Chapter 45
ϕVeraϕ
It had been quite the day, and I was so thankful to be cleansed of makeup and hairspray. Once out and mostly dried I wrapped the towel around myself and went into my room, closing the door. I slipped on my undergarments since I planned on being up a little longer and before I got totally dressed, I brushed my hair and continued to pat the ends dry. My door creaked loudly and it flew open so fast it hit the wall. I jumped and almost yelled at Zak, but I didn’t see him. I marched over to the door quickly and closed it, making sure it was latched. “I swear, if Zak is somehow behind this I’ll kill him.” I pressed my cool hands against my warming cheeks and got dressed. Once downstairs my mom came into the kitchen with a small smile on her face.
“Zak seems pretty pooped. He fell asleep on the couch and I don’t have the heart to wake him.” She said.
“And your mother and I are going to go to bed, after we shower.” My dad came up behind mom and held her waist. She giggled and pushed his hands back.
“Save it for when we get to our room!” Mom said looking away.
“Ew. You guys go, I’ll keep the TV on, with slightly higher volume…” I grimaced.
“Night love, and thank you for coming, It meant a lot to me.” Dad said.
“Of course. And I know Zak was happy you asked him, that you really consider him a part of the family.” I said.
“Good. He’s a good kid.” He said. Mom gave me a quick kiss.
“And, you looked so lovely dear.” I rolled my eyes at her.
“Thank you Mom.” I said.
“Oh don’t be like that! How are you ever going to get a husband with that attitude???”
“Good night Mom.” I waved her away and she chuckled as she followed Dad to their room. If I had a friend’s house to go to, I would have. They needed their alone time. Maybe I could ask Zak to go out one night. Like a movie and dinner, just the two of us. Not a date, oh no, definitely not as a date, I mean… I found myself wandering to the living room and seeing Zak sleeping on the couch sitting up. I grabbed a blanket and gently draped it over him. I looked at his sleeping face and then blinked. I stood back up and put both hands on my head. “Such cute freckles! I never even noticed!” I said aloud.
“And you’ve known him how long?” A voice next to me said I jumped and turned my head so fast it cracked.
“Who’s there?! Who are you?!” I asked in a heated, shaky whisper.
“Oops.” I heard in front of me.
“Show yourself!” I demanded and once I blinked, a boy was in front of me. He was also transparent like Zak used to be. Short hair framed a thin face with a nervous expression plastered on it.
“I-I’m sorry I scared you, um…I…” He stuttered.
“What’s your name?” I asked, relaxing a little. He wasn’t intimidating at all.
“Anthony, um, Zak’s best friend. Well, besides you, I mean when we were both in school together and then he died and all, and then I died too. Funny how that happened yeah?” He rubbed the back of his head. Well, he seemed kind of like a space case…
“Yeah, so funny…How long have you been here?” I asked.
“Not too long, I came back here with Zak.” He answered.
“When was that?” I furrowed my brow, confused.
“Well when we met up at the treehouse we-”
“Wait, the treehouse?” I asked.
“Uh…I, oops again.” Anthony stuttered. I looked back at Zak’s sleeping figure and crossed my arms. I tapped my toe against his shin and his eyes flew open.
“Oh, let’s see, ‘I promise not to go to the treehouse.’ ” I said. He glanced over at Anthony and then back at me. “Yes, I know about your little peeping tom friend.”
“Hey!” Anthony said in protest. “T-That was an accident! I didn’t mean to open your door to see you in your blue and white skivvies and wet hair…”
“Tony, you don’t do that to women.” Zak smacked his forehead.
“I didn’t mean it! My energy in here is just so charged I went by and I just did it!”
“Just like you didn’t mean to scare the living bajezus out of Vera when she was looking for a dress…” Zak muttered.
“That was you? Ah whatever, never mind that…” I shook my head and focused back on Zak.
“You weren’t supposed to go back to that place, at least not without me. Zak what if something happened to you?! What if this suddenly reversed?! What if you were taken somewhere where you couldn’t get back and left me? You lied to me Zak…” I felt my nose sting but I bit my lip to keep the tears from forming.
“I’m, I’m sorry Vera. I went to see Tony, to come to terms with what happened.” Zak said quietly.
“You could have told me…” I said.
“But you wouldn’t have let me go.” Zak said.
“No, I would have went with you.” I said.
“You couldn’t, I had to do it myself, alone.” He ran a hand through his hair, his teeth together as he let out a sigh.
“Hey now wait, don’t fight. It’s kinda my fault too.” Anthony said, floating between us.
“I’m just, ugh…” I turned around so I was facing away from them, trying to hide my reddening face and trembling hands. I felt like this argument was petty, but at the same time I felt a bit betrayed. For a few moments it seemed to me like he didn’t care about his own safety. I flinched when I felt arms wrap around my upper body.
“I’m sorry Vera.” Zak whispered in my ear.
“Me too, but I’m scared I could lose you.” I said quietly back.
“I know.” He said.
“Don’t lie to me again. I’ll tell my father.” I felt my mouth curl up into a smirk.
“Ohhhhhh she means business Zakey…” Anthony laughed.
“Please no, anything but that…” Zak said as he let me go. I turned around and smiled a little.
“Good, now that we understand each other, you have freckles.” I said. Zak blinked, slightly confused.
“Uh, yeah?” He asked.
“She never noticed how cute they were before.” Tony chimed in. I glared a little at him.
“T-That’s not what I said!” I exclaimed.
“Yes it is.” Tony tipped his head. I looked up at Zak, who was now the one smirking.
“Who’s the liar now?” He asked. My cheeks could have burst into flames.
“S-Shut up.” I stuttered.
“Finally speechless for once.” Zak grinned.
“Anyway, back to this. What are you doing here Anthony? Not that I’m mad or anything.” I said quickly.
“I just, felt pulled here. Must have been when Zak was like, voodooed back to life.” Tony said.
“I don’t think it’s voodoo necessarily, but by some supernatural means yes. There’s this voice that keeps coming back, but I don’t know what it means. And that treehouse is clearly the center of it all.” Zak said.
“I agree, It’s like the place vibrates. And that weird light too.” Tony added.
“Wait, what light?” I asked.
“When Tony and I were talking, this light just, appeared, and it went through me. I feel fine, but it was so bizarre.” Zak told me.
“Now balls of light, maybe it was the same one I saw when you fell from the ladder. It blinded me.” I said.
“I wonder…” Tony muttered.
“You wonder what?” I pressed for more.
“I mean, maybe we saw it clearer because I’m dead and Zak is psychic and a medium.” Tony explained. It did make some kind of sense. However, it was frustrating knowing I had no clue what was happening because I couldn’t see it.
“That’s true, but Zak, have you had any visions lately?” I asked. He shook his head.
“But, maybe they will come back? I mean, I think that light did something, just not sure what yet.” Tony said.
“Whatever is going to happen, I just really hope it isn’t going to be bad.” I said.
“I don’t feel like it will be. It’s like, things are calm right now.” Zak said.
“But that could just be the calm before the storm. Like the breath before the break.” I said.
“A writer are you?” Tony asked. I blushed and nodded.
“And a damn good one at that.” Zak put a hand on my shoulder.
“Oh stop…” I couldn’t stop from smiling though.
“We can see what happens in the morning, you two look like you’re ready to sleep for a few days straight.” Tony floated around us in circles.
“Social events are exhausting.” I said and Zak smiled a little.
“Yeah, but I’m happy I was invited.” He said.
“I’m glad, Mom and Dad both love you.” I said.
“I know, I can feel it. C’mon, let’s go up to bed.” Zak said.
“Alright, good night, and sleep well. Good night Anthony, we can figure out more of what could be going on tomorrow.” I said.
“Will do!” Tony grinned and then disappeared. Well, one more ghost in my life. I think this could make things even more complicated than it already was.
