Hi readers!!! I'm sorry I haven't updated so recently because I have…….. FINALS!!!!! *screams and runs away in terror* Wish me luck! Hope you like this chapter, I had to do some research aka I have to watch the movie…. Again Ok so enjoy!!! Thanks to all who reviewed you're the best!!!!!

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What stood in front of me looked like a black skeleton, it wasn't like Jonah's burnt flesh but it was actually burnt bone. The only skin that was actually

visible was on its face it covered only from his right cheek bone to his forehead. I could see what looked like the remains of spectacles. "Jonah" it

whispered. It sent a shiver up my spine, when it talked it reminded me of someone scratching nails on a chalk board. "Aikman" Jonah spat.

Aikman looked like he was smiling or he was attempting to. "Now now Jonah lets be nice, we used to be friends remember." Jonah looked as if he was

frowning. "Just give me the girl Jonah; she could be useful to us." Aikman stared at me with a greedy lust in his eye. "Don't you mean yourself? Aikman I

can see what you're trying to do, its not going to work. And if you're waiting for me to actually let you have her, let me get this strait, its not going to

happen." Jonah exclaimed boldly.

"Jonah, I will have her, remember this I always get what I want" Aikman warned before laughing diabolically. He gave me a wistful glance and

disappeared. After a few moments of silence, Jonah turned towards me and said "Please be careful, don't t take his warnings lightly." "Why were you

protecting me? Why didn't you just let him take me?" I asked cautiously but inside my heart was overflowing with gratitude.

Jonah's eyebrows furrowed as if he didn't understand me. "What do you mean, ummm what's your name?" he asked." My name is Ara, Ara O' Conner.

What I meant is why did you protect me?" I asked. "Would you rather it if I didn't?" he smirked, his burnt skin crunching a bit. "No!" I replied

chuckled "that's what I thought". He froze as I heard my parent come through the front door. "And that's my cue to leave" He said with a crispy

he disappeared. I suddenly felt vulnerable and alone. Strangely I felt a harsh throbbing in my chest. " Jonah!!" I whispered. All I got in response was a

ghostly chuckle and the sound of crunching skin.

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~ A few days later~

For the past few weeks Jonah and I had become unlikely friends, he stands guard while I sleep, making sure that I have no unlikely vistors coming to take

my soul or something. I really did appreciate him being my dead protector. It sort of fell into a routine, come home, eat something, talk to Jonah. It scares

me sometimes because I have started to have feelings for him. It's impossible to be with someone who is already dead.

Avoiding him was out of the option; he lived, well haunted, the same house that I lived in. What made him more loveable is that sometimes out of the blue

he would send me images of him giving me a hug when I looked sad, or holding my hand when I was afraid. He was always in his human form, he made

me seem beautiful. The way I wanted to be seen. The stupid dead boy was making me love him.

Fortunately I made a plan to keep my mind off of Jonah which was renovating my room. My plan wasn't really working out as much as I had hoped. I had

finally gotten the paint for my room called "Poinsettia" what ever that means. My i-pod was playing "Dear Maria count me in" by All Time Low. I had placed

the gallon of paint onto my new desk.

I was humming along to the song when I felt a presence behind me. I instantly knew who it I turned around and saw Jonah watching me intently. I smiled

"What are you looking at?". "You obviously, it's amusing to watch you paint." He chuckled. I narrowed my eyes at him "Well if you're so talented Mr.

Jonah why don't you try?" I challenged.

He burst out laughing, "I would love to but I can't" melancholy touched his eyes "My hand would just fall through the brush"he continued. I stared at him,

he must be so deprived. What's the point of staying in purgatory for all of eternity if you can't do anything? "Why do you look so sad" Jonah noticed, his

eyebrows furrowing making his skin crackled.

"I'm not sad, it just makes me wonder, and why don't you just move on?" I asked hoping not to offend him. He looked long and hard at me, "I dont want

to move on, not now at least." he said " And why is that?" I asked. He sighed "the reason I don't want to move on is…" he started "Ara can you come

upstairs for a few minutes, your mother and I need your help moving this couch!" my dad yelled from up stairs.

I turned to Jonah "When I get back I want an answer" He nodded and disappeared. I rolled my eyes at the unsatisfaction I had received from not getting

my answer. When I came back down stairs I was surprised to find my answer written in red paint on my wall. "Because I love you" it read

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