I'm in love with a..ghost? [twenty seven]

I woke up in the middle of the night to see if James was still there. He was. And to my astonishment, he was asleep.1

Weird. I've never seen a ghost sleep before. I've seen tons hurl stuff at me. I've seen a lot get really mad and use their kinetic energy to try to hurt me. I've even seen some cry.2

But sleep? Never. Ghosts don't need it. They're dead. A ghost sleeping is the equivalent to a ghost eating.3

It just doesn't happen. And yet there he was. He was laying on his side, and the V at the top of his shirt was moved downward, leaving me to see his sculpted muscles. It really does bug me that someone so hot could be dead. The bluish light filtered through one of the bay windows in my room, casting an eerie glow about the place. I shuddered and scooted down in the covers, closer to James. He twitched a bit in sleep, and his arm shot out around me again.4

sadly, five hours later I was awake and sitting in first hour listening to morning announcements. First prayers then the pledge. Oye. Not the type of thing a 17 year old girl wants to listen to first thing in the morning on a Monday.5

“Good morning St. Augustine! The girls JV placed 2nd in this state this past Saturday for..”6

Blah Blah Blah. I zoned out. How unfair is it that I had already gone to and graduated school back in 1912 and now here I am again?7

Not fair at all.8

“.. and there will be a dress down day this Friday.Today is Monday December 7th. There are no birthdays today, but if you are celebrating, happy birthday! That's all the announcements for today and we hope you have a Magnificently Macho Monday!”9

I rolled my eyes and sat back in my desk as Alex strode in late. After being bawled out by the teacher (and not looking as if she really cared) she flopped into the desk next to mine and smiled. “Hey Kris. Hows it going?”10

“Fine,” I said not meeting her eye.11

“Do anything interesting over the weekend?” 12

It was at this point the teacher cleared his throat and started class. Alex looked at him indignantly and opened her book to page 352. Today was going to be long.13

Alex thought it was her duty apparently to escort me from 1st to 2nd hour. “So, see any guys this weekend?”14

“Nope,” I said trying to avoid this subject.15

“I'm not stupid I know that means a yes. Was it James?”16

I practically broke my neck turning to look at her. “Where did you hear that name?” I demanded.17

“Whoa, jeez Kris chill. You mentioned him on AIM to Mark remember?”18

“Oh, yea. Right,“ I covered.19

“Why? Did you see him?” she asked excitedly.20

“What? No. No way, he lives in Detroit remember? No I didn't see him”21

“Oh my god! You slept with him!” she accused. And loudly. Half the people in the hall turned to look at me. Most of them smirking. The others just shook their heads in mock disappointment. It was, after all, a Catholic school.22

“Oh my god Alex, I did not. Jeez.” I held up my hands and addressed the crowd, “No I didn't people, just go on with your lives, forget you heard this.”23

I am such an IDIOT.24

Most of the people either laughed or sniggered. I gave Alex a hard, reproachful look, “No I did not sleep with him, nor did I see him.”25

Wow. Lying on both counts. I technically had slept with him. Not the definition of sleep she was thinking, but I had. And I did see him technically. I lie to much.26

“You,” she pointed in my face, “are lying. It's really obvious. So what did you really do?”27

“Nothing, really.”28

“Whatever, lets just get to class,” she said right as the bell rang. We made a mad dash for class and jumped through the door the minute Ms. Kearns was about to shut the door. I grinned innocently at her and dumped my bag next to my desk, sliding into my seat smoothly. I was cursed with one of those desks that's attached to the chair. I hated it.29

Class went by unusually slow. It must have known James was waiting for me back at the house. I stared at the clock every few seconds, but I think the second hand was broken or something. The clock wasn't changing at all. I pulled my legs up and sat indian style in my desk, earning weird looks from people. I'd always sat like that in class.Even from the time I was little, and I still got weird looks for it. It was a little disconcerting.30

I tried to concentrate on taking notes.31

'Blood flows into the right side of the heart from the superior and inferior vena cavas.32

pulmonary artery- artery that carries venous blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs'33

I wrote out the words and began to grow even more bored and antsy. I wanted to go home and see James. When I left him that morning he was perfectly understanding but looked sad I had to leave. What seventeen year old girl would rather sit in anatomy class then be alone with a hot guy?34

Yea that's what I thought. And yet here I was, wasting away learning about the heart. Blah.35

I checked the clock again. Only 9:24. I had to go another 21 minutes here, and then make it through the rest of the day. Man this was going to suck.36

***
By lunch I was anxious for more than one reason. Lauren had thought it would be fun to stop me and tell me she had talked to Mark. -giggle-37

“Yea, Kris-ten. Mark totally IM'd me last night wanting to go out this weekend! He seemed so down about getting into some sort of fight I just couldn't say no! To bad for you though. I know you like him. It's just so sad he would dump on you that quickly. Must be because your not good enough for him! He's way to hot for you anyways, so it is not that much of a loss he dumped you so soon. Best to move on.”38

I didn't even care she was insulting me. Mark had talked to her? Was taking her out? This must be some sort of mind game he was playing. he probably knew she would tell me.39

“Gee Laur, it must be really hard to get around for you,” I smiled sweetly.40

Lauren looked at her friend Amanda and then back to me, “What are you talking about?” she snapped.41

“Oh nothing, it's just with that condition of yours and all...”42

“What condition? What the hell are you talking about Harning?” she said viciously.43

“Oh nothing. It must just be so hard for you to move around, with that big head of yours. By the way, you can have Mark all to yourself. He's not a very good kisser. So stick that in your juice box and suck it.” I smiled and turned on my heel prancing away from her. I think I won that round. 44

Lauren stood glaring at me for a whole 5 seconds before she ran off to tell all her little friends about her "big date." Poor Lauren. It must be so hard being so stupid. 45

The final bell of the day finally rang, releasing me from my prison. I flew from class dumped my books in my bag and ran for Jake's car. I jumped in the passenger seat with a broad grin. Finally I got to go home! I sat in the car waiting on Jake, but he seemed to preoccupied with his girlfriend. I glared at him and popped my head out of the open door, "Come on Jake I have to get home."46

Jake grabbed my head and pushed me back in, slamming the door on my face. I pouted. "Hmph." Next I tried rolling the window down. I cranked the knob in my direction and the old window creaked open. Jake was making out with his girlfriend now. "Come on Jake, I'm serious. I'd like to get home sometime today." This time he didn't say anything, he just leaned his back into the window, muffling anything I was saying. It wasn't until Sr. Kathleen came running out yelling about public displays of affection and the immorality of making out that he grudgingly peeled his lips of Stacey's and got in. He cursed at the car for the engine not turning over and the whole while Sister was standing outside of the window yelling. I decided now would be a god time not to mention I couldn't get his window rolled back up. 47

A few minutes later with the screeching of tires on the asphalt, we sped off. Not only was I in a hurry to get back to James but I wanted to search the Internet for any information I could find on this whole matter concerning Mark.48

I raced up the stairs and dumped my backpack next to the closet. James, with my luck, wasn't here. I sighed and sat down at my desk turning my computer on. After a few minutes I was on Google.49

My first three hits didn't help me at all. It wasn't until my fourth hit that I got any results. I scrolled down the page and the first thing I saw was a picture of a large home. It looked like a really nice place too. There was a set of of double doors, hanging and potter plants, a large rap around porch, and stained glass windows. It's the kind of house really rich people probably lived in. I studied the picture and then read the caption.50

“ Above: Home of the deceased Elizabeth Wilkinson. Her body was found late Tuesday night by her parents who had been out for the day.”51

I sat back in my chair stunned. So this had been my house. I probably loved living there. It looked like such a nice place. Cheerful and everything. I leaned back in my computer chair and scrolled down some more to read the article.52

“ The Wilkinson mansion has always been a place of interest to many tourists who visit this area. Built in 1874, this house is one of the oldest in the town. Exquisitely designed, it has always attracted a lot of attention. Built three stories high, this mansion comes complete with 3 fireplaces, alcoves, and a large balcony built off of a second story bedroom. The house however, has darker side.53

Elizabeth Wilkinson, daughter of the esteemed oil tycoon Nathanial Wilkinson (name changed from Wilkes to Wilkinson circa 1888), was murdered on the morning of Sept. 3, 1912. What was thought at first to be an accidental death, was later confirmed to be murder. She was strangled in the first floor dining room around eleven o'clock, the coroner confirmed.54

Elizabeth (who was unable to leave her home at the time) apparently fought the assailant but in the end it was not enough. She had been engaged to James Hensley and was to wed him three nights before, but he too was found murdered at home. Police were unable to link the murders, as not enough evidence or the murderer was ever found.55

Another interesting thing contributing to the house, is that it is believed the ghost of both Elizabeth and her lost love haunt the place .A number of mysterious occurrences have happened following the deaths of the two young lovers, making the house even more appealing, for anyone who has a great love of mystery.56

Today the house stands dark and silent. Located on Lake Avenue, it overlooks lake Huron, and would take in a hefty sum if it were to be sold. Following Elizabeth's death Nathanial and Amelia Wilkinson moved out, abandoning anything that would remind them of their only daughter. It has been ninety-seven years since the murder, and the house is still empty. It is not, however, devoid of any buyers. For years different buyers have made offers on the house, but some unknown person refuses to sell it, even though they themself do not live here.”-57

My eyes my felt like they were popped out of my head. It had never occurred to me to check out the house I had lived in. I probably wouldn't find anything useful even if I did go though. Any evidence or clues must be now long gone. Was it possible that my murder was connected to James? It would certainly make sense. But if so, that would mean that Mark was the one who did it, well, Charles rather. And who was this person who was refusing to sell the house? Surely everyone who was around back in 1912 would be dead by now. If they were alive they'd be over 100.58

Well, looks like I will just have to check out the house.59