Spiritus, a Paranormal Romance (Spiritus Series, Book #1) (5 page)

I did try to focus on what he was saying, but Science was never my favorite subject and I couldn’t stop my mind from wandering back to the ghostly figure in my room. I was certain I hadn’t imagined it, but how could it have been real?

As much as I was hating Science, I kept willing the clock to move slower. I was dreading English class and Ally’s questions about what I had meant at my locker. Why did I have to open my big mouth?

I went into Geometry and tried to pretend to pay attention, but I kept getting that sick feeling deep down in my stomach.

When the bell rang, I took my time walking down the hall. Everyone moved past me in the hall, smiling and joking with each other. They were all completely unaware I was about to become the running joke of the day.

Ashley Richardson was standing outside my English class, speaking with a few of her followers. She stared at me with curiosity as I approached. Had it already started? Had she already heard how crazy I was?

She watched me as I approached the door, smirking to her court.

“You’re new, aren’t you?” She asked as soon as I was close enough.

At my old school, it would have been exciting for a cheerleader to speak to me, but my experiences there taught me to be wary. Cheerleaders were another breed and should always be approached with caution.

“Yes,” I said, guarded. “I’m Becca McCalliseter.”

“I didn’t ask what your name was loser.” Ashley snickered, obviously pleased with herself for the set up. Her friends giggled with her. I watched them turn and go down the hall only slightly stinging from their rejection.

I was right, even here, cheerleaders are another breed. Could the day get any worse?

I walked in as the bell rang, taking my seat just as Mrs. Temple began class. Ally turned in her seat to throw me a questioning look, but the teacher called on her and she had to face the front again. I breathed a sigh of relief, but I knew that my reprieve was short-lived.

I was dreading lunch. I knew I had to say something to explain, but I wasn’t sure what it would be. Part of me wanted to just blurt out the entire story, but the more rational part of me knew that it would be social suicide.

Mrs. Temple began her introduction to the thematic elements of
Hamlet
. I tried to concentrate on the lesson, I really did, but my mind kept wandering between what to tell Ally and the mysterious apparition in my room. No matter what I did, I kept going back to that man standing in the shadows.

Every detail was becoming clearer as the fear ebbed away. His skin, if that’s what it was supposed to be, was smooth and poreless. There was an illusion of stubble on his chin, but it was very faint. His brown hair had glittered with bronze as if an unseen light was playing across the strands. And then there were those eyes…Those soulful blue eyes that never wavered until he faded away into the blackness.

It must have been obvious I was day dreaming because Mrs. Temple called on me every few minutes. I gave my answers, grateful I paid attention last year at my old school when we studied the play, and then went back to thinking about those intense blue eyes.

Who was he? Where did he come from?

I jumped when the lunch bell rang, giving Ally the quick excuse that I forgot my lunch in my locker. I didn’t wait for her to offer to walk with me. I was out the door and down the hall before she could get up from her desk.

I knew she was waiting for me to explain, but my first thought was finding somewhere to hide until lunch was over. The problem was, being new to the school, if there were any good hiding places; I didn’t know where they were yet. I decided I couldn’t hide forever, so I got my lunch out of my locker and went to face my new friends.

When I got to the cafeteria, Ally and Billie were already there waiting for me. I could only assume that by the way they were leaning towards each other so secretively as they whispered, that Ally was filling Billie in on what I had said that morning. I thought about turning around and walking back out the door, but Billie spotted me and waved. Ally turned and saw me and began frantically motioning me to come over and sit down.

Seeing no way to escape, I walked over and sat down. “Hey guys, what’s up?”

They both looked at me like I just grew two heads. Billie let her hands drop to the table, “Don’t be cute. Ally said that you told her something happened last night after we left.”

“I didn’t say that exactly.” I mumbled.

Ally fidgeted in her chair, “No, but you kind of sort of did.”

There was no use in trying to deny it. My one moment of carelessness put me on the spot, but I still didn’t want to be the creepy crazy girl so I downplayed it all as much as possible. “Look, I don’t know what I saw.”

“What do you
think
you saw? Ally asked wide-eyed.

I paused, biting my lip and trying to think of what to say and how much to say. If I said too much they would think I was insane or lying, either way they wouldn’t want anything to do with me. I couldn’t lose the only two friends I had managed to make.

“I thought I saw something,” I began. I was trying to gauge what I said based on their expressions. Seeing only interest, I went on. “It was just something in the corner of my room. One second it was there and the next it was gone.”

“What was it?” Ally asked in amazement.

I looked around to make sure no one else was listening. “I think it was a man.”

“Who was it?” Billie asked, one eyebrow going up in a flag of doubt.

I bit my lip again and changed my tactic. “I don’t know. I don’t even know if it was real. Like I said, it was there and then it wasn’t.”

I didn’t wait for either of them to respond. I gathered my things. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you later, okay?”

It didn’t matter where I went. I just knew I had to get away from their questions before I said too much.

Another class was coming into the cafeteria as I was trying to squeeze out one of the doors. In my haste, I collided with Jonah Ericson. My books and papers scattered at his feet.

“Oh God, I’m sorry.” I stammered, kneeling down to collect my things.

He smiled with perfectly straight and white teeth, “I ran into you and you’re apologizing?”

I sensed myself blushing and felt like a stupid little girl for being thrilled that the school jock was speaking to me and kneeling in the floor with me. Could I be anymore pathetic? He was just so handsome with his perfect face and gorgeous hair.

“I should’ve watched where I was going.”

“Are you always this hard on yourself?” He asked, apparently oblivious to my agony. He just kept smiling. “You’re that new girl, aren’t you?”

We stood as he handed me a handful of my notes and papers.

“Yeah, I’m Becca McCallestor.”

“Well Becca McCallestor,” Jonah said with another brilliant smile. “I’ll see you in History class.”

He walked off to join a group of fellow jocks in the line, obviously too important to be troubled with bringing his lunch. I hated myself, but I couldn’t help but stare after him. He glanced back at me one more time with the beautiful smile and the after sun playing in his golden hair.

At my old school, I always despised girls that fell all over themselves for the school’s top jock, but just a few brief minutes with Jonah Ericson and one glimpse of that brilliant smile and I was hooked.

Before going to History class, I did something I had never done before. I went into the restroom to check my appearance. It was still just my same old face looking back at me, but now there was an excited flush to my cheeks. All because Jonah Ericson spoke to me.

Unfortunately, Ashley Richardson also decided to visit that bathroom mirror before class. She walked in and edged her way in beside me, applying her red lip gloss and eyeing me in the mirror.

“You are so pathetic.” She said with a giggle. “Getting yourself all worked up over Jonah.”

Ashley gave me an insincere smile, blew a kiss to her reflection and left me there.

I smoothed my hair, but had no lip gloss, so I scowled at my image and headed toward class.

As I walked down the hall toward class, I couldn’t help wishing my life was one of those feel good teenage movies where the perfect guy falls for the new girl no one knows, then there’s the magical kiss, some sort of happy song, and then the names of the real people would scroll up the screen.

I walked with more confidence, fully wrapped up in my fantasies. I held my breath as I walked through the door. Jonah Ericson wasn’t there yet. I let out a relieved sigh and went to my seat.

My heart was pounding in my ears. I tried to focus on calming down and slowing my racing pulse, so grateful he wasn’t there yet. I could feel the hot blood in my cheeks. I closed my eyes and tried to take measured, even breaths.

I heard movement in the desk in front of me. I slowly opened my eyes. There right in front of me was Jonah Ericson.

He was turned slightly, talking to the girl in the desk to his left. I didn’t remember her name from yesterday, but I immediately envied her for his attention. His picture perfect face was open and friendly with a slight smile on his perfect lips. His blond hair waved just enough, making him look more like a walking model for hair products than an ordinary high school student.

I tried to focus on Mr. Abramson’s lecture on the Louisiana Purchase, but my thoughts were everywhere. I couldn’t look to the front of the room where he was writing on the blackboard without getting distracted by the perfection of Jonah Ericson.

His dark grey tee-shirt clung to his tanned skin, outlining his biceps where the material ended. Whenever he would turn his head to check the wall clock, I would get a glimpse of his gorgeous profile. I was enthralled, studying every detail of him, even breathing through my nose so I could get faint whiffs of his cologne.

When my admiration was cut short by the bell, Jonah left without ever once noticing me.

I passed him twice more in the hall that day. The first time he walked by without so much as a glance over to me, but oh that second time. It was right after the last class and people were in a hurry to get out of there as soon as possible and on to whatever activities school had interrupted.

I was at my locker, trying to hurry before Ally and Billie could catch me and ask more questions. I had just shut the locker door and turned to leave when I saw Jonah. He was so perfect with the afternoon sun in his face, smiling with easy confidence that only popular people know. He was like a Greek Adonis among mortals.

As I was standing there, admiring the perfection of his existence, I thought about how the nape of his neck must smell like vanilla wafers. He stunned me by giving me a casual wave.

“See you tomorrow Becca.” He called out.

I could only stare after him. I knew I should say something, but couldn’t form the words. He shrugged and kept walking. He was well down the hall before I could make my mouth work.

“See you tomorrow.” I whispered.

Great. He must think I’m some sort of mental defect. He’s also probably used to girls stammering every time he came within two feet of them. I was so embarrassed. Why did I have to humiliate myself in front of the exact person I wanted to impress?

I should have been thinking about Geometry homework, my assignment on
Hamlet
, or anything academic, but all I could think about as I left the school was that Jonah Ericson spoke my name. Not only did he speak my name (twice), but he formed the syllables on those delicious lips.

The blush was still on my cheeks when I slammed my locker shut. By sheer luck, I evaded Ally and Billie. I blended into a group of fleeing students as I made it to the sidewalk. I didn’t calm down until I turned the corner and was out of sight of the school.

I relaxed a little then, taking the time to notice the beautiful flower gardens of the other houses on the block. People sat on front porches sipping iced tea or stood at the edge of their gardens clipping the fragrant blooms. It was another of those Norman Rockwell moments that would seem so out of place anywhere else, but so perfectly normal here in Corydon.