't a classroom, Alex had to find a way for the girl he chose to keep coming back, just that girl…" Fi trailed off.

"He charmed her, he made her fall in love with him, and pretended to love her too," Clu said.

"Exactly," Fi said, "those girls probably got so star struck with him they would do anything he said, without question. No telling anyone about them, bailing on friends…"

"Just like Julie," Clu said.

"And probably the final act of devotion is being there for him on that horrible day and standing next to that window," Fi paused, "Clu I have no idea what powers Alex might have but since I have the sight I'll handle him, your job is to do anything to get Julie safe and out of that room."

"Fi, he could kill you, no way am I going to let you handle him alone."

"Clu, please trust me, I'll be fine. Protect Julie, she'll need you more than me." They ran up the steps praying that they were just in time and not horribly late.

Julie was sitting on the sill of a window her legs hanging on the outside. She gasped at the sight. It was very high, but with Alex there she felt safe.

"Alex, this is so beautiful," Julie sighed.

"This was Katie's favorite spot. She'd come here to think, this is where we shared our first kiss, when I told her I loved her, when I asked her to wear a promise ring, and where finally you killed her." Julie froze as she heard Alex's voice deepen and his tone turn cold. She turned her head slightly,

"Alex?" His eyes held hatred that she had never seen before his gentle smile had turned into a hardened scowl.

"You heard what I said Jessica, you killed her, I know you did. You couldn't stand it that I never returned your feelings, so you thought by killing Katie I would finally notice you. You should've known that it would never happen that my heart only belonged to Katie," he paused as he scoffed at her, "these past few weeks must have been a dream for you. Me fawning all over you, wanting to be with you more than anything, loving you. I was in all the school plays, I'm a good actor, you should've known better." He paused, "What I don't get is how you keep coming back, why you won't stay dead. Why it is you coming back and not Katie, not my Katie, the only innocent in all of this. Why you!"

"Alex?!" Julie cried tears running down her cheeks her mouth open in disbelief.

"You know what, I don't care, it doesn't make a difference now," Alex said backing away from her slightly. He then raised his hand his palm facing her, "Goodbye Jessica." Julie felt a hard shove; she fell forward, and screamed.

Fi heard a scream, as she was right outside the door she ran in,

"Julie!" She screamed and she saw the ghost of Alex McKay turn towards her suddenly she felt something hit her back causing her to fall forwards unconscious. Clu raced in behind her,

"Fi!" Alex pushed him and Clu flew back and hit the wall. He struggled to get up onto his forearms and tried to drag himself towards Fi. A scream was heard from the window where Julie was hanging on for dear life. Alex turned his mouth in a firm line,

"Now, to finish you off."

"Alex stop!" A voice shouted which caused Alex to freeze. He turned around. Fi had raised her head off the ground. "Alex stop," she said her voice mixed with one not her own.

"Fi?" Clu asked. Fi pushed herself off the ground,

"Alex, don't do this, not for me." Alex's jaw dropped open slightly and he trembled,

"Katie?" 'Katie' nodded as Alex approached her, "but how?"

"I've been trying to reach you for so long, but you have been unable to hear me," she paused, "lucky for me my reincarnation showed up now, or I may never have been able to stop you from killing again," she turned to Clu, "go help your friend." Clu stared at her in awe and nodded as he went to the window.

"But Katie, she murdered you, it is only fair that she dies as well," Alex said.

"Alex, she's not Jessica, and anyway Jessica didn't kill me, no one did," 'Katie' said, "it was a stupid accident. Jessica and I were talking, joking around. I was sitting in my favorite spot on that windowsill. I teased her about her crush on David."

"David Carson?" Alex asked. 'Katie' smiled,

"David Carson. She gave me a soft playful shove on my arm. However, I lost my balance and fell. Jessica screamed out for me and tried to catch me, but it was too late. She tried to save me Alex. After that she blamed herself even though I didn't blame her. We've had these years and she's learned to forgive herself. But the question is, can you?"

"Katie…"Alex said almost breaking down.

"There was nothing you could have done Alex, don't blame yourself."

"Katie I've missed you so much."

"As have I, you could have been with me long ago, but you trying to make up for not being there has prevented you from crossing over. Murdering those girls has kept you here." Clu pulled Julie up and inside who was now trembling against him as he watched the scene before him.

"Oh, Katie, I'm so sorry."

"Alex," 'Katie' sighed. He reached out his hand and tried to touch her cheek, but just passed through her. His breath caught in his throat as he choked on a sob. Tears ran silently down 'Katie's' cheeks.

"Use me." The two lovers turned towards the voice.

"Use my body," Clu said stepping away from Julie who had stopped shaking.

"Why?" Alex said, "why would you do this for me? I tried to murder your friend, you owe me nothing. So why help me."

"I can't imagine not being able to see the girl I love for a hundred years, and when I see he again, not being able to touch her. You did what you did out of love, so I think you deserve at least a minute to be with her again." 'Katie' smiled as Alex nodded,

"Thank you, now just stand still." Clu shut his eyes as Alex stepped forward into Clu's body. He opened his eyes and they glowed slightly like Fi's. 'Katie' gazed at him and he met her eyes. She opened her arms and he raced into them as he embraced her tightly sweeping her literally off her feet. He put her down and cupped her cheeks. She mirrored his action and rested her forehead against his,

"Oh Alex."

"Katie, my Katie." Her hands went to rest on his shoulders and his on her waist. Julie watched the scene and with a bittersweet smile said,

"Alex, I forgive you." 'Alex' pulled 'Katie' to him and the two kissed fiercely. Julie noticed the ghostly forms of Katie Anderson and Alex McKay rise from the two teenagers and dissappear.

Julie smiled at that then looking back to her two friends who were still caught in a passionate embrace. She smirked at this and tried to creep out of the room. She accidentally stepped on a weak floorboard, which let out a creek. She froze as Clu and Fi turned to look at Julie who had her eyes screwed shut and a grimace on her face, "I didn't want to ruin the moment." Clu and Fi then looked at each other and realized what Julie meant. They both blushed crimson and let the other go as if they were on fire. Fi looked around,

"What happened to Alex?"

"He crossed over to join Katie," Julie said.

"How?" Clu asked, "He tried to kill you." Julie gave them a bittersweet smile,

"I know, but you were right Clu, in his mind he was doing what he was doing out of love for Katie. So I forgave him."

"And your forgiveness is what he needed to cross over," Fi said. Julie nodded then let out a breath and hugged herself,

"Boy do I have bad luck picking guys or what," Julie said trying to lighten the room, but her heartbroken tone didn't escape the two.

"Jules, he'd been doing that for years you can't blame yourself for falling for it," Clu said. Julie lowered her head. Fi then smiled and walked towards her,

"You know what you need." Julie lifted her head and turned to face her. Fi grinned,

"Chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate." Julie laughed as Fi motioned her head, "Come on, let's get out of here." Julie nodded and put an arm around Fi and Clu's shoulders and they wrapped and arm around her waist as they left the room the door closing behind him.

"You know Julie's you're in luck, I happen to know where Clu keeps his chocolate stash which he always keeps stocked," Fi said.

"Chocolate stash, honestly Jules, I have no idea what Fi is talking about," Clu said.

"Clu, you pig, she almost died," Fi said.

"But Fi, that's my stressed out chocolate, not my heartbroken almost died chocolate," Clu said. Julie giggled.

"What?" Fi asked.

"You two," Julie said, "you argue like an old married couple, wait 'til the others hear about your make out session."

"You cannot tell anyone about that," Fi said as Clu said,

"No, Jules, please." The begging, teasing, and banter faded off away from the room, where all that was left was an old key resting on the hardwood floor, which as soon as the voices vanished cracked.

Okay, yay! That chapter is done. Hope it was exciting, I tried to make it suspenseful. I know that many of you probably want to hit Julie for ruining the Fi/Clu make out scene, but hey she tried not to. I kind of stole that scene from one of my favorite episodes of The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest. But it wasn't exactly the same so that is why I didn't put it in the disclaimer. I know some of you thought that Alex shouldn't have been forgiven and allowed to cross over, but he was just blinded by anger and the desire for revenge. Deep down it was all for Katie, his one true love. Also not seeing Katie for a hundred years I think was punishment enough. There will be one more chapter that happens before and during the play, just to wrap up all loose ends. I don't know when I'll be able to update, it might not be until Christmas break, because over Thanksgiving I'm going to be working on my documentary project. Also school is kind of crazy right now, more midterms and I'm getting all the permits and stuff for filming. Hope you all can wait and hope you all enjoyed this. Please R&R and tell me what you thought!

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