Chapter 30
✾Zak✾
S-She knew I accidently came in on her??? IT was a completely accident!! I didn’t mean to! I took my glasses off and cleaned them as I hopped off the counter and floated up to the attic but I didn’t see her anywhere in the attic and the window was open. So I went up to the roof and Vera was sitting up on the roof looking out at the woods.
“It’s really beautiful up here.” She said as I “sat” next to her on the roof.
“It is. This was my favorite spot to get away from my family when we had a fight. Or even just to come up and draw.” I said as I leaned back on my hands.
“I can see why. It’s so peaceful.” She has a small smile on her lips. “Thank you again for today.”
“Of course.” I smile at her. After I had my little round about through the school trying to find Vera and what classroom she was in I stuck close to her the rest of the day just to make sure that one girl didn’t pick on her for the rest of the day. I didn’t like bullies. I never really have.
Something that I wanted to ask her was why she seemed to tense up when she walked past the pool and I pointed it out to her. Does she not like pools? Is she afraid of water? I was about to open my mouth and ask when I felt her staring at me. I looked at her and she had a smirk on her face. “W-What’s all that about?” I stuttered leaning away from her.
“What were you thinking about? Something naughty I’m guessing.” She giggled that evil smirk never leaving her lips.
“N-No I was not!” my glasses fogged up.
“HA! I knew it! You totally were!” She exclaimed pointing a finger at me and it was just inches away from my nose.
“I was not. Keep accusing me of it and I’ll make sure your feet feel freezing and drain your battery on your computer right after you pull it off charge.” I threatened with a straight face.
She gasped, “You wouldn’t dare…” That sounded like a challenge.
“Wanna bet?” I rose an eyebrow at her. Oh I would have plenty of energy to mess with her if I completely drained the battery on her laptop right after it was fully charges.
“Vera who are you talking to?” I disappeared when her father came out onto the roof. “And come back inside. It’s dangerous to be up here.” Her dad said.
I gave her a gentle push to tell her to go inside. She crawled back to the window and then went inside. I was getting really tired of having to hide like this. Once they get all the way down stairs I’m just going to show myself to her father. If he sees me he sees me if he doesn’t well then he doesn’t and Vera will just keep looking like she’s nuts.
Vera and her father were arguing when I made it back into the house and I stood there as the bottom of the stairs that went up to the attic. I had obviously made myself visible to at least Vera and her mother. Not if her father will see me is another question.
“You, boy.” Yep he could see me, “How did you get in my house?” My eye twitched a little at that. My house? Excuse me I was here first so it’s technically my house!!
“Um…I’m Zachary Marquardt sir…” I answered kind of quiet as he got in my face. Vera’s father was taller then I was, by a few inches I want to say two or three, maybe four. But he was definitely intimidating.
“That can’t be, Zachary Marquardt is dead.” He said and I nodded slowly.
“I-I’m a ghost sir.” I stuttered and pointed at myself.
He blinked a few times and then I think it clicked with him that he could see through me. He stood up straight and held his head. “Um sir…” I muttered.
“I can’t believe that I didn’t even realize that I could see right through you.” He laughed a bit. “And you’re a ghost…I’m talking to a ghost.” He sounded like he was hysteric.
“What’s all the commotion?” Vera’s mom came over to all of us and then looked at me and back at her husband.
“H-honey…did you know we have a ghost in the house and that the rumors of the house were true?” He questioned his wife.
She smiled happily. “Of course. Zak is a very sweet boy; he doesn’t cause any trouble. I’m glad that you can see him.” She clapped her hands together.
Vera’s father laughed sheepishly and I looked down at his knees because they were shaking. He was gonna faint. I mean it makes sense if the person is just starting to believe in ghosts and then they meet their first ghost and they have to live with said ghost that can be a bit of a shock. And sure enough his legs gave out and he was down for the count on the floor.
“There he goes.” I muttered as Vera and her mother got him to the couch.
I leaned against the back of the couch as Vera and her mother sat on the love seat and waited for him to wake up as well. Finally, he came to. Vera was the first one up and over to him as he sat up. “Hey dad…everything’s alright.” She said and I ran my fingers through my hair as I stood up and strolled around the couch and stood next to Vera with my hands in my pockets.
“It’s real? You’re not kidding me?” He said focusing on Vera. He didn’t even notice that I was standing there next to her.
“No dad. I wouldn’t lie or trick you. This is Zak acting all cool.” She said and I puffed out my cheeks like a child at here.
“I am not acting cool.” I huffed and I could feel her father’s gaze on me.
I looked over at him as he got up slowly. “Well look at me, fainting like a wuss…” He held out his hand and smiled a little at me. “I’m Damian.” He said.
I tried to take his hand but I just phased right through him but I looked up at him anyways. “I’m Zak. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you sir.” I smiled.
“Ah…” He flicked his hand from how cold it probably was from me doing that. “So you’re the reason why Vera doesn’t want to move again.” He stated and I gulped a little. Was that a bad thing?
“Um…Y-yeah kinda…” I laughed sheepishly rubbing the back of my head and looking away from him.
“I hope you don’t mind that we moved in.” He said which shocked me.
I shook my head rapidly. “No, I don’t mind at all.” I responded. I was actually really happy now. I was so alone; it was nice to have people here with me again.
“Well, that’s…good…” He said with a bit of questioning in his voice.
“Dad, it’s fine. Zak and I are going upstairs now…” Vera said and she headed up to her room.
Her father looked at me with one of those looks that says you better not do anything with my daughter. I instantly put my hands up in front of me. “I can’t do anything. I’m completely innocent.” I squeaked out.
“Okay, good, I mean, okay? I think…” He said completely lost which made Vera’s mother laugh.
It became quiet between the three of us for a moment until I spoke up. “Um…can I ask you something?” I questioned and just continued to talk. “Is Vera afraid of water? She seemed to tense up when I pointed out the pool today at school.”
“She doesn’t know how to swim. She was almost carried away in the ocean when we visited the beach when she was very young. It traumatized her, and us. She doesn’t like anything that’s deeper then her head.” He explained to me.
I looked down at the ground. So she was afraid of water. Sadly, there wasn’t anything I could do to help her get over it. I wasn’t alive so I couldn’t teach her how to swim. I mean I understand it’s easy to become afraid of water. It’s a beautiful, but also very dangerous thing. If you fight against it while in a panic, it’s invisible chains will tighten and pull you deeper… “Ah…that makes sense…” I muttered and then looked up at him once more. “I’m going to go check on her.” I told her parents and then left them and went upstairs to see what was up with Vera. I wasn’t going to tell her about what I learned. I figured when she was ready she would tell me herself. I floated up to her door and brought enough energy into my body to knock on her door lightly. “Vera, it’s me. I’m gonna come in.” I said and phased through the door.
