~ Gemma ~
I couldn't help but feel a thrill when Jed agreed to come and meet my sister. Would he really stay and get to know me better? All of a sudden, I realized how closely we were standing in the cupboard under the stairs, practically in the dark, holding hands. "Right, I guess we should go and find her then," I said, disappointed when he let go of my hand to go back out into the lounge. Still, I couldn't expect him to be affected the same was I was, he obviously didn't think of me that way.
"Jilly? We'd like to talk to you," I said to the open air, feeling a bit foolish when she didn't put in an appearance.
"Perhaps she's still a bit angry," he frowned. "What set her off exactly?"
"She thinks I brought you here to make her go into the light and she doesn't want to go," I said softly.
"Ah. Well, I promise to do no such thing," he said a little louder.
"Yeah right," Jilly said, popping into view and flopping onto the sofa.
"Oh good, you're back. Well, can you see her?" I gestured to the sofa, but he shook his head.
"Sorry, but I don't."
"Figures," Jilly muttered. "How do you know he actually can see ghosts and isn't just a nutter?"
"Because I believe he can," I frowned. Her attitude wasn't helping in the slightest. "Are you actually attempting to let him see you or are you keeping yourself hidden just to spite me?"
"I'm trying, honestly!" she scowled. "Maybe he's lost it? He did die, after all."
"Do you think that's possible?" I asked Jed.
"Do I think what's possible?" he blinked, confused.
"Sorry." Stupid of me, of course had no idea what'd been said. "She said maybe you've lost the ability to see them since you died?"
"I died?" His brows knitted together into a single dark line.
"Oh, I thought you knew. When they pulled you from the rubble you were technically dead, though they resuscitated you in the ambulance."
"No, they never said," he murmured.
"Do you think that's a possibility then?"
"I have no idea," he shrugged, looking a little lost for a moment until an idea struck. "I suppose there's one way to find out."
"And that is?"
"Go back to Bedlam Heights and see if I can still see the ghosts there."
"You didn't see any when you were there last?"
"No, but that wasn't too unusual, I wasn't there for very long."
"That's what we'll do then. If you want to, that is."
"Go back there? It isn't my first choice, but I do need to collect my things," he considered aloud.
"Are we going to a real haunted house then?" Jilly's face lit with excitement.
"This is a real haunted house, or don't you remember? Seeing as how you're a ghost?" I smirked at her, and she gave me a two fingered salute. "Jilly seems keen on going."
"Still seems strange to me that she can go wherever you go. In my experience, most ghosts are fairly limited to where they died."
"Oh, I wonder if you'd be able to see Jilly if we went to where she was killed?"
"I'd rather not go back there, thanks," Jilly sobered.
"It's alright, we don't have to do that, love," I assured her. There was a loud slam above us and then music cranked on at an unbearable level. "Oh good, Lilah's up," I murmured. "I'd better get back to the kitchen and see to supper or we'll never eat," that reminded me.
"Do you want a hand?"
"Yeah, if you don't mind," I smiled.
"Not at all," he smiled back, and my heart gave a little flip. Oh, I was getting in way over my head!
Supper was ready in no time at all, thanks to Jed's help, and we were just clearing the table when Lilah put in an appearance.
Dressed in a black strappy top and layered skirt over ripped purple tights, her dark hair was pulled into two plaits like a schoolgirl's. With a dark, smokey eye and deeply plum lips, she looked like she was going to a club instead of to work soon.
"Who the fuck is this?" she asked, upon seeing Jed.
He winced, but gave a tight smile. "I'm Jed."
I was more used to her blunt style of communication. Though I found her rude and unpleasant most of the time, her rent was never late. "He's a new boarder come to stay with us," I said. "And this is Lilah."
"Pleased to meet you," Jed said politely, but she just rolled her eyes.
"I ain't interested in a shag, so you can stop with the bedroom eyes."
"I… wasn't offering," he said with a vaguely amused expression.
"That's just how his eyes look all the time," Jilly said from her corner of the room. "He can't help it if he looks so fuckable."
"Language," I hissed at her and then gave an embarrassed smile.
Lilah's eyes narrowed at me. "I'll speak any fucking way I want to, in the house I pay rent in. I've just as much right to talk as anyone else."
"Of course, I didn't mean…"
"Common courtesy is always free though," Jed said, his eyes boring into Lilah.
"It might cost you more than you think," she retorted, looking none too pleased with him either. "Whatever, I'm out." Turning on her chunky heel, she stomped off.
"Good fucking riddance!" Jilly called after her, and I bit back another comment about her language, knowing she was just trying to get a rise out of me.
"That's your other boarder?" Jed said, staring out the window as she tore off in her car.
"She's not around all that much. Normally she's not quite so unpleasant, and doesn't say a whole lot."
"She's always unpleasant," Jilly snorted.
He shook his head. "Why don't you ask her to move out if you don't like her?"
"Well, because we need the money. For just a bit longer, I've almost paid off the second mortgage and then it'll be easier."
"Second mortgage?"
"Yeah. Times were tight for a while." I shook my head, not wanting to get into it more than that. "But I've been doing better since I got on with the long-term care facility, and with her rent I've been able to make double payments so the interest doesn't eat us up."
"You didn't let on," Jilly frowned, and I gave her a tight smile.
"It wasn't for you to worry about," I said.
"Well, after I get a few things sorted, I'll be able to chip in," Jed offered, but I waved that away.
"No, don't worry about that for now. Like I said, I can use the help around the house, that's good enough for rent at present."
"Right," he said, and I wondered what he was thinking. That he'd bitten off more than he liked in agreeing to move in? "I guess I'd better start earning my keep then and see to the dishes," he smiled, picking up his plate.
"I'll come with and help dry," I smiled back, grateful for the help.
"Oh, can you turn on the telly before you go, please?" Jilly asked, heading for the lounge.
"Sure thing," I agreed, snapping it on, leaving her to change it to the channel she wanted like I knew she could if she concentrated hard enough. "What?" I asked, when I noticed Jed looking at me.
"Sorry, it's still a bit strange to me to see you living with a ghost."
"Really? But I thought you saw ghosts all the time," I replied, helping to clear the table.
"Yes, but not to live with peaceably. It was more like torment most of the time."
"It's not always all that peaceful here either, Jilly tests my patience on the regular," I smirked.
Jilly yelled out, "Oi, I heard that!" making me smile.
"Will you want to go back to Brightmoor tonight then?"
He let out a long breath. "I think tomorrow will suit well enough. It's been a long day."
"Yes, it has," I agreed. "Probably best if you get some rest. Me too, I've got an early shift tomorrow."
"Do you think I could borrow your car if I drop you at work? That way I can gather the rest of my things."
"Ah, sure, I don't see why not. Or if you like I can go with you after work and help carry."
"No, that's alright, I can manage. I haven't got all that many things. A few clothes, some photos. That's about it."
What it must be like for him to have so few possessions? To carry little more than memories with him from place to place.
We cleaned up from supper in no time at all, and after a last cuppa, I went straight to bed.
"Oh, you should see what he looks like without his shirt!" Jilly flopped down on the bed.
"And how exactly would you know that?" I frowned
"Because I saw him in the bath, washing up," she said, her eyes flashing wickedly.
"Jilly!" I hissed, lowering my voice. "Under no circumstances are you to spy on him in the bath or bedroom! He's entitled to his privacy, same as everyone else."
"So what? I spy on everyone else just the same. What else have I got to do around here? They're not nearly as interesting to look at though."
I took a long breath and counted to five inside my head. I loved Jilly dearly, but sometimes it was more like I was her Mum than sister, having to remind her of right from wrong. "If you don't promise never to do it again, then I'm going to tell him what you've done, and then he'll leave."
"And you don't want him to?"
"Of course not. He needs a place to stay and…"
"And you like him."
"I do, but it's not about that."
"What is it about then?"
"Jilly, I need a friend," I said, and edge of frustration bleeding into my voice, and she looked like I'd struck her across the face.
"I'm your friend."
"You're more to me than a friend, you're my sister."
"But it's not enough, I'm not enough, is that what you're saying?" She was working herself up into a lather. "You do want him to send me into the light, don't you? You want to be free of me." The lights flickered.
"No, not at all," I said quickly. "I'm saying I love you, and you'll always be my sister, but I need more than that in my life. Don't you want me to have friends and be happy?"
"Yes," she said begrudgingly. "Are you saying you're not happy?"
I didn't know how to answer that without hurting her feelings. "Sure, I'm happy," I smiled with as much enthusiasm as I could muster.
Jilly looked at me a long while before sighing. "Fine, I promise I won't spy on him again."
"Or on Lilah or me."
"I can't very well spy on you, you can see me," she pointed out, rolling her eyes. "But fine, I promise." She sighed again. "It's too bad though. He's got those things…" she gestured to her lower abdomen, making a V shape with her hands. "That cut that makes you go absolutely mental."
I had seen him with his shirt off before at work, and I knew exactly what she meant, but I didn't want to talk about how I wasn't supposed to be ogling the patients. "Goodnight, Jilly."
"He had something else impressive under that water too," she smirked.
"Good night, Jilly."
"Even though they say objects under the water may appear larger than they are…"
"Goodnight, Jilly!" I said in exasperation, and she giggled.
"Night, Gem."
~~~ Feedback is Love ~~~