Spirits (Spirits Series Book 1) (4 page)

“I know you are.” Oh
my gosh why couldn’t this have happened years ago?  He pulls me in and wraps his arms around me.  It’s awkward, I can’t remember the last time he touched me that didn’t include name-calling or a dirty look.  I’m shocked to say the least, at first I just stand there with my arms by my sides.  I like this new Drew I decide as I hug him back.  It will be great having him to talk to.

“
Aww, I, honey come here!” Mom says to Dad catching Drew and I in our moment of sibling love.

We let each other go quickly feeling embarrassed.

“What?” Dad rushes to the doorway.

“They were hugging, isn’t that sweet?”

He nods his head, “Yes but it looks like you’ve embarrassed the tar out of them. I know when I was his age I wouldn’t be caught Dead hugging my sister.”

“Well that’s
the difference between boys and girls.” Mom chortles as she turns back to the kitchen, “I would have given a weeks worth of allowance to receive a little kindness from my brothers.” She says.

“Girls, always so sensitive.” D
ad chuckles as he sits down then looks at Drew curiously when he doesn’t respond with a smart comment.

“What has brought about this change?” Dad asks.

Drew shrugs then looks to me.  He doesn’t want them to know what happened.

“Are you complaining?” I ask.

“No we’re just curious.” Mom says quickly.

“I just realized I’m in a new place, basically friendless and so is Journey but we’ve got each other.” He shrugs nonchalantly and picks up a piece of bacon.

Quick thinking. Wow maybe there is a functioning brain in that head after all.  “Family,” I grin, “they’ll always be there.”

Mom smiles and nods, “Yes they will.”

“So what are your plans for the day?” I ask them.

Dad looks to Mom. S
he’s sort of the boss I guess you’d say or at least the daily coordinator.  He’d forget what he was supposed to be doing if it weren’t for her.

“Well, I was thinking that since it’s the weekend we could do some sight seeing before your Dad starts his new job on Monday.”

“Cool.” Drew says with a mouth full of scrambled eggs.

“Sound okay to you?” Dad asks me.

“Yeah, that sounds great.” I nod.

“Good, we’ll finish up breakfast, get ready, and then go explore the charming south.” Mom sips on her coffee.

I can’t help but notice Drew keeps glancing around; he’s looking for Kadence, well I guess he is but if our parents notice they’ll think he looks paranoid.  I nudge his foot trying to get his attention, he looks at me immediately and I lightly shake my head no.

    
“Sooo,” Kadence drags it out as I plunder through my closet for something to wear, “is Drew being nice?”

“Yeah, you really scared him straight, thanks.”

She shrugs as though it’s no big deal. “Where are you all going?”

Turning quickly I look at her curiously, normally she says we.  “Aren’t you coming?”

“Um,” she hesitates, “not today.”

“Why not?” I go back to searching for
something to wear that won’t give me a heat stroke.

“Well I think I’ll have a better chance of talking to them if you’re not around.”

“I don’t get it, why are they hiding… they’ve all been hiding since you, uh… died but decided to stick around.”

She sighs and flops on the bed, “They don’t like me I guess.”

“Do you still have a thing for Drew?” I ask catching her completely off guard.

“What? Why would you ask that?”

“How exactly were you ‘touching’ him?” I turn around to ask.

“That’s, I, uh, not like you’re thinking pervert.” She stutters.

“But you wanted to?”

“Ugh, I’m not having this conversation with you.” She huffs and walks to the door.

“Kay, I’m just curious, I swear.”

“So what if I did?” she asks snatching the door open, “I’m
friggin lonely, angry and depressed!” She slams the door. 

She could have just walked through it like she always does.  I guess her tone wasn’t enough emphasis on her emotions. 
Lonely, for reals?  She’s always up my butt. Don’t you have to be alone to be lonely…?  Actually that’s a no.  I can be surrounded by people, even my family, and still feel alone.  I thought it was different between us though, we’ve been friends for our whole lives basically, shared our darkest secrets but now she’s lonely?!  Talk about frustrating! I’ve dealt with crazy looks from everyone when I’ve been caught talking or writing to her! Lonely my ace!!

After snatching a t-shirt and jeans off the hangers I pull them on
aggravated.  Something falls and hits the floor with a heavy thud startling me.  Turning I expect to see Kadence, instead there is no one.  A picture of Kadence and I as children lies on the floor.  “Kay?” I ask knowing better; it doesn’t feel like her.  This spirit feels… confused, like it’s angry but happy at the same time.  I want to talk to it but I know I shouldn’t, not yet anyway.  “Kadence.” I say a little louder, not wanting my parents to hear me but hoping she does.  Maybe if she comes they’ll show themselves to her or something.  I just find it strange that they are hiding from me, usually they are elated to communicate however not all of them are kind or simply a spirit.  I shiver remembering the first encounter I had with a demon.

“Journey, can I come in?” Drew’s voice accompanies the tapping on my door.

“Yeah.” I tell him happy to have something to take my mind off the terrifying experience.

He quickly closes the door behind himself and crosses the room to sit at my desk.

“What’s up?”

He squirms in the chair nervously, “Is there another one of them?” he asks scooting to the edge of the seat.

Glancing around I nod briefly while placing my finger to my lips.

“Shoot.” He whispers.

“Let’s talk about this once we leave okay?”

“Yeah, you almost ready? Mom and Dad are already downstairs.”

“I just have to put on my shoes. Have you been outside yet?”

“No but from what I gather it’s hot enough to fry an egg on the driveway.”

Groaning I slide on my favorite pair of Vans, don a belt and grab my hobo bag, “All set, lets go.”

     “Do you think they are going to take us to look at cars today?” Drew asks as we leave my room.

“I’m not sure, maybe.  Dad has to get one unless he plans on riding a bicycle to work.”

“Yeah right.” He chuckles.

“Are you going to look for a job, at least for the summer?”

“I really don’t want one. I just want to meet people and hangout. I don’t want to start school friendless.”

Same old Drew worried about social status. I’m not surprised though, very seldom does one event bring about radical change.  “You’ll be one of the cool kids don’t worry.” I pat his back.

“I hope so. Hey if we get cars today you
want to hit the beach tomorrow? I’m so ready to see some southern girls.”

“Ugh, we have to find you some friends,” I shake my head, “we can hangout but I’m not going to be your wing man. I refuse to help you pick up
chics.”

We both laugh at the thought of me trying to help in that department.  I almost overlook Mom as we stop at the bottom of the steps.  Sh
e’s hidden behind the large floral arrangement on the foyer table scribbling something down.  She looks up at us surprised, “Dad’s in the car, we all set?” she asks folding the paper and stuffing it into her overpriced Gucci bag.

“Yep.” We nod and she follows behind us.

     I climb in my usual spot, the far backseat, instead of claiming the middle all to himself Drew nudges me over so he can sit beside me.  “Where’s Kay?” he whispers buckling up.

“Not coming.” I frown.

Mom and Dad glance at us happily through the rearview mirror as we start down the driveway.  She reaches over taking his hand and he looks to her smiling.  I can’t help but notice how truly happy they seem.  Drew is oblivious, he’s staring off at the trees and unkempt gardens lining the driveway.  He shifts in his seat suddenly and all but breaks his neck to look backwards.  Bumping him with my elbow I try to see what has caught his interest.  He lightly shakes his head like he’s shaking away an image or doubting his own eyes.

“What?” I ask
. I didn’t see anything. I swear if they showed themselves to him I’m going to be so mad!

“Nothing.”

I look at him doubtfully. He saw something even if he doesn’t want to admit it. As soon as we get out of this vehicle and away from our parent’s he’s going to spill it!

     Mom and dad start talking about things they need to do soon like swapping over everyon
e’s drivers license and the tag on the suburban.  I don’t know why she had to have this tank a small sedan would have been better. It’s sat in the parking garage almost the whole time she has owned it, only taking it out once a week and usually dad was the one driving.  It suits him better anyway, he’s a tall man with a formidable structure unlike mom she’s short and very petit. Drew and I are taller than she is. I bet she looked insanely disproportionate when she was pregnant with us.  I wish she had allowed people to take her picture.  The horn blares and Dad hits the brakes scaring me out of my thoughts and nearly giving me a heart attack.

“Watch where you’re going pal!” Dad shouts angrily.

“Joe, calm down.” Mom says sweetly rubbing his arm.

“Kids you have to be careful driving down here, these people obviously pay no attention to stop signs.
” Dad said shaking his head. Yeah cause people in New York never run stop signs or lights, but I keep that sarcastic remark to myself. Drew’s grinning and I can only assume he’s thinking the same thing.

      “This is a nightmare.” Dad says as we enter the historic district traffic. “I’d rathe
r perform open heart surgery than try to find a parking spot for this mammoth.” He shakes his head. “Susan you need a smaller car.”

“I’m not giving up my baby.”
She pats the dashboard and dad sighs knowing it’s a pointless argument as he attempts to parallel park.

“I hope everyone wore comfortable shoes, we
’re walking today.”

“I did.” Mom says showing off her Sperry
’s, “I had a feeling today was not the day to wear high heels.” She smiles.

“Where to first?” Dad asks
as we get out and look around.

“River Street.” Mom says without hesitation and takes his hand pulling him along.

Clearly she’s done her research. Drew and I just stand there looking around. I’m a little in shock at the moment. I’ve never seen so many spirits in one place at one time.

“Are you two coming?” Mom asks.

“Actually would it be all right if Drew and I do our own thing for a little while?”

Mom looks to D
ad, I swear it’s like they carry on a silent conversation sometimes.

“I don’t see why not.”  Dad says walking back to us and pulling out his wallet, “keep your cell phones handy, we’ll meet up for lunch.”

“Sure thing.” Drew says taking the money and immediately pocketing it.

“That’s for you and your sister.” Mom says before they walk away.

    “What’s with the expression?”

“Huh?”  I ask
walking slowly beside him.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Try ghosts, they are everywhere. It’s crazy.”

“Do they see
us?”

“I think some of them do.” I tell him careful not to make eye contact with them.

“It feels different here.” He whispers.

I nod, “T
heir presence is stronger here, they are stronger here.”

“Why?”

“I’m not positive but I have a theory, I’m going to find out for sure.”

“What’s your theory?”

“The energy here, they feed off of it. The more of them there are the stronger they become.”

“Energy as an electricity?”

“And the people, the land, everything has its own form of energy.”

“Cool. So what do they look like?”

“People but some of them aren’t as solid as others.” I chuckle as the black Labrador puppy runs up barking at the couple ahead of us. “And animals.”

“R
eally?”

“Yeah, sometimes I think they
are more perceptive in either case.”

“That makes sense,” he nods, “they don’t have the logic to doubt, you know what I mean?”

“Yes.”

“I wish I could see them.”

I grab his arm stopping him in his tracks,  “Be careful what you wish for Drew. Once you open that door it’s not easy to close.”

“Did you ‘open’ it?”

“No, I was born like this for some reason, I never asked for it.”

“What could
be so bad about it? I mean besides if other people find out they think you’re crazy.”