1: A New Home

August 13, 2013

I sat in the back seat of my parents SUV with my headphones in my ears and reading a book on my ipad. I love reading so much, it's like a movie in your head. Actually when I grow up I want to become a writer, I write poems or uh songs? I dunno if you could call them songs or poems even, they're more like short stories. I took a break from reading, and pulled out an ear-bud to look out the window as my dad came out of the house in his blue t-shirt and baggy jeans, carrying the last box and placing it in the moving truck. My mom was giving the movers the directions to our new home which is a few hours from what I call home. It's about four to six hours away from the tall buildings and busy streets, I guess you could say its the country. A lot of wide open spaces forests and nature, I know any other teen anger my age would be dreading being away from all the shopping malls, theaters and all that stuff teen agers like. But really all I need is a few books on my iPad, music and my kitty Candace. I do most of my shopping on line anyways, the stores never really have the type of clothing i like, and if they do its highly over priced, not that i cant afford it. i mean my mom is going to be the producer of a weather channel... That's the main reason why we're leaving, she got a promotion upstate.

I look forward to hearing the sound of crickets chirping outside of my window and the sound of the wind whispering through the trees. The only thing or uh person I would miss is my gramma Heather, we lived in the same building and I would always pay her a visit after school, to tell her how the populars tormented another kid. She'd always laugh and damn them all, which I found useless because I believe in a little something called Karma. What goes around comes around.. "Gemmy!" My mom called out to me as she walked over holding Candace in her carrying case. I opened the door to take the carrier from her and I placed it in the seat beside me. "Ready Gem?" My dad climbed into the drivers seat, my mom following after in the passenger seat. I smiled broadly, "ready as ill ever be" I said enthusiastically. As we began our long drive to our new home, all I could think about was starting new in a place where hopefully other kids my age don't focus to much on the superficial aspect of things..

-Niall-

The warm August weather keeping the house as humid and dusty as usual, I sit up in the tower room which used to be my room and stare out the window just watching people live their lives. Actually I sit here and watch the high school kids walk home, it's weird all those years I spent waiting to get out of high school I actually miss it.. Maybe not the actual school but the people.. well one in particular. My only real friend, Nick. He was in 10th grade when I was a senior, and now I think he's going to be a senior.. wow time flies.. Well not really because it feels like i've been stuck in last year but I guess that's normal when you don't get older with every year.. It was a week before school started again and I couldn't wait to see Nick pass by my house. I'd stare out the window in hopes that by some chance he would see me, but that's impossible. I'm just as non-existent as I was when I was alive, although once on his way to school he stopped to look up at me... or my window I guess I should say. I thought he'd seen me and I waved but he didn't wave back.. He just stood there and was gone in a matter of seconds, I cried at seeing my only friend walk away. I never really got to say bye when i died, and I guess that's what I regret the most.. I never got to say goodbye to anyone really, I didn't think they cared but being sentenced to remain on this earth with the living and watching the people who I thought didn't care about me suffer; Made me realize that dying wasn't something I should have wanted.. But I can't do anything about now can I?

I let my head fall back and rest against the wall, the dusty room had no affect on me considering I wasn't alive.. I could sit here all week waiting for school  to start, I mean I have nothing better to do.. I was ready to sentence myself to this very position in anticipation but the sound of muffled voices and several footsteps coming from downstairs distracted me. I swear if it's those misfit kids coming to try to vandalize my house again I'll do more than just scare them off. I got up in fury and made my way to down the flight of stairs that was the entrance to my old room and to the second landing. I stood at the top of the stairs looking down before making my appearance. The anger I had inside had quickly dissipated when I saw it was a couple, they were carrying in boxes and laughing with one another. They looked happy and so full of life, and for a second it reminded me of my parents before my dad had died. I missed him.. I thought that I'd be able to be with him now like it usually works in the movies but no.. I haven't seen or heard from him since I died. Maybe it's because I'm stuck here.. I don't relly remember this house being on the market

"Gemmy! C'mon go pick out your room the movers will take care of that luggage!" The older woman who appeared to be in her late 30's called to this Gemmy person. “Alright I'm coming haha” Her voice sounded throughout the empty house like a lovely hum that reverberates from the walls, her voice was small and sweet. I was on my toes ready to see what she looked like, I wondered quickly if she'd resemble her parents. Her father was of average height and had black hair with greying sides. He had a tanned skin tone, clearly he spent a lot of time out in the sun, but from either work or just vacationing who knows. Her mother had brown hair and a much paler skin tone compared to her husband, she was really short. By this time I had moved to stand beside her mother, who had stacked some boxes near the door way of the living room. That's when she walked in, Gemmy, my lips had parted as setting my eyes on her caused me a great surprise. She had long blonde hair that fell in soft waves all around her. Her blue eyes were bright and full of life, so blue they looked like the Caribbean waters. I stood there frozen in my spot as Gemmy put down what appeared to be a cat carrier and came over to hug her mother. I thought she was coming towards me actually but of course that's impossible, she can't see me. No one can, all they are able to see is the strange events that I cause like books dropping or loud banging, that sort of thing.

“Where are the rooms?” her perfect pink lips formed a smile. Such a beautiful smile, I could stare at her all day. “Up stairs Gem, go on go pick one out” Her mother shoved her playfully towards the rounded staircase that began in the middle of the entrance way and circled up to the second landing. I watched her delicate looking figure walk right past me, the smell of her perfume hit me and I was in a trance. Before I knew It I was following close behind her, her skin was a pale tan color, strange contradiction I know but it was so flawless and light but yet so tan. She wasn't very tall but not that short either, average I guess. She was wearing Burgundy high waisted shorts, with a white knit shirt and a Burgundy colored bra? I really have no idea but it had an Aztec design. I think.. None of the girls here dress like that honestly, Gemmy and her family must be from way out of town like the city maybe. She was wearing pretty fancy jewelry stuff you won't find around here. It was a thick chain gold necklace and a really fancy gold watch. I've always wanted to the city but that's not going to happen anytime soon..

I was frozen at the foot of the stairs watching her continue up the rising path, then she stopped at the top and looked around.

[Niall(bold) & Gemmy]

I got to the top of the stairs and stopped to see how many rooms there were, it looked like there were 4 because there were 4 doors. There were two doors off the left almost exactly side by side and the other two doors were more separated, one door was smack in the middle of a single wall and the other was on the right hand side. I decided to go in order and have a look at each of them. I started with the first door on the left..

I followed her when she headed towards the first room on the left, that used to be my dad's second office. He had a study downstairs but when he was in his room with my mother and he got an idea or was way too tired to go downstairs he'd come in to this office and jot down what he came up with. He'd spend hours on end in either his study or office. My mom and I knew never to bother him unless he called us, he was always traveling to meetings and making sure things we're alright. He was in charge of a branch of hotels, I guess you could say he was sort of a big shot. But he never acted like he was all that, he was far from being the stuck up rich man who only focused on his work. He'd spend time with us as much as he could when he wasn't working.

Leaning against the wall I crossed my arms over my chest as I watched Gemmy wander about the room. My dad's old desk was still left in the room, no one bothered to take it and dispose of it. I'm happy they didn't because it's really the only thing that belonged to my dad that I have left. This room isn't all that big, it's the perfect size for an office really so I don't think Gemmy would want this as her room. I kept watching her as I went over to my dads old desk and hopped on it to sit down.

I walked around the somewhat smaller room, there was only one window and it doesn't let in much light. I like to wake up to the sun pouring in through my window.. and with a window like that, that's something that is most likely not happening. I know that sounds cliché but it's just me I guess I dunno, it makes me feel like I'm in a movie or something. I walked over to the window to further give myself reason to not choose this room and boy did it work. The view was not pretty at all, their was a huge oak tree right in front maybe like 10 to 15 feet away and it blocked most of the light of the setting sun.

I laughed to myself as I saw her facial expression, as soon as she looked out the window she pursed her lips and crinkled her nose. She looked like a small child denied of candy or something. I have no idea but it was just funny to me, I couldn't control myself which is kinda sad, i'm so lame.. I bet she didn't like the big old oak blocking any form of light from entering, my dad liked to be in the dark.. I have no idea why but he thought of his best ideas in this room. He always said the light botehered him. In my fit of laughter I accidentally kicked the bottom drawer of my fathers desk. I froze and stopped laughing because Gemmy was looking right at me or um in direction.

My attention was brought back to the old desk in the room, I would say it startled me but it really didn't. It's kinda of an old house it must have been a pipe rattling or something. I walked over to the old desk, it looked antique to be honest. I think the old thing is made out of Mahogany or something. I stood in front of it and just examine it to see if it was worth saving or throwing out, it didn't look too worn out. It had 3 drawers on either side and 3 smaller ones outlining the top. I tried pulling one open but it wouldn't open, that's when I realized that they were just for show to add a little more detail to the simple but sophisticated desk.

She stood right in front of me, looking right through me. Obviously she couldn't see me but she could hear me.. which means I have to be careful not to get too carried away or else I might scare her off. I held my breath as her arm reached out to touch my fathers old desk, I hope that by some chance I'd be able to feel her touch but that was impossible of course. Her hand kept touching my fathers desk right through me, and eventually I moved to get up. She didn't feel a thing.. “Gem? Did ya pick a room yet?” Her father stood in the door way of my dads old office. “No I was just about to go look at the others” She smiled sweetly at him. “Oh I thought you did.. I sort of picked out your mother and mines room” He gave her a sorry half smile, “Ugh Dad! Which one?” She groaned a little annoyed, “I'm sorry!” He chuckled “it better not have something I like or else” she threatened playfully. I smiled and followed them out, Gemmy took one last look at the desk before leaving. “We picked out the guest room too” Her father shrugged, his tall figure in the door way of the next room beside my dads office. “Ugh it's okay this room doesn't have that homey feeling I like” She stuck her tongue out at him and brushed past hims playfully. “Hey! What's that supposed to mean?” He caught her and tickled her, she threw fits of giggles and I leaned on the railing of the stairs as I observed their interaction. I felt like I was watching a movie on television, such a perfect relationship between a loving father and daughter. “Haha! Okay okay stop!” She laughed and he let her go. He smiled at her as she steadied herself and walked towards the next room. “Nope that's the guest room” Her dad said simply. She looked at him over her shoulder and rolled her eyes playfully. “You should have hurried up” He shrugged, “I'll send your stuff up in a minute” He laughed and went back downstairs.

I sighed as I opened the last door that was on the right hand side, I was surprised when I saw another flight of stairs. If this isn't a room i'm gonna have to take the guest room and my dads going to have to kiss that study downstairs goodbye. I walked up the stairs that took a quick left turn up. I got to the top and walked through an old cob web, I almost lost my balance and I felt like I was going to fall back wards because the web got in my eyes.

I was anxious as I watched her walk up the stairs to my old room and I was standing at the bottom when she let out a gasp and I saw she was going to fall backwards down the stairs. I was a few steps down from the top where she stood and I was wishing on everything that I once held close to my heart that I could be able to save her and prevent an accident from happening. Like I had imagined she took a wrong step back and screamed in fear of falling, but I caught her... I held my arms out and I expected her to just go through me but she didn't I caught her... She had her arms up covering her face waiting for impact and I gently pushed her back and set her standing, clearing the cob webs from her face. She opened her right eye first to see if she had fallen and then her left when she realized she was okay. I stood in front of her I was shocked by what had just happened, I was never able to touch the living so how was I able to touch her now?

I opened my eyes one at a time, I hadn't felt any pain and for a second I thought it was the adrenaline, you know how it takes over and you don't feel any pain until after but that wasn't the case. I was fine and I didn't fall.. it was really weird because when I fell back I felt like something held me up.. I turned to look behind me but I didn't see anything that could have held me up or helped me stand back up.. So what the hell just happened? It was so weird it was almost like someone held me up and prevented my fall.. “Gemmy?! Are you okay I heard you scream and came running” My mom and dad came in and looked a little confused as they came up the stairs into the large room that I was just taking in myself. “Um yeah sorry I um ran into a cob web” I cleared my throat, and looked around the room, it was big but not so big at the same time and it had lots of windows; Two on either side and two in the middle, the room was filled with pinks and orange shades from the setting sun. It looked so beautiful even with the cob webs and dust floating around. “Can you send my stuff up here” I asked my parents who were in awe of the vast space. “Um yeah sure honey” My mother had a hard time paying attention to me, my dad barely nodded. I couldn't avoid the huge smile on my face, this room felt so right. What really caught my attention was the window seat to the right, I could sit and watch the sun and moon rise. The people walking by, it was such a pretty sight to take in. I took a seat on the window seat bringing my legs and criss crossing them, “Okay well i'm Glad you liked this room Gemmy” My mom smiled I looked away from the view out the window back at my parents, “I love it” I sighed happily.

She walked right through me... she didn't see me.. so how was I able to touch her? I observed the whole scene going down in front of me. She chose my room.. my old room. She already made herself comfortable on my window seat.. “Oh and mom can you bring up that desk from that room I was checking out first? Dad knows which room it is” She smiled, and her mother merely nodded returning her smile. I sighed to myself how was this happening I had touched her yet she can't see me and I can't touch her again.. I mean maybe I have to focus or something.. I walked over to her as she was pulling out an iPad from her bag. I made my way over slowly and took a seat in front of her on the same window seat. She left just enough room for me to sit in the exact same position as she did. My hands rest in my lap as I observed her reading off of her tablet.. her lashes fanned over her cheeks and her bottom lip between her teeth. She was lost in the words in a matter of seconds. I found myself reaching out for her and my finger tips were so close.. I leaned forward a little and the tips of my fingers touched her cheek but she didn't feel it.. She remained lost in her story.. I let my hand drop beck in my lap and I sighed.. Why can't I touch her now? I was so focused.. maybe it was just a one time thing..

***

I watched as she read and once the movers brought her things up I watched as she directed them in how and where to put her things. Her double bed was place in the middle under the window, the rest was pointless until they brought up my fathers old desk.. She actually liked it.. She started putting things away and organizing on top of it. It was wondrous to see how concentrated she was and in just under an hour the room was half set up. She only had a few boxes left of little things, like stuffed animals and books. She stopped to look t the time which to me made no difference at all.. but she was growing tired and it was way past midnight. She climbed into bed and after turning off her light and turning on her lava lamp she fell asleep right then and there. She didn't even bother to bring up the sheets. I watched her sleep for about an hour, when I saw her shiver a little I got up and brought the sheets up to cover her up. Its strange how I can touch and manipulate inanimate objects whenever I wish but not her. I never wanted to touch anyone before it never bothered me, but with her its so weird.. I went back to sit on the window seat and stared out the window. I don't sleep and I don't want to if it means I get to watch over her all night.. As creepy as it sounds, she's just so beautiful I just wish she could see me.. What I would give to be able to have conversations with her..