Chapter 5: True Friends
Days at school couldn't get any more boring for Molly. Even though she had bad grades, she really didn't seem to pay interest in classes.
She didn't bother to pay any attention to today's history class. All she did from the start of class was look through the window and daydream. At least escaping from reality in her head was quite fun.
''Hmm, there isn't much crime these days... What am I talking about, there's nothing going on! Well, maybe that's good? No reports of crime means I did scare thieves good...''
''Did I put my shirt on backward? I mean, why does it feel so uncomfortable?! Or... Is it that I'm not comfortable in my own body? Wait, is that even possible?''
''Would there be a new episode of the ''Silence''? It would be so heartbreaking if Maria the cannibal eats her husband... Ugh, and it would be very annoying if Ms. Langley doesn't put a decent net connection in the gallery! Like, sheesh, can I watch one episode without the video stopping every five minutes?!''
''Both Hitler and Stalin had no idea that the invasion of Poland would be taken very seriously by most countries in Europe, but they had no idea they just started the Second World War! Great Britain and France- Huh? Milly? Are you listening?'' The teacher stopped, seeing Molly was once again not paying attention.
''Hold up, should I have a superhero suit as the Phantom of Joy? I mean, I don't want to appear as a golden spirit in just a ghostly casual skirt and jacket... Would a cape look good on me? Or maybe not? Boy, I really wanna see myself with a cape... Hehe, people would think I look like Supergirl! Oh, I'm definitely putting on a cape next time there's cr-
''MILLY!''
The sudden yell from the teacher finally snapped Molly back to reality. Most of the students giggled at how silly she looked, being so unfocused.
''So, Milly, can you please repeat what I was just explaining?'' The teacher asked, angry.
''Oh, uhh... Well... P-Plants use photosynthesis from sunlight to produce oxygen?'' Milly said with an embarrassed smile.
''What? MILLY, THAT'S HISTORY CLASS!''
That confusion was enough to make the whole class burst out laughing. Molly's smile turned into an ashamed blushing face, and really wanted to bury herself in the ground.
''S-Sorry...'' Molly muttered.
''That's enough, detention! I'm sick and tired of you not paying any attention to my classes, young lady! EVERY TIME! After the school day is over, I expect you in my office!'' The teacher said.
''What?! No, no, no, please, I'm sorry-
''I DON'T WANNA HEAR IT! Now, where were we... Oh, right-'' The teacher continued his lesson.
Molly was now completely speechless. Detention? The only time she got detention in her life was when Scratch used a curse to remove the fear part of her brain. It was excusable, but this? Out of nowhere?!
''Aw, looks like someone would stay a little longer today'' A random girl said behind Molly.
''Oh, shut up...'' Molly muttered to her.
A few months into high school, things were already turning very bad. Molly's grades were slipping, and now this? Detention over her irresponsibility? It was unacceptable! The teachers now probably thought she was the typical lazy teen girl who only cares about social media and boys. But Molly wasn't like that, she never was! She always cared to be at her best in everything.
At least she could show her true self in a club... Or at least if she joins one, since who knows what high school clubs are like. That was her only chance to make new friends and show her friendly and leadership side.
...
Even though the weather in Brighton wasn't very great, that wasn't a problem for Scratch and his ghost shark to have a fun time in the park. From stealing random people's food, to throwing sticks so Sharky could catch them.
''Okay, boy, GO!'' Scratch said, as this time he threw a huge rock in the air.
The shark immediately flew in the air and caught the rock in its mouth. Then it flew back to Scratch and spat it out.
''Ha, just two seconds! Aw, good boy, who's a good boyyyyyyyy!'' Scratch babytalked, as he started to rub the shark's belly.
Surprisingly, Lecter wasn't calling him when he was missing workdays. He knew he probably wanted to tell the Reaper that Scratch didn't arrive for a month, but Scratch really didn't care much.
The most important thing for him was to spend time with the McGees, and of course, his shark. December was arriving next week, so he had to use every last day of good weather and sunshine.
He was about to grab the rock again, but... Then music started to spread around the air. A song he hasn't heard for a very long time.
If you belie-e-eeeeeve! That's all we need to win! If you belie-e-e-eeeeeeeve! We can do anything!
''What the?''
Scratch was so confused. He never in his afterlife thought he'd hear that song again, but there it is. It was coming from the close soccer field, so he started to fly with his shark there.
The moment they flew there, he saw Libby angrily kicking a ball towards the crossbar of the goal. Next to the pitch was a radio speaker that was playing the song.
Even though it was a positive song, Libby didn't look positive at all. She had the most angry and grumpy face Scratch had ever seen on her. She kicked the ball right to the crossbar of the goal, the ball went back to her, and she continued to kick it over and over again.
''Libs?''
Scratch went behind her, but she still didn't notice him. The loud music didn't help either, as Libby was completely in her own world, kicking the ball again and again.
''Libby! Hello, Libby?! LIBS!'' Scratch repeated again.
Even he found it hard to hear his own words at how loud that song was. The lyrics''IF YOU BELIE-E-EEEVE!''were so loud, it was already leaving a mark in his annoyed him so much, that Scratch went to the radio speaker and pressed the shut button.
''Huh?''
Confused as to why her music stopped, Libby turned around and saw Scratch with crossed arms and his shark right next to him.
''Scratch? What are you doing here?'' Libby asked, confused.
''Well, I'm the one who should be asking you! Don't you have classes now?''
''Pff, please... Nobody takes art class seriously anyway...'' Libby said, annoyed.
Scratch couldn't believe what Libby just said. To hear her having no trouble with skipping classes was the last thing he expected to ever witness, both dead and alive.
''What? Hold up, you serious? You heard that sharky, Libby Stein-Torres runs away from school! Well, there's officially no hope for people in this town!'' Scratch laughed, as his shark also laughed.
''Ugh, yeah, yeah, big surprise! If you're here to be a jerk, just leave!'' Libby said, taking her ball back and kicking it again to the crossbar.
Seeing that his joke didn't cheer Libby at all, Scratch's smile quickly disappeared. Even when he used to scare and prank Libby, she never looked so pissed.
''Pss, hey, boy! Give us a moment, alright?'' Scratch muttered to his ghost shark.
The shark understood what its owner wanted and flew through the portal that Scratch opened. Now that he was alone with Libby on the field, he took a deep breath and started to think up his words very carefully. He knew he had to take her frustration seriously.
As Libby continued to kick the ball into the crossbar, only for it to return back, Scratch flew to Libby and started to nervously scratch his arm.
''So um... Seems like you ain't having a good day...''
''Not a good week... Or a month, or a year, OR A GOOD LIFE AT ALL!'' Libby shouted, as she kicked the ball as hard as she could and it hit the crossbar so hard, that it caused a small vibration from the goal.
''Yikes... Well, I've been there. What's up? Is it about your dad again?''
''Huh? How do you know?!'' Libby asked, shocked.
''Your mom came yesterday. Now, I'm not an eavesdropper-'' Scratch said, but immediately stopped when the last sentence made Libby look at him with a very angry and not convincing face. ''O-Okay, maybe I am a little bit, but not that big! Still, it was impossible for me not to hear a bit of what she said...''
Libby was now both embarrassed and angry. Angry at him for not seeing her after Molly ran away, and embarrassed that her mom had to rant about Matias in front of other people.
''Ugh, it's just... WHAT DID I DO WRONG?! Okay, I am weird for liking turtles, and zombies, and being a bloodhound of truth, but am I that bad?! Why is it that he's perfectly happy with having another kid, but was never with me!'' Libby yelled, as she kicked the ball again to the crossbar.
''Want me to be honest? Because people like him are jerks... Yeah, I know, that's too stupid, but it's true. When someone hurts you, sometimes there's no reason, or something wrong you did, they just did it cuz' they're bad... Heck, look at me! I was... And okay, maybe still am a grumpy mess, but I definitely know my limits!'' Scratch explained.
''Well, definitely can agree with the last one... Thanks a lot for checking on me, ''best friend''!'' Libby said, sarcastically.
Scratch started to feel bad again... Because Libby was right. After Molly, he completely ignored Libby. One thing Molly wanted for both her besties was to be friends, but Scratch betrayed his promise...
''Okay, yeah, maybe I'm still a huge grumpy mess... Look, I'm sorry for that, Libs. After Molly vanished, I didn't know what to do... I tried to search for her with Jeff, Geoff, and Clara, but we couldn't find her anywhere. On top of that, the McGees looked like different people, and... I-I really was clueless...''
''Ugh, just... Why didn't you come just once?! I was down too! In fact, I spent the last weeks of the summer trying to track her, but I never could! Just... We could've at least been in this together! Like actual ghost friends!'' Libby said, angry.
''Yeah, yeah, I know... It was wrong of me, and I'm really sorry... But we can still be together! You don't have to be sad alone, we can be... Sad together? Okay, that sounded terrible... But you get my point!'' Scratch said.
Libby thought about it. Yeah, it was nice that Scratch finally apologized, but she was still mad at him for ignoring her.
''I don't know...''
''Look, I understand my mistake of ghosting you... Which is ironic, considering I'm a ghost, heh. Anyway, I promise you, that won't happen again. I can even... B-Be with you in school...'' Scratch said, shivering from the thought of having to see school hallways again, after what happened months ago in the middle school.
''Oh... Um, are you sure? You're okay after... The incident?''
''Yeah, I'm... Great. Absolutely no problem, considering I killed innocent students... Can happen to anyone, eh?'' Scratch said, sarcastically.
Remembering that, Libby sighed and sat on the grass, looking at the ground. Scratch understood what was happening those months was too much for her, so he sat next to her.
''This should've never happened... Any of this...'' Libby said.
''Yeah, tell me about it... Turning into a mad demon definitely wasn't fun at-
''Not just that! ANY OF THIS! Not me finding that cursed old doll, not her using both you and me as beasts, and not Molly turning into a ghost! Just... Ugh, WHY CAN'T THINGS GO BACK TO NORMAL?!'' Libby yelled.
''To normal?''
''Yes! With... Molly, you, me... And I don't know, maybe some bad ghost who'd cause trouble from time to time. That's what I want! When things used to be normal...'' Libby said, curling up.
Scratch understood what Libby meant. He also missed when they were just the three of them. No Chens, no skinwalkers, no demons... Just three friends having a good time.
''Yeah, I miss that too... Ugh, why did I even have to leave, what was the whole point?!'' Scratch asked.
''Huh?''
''Seriously, why?! I completely forgot everything about my ghost life, about Molly or you... Ugh, for what?! Just one year? Boo, big deal!'' Scratch said, angry.
''Hey, don't be like that... You got to spend time with Adia'' Libby tried to calm him.
''Wow, veeeeery big differnce... I should've been with her for years! From the moment she suggested for me to come! I made her think I was a lonely loser, and when she finally got to see the fun part in me, I DIED! FOR WHAT?! UGH, LIFE IS UNFAIR!''
Just talking about it, made Scratch boil from anger. If he knew he wouldn't last long, he would've never moved away. Molly didn't deserve to get depressed over just one year of him living his life...
Libby grabbed Scratch's hand. Even though she was mad, she knew Scratch also had awful time. At least that was the one thing uniting them at the moment...
''Hey... You deserved to see the good part of the living, even if it was just for a while. To know that at least the end of it was meaningful... That's what Molly wanted'' Libby said, smiling.
''But... I still feel like I didn't get enough of it. Adia used to live every day like it was her last since she was a kid, I couldn't even have a decent childhood! I... I feel like I achieved more in the afterlife than I did as a human...''
''W-Well... You did achieve a lot as a ghost. With us...'' Libby said, still smiling.
That was enough to make Scratch melt. Libby was right... The best thing from being a ghost wasn't the escape of the living, but him getting to meet the McGees and Libby.
The adventures they had, the bad ghosts they stopped like Jinx, the fun moments they shared... Even as a ghost, he did feel more alive than he did as a human.
''I... I guess you have a point. Thanks, Libs. Friends?''
''Of course''
Scratch also smiled, and both he and Libby shared a hug. It felt so good to finally be hugged after Molly ran away...
After breaking from it, Scratch and Libby layed on the grass and both stared at the sky. It was a moment where it felt like the universe was telling them ''It's okay, happy days are ahead''.
''Just to let you know, headphones are a thing'' Scratch joked.
''Oh, heh, I don't have headphones. Way over our budget. Plus, my mom used that radio speaking since I was five, so I always loved it'' Libby said.
''Well, at least your taste in music is good'' Scratch said with a grin.
''Thanks- Oh! Don't you dare tell anyone about the song!'' Libby said, as she sat up.
''Eh, it's alright, I'd keep quiet...''
Scratch continued to stare at the sky. He finally understood it... The thing Molly told him two years ago. It was all about taking a break from the harsh reality, about enjoying the small moments of life... About sharing those moments with loved ones.