See Me (16 page)

“I’m not even going to ask what the ‘zombie zone’ is supposed to be,” she said.

The whine of a blow dryer disappeared, then I heard water running as if she’d turned on a faucet. I frowned. “What’s all that racket? I thought you were grounded.”

“Not that you’ve asked about me this entire conversation, but if you had you’d know that Todd Wilson asked me out today. Can you believe it? I thought I’d be old and gray before he got up the guts. Todd’s taking me to a party at Alex’s tonight and nothing in the world is going to stop me from going. Not even being grounded. I’d invite you, but you probably already have plans with Owen Jenner and his ghost friend.”

Two days ago, I would’ve been racing to put on my make-up at the chance of meeting up with Alex. Tonight, I was riding in a truck with a UFO geek and a pseudo-minister, begging my friend to get me an artificial body. Times had seriously changed. And I was desperate.

“Jonathan’s not a ghost, but his spirit did get separated from his body,” I said firmly, hoping there was some way to convince Nicole. “I know you and I have made fun of the whole UFO thing in the past, and I’m not saying I believe in them necessarily, but I am more open to the idea. Because things happen in life that we can’t explain.” My throat tightened, thinking of how my life had changed since meeting Jonathan. “Like your hot date with Todd. It came out of nowhere, right?”

“Nicole’s going on a date with Todd?” Owen asked, seeming surprised.

I shot Owen a ‘stop listening to my phone call’ glare. “I mean, what if Todd needed your help? Wouldn’t you be there for him even if it did sound crazy?”

Nicole made a humming sound. “I suppose . . .”

“Well, Jonathan
is
real, and he’s in trouble. I need you to help me,” I said, tears burning my eyes. I mean, really, was wanting her to ask her dad one little question about a secret operation that much to ask?

“I can’t believe it.” Nicole gasped, and the sound of running water stopped. “You had that flirtatious crush on Alex forever, but that was so surface level. I never thought I’d see the day that you actually fell in
love
. Wow. If only you hadn’t fallen for a zombie you’re imagining . . .”

My face burned as my friend’s words rolled through my brain. Love? Sure the feelings I’ve been having for Jonathan were stronger than anything I’d felt before, but it was hard to determine what exactly I felt when everything was happening so fast.

I pressed my hand against the bundle of nerves in my belly, and took a deep breath. “I know you don’t believe me, and I get it. I probably would’ve reacted the same way a week ago if you’d said all of this to me.” My voice was quiet, and it was hard to talk through the boulder that had materialized in my throat at the thought of Jonathan being stuck in that astral-whatever existence indefinitely. “But I’m asking you as my best friend to help me. Believe in me. Please.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Then Nicole sighed. “If it really means that much to you, then come over. I’ll ask my dad about that secret base, but I can’t promise he’ll listen to me.”

“Thank you
so
much. We’ll be there shortly,” I said, heaving a huge sigh of relief. I pressed the OFF button on my cell, dropped it into my purse, then leaned back against the headrest.

Jonathan caught my gaze in the rear-view mirror. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” I nodded, every muscle in my body tense from the stress. “Nicole’s dad’s is in the Army Reserves. If he doesn’t know about the secret operation at Treasure Island, he’s got to know someone who does.”

“Highly probable,” Owen said as he pulled to a stop at the curb in front of Nicole’s two-story stucco home.

Jonathan twisted in his seat and met my gaze. “You shouldn’t have created a problem with your friend for me. We can find another way.”

“Nicole and I are fine.” I said, thinking that Brynne and I were another story. I wanted to explain the whole Owen-kiss thing to her but there hadn’t been time. “Besides, we’re here.”

“Then let’s do this,” Jonathan said, stepping out of the truck simultaneously with Owen and me.

The three of us strode up the walkway toward Nicole’s front door, and Jonathan slipped his hand around mine. Even though he was in the minister’s body, tingles danced up my arm, and my belly fluttered. Which reminded me of what Nicole had said about me being in love with Jonathan. How could she even suggest that? Please.

I had feelings for him, sure. But it not possible to fall for someone you’ve never seen in real life. There’s just no way.

****

As I walked toward Nicole’s front door holding Jonathan’s hand, I’d never been so stressed in my life. My shoulders hunched so tightly that it would take a military army of massage therapists to ease my tension. Seriously. Jonathan’s physical life depended on Mr. Higgins helping us, which was doubtful at best.

Even if the artificial body operation at Treasure Island turned out to be true, Mr. Higgins could still totally deny its existence. I mean, couldn’t he go to jail or something for revealing top secret information to his teenaged daughter and her friends?

I stepped onto Nicole’s porch and sucked in a deep breath, knowing I just had to think positively about Mr. Higgins sneaking us onto that secret base. We’d somehow get one of those artificial military bodies, and leave with nobody being the wiser.

Not too impossible. Sigh. At least this situation couldn’t get any worse.

Jonathan reached for the doorbell. . . .

“I sincerely hope this meeting with Mr. Higgins is beneficial,” Owen stated, slipping his hands into his pockets and rocking onto his toes. “The longer this takes, the higher the chances are that Jonathan’s spirit will evaporate.”

Jonathan froze just before ringing the buzzer. “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” He grabbed Owen’s arm, his eyebrows shooting upward. “What do you mean by
evaporate
?”

Owen tugged his arm free from Jonathan’s grasp, then he scratched his temple. “I’ve been pondering the mind and body relationship during the drive over here. We all have our own theories and beliefs about what happens to the mind once the body ceases to exist. But since your spirit didn’t pass on when your body deceased, we don’t know how long your spirit can survive in this dimension without it.”

Jonathan’s eyes bulged.

“You have no factual evidence to support that, Owen,” I snapped, trying to speak his language. He was so
not
thinking positively. I pressed the doorbell, then turned to Jonathan, wishing Owen had kept his negative, analytical thought-process to himself. The possibility of Jonathan evaporating made my stomach turn, so I pushed it from my mind. “If you were going to evaporate—or whatever—then it would’ve happened by now. Don’t let Owen’s crazy speculations freak you out.”

But Jonathan’s face had paled. “Evaporate,” he repeated, clearly stunned.

Owen cringed as I shot him the death glare. “Sorry. I simply believe it’s important to prepare ourselves by considering all of the possibilities. You brought me into the group for my brain, correct?”

I supposed that was true, but
evaporate
? Owen needed serious sensitivity training. I swiveled as the front door opened.

Mr. Higgins appeared in the doorway, towering over us with his muscular build. His dark hair was buzzed short and neat. He wore a collared shirt with bright primary color stripes and beige corduroy pants, making me want to suggest that he change his outfit immediately. Not that I’d dare.

His dark, foreboding eyes peered down at me. Gulp.

“Good evening, Mr. Higgins,” I said, putting on a brave face in the hopes that he’d have the heart to help us out.

“Hello, Amy,” he said, in an even tone that suggested he’d expected to see me and wasn’t too happy about it. “Nicole’s grounded. I know you’re already aware of that. You can come back when her teenage years are over.” He started to close the door.

“Wait!” I shot my arm past the door, blocking it from shutting all the way. “I’m sorry to bother you, Mr. Higgins. I really am.” Never had truer words been spoken. “But didn’t Nicole tell you why we’re here?”

“As a matter of fact, she did.” He nodded, crossed his arms over his broad chest, then steeled his eyes. “Nice try with the ghost story, but she’s still grounded, and there’s nothing you or your friends . . .” His voice trailed off as his gaze drifted to Jonathan, then his eyes opened wide. “Reverend Gabriel? What are you doing here?”

Jonathan winced, then tugged at his white square collar. Huh. I’d totally forgotten Nicole’s dad attended church since most of Nicole’s Sundays were spent hanging with Brynne and me. When Jonathan remained silent, I nudged his arm.

Jonathan cleared his throat. “Uh, good evening, Mr. Higgins.”

“Bill,” I muttered, coughing into my hand.

“Er, Bill,” Jonathan said, doing a pathetic job of recovering. Although he straightened his stance. “It’s good to see you, sir. I mean, Bill.”

My frazzled nerves shifted into hyper mode as Owen and I exchanged a look. I wanted to roll my eyes. Jonathan totally needed to work on his delivery. I elbowed him again.

“I’m here to, uh, ask you a favor. May we come in?” Jonathan clasped his hands in front of him, looking a little bit like he was about to give a sermon on the front porch.

“Certainly, Reverend.” Mr. Higgins pulled the door open, ushered him in, then gave Owen and me curious stares as we scrambled in after him. “The kids are with you?”

“Yeah.” Jonathan nodded as he walked with Mr. Higgins into the modest, but immaculate living room. He sat awkwardly on the couch, looking relatively small next to Mr. Higgins’s bulky frame.

I was about to follow Owen into the living room when a hand gripped my shoulder. I spun around to find Nicole standing in front of me. She wore jeans and a tee shirt, but her hair and make-up were done as if she were going out.

“Hey,” I said, happy to see her despite our earlier argument. But instead of gabbing about how she finally landed a date with Todd like we normally would, I had to focus on finding
my
guy a body in which to exist. “Did you ask your dad about the secret base?”

“Yes.” Her frosted lips spread into a phony smile. “Now he’s considering sending me to military school. Thank you
so
much for that.”

“Sorry,” I said, and I was. But the clock was ticking here. “Had your dad heard anything about the artificial bodies they’re making at Treasure Island? Did he have any advice on how we could sneak in undetected?”

“No can do,” she said, pressing her hand against my forehead. “You don’t have a fever, but I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. Brynne thought maybe your delusions were due to a high temperature, since I told her you were coming over with Owen and his ghost buddy.” Her gaze drifted to Jonathan. “Why is Reverend Gabriel here with you guys?”

I glanced at where Jonathan was making awkward chit-chat with Mr. Higgins, then turned back to Nicole. “That’s Reverend Gabriel’s body, but that’s
not
Reverend Gabriel. Jonathan had to zombie him in order to communicate with Owen and me.”

“Oh, I see.” She nodded as if it were all clear to her now, then she suddenly gripped my arms. “Snap
out
if it, Amy. I want my friend back. Maybe you can even come to Alex’s party with me,” she said, making a hopeful expression.

“I’ve already told you what my priority is,” I said, gritting my teeth as the thought of Jonathan’s spirit evaporating popped into my head. A wave of panic rolled through me. “We need to stop wasting time!” I shouted.

Everyone turned to stare at me. Jonathan gave me a look that seemed to ask if I was all right. Mr. Higgins frowned as if he were annoyed I’d interrupted his conversation with the good minister. And Owen was seated on the plaid sofa, his usual quizzical expression replaced with a surprised look.

Okay, maybe I’d lost it a little, but enough was enough. I strode into the living room, and put my hands on my hips. “Mr. Higgins, I know this
looks
like Reverend Gabriel.” I waved my thumb in Jonathan’s direction. “But, it’s actually my friend, Jonathan. He’s got a serious situation and we need your help.”

Mr. Higgins glanced from the minister’s body to me. “I don’t follow.”

I drew in a breath. “Jonathan Miller was on his way to school last Friday when a big rig rear-ended him. If you don’t believe me, check the newspaper. Just before the vehicle collided with his, Jonathan’s spirit somehow levitated out of his body so he wasn’t inside it during the crash.”

“Oh, Amy.” Nicole dropped onto the loveseat next to the couch, then started rocking back and forth as if to comfort herself. “There’s something wrong with my friend. We have to help her.”

“No, you’re just not
seeing
me, or listening to what I’m saying,” I said, wishing I could stop being invisible for once in my life. “Jonathan died as a result of injuries from the accident, and his body was cremated.” My gaze shot to Mr. Higgins. “That’s why we need
your
help to get a new body for Jonathan from the secret military operation at Treasure Island, which we know exists,” I said, even though part of me still had doubts. “They have artificial bodies, and we need one in a bad way. So will you take us there?”

Mr. Higgins’s brows furrowed. “I’m not sure what you kids are up to, but Nicole’s still grounded. Perhaps the next time she gets some hair-brained idea, you’ll come tell me before she mutilates her skin.”

“You’re ruining my life, Dad.” Nicole flung herself onto the arm of the sofa, then threw the back of her hand across her face. “I’m the only one in school with such a clueless parent. Why can’t you be cool like Amy’s mom?”

“Huh?” I gaped at her, wondering what in the world she found appealing about my hyper-critical mom.

Nicole gestured toward me. “Amy
never
listens to her mom’s advice, and she gets terrible grades. Yet her mom still let her go out when Alex asked her on a date.”

I wanted to point out that was probably only because my mom wanted me out of the house, but I wanted to drop all talk related to my lame date with Alex.