As I walk into the room, the argument with Christopher fresh in my mind, feeling frustrated and angry. I slam the door behind me, so hard that I know within myself i am transferring aggression to the innocent door. Poor thing.I lie on my bed, replaying the event in my head. My eyes burn, but I refuse to cry. I close them tight and swallow hard.How did i even survive without a scratch? Am i a witch?
"Hi Daddy," I say as his figure appears across my bed. F*ck it, i am not mad and this is the reason i went to that insensitive jerk's room in the first place.
"Hi Nicole," he replies, his voice clear and familiar. I am not surprised I've finally lost it. Not in any way, is it not bound to happen? Or am i dreaming? I pinch myself and man, it is real.
"I must have taught you to be really strong, you ain't even gonna shed a tear. Just one!" He says, a hint of pride in his voice.
"I guess so." I shrug. I know I must be hallucinating but it feels so real.
He takes a step closer but i am not scared, it is just dad, no big deal."You are reeking of anger, kiddo, it isn't just about us, is it?"
"Maybe" I shrug. I hesitate, unsure of how much to tell him that it is just a tough day and the whole thing with Christopher.
"Girl, you ain't gon' admit shit even when i am ten miles and six foot in the ground, is it the dude? Tell me about it"
"Does it matter? I'm no longer seventeen, dad, I'm eighteen now"
"Eighteen and so what?" He ask softly.
"Eighteen and so adult , i don't have to cry to you again you know"
"Adult? You've grown without me, that's whelming"
"Dad, you aren't even real, you don't even exist again"
"Ouch! That hurts, like really"
"Sorry dad but you know day has been shitty since, life sucks for real and it's kinda tough trying to blend in and i think I'm trying too much, you feel me?"
"Aww, my baby" Mom says sounding all sad across the room, it is kind of faint and it looks like she has been crying for a long time.
Man, all members of the norman family, the late ones and the remaining one needs healing energy. Every one of us.
"Mom? Okay I've finally gone mad."
"L...M...F...A...O" Tessa's voice chimes in, her tone soft and melancholic.
I roll my eyes, feeling a mix of emotions because apparently I am happy and not happy to hear from her specifically. Don't ask me why, you will definitely see it for yourself soon enough. You cannot hide a tiger's stripes.
"Tessa? You too? What the hell?"
"Tessa?" Dad's voice shakes "where are you?" If this is a joke i am not in for it.
"Drop it dad, she's right beside you" I say rolling my eyes, nothing is funny down here!
"He can't see me dummy, stop acting up, that's lame dude" Tessa chimes in squeezing her face at me. I guess it is safe to call her a devil because how can you be dead and have your same attitude.
"We can hear ourselves but we just can't see each other, sucks to be us, Bella bear" Mum adds her tone sorrowfull, i guess that explains why she sounded as though she has been crying for a long time. Sucks to be them to be very honest.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Norman, sucks to be you, not me" Tessa fires at mom. You see what i am saying. She is just out of this world, literally. Out of control.
"Wait, y'all mean to tell me you haven't seen your asses since it happened!"
"What happened?" Tessa asks squeezing her face at me again. What the hell is with her?
"What about Jayden?" I ask sharply, my panic growing. My mind races and it sends shivers down my spine.
"Nobody's seen him."Tessa says but this time her voice cool and you can tell she is concerned about something. If mom is alive and this kind of shit happens, then a couple of beers and a few cigars would have been her companion. Poor mom.
Back track to every single day last week, i started perceiving Jayden's distinctive perfume from my sleep last Monday, i could have sworn he was there because when i woke up i could still smell it although it was faint.
Tuesday last week, i saw someone with Jayden's build from the back, he turned and smiled at me but i thought it was just two strangers being nice to each other.
On Wednesday, the Uber driver sounded exactly like Jayden but he would not look at me. At that point i thought i was going crazy took some pills and took a nap.
It was Thursday and i felt Jayden's dead stare, that feeling you get when you know you are being watched but the one i felt was really intense, it was so scary that i couldn't use the toilet the whole day.
As if that was not enough, on Friday, i heard the guitar play the way Jason used to play it, curiosity made me look inside but no one but a girl with scattered hair was inside. The funny thing is, She wasn't even playing the guitar, she was arranging the place. Then, i thought i was stressing over my family's demise so much.
On Saturday, the jerk in the next room was watching jayden's favourite football club play and i could feel someone was sitting next to him.
On Sunday, i heard Jayden's laugh while the Choir sang praise, that one he does when the choir hits an insanely high pitch.
It was as if Jayden's ghost was stalking me, specifically stalking me.
But Monday this week, i heard nothing, i saw nothing so i figured I was not going nuts so, i was rest assured.