“I don’t like answering doors for strangers. Maybe the delivery guy will get the hint, drop it off, and just go.”

         RING. RING. RING.

         Sounds like he won’t. GG tilts her masked face down, staring at my hands. You are trembling.

I look down. My hands are shaking as I bounce my knees, a nervous habit. “Oh.” I lick my lips, cursing how dry they feel. “I am, huh?”

You are afraid?

I nod, squeezing my eyes shut. Trying to focus on my breathing. Trying to muster the self-respect to get up, not give a damn about how I look and how I’ll be perceived, and answer the damn door.

Suddenly, my hand feels cold. I look down. See GG holding it with her fingers through my palm. She tilts her head to the side like a smile. We will answer it together. 

I nod. “Okay.” And I get up with the ghost girl at my side, reaching for the door. 

When I open it, she’s vanished. I stare into the face of an expectant delivery person. No, not just any person.

“Oh, hello!” Chirps the attractive woman holding my parcel in front of me. She’s alternative, with a sleeve of tattoos that’s far better designed than my flash-and-fill type of tats. Rings on every finger. She’s so stylish that she could model if she tried. “Sorry, I just saw the no-contact listing on your order. My mistake. It’s my first day, and I’m still getting ahold of the app.”

I grimace, not looking down. And I look like a bum. She looks expectantly at me, and I feel as if I haven’t used my voice in a thousand years. Right, this is the part where I’m expected to say something. So, say it, Kai! 

“Thank you.” I nod toward the package. 

She frowns, a little weirded out by my non-reaction. Gods, you’ve ruined it again, Kai! 

I hold my hands out for the box, and she hands it to me with another slight smile and wave. “Later.”

“Thanks.” I repeat again, like an idiot. I’m sweating and blushing furiously as I nod and shut the door. 

I stare into the masked face of ghost girl, who shimmers back into existence in front of me with her arms crossed. 

She was pretty. Thinks GG, in a tone I can best call accusatory.