Dizgirl: First, I want to thank my reviewers from the bottom of my heart. THANKYOU!! Next, since my friend MormonMaiden threw in her shameless plug I must as well! We struck a deal with our other friend Allidragon that we would all update a certain story by the fifteenth (Mine was obviously this story! Go check out MM's account for her story, and go to fictionpress and check out Cak Jmaack's profile for Allidragon's update!)
Thirdly, my disclaimer: the song in this chap is called "It's Your Day" by Blessid Union of Souls and therefore I do not claim it! Neither do I claim delicious Captain Crunch as mine. Finally, phantomology is a real thing—I'm serious—go look it up! Tis the study of spectral/supernatural beings. So, have fun! Oh, and enjoy and love!
Keep Those Ghosts Away
"It's your day! Colored picture from a kid's eye across the way," Raimee sang to herself as she pulled a maroon shirt from her closet and put it on. She hummed the next part of the song as she held a hair tie in her mouth. She pulled her hair back and used the tie to pull it up in a low ponytail. Then, as the chorus came on her stereo, she sang loudly along with it.
"Gotta learn to keep those ghosts away! Buy them all a one-way ticket on a flight to Neverland," she grinned at herself in the mirror next to her door. How I love this song, she thought. Raimee clicked off her boom box, and then grabbed her new book from her desk, preparing to read it while eating breakfast.
"Introduction to Phantomology by Jennifer Aprishon," she announced to herself happily. "This should be an interesting read." Raimee walked down the hallway, humming quietly. She had found the book on Friday at a small bookstore in town called the Skulk and Lurk. True the store had creeped her out with its depressing atmosphere and gloomy customers, but it was a great source of books on the supernatural.
Raimee grabbed a bowl, spoon, and the Captain Crunch box and sat down at the table, pouring herself a bowl while reading the back of the book.
Introduction to Phantomology takes you into the strange world of the unnatural and paranormal through several in-depth chapters covering a variety of subjects ranging from poltergeists to ghosts to spirits and more! Join Jennifer Aprishon as she explores the world of the supernatural!
Raimee grinned, eager to start reading the book so she could share it with Chaos. She opened the first page and was about to start when her dad walked in, straightening his tie. Crap! she thought. I forgot he was still here!
"Ray, I'm going to be late tonight so you'll have to fix dinner for yourself," her dad began. He looked up as Raimee quickly slammed her book face-down on the table. "I have a lot of…what are you reading?" She winced, but tried to hide it behind a smile.
"Nothing really. Just something I found at the local bookstore," she replied as calmly as she could, but he didn't fall for it. Mr. Perkings walked over and picked the book up. His expression clouded as he read the title. Here it comes…
"Raimee May Perkings!" She winced. How I hate it when people use my full name like that! she thought fervently. "How many times do I have to tell you not to get involved in this kind of stuff? The supernatural is dangerous! You'll get hurt!"
"Dad! All I'm doing is reading a book about it," she interjected exasperatedly. "I just want to learn about it. It's not like I'm going to go out and hunt the stuff or whatever."
"But one day you might. You are your mother's daughter and you have her gift. I'm afraid you might try to…talk to a ghost you meet one day or something equally as dangerous," her dad countered. Too late for that, she thought to herself dryly. She had conveniently 'forgotten' to tell her father about Chaos.
"There's nothing wrong with ghosts, okay? Sure, some of them are nasty, but most of them are good," Raimee argued.
"'Most of them'? You sound like you've been talking to them!" he accused her, staring at her suspiciously. She hesitated, unsure of how to respond with out telling a direct lie.
"Have you talked to any ghosts lately?" The question hung heavy in the air, and then Raimee thought of a response.
"I haven't met a single ghost since we moved," she replied carefully. Her dad narrowed his hazel eyes.
"What about before we moved?" She smiled nervously.
"Well…does it really matter? We moved down here and it's not like I'm going to see any ghosts I would of met back home—if I had met any," she added quickly.
"You better not," he finally answered. "And I don't want you to talk to any ghosts you might sense here as well."
"But ghosts aren't that bad!"
"They are pure evil!" he replied hotly. Raimee glared at him, hoping Chaos wasn't nearby and listening to this.
"They are not pure evil! They're lost, or confused, or angry because of something that happened in their lives—that's what Mom said. She would agree with me if she was here!"
"Don't bring your mother into this," he growled quietly. She stood up angrily. They had argued over this for years. It usually ended with her pretending to agree with him, but lately, she had grown more defiant (probably because of Chaos's influence).
"Why can't I bring Mom into this? Why do I have to pretend like nothing ever happened? Or, that I don't sense ghosts wherever I go?!"
"Raimee…" he warned her. She growled in frustration.
"We've been over this a million times! It's not like I can just not sense ghosts, dad! There's no 'off' switch; no way to just say 'be gone!' and never hear from them again. They are always calling to me!"
"Then don't answer! Ignore them! If Gina had she would still be here with us!" her dad answered furiously. Raimee looked away as a lump formed in her throat at the thought of her mom. She took several deep breaths and then glared back up at him, crossing her arms.
"It's a gift from Mom. I can't ignore that," she replied quietly. Her dad ran a hand through his unkempt brown hair, sighing deeply.
"And I can't let you put yourself in danger," he picked up the dark purple book and tossed it in the trash can.
"Dad! That was fifteen bucks!" Raimee stared at the trash can in horror.
"What a nice way to spend your money," he growled. "I don't want you to keep reading that stuff or doing anything related to it, alright?" She glowered at him, trying to hold back tears of frustration.
"Maybe you want to forget about Mom and all that she did, but I don't!" Raimee turned around and stormed out of the room. Grabbing her backpack from where it lay in the entryway, she ripped open the front door and slammed it closed behind her. She quickly walked down the stairs and out of the apartment building into the street.
The cool morning air helped her to slowly calm down. She walked back and forth in front of the building, breathing deeply and wiping away the few stray tears that had escaped her eyes.
Okay, maybe that was a little childish of me at the end, but he makes me so mad! Raimee thought to herself, wishing Chaos would come soon. Her ghostly friend normally took off at night, but she always returned right before Raimee left for school. The human girl sighed loudly and continued her pacing. He's being so stubborn and stupid and—
"—Ray! What are you doing outside already?" Chaos floated down from the roof of the apartment building, looking concerned.
"My dad was being a jerk and threw away that new book I just got," Raimee answered as she pulled a tissue from her backpack. "We argued about…the usual." Chaos nodded in understanding.
"That new book from the creepy goth store?" Raimee nodded, smiling despite herself. "Alright. Wait here, kay?" Chaos asked before disappearing. Raimee nodded again as she felt the ghost girl float back towards her home. A few minutes passed, and then Chaos was back with the book in hand.
"Here," she said with a wink, handing the heavy book to Raimee. The human girl's eyes widened in surprise.
"Chaos…! Thank you! But my dad will find out, and he'll be so mad!" she sputtered, both happy and agitated at the same time. Then, she looked up sharply. "Oh! You—we need to move away from here; everyone can see us!" Chaos just smirked as she grabbed Raimee's arm and made both of them invisible.
"How 'bout now?" her disembodied voice was full of humor at her friend's anxiety. Raimee smiled and relaxed. Holding the book with her left arm, she wrapped the other around Chaos's neck.
"Thanks…" she whispered. Chaos shrugged as she slowly pulled away, though she kept one hand on Raimee's arm.
"So, now what?" the ghost girl asked casually, watching a man walking down the sidewalk across the street from the two invisible girls. Raimee blew her nose and sniffed quietly before tossing the tissue into a nearby garbage can.
"Well, it's kind of early to go to school, but I don't want to stay here," she said, scowling. Chaos grinned, though her friend couldn't see it.
"Then let's fly."
Dizgirl: So, there was no Danny related action, but this needed to come out! Believe me; it will tie into the plot later! Yesh…plot…something I should have all figured out and yet it still eludes me… Don't worry; I got some good ideas up my sleeves!
