Chapter 41

CARI'S POV

It took about three days for the chills to go away and I was extremely depressed during those three days. I pretty much refused to talk to anyone. I locked myself in my room, lights off, and then spent the day covered in blankets trying to sleep the pain away. Every emotion hurt. Guilt, was what I felt most often. Scenes I created in my head constantly played through my dreams. Scenes where I had killed my friends because they couldn't stop me. Scenes where I destroyed Amity Park in a fit of rage. And when I wasn't feeling guilty I was longing for my ghost half. I felt and still feel so empty without it. If I put my hand over my heart I can still feel the cold beneath my skin where Danny froze my ghost core. I know that will never go away.

I hadn't even bothered to look at my phone and I was sure my parents were starting to get worried. Although they hadn't bothered to stay home for more than 7 hours at a time and they used that time to sleeping.

I was planning on migrating to the main floor sometime today and try to eat an actual meal. But before that I decided to check my phone. The whole lock screen was covered in notifications. I had 32 emails and 64 texts. Most of them were from Sam Danny and Tucker. It took a long time to read through all of them.

They were all so amazing. I read Sam's first. Most of the messages were her yelling in all caps "CALL ME!" but eventually she started sending me these paragraphs which consisted of her telling me how everything is going to be okay and that everyone is really worried about me. I smiled as I read them. They were something that I really needed.

Tucker's texts were mostly cat pictures and Internet memes. I guess that was his way of trying to cheer me up.

It worked.

Danny's texts really hit home though. I guess it's because he understands what it's like to be forced to do things under the influence of mind control and he has an idea of what it would be like to lose your ghost half. That's just one thing Sam and Tucker will never understand. It took me a while to stop crying after I had finished reading all of their messages, but all of my tears were bitter sweet. Having a ghost half fills so much of your life and becomes part of your whole being. Losing it feels like you've lost half your heart and like you no longer have anything to live for. It took me a while to stop crying after I had finished reading all of their messages, but all of my tears were bitter sweet since I was also grinning like an idiot while I continued to stare at the screen.

With my newfound motivation I decided it would be a good time to try to eat something. So I wrapped my favorite blanket (it's awesome it has really cool flame designs on it. Plus it's really soft.) around my shoulders and headed for the kitchen. And my amazing balancing skills helped my run into the side of the kitchen doorway. I continued on, to the fridge with my now bruised shoulder and pulled out a bowl of pasta.

It wasn't till after I had heated it up and sat down at the counter that I realized four people were watching me from the living room. Danny, Sam, Tucker, and my mom were all sitting together watching me. So being the genius that I am I gawked at them, then looked at my pasta, and then looked back at them. "Uhh were you guys just sitting there watching me make pasta? In complete silence?" I asked sounding extremely confused.

"Well that wasn't our intention but ya I guess we were." My mom said as she stood up. "I'm glad to see your finally eating. I wish you'd agree to see a doctor. I really think you should go."

"I'm fine mom I think I'm over it." I said jamming my fork into the pasta. "What are you guys doing here?" I asked looking at my friends.

"Uhh you've kinda been M.I.A. for three days. What did you expect uis to do?" Sam asked.

"Uh"

"Ya you don't call you don't write." Tucker said as he stood up and walked over to lean on the counter I was eating off of. "But I'm kinda glad you didn't write I really didn't want to have to pick up a pencil."

"They were worried about you." My mom said as she set her hand on my shoulder.

"Well if you're felling up to it we're going to the Nasty Burger later." Danny said but it sounded like he really wanted me to come even if I was dying.

"Ya I'll be there. Just text me when you're leaving" I smiled at the three of them.

"Then we should get going. We just wanted to check up on you." Sam announced as she headed for the door.

"Thanks for the cookies Mrs. Silver!" Tucker yelled as he exited our house. I hadn't noticed the plate on the coffee table until then. Wow was I out of it.

I shoved the rest of the pasta into my mouth the rushed up to my bedroom. When I pushed open the door I wasn't at all surprised to see Danny sitting on the edge of my bed. "I figured you weren't done talking." I wrapped my blanket closer to my body and sat down next to him.

"No not really." he said with a small smile. "We've missed ya Cari."

"I'm planning on rejoining my normal life sometime soon. The past three days haven't been the best."

"I'm sure they haven't. But ya know we are your friends and we are here for you when you need us." for some reason that made me feel both guilty and relieved. So instead of responding I just looked down at my knees. "I know what you're going through is probably soul crushing. I couldn't imagine losing my ghost half."

"It hurts." I said quietly, "Not losing it but after it's gone." I still hadn't looked up from my knees.

Danny was quiet for a few seconds then he responded, "I wish I could be more of a help."

"No Danny don't worry about that. Without you I'd still be running around trying to kill people." I managed to let out a small laugh.

"I guess." Danny said just before he stood up. "I'll leave you be, but please try to come to the Nasty Burger at like 3 o'clock."

"Okay I'll be there." I said, finally looking up.

Danny nodded as he shifted into his ghost form. "See ya." He yelled as he soared out the window.

"Tucker look out!" I yelled as I ran towards him. A trail of green light following close behind me.

"Wait almost done!" Tucker yelled, angrily pushing the buttons of his PDA. "Done!" he said triumphantly as he pushed one last button. Only he wasn't done quickly enough. I ran into him full force knocking him over. As we were lying on the pavement we watched Skulker fly backwards towards wherever Tucker sent him.

"That was definitely not a record hacking time." Sam said hitting him in his head with her combat boot. He made a face at her and rolled his eyes.

"Ya good thing I'm in shape and was able to keep him distracted long enough." I said as I stood up brushing off my pants.

Danny landed behind us, "So where did you send him?"

"Oh I got a little creative and sent him to the Amity Park sewers." he had a mischievous smile pasted on his face.

Danny laughed and shifted back into his human form. "Well now that we are half an hour late for school what should we do?"

"I say we skip." I said while crossing my arms and a mischievous grin on my face. It's been four months since I lost my ghost powers and ya know, I'm kinda okay with it. It took a long time for me to get over the whole thing though. I still miss flying I'm sure I'll never get over that.

"So video games?" Sam asked.

"Yup video games." Tucker and Danny agreed.

I smiled in agreement ready to go all out against Sam. I still can't beat her at any game. It's really frustrating.

"Come on let's go." Danny said as he grabbed mine and Sam's hands pulling us towards the library. I owe Sam, Tucker, and Danny so much. They've changed my life in so many crazy ways. The school year was also going way better. I was no longer hated by pretty much everyone. I think that all changed at the end of last year when I was kidnapped. People are weird like that.

Ya my life will never ever be the same. I never once imagined myself ghost hunting or having actual friends when I first moved here. Nor did I imagine creating so many enemies. But ya know what? I like my life so much better this way.