''Nicole Benson. Does the name ring a bell to you?''
Granny asked Lizzy and she stopped walking and thought for a while before answering, ''Nicole Benson? No, I don't think I know anyone with such a name''
''Think Lizzy, because she was a part of your life time back'' Candy urged her. Lizzy's eyes suddenly lit up as the memory came to her.
''Nikki, yes, I remember her now. She was my friend back in the University. But, how is she related to you wanting to help me?'' Lizzy turned and looked at granny. They were seated on Candy's gravestone as they chatted.
''She is the only one who can help you''
''Is she the one connected to me in a special way?''
''Yes, Lizzy'' Candy answered.
''But, I don't even know where she is right now?''
''She is much closer than you think''
''I remember something happened to her when we were in second year but she suddenly disappeared and I never heard from her again''
''She had an accident and since then she could see people like us''
''You mean Nikki sees ghosts?''
''Yes, but you two are no longer friends, so it won't be easy getting her to help you''
''Is that so?'' Lizzy smirked, 'I don't care. If there is someone I must be a bother to, then I will pick Nikki from the lot. She and I have unfinished business anyways''
''Unfinished business?'' Candy became curious.
''Yes, Nikki and I have an unresolved grudge involving my fiancé. It will not be a bad idea to see her again after so long''
''Tell me the details, what exactly happened in your University days? How is she related to your fiancé? You two didn't fight because of a man, right? That will be too cliché''
"That...."
Back in the University…
The year 20xx
City Y State University.
Library.
Nicole opened her book, placing it upside down such a way that, it covered half of her face as she stared at Leo who was seated at a few tables away from them.
''Go and tell him that you like him'' Lizzy said, closing her book. Since they entered. All Nicole did was to stare at that man the whole time.
''What? No, I can't'' Nicole said softly.
''Why can't you do that. If you like him so much, you should tell him'' Lizzy encouraged her best friend.
''He is out of my league, Lizzy. He doesn't even know I exist''
''Then, make him notice you. He won't be able to say no to a beauty like you. I have an idea, Nikki''
''What idea?''
''I will help you''
''Really?
''Yes, what are friends for?''
The said man stood up from his seat and took his books with him, leaving the library.
''He is leaving now, Lizzy''
''Nicole, wait here. I will just go and talk to him and be back''
''Oh, go and come'' Nicole smiled sheepishly and waved at her friend as she left the library hurriedly to catch up to the man.
Lizzy got outside and saw no one, she looked around, but couldn't find him among the students that left the library.
''Did I miss him?'' Lizzy murmured and turned to go, coming face to face with Leo. He looked at her and smiled asking.
''Were you looking for me?''
''You… didn't you leave?'' Lizzy stepped back, creating a distance between them because they were standing too close to each other.
''Lizzy''
''You know my name?''
''I know everything about you''
''Then, did you know I was coming after you?''
''I hid, on purpose''
''Why?''
''I wanted to be sure I was the one you were after. Looks like I was right'' he smiled at her.
''Actually, I want to talk to you about my friend'' Leo moved closer to her and Lizzy continued to blush, not having the courage to step back.
''I waited because I also had something to tell you''
''Huh?''
Meanwhile, after waiting for a while without seeing Lizzy, Nicole packed their bags and left the library to look for Lizzy.
''Are you surprised?'' Leo asked and touched her hand. She flushed and tried to take her hand away but he held it tightly.
''You…''
''I know you are here because of your friend, but, I don't like her. It is you I like''
''What are you saying?''
''I said it is you I like''
Tack…
The sound of books falling to the ground caught their attention and they turned seeing Nicole at a distance. She looked flustered as the bag fell to the ground along with the books. Lizzy pushed Leo aside and turned but Nicole took off fast.
###
Present day.
''I had no idea Leo was also interested in me the whole time. His behaviour shocked me. I chased after Nicole but I couldn't find her. She didn't return to the hostel and the next day after lectures, I got back and found her space empty. Everything she had, had been cleared out of the room. Since then I didn't see Nikki again and later, I heard she was involved in an accident but I couldn't bring myself to go and see her because I also fell in love with Leo and I never got to apologise to her and tell her that day was really a mistake''
''Wow, you were a bitch to Nicole but it wasn't entirely your fault that the man didn't like Nicole but you instead''
''Miss. Benson almost died in that accident''
''How did you know about that?''
"I know because I saved her and gave her the gift so that she can see and help dead people fulfil their sincere wishes before moving to the afterlife The revenge you seek can take her life away Lizzy, so think about. If you can really bear to kill her once again'' Lizzy sat on a grave stone and looked at the old woman saying resolutely.
''I owe Nikki, maybe I need her because I have to pay her back, make her understand and give her back what rightly belongs to her; Leo!''
''Can you really do that?'' Candy asked sceptically.
''This is what I should do, I will also protect her. I will make sure I pay my debt to Nicole before I leave this place''
…..
Standing outside Nicole's small apartment, Lizzy looked at the house and sighed.
''So, this is where you live Nikki? Long-time no see!!!'' she smiled half-heartedly.
''Let me go in first, I will call for you two later on'' Granny said and went into the apartment.
Nicole walked out of her bedroom yawning as the music played loudly in the hall. Music was her only escape, it drowned all other noises in the room away. She went into the storeroom to get herself a bag of potato chips.
Granny scanned the hall after getting inside. She didn't see Nicole, ''where did this lazy bun go to?'' she saw the lazy bun come out of her store room holding a few bags of snacks and smiled. Her face had a bit of colour today.
Nicole took a bag of potato chips and poured a glass of juice before returning to the hall where she sat down, placing the items on the table. She didn't see the old woman.
''so don't give up, it's just young lovers' romance'' she hummed to the lyrics of the song playing.
''Why is this place so noisy? I can't even gather my thoughts in here'' Nicole heard the voice and frowned. She turned and saw the old woman and screamed falling back into the couch frighteningly.
''Who are you? What are you doing in someone else' house?'' Nicole asked and went to hide behind the couch, ''are you ghost or human being?'' Nicole paused and something seemed to click in her mind, ''a human being would have knocked, right?''
''What do you think?'' Granny said and Nicole lifted her hands and clasped them together pleadingly.
''Please, I'm really not in the mood to entertain visitors now. If you are hungry, just go somewhere different. I'm sure there are a thousand and one people out there who can see you. I have a serious migraine because I haven't slept well in the last few days''
''Is a pity, you are the one I want to disturb today?'' Granny sat on the single couch across the bigger one.
''What?'' Nicole cocked up her eyes a bit to steal a glance at the owner of the voice.
''Can't you even recognise the face of the one who saved your life 5 years ago? What a shame?''
''Huh?'' Nicole stood up almost immediately and walked out slowly. ''What did you say?''
''Is me, you, ungrateful wench''
''Granny? Tsk!'' Nicole finally recognised her and chuckled sarcastically murmuring, ''you come and go at will, how am I supposed to keep up?'' she said and sat on the couch.
''At least you still remember me'' she said and looked at her face, ''not bad''
''What is not bad?''
''Your face, it has colour''
Tiring the bag apart, Nicole yawned again as she dipped her hands into the potato chips to scoop some into her mouth.