The Spirit Who Loved Me: Spirit Whispers Book One (14 page)

Chapter 18

It was Friday
before Malcom would speak to me again, much less look at me. I felt as if he’d been experiencing some inner debate as he made up his mind. About me. I’d been patient as Abel had recommended and gave Malcom the time and space he needed. But it was so hard! I missed my friend.

I was beside myself with joy when he finally met me at my locker just like any old regular day. He looked at me sheepishly and gave me a lopsided grin. I knew he was he was trying to say he was sorry, but before he could get the words out I threw my arms around him.

“Ouch, Krystal,” he said, rubbing at his left side. “Girl, you lucky you didn’t just break one of my ribs.”

I laughed. “So, what do you think?” I asked showing off the tank he’d bought for my birthday.

“I think you make that little top look wonderful.”

Malcom and I just looked at each other, his mouth forming into a large O.

It took me a good second to get over the shock, to make sense of the words, to find my voice. I slid my eyes over to take in the looming figure of Jett.

“Is that so?” I asked. I heard Malcom give a little snicker, but it was quickly forgotten as Jett’s eyes grazed over my figure.

“I know so. In fact, you’ve been looking really good lately,” Jett said, leaning over me and placing his palm on my locker, his bright baby blues boring into my face. “So a group of us are getting together on Halloween. I’d love it if you would be my special guest.” He looked like he was just noticing Malcom standing with me for the first time. “Your friend can come too, of course. And that little red head that’s always following you around.”

“Um, thanks.” I was wondering what “special guest” meant. “Where are ya’ll meeting?”

“The Devil’s Tramping Ground, ‘bout 8:00.”

“We’ll try to make it,” I said even though I didn’t really want to go. As an afterthought I added, “Is Tara going to be there?” But I wished I hadn’t as I watched dark clouds seem to pass over his eyes.

“Maybe, don’t really know.” Jett gave a shrug, stepping backwards away from us. “Later, Krystal. Hope to see you there.” And he spun around on his heel, joining his jock buddies.

“Well,” I said to Malcom. “That was certainly interesting. I guess he and Tara broke up.”

“Doesn’t matter. You know Tara will still kick your ass if you go out with that boy.”

“She doesn’t own him. So, do you think we should go?”

“I don’t know. Devil’s Tramping Ground does not sound like the place I want to be on Halloween.”

“Oh, come on Malcom, you know that’s just an old wives’ tale. Oh, look! Is Tammy over there?” I couldn’t see her face, but I had caught a glimpse of fiery hair that could only belong to her.

“Yep. Hey, Tammy over here,” Malcom called, waving his hands over his head.

Tammy caught sight of us and rushed over breathlessly as the first bell rang its warning.

She looked at me, then at Malcom, then back to me again, a big smile forming on her face. “About time. And just when I was thinking that I’d have to go slap some sense into somebody,” she grinned. “Seriously, though, glad to see you two are talking again.”

“Guess who just asked Krystal out?” Malcom teased.

Tammy eye balled me. “Who?”

“Jett.”

“Oh, my God, no way! I am so jealous,” she shrieked.

“Oh, Malcom, he didn’t really ask me out. He asked me to be his,” I added air quotes for emphasis, “special guest.” That’s not really the same thing. Plus,” I added, “he said ya’ll could come too.”

“He did?” Tammy shrieked again, this time so loud I had to cover my ears and noticed Malcom doing the same.

“Girl, you got to calm down. People are starting to stare,” Malcom admonished in a loud whisper.

“We better get a move on, or we’re going to be late,” I said before picking up my pace.

“We have to go,” Tammy said putting her hand on my arm, so I’d know she meant business. “Promise me, we’re gonna go?” Her eyes pleaded with mine.

I sighed. “Let’s talk about it at lunch, kay?” I waved to my friends and ducked into the relative safety of my homeroom, mentally saying a prayer in hopes Tammy would change her mind once she heard we’d been invited to the Tramping Ground, on Halloween to boot.

I sat slumped
on a window ledge in the Commons, listening to the patter of rain hit the glass as I waited for Tammy and Malcom join me. Jett noticed me from his spot at the foosball table and gave a wave but didn’t come over. Thank goodness; I didn’t think Tammy would be able to control herself.

“Hey, Malcom,” I called when I noticed him striding in. He hopped up next to me on the ledge.

“So, what are we going to do about this thing and Tammy?” he asked.

“What, you’re not jumping for joy to hang out at the Tramping Grounds either, I take it?” I asked, a big grin on my face. I was glad at least one of my friends was on the same page.

“Hell, no.” He lowered his voice. “Here she comes.”

I glanced up to see Tammy and her hair with a life of its own, bouncing into the Commons. I felt a wave of guilt about popping her bubble.

“Tell me everything!” She gushed.

“Um, well…”
 
I started. “He liked my shirt and said I’d been looking nice lately.”

“Naw, Tammy. He said it like this,” Malcom puffed his chest out, all jock like. “You make that little shirt look wonderful,” Malcom had deepened his voice, giving it his all. “True, too.”

“Did he really?”

“Something like that,” I stared at Malcom, slightly shaking my head. I sighed inwardly. My friends. God bless their hearts.

“This must mean that Tara and Jett broke up.”

I nodded, holding back the “no shit” I really wanted to say. “I reckon so. I just don’t get the sudden interest in me, is all.”

“Kris, every hot blooded male in this place is suddenly interested in you.”

I raised my eyebrows at Malcom, I was speechless for once.

“He does have a point,” Tammy giggled. “Gosh, Krystal. Haven’t you noticed?”

I cleared my throat. I vaguely remembered Tammy joking about some guys checking me out on my birthday but hadn’t thought much about it since. Tammy and Malcom started laughing harder.

“Well, I’ve kind of had other things on my mind,” I mumbled. Yeah, I wanted to add, like ghost girls, dead grandmothers living it up in Heaven, Spirit Guides and spiders that magically spin. I resisted the urge to stomp my foot like a four year old.

“So, where are we going?” Tammy asked, practically bouncing out of her skin again.

“Who said we were going anywhere?”

“Grrrr,” Tammy gave a little growl of frustration. “Aw, come on, Krystal. Where did Jett want to take us all?”

“The Tramping Grounds. On Halloween.”

“Can you believe it?” Malcom added. “Like that could be romantic.”

“Well,” Tammy started, “maybe you just wouldn’t understand.” She shrugged. “But, I’m not surprised. I heard those guys hang out there all the time.”

“Really?” Malcom and I asked at the same time.

“Yep. Jett’s friend, Caleb, his great-Uncle or something or other owns the property. Oh, I’ve been dying to go to one of their parties! They sound like so much fun.”

Dying to go? This was the first I’d heard about all this. “Where’d you hear about these parties?”

“Oh, I’ve overheard Tara and Missy Anne talking in homeroom. They usually have a bonfire and stuff.”

I wondered what the “and stuff” was. I doubted it was marshmallows and wieners.

“Well, Jett extended the invitation to all of us. What do you think, Malcom?” I asked.

“Doesn’t sound like my thing, but if you got your heart set to go, I will. Somebody’s gotta keep you two out of trouble.” He flashed me a smile.

“It is on a school night, you know.”

Tammy groaned. “Krystal, who cares? It’s Halloween for goodness sake.” She threw her hands up in the air. “Our parents are practically expecting us to go out. Who are we to disappoint them?”

Malcom started to crack up with laughter.

I shot him a dirty look. “I could use some help here.”

“I’m staying out of this one,” he said with a shake of his head. “This is your call.”

Tammy pulled her smartphone out of her purse and began to scroll down the screen. “Ha,” she crowed. “Halloween’s on a Friday this year. Now what excuse you gonna try and use?”

“I’ll think about it, Tammy,” I resigned.

“Woo hoo!” She shouted in her exuberance and threw her arms around me, jumping up and down in her excitement. To her, that was as good as a yes, and I sighed in resignation.

The rest of our lunch passed uneventfully, but just as we were filing out of the Commons to go back to class, Tammy pulled me quietly over to the side.

“He’s not real, you know.” Tammy kept her voice low.

“What are you talking about?” I furrowed my brow in confusion.

“Abel. I mean, I guess in a way he’s real, but he’s not like us. Not like Jett.” She pinched her arm in an effort to get her point across. “Not living and breathing, you know?”

I stared at my friend dumbfounded. “He feels plenty real to me.” I remembered kissing Abel’s finger just this morning, heat rising high in my cheekbones. “Why are we having this conversation?” I shook my head at her. “Ya know what? Never mind, I’ve got to get to class.”

“Wait.” Tammy reached out, taking hold of my forearm. “Just think about what I said, okay? I don’t want you missing out on things because…” She was at loss for the right words, a rare thing for her indeed. “Well, you won’t ever be able to have a real relationship with Abel. Get married. Have kids.”

“Yeah, ‘cause at seventeen, I’m looking to get married and have kids.” I rolled my eyes. But I had to admit that her words stung just a little. “Seriously, Tammy? Give me a break.”

“But one day, you might. I know one of the reasons you don’t want to hang out with Jett is because of Abel.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What would you know about it anyway? I’m leaving now. Before I say something I’m going to regret.”

I turned away, but I heard her call out after me. “You were never meant to be with him, Krystal! If you were…”

I turned back around to face her. We were the only two left in the Commons, and I knew I was going to be late getting to my English class. “What, Tammy?”

I saw pain brimming in Tammy’s aqua eyes. She didn’t want to say what she felt she needed to say. Not really. Her voice was hushed, lower. “If you were meant to be together Krystal, Abel would have chosen to live.”

Chapter 19

I sat on
my bed, my legs crossed underneath me, as Abel began my nightly lesson, right on time. But my heart was heavy, aching with a longing, an intense wanting for something I couldn’t name. With each beat of my aching heart, waves rushed over my body leaving me confused and unable to concentrate. Staring down at my fists, I twisted them into my quilt, trying to wrap my mind around what was happening to me. I let my breath out in a loud huff. I felt, rather than heard silence settling around me. I returned my gaze to Abel’s quiet demeanor and studied him studying me. A sudden urge to reach out and hold his face in my hands almost overpowered my reason. I straightened my spine in surprise at the thought, and my checks flushed scarlet with embarrassment as before my eyes I saw a look of surprise and then understanding wash over his features. I couldn’t hide anything from my Spirit Guide; he knew what I was thinking and feeling almost before I did.

“Did you hear anything I said?”
he asked in a low whisper.

I hid my face in my hands in answer wanting to disappear, to hide even from myself.
“Krystal,”
he continued, his voice pained.

I peeked through my fingers to see his beautiful hazel eyes full of compassion.

What am I going to do with you? Hmmmm?

“Gee, that makes me feel better.” I blinked back the tears I could feel beginning to well up, and wondered why I felt like crying. “I just don’t understand, Abel. This makes no sense. Why do I feel this way about you?” I didn’t add the fact that I felt ridiculous, stupid even, especially since he already probably knew anyway.

He didn’t answer me. I watched emotions war over his features as minutes ticked by, each feeling like a miniature eternity. My tears began in earnest, running down my cheeks in little rivers. I couldn’t even put a name to what I wanted and what I felt I needed, all I knew was that it consumed my being--this wanting, this desire. Only to touch him…just once, the feeling overwhelming my senses so, bordering on obsession.

I think it would be best if I go.
He searched my face, his form vibrating. He leaned forward, the ghost of his fingertips gliding on my cheeks to wipe my tears away, and they disappeared into who knows where.

“Please don’t leave me,” my voice cracked as I cried out, reaching for him.

He squeezed his eyes shut, the war on handsome face waging on.
“Okay, Krystal,”
he sighed, his eyes glowing with intensity.
“You win.”

But before I could even ask what he meant, I could feel him touching me. He wasn’t cold, not at all, he was warm causing my skin to tingle in response. And pressure, I could feel the weight of his hands, and could sense his hands had once been calloused. His touch ran through my hair, as I felt him gently push me back, laying me down. He fanned my hair out onto the pillow.

So beautiful, nothing in all of Heaven and Earth can compare…
Abel breathed into me, filling my lungs, warming me from the inside out.

Beautiful? It felt so different when Spiral had said those same words; the way he had said I was beautiful made me feel unclean. But when Abel said I was beautiful, I could almost believe it.

Abel traced the outline of my face, rubbing my lips in a circular motion with what felt like his thumb. I could feel his caresses moving all over my body, even in places where I rested against the mattress. His fingers licked up my spine causing my back to arch up uncontrollably in response, a little moan escaping my lips. His touch found places that I hadn’t realized existed, places never before explored. Love radiated from him like rays of light from the Sun. My breaths began coming in tiny little gasps as I could feel something unknown building up within me. I could feel the weight of him as his hands continued to work over me, teasing, testing my limits.

“I always want you. Always,” he whispered in one ear. “How could I not? You hold me powerless in your grasp,” he breathed in the other.

I could feel butterfly like kisses all over my face and mouth, each one making me feel greater desperation. Suddenly, my eyes flew open in surprise, and I cried out, powerless to hold anything back, my body trembling as waves of pleasure rolled through me. I felt drawn into him, our energies intertwining as I floated away into sweet oblivion.