The Girl

Chapter 3: Rae Manor - The Sister

I teamed up with Jason and Oliver in our next class, the Biology class. I actually enjoyed myself around them - they were so friendly and funny. Alex sometimes laughed along, every time they did something stupid. I felt very happy. I have never been this happy in my entire school year, but I was now.

They never left me alone - even we went to the cafeteria together. The football team was sitting on their - so claimed - table, side by side with the cheerleaders. They called for Jason and Oliver to join them like they used to.

“Bye…” I walked away from them when suddenly Jason pulled my arm to stop me. “What is it Jazz?” I was puzzled.

“Where are you going?” He asked. I looked over to the football team table; obviously, I wasn’t one of them so I couldn’t join him. Oliver was still standing in between us and the table.

“I’m going to my table,” I pointed to the empty table under the tree - the one that I’d sat on yesterday.

He’s signaling to Oliver that he’d be joining me on that table. Oliver made a gesture with his head, ordering the other to do the same thing. To my surprise, they all rose and walked toward us.

This was out of the ordinary. The popular athletes broke their routine, they’re moving to another table. My table. I was so amazed, not just me, I could feel all eyes fall on us. But for the athletes, it’s all normal since they’re used to that kind of attention.

“You'll be bored to death,” Alex said to me, chuckling. “They only talked about football and nothing else.”

“Yeah, tell me about it,” I grinned in irony.

“We’re not that boring,” Jason was defending his team - his mates to be more precise. “Give us a chance and you’ll see.”

We sat at the table together - the other joined us within minutes. They all smiled at me, while in their eyes wondering who I was. I was wondering the same way too but the opposite, who they were.

Oliver started to introduce us and one by one they all greeted me. I couldn’t remember all their names, but I would learn slowly. I was astonished by my own thought. I already thought that we’d be together again routinely. A part of me saying that this was so wrong, but it felt so right. Jason had turned me from the lonely girl to not so lonely girl anymore.

“Why are you guys here?” I suddenly said, to my surprise, why did I even ask that?

“Because Jazz and Oli are here,” said one of the teammates with blonde spiked hair. I believed his name was Cody.

“Where our future captain seat, we’ll be there,” the Tony guy said, elbowing Jason. “Don’t we Jazz?”

“You’ll be the football captain?” I asked. I didn’t see the strangeness in it, it was too obvious.

“It’s still unofficial, but the coach already mentioned it,” He was blushing. He didn’t like to boast about his accomplishment.

“Congratulations,” I said and I mean it.

“Still unofficial Rae,” he looked down at his lunch tray.

“Anyhow, still congrats.” He elbowed me and smiled.

Alex was right; they were talking about football all the time. Jason was patient enough to explain every football terminology to me. They were discussing their tactics for the next game, which will be Friday night next week. 

Somebody should cover who, and who’s running to what positions, really all about football. Alex was sometimes involved in the discussion - only Jason and I knew that. He gave advice or alternative strategy to Jason - he’s like the co-play-maker, the second in command, the invisible second command.

I saw Reinn passing our table with her friends. She was waving at us, or more likely to Oliver, who widely smiled and waved back. All of her friends giggled and teased her, she was blushing that’s for sure. I could see how pink her face was.

Oliver suddenly looked at me. “You’re coming right?”

I took a glance at Jazz, who’s drinking his coke from the can. “I’m okay if you’re okay,” he said, leaving all the decisions to me.

“Don’t make me beg,” Oliver said, but his eyes were already pleading before me.

“Okay,” I said. Oliver almost jumped to hug me, when Jason put his hand on Oliver’s chest - to stop him before it’s too late.

“Sorry Jazz,” Oliver shyly said. The other laughed at him.

“What’s going on?” Tony asked.

“Oliver here scored a date at Jhony’s Diner today, with the cute Sophomore, Reinn, who is Rae’s sister,” Jason declared. Oliver’s face was reddened with embarrassment, but he was happily grinning. I couldn’t help myself but laugh with them.

The bell rang, the lunch break ended. I felt so sad, I enjoyed being with them.

Jason rose from his seat, he was already holding my book. “We have different classes now. What’s yours?”

“Spanish and Trig - for my last class,” I said. 

“You’ll be with Claire,” I could see that he was troubled, worrying what would’ve happened to me if he wasn’t there. I hesitantly placed my hand on his chest. 

“I’ll be alright,” assuring him. “I’m from Angeles, a girl like Claire wouldn’t be a problem.”

His brown eyes stared back into mine. I smiled to ease his worry when suddenly he brushed his hand to caress my cheek. I felt a tingling sensation where he touched me.

“I know, but… I know Claire too. We used to date each other…” The information sent a punch in my gut.

“I’ll be in her class,” Oliver said. “I took Spanish and Trig too.”

“You see Oliver with me. Since he has an interest in my sister, I know that he’ll voluntarily be my bodyguard,” I joked around and it scored as Jason smiled again.

“Take care of her for me okay,” he handed my book to Oliver.

“Don’t worry Jazz, I need to impress her sister,” he said and winked at me.

I walked away from him, heading to my next class with Oliver. He still stood there under the tree with Alex, looking at us.

Oliver kept his words; he protectively sat beside me, shadowing me from Claire’s vision. In the middle of the class, I saw Alex coming through the closed door - a ghost could go through the wall. I knew that Jason asked him to be his eyes too, but not to look for me but to spy on Claire because he’s standing next to her.

Spanish and Trig went too long for me. I was fidgeting and nervous, maybe because I was wondering what he’s doing. I couldn’t concentrate the entire time.

The need for him grew slowly inside me, and it’s getting stronger each time I think of him. I knew it’s too premature to feel this way, but I kind of missed him already.

When the bell rang and the school day ended. I almost ran to the parking lot, but I held myself from doing that. I didn’t want to look too desperate.

In all this crowd of teenagers, my eyes easily could find him. He’s leaning back on my locker, talking with Reinn. As if he knew that I called his name in my head, he turned his head and saw me. He smiled at me, and all of a sudden I felt so happy I came to school today.

I sped up my pace to my locker, and put my books back. I texted my Mom, saying that we’d be late to go home; we’re going to the diner with friends - a future boyfriend for Reinn. My Mom replied immediately, wishing us a good time, which I knew that we would. We walked together to the parking lot, the four of us and one ghost. 

I thought of Jhony’s Diner as another lunch table. We’re not alone as other teammates are already there. Even to my own irritation, Claire and her cheerleading squad were there too but it didn’t bother me - I’m enjoying my time.

Jason rose and walked to Claire’s table. My eyes couldn’t stop following him, as if it were set up that way. He’s not talking to Claire but talking to another girl, a long reddish hair girl. She’s quite different from the other girls in her group – snobbish face and mocking stares, especially toward me. This girl’s face was pretty and sweet and seemed sincere. They walked outside of the diner and talked some more, thanks to the big glass window I didn’t have to sneak to see what they’re doing.

He returned inside, coming to me. I turned my face quickly and didn't want him to find out that I’ve been eyeing him all this time.

“Do you bring the necklace that you’ve found yesterday?” He asked me, to my surprise. I nodded and pulled it out of my bag’s pocket.

“I think you should give that to her,” he’s pointing to the reddish haired girl, who’s still standing outside. Her eyes were looking back at me. Confused.

“She’s the sister…” I whispered.

“Her name is Jean Newton - she’s the captain of the cheerleading squad.”

“I don’t think I can do this,” I gazed back at Jason, worrying.

“You’ll be alright,” he said, assuring me. “I’ll watch your back, if anything worse happens, you have a room filled with voluntary bodyguards,” he joked around. I laughed a little but still a bit nervous.

I walked outside to talk to her. She smiled at me when I reached her.

“Jason said that you wanted to talk to me?” She asked, dubious. I showed her the necklace, her eyes bigger with surprise. 

“I found this in my gym locker - hidden in the corner, I think this was yours.”

Her hand was trembling when she reached out for the necklace. She placed it in her palm, looking deep into it.

“Was it yours?” I asked, of course I know it’s hers, but I have to say something to break the silence.

“It’s my sister’s, she passed away three years ago, in an accident,” she said, her voice was a bit shaky. She looked at me with eyes filled with tears. “How did you know?”

“Somebody told me…” Somebody as in her sister’s ghost. “Look inside, there’s a picture of a baby girl…I think it’s you.”

She’s crying now, her tears have fallen in silence as there was no sobbing nor screaming but silent cry. I reached for her hand, thinking that it might give her some comfort.

“Your sister loved you.”

“My mom died when she’s having me…” She took a deep breath to continue. “I was growing up mostly with her cause our father was working a long shift. She’s like a mother to me.”

I saw her sister’s ghost standing beside her, crying with her. She tried to reach out for her baby sister, but she only touched an empty air. She looked at me and asked me to tell Jean about her feelings. I was thinking in my head about how to say it with the right word, so I wouldn’t have to explain that I was communicating with her sister’s ghost.

“I know by looking at that picture, that your sister loved you so much and she missed you the way you missed her,” I couldn’t believe how calm I was talking to her, saying those words. “I always think that when people die, their soul is always looking after the person they cared so much for. So I think your sister was still looking after you without you even realizing it.”

“That’s a beautiful thought,” she said, reaching for my hand. She gently squeezed it and smiled at me. “Thank you so much, you don’t know how much it means for me.”

I shook my head and waved my hand in the air, gesturing that what I’d done was nothing. But I was happy, I’m so happy that I could help someone.

“I think we should go back inside,” she said, glancing at the glass window behind me. “Jazz keeps looking this way to you.”

I turned around and saw how he’s eyeing me as I did before. I waved at him and smiled. He waved back at us.

“He’s a nice guy,” Jean said to me, sincerely. “You’re very lucky to have him around.”

“I know…” I softly said, just to myself. I know that he’s a nice guy but for the lucky part, I would like to find it out.

I went back inside; he moved aside to make some space for me to sit, next to him again.

“Everything went well?”

“Mission accomplished!” I joked and he laughed at it.

“Did I impress you?” One of his eyebrows lifted and he gave me his mischief smile.

“You’ve might…” I said, teasing him.

“You underestimate me, Ms. Manor,” he said formally.

I laughed. “How did you know that the ghost was her sister?”

“There’s only one person who died in the girl locker room three years ago, Catherine Newton. I looked it up and know that it’s her sister.”

“Thank you, Jason,” I softly said to him. My voice was so sweet - it made me think it wasn’t me who said that.

“Anytime Rae…” His lips were touching my ear when he whispered it. I could feel the electric pulse running all over me, electrocuting me in a good way.