“You absolutely cannot follow me in there. Are you not familiar with the term ‘privacy’? 

I exclaimed. 

“I know, I know. But I don't want to leave your body,” Farrah replied. “What if I can’t get back in? Or worse, you run off and refuse to let me in. I can't take chances, you know.” 

It was frustrating. 

“You realize I have to get to the bus stop early,” I sputtered. “And I refuse to bathe with you present.” 

“Fair point. But you have to promise me you won't run.” 

“I promise. Now can you leave?!” 

She huffed. “You're extra feisty today.” Then she sighed. 

Mist and fog filled my room. Before I could process it, I collapsed. 

I woke up mid-breath. 

I wasn't alone. 

The room was cold. Not normal cold. Grave cold. My breath puffed white. 

Then I saw her. 

She was floating. Barely. Toes skimming my carpet like physics was optional. 

Heavens, she was beautiful. The kind that short-circuited your brain. 

Long dark hair hung dead-straight, ignoring my ceiling fan like it was beneath her. Too still, like it was underwater. 

And her eyes — green. Not hazel. Glowstick green in the dark. They made their own light. 

She wore a nightgown. Or a ghost version of one. Probably the same one from the night of the incident. No wrinkles. No stains. Spotless. 

She crossed her arms. “You'd be late, Eli?” 

Her voice was the same. Sweet. But now it had an echo, like she was speaking from the bottom of a well. 

I grabbed a towel and held it in front of me like armor. “I have to shower.” 

Her eyebrows quirked. “What if I told you I already saw everything when you were, uh, asleep? Shall I describe it for you?” 

“What the_OUT!” She had to be bluffing. That didn’t stop me from going red.

She rolled her impossible green eyes. “Fine. Fine.” 

Pause. 

“It was a joke. God, you boys are so dramatic about your—" 

She drifted through my desk chair and settled by the window. 

“I'll just lurk. And judge your shampoo choices. I'm sure they're tragic.” 

She gave me a sheepish smile. 

I didn't move. 

Seeing her was different. In my head she was just annoying. Out here she was real. 

Pale, but real. Pretty, but real. 

The kind of pretty that would’ve made me choke in the hallway at school. 

“You're staring," she said, not looking at me.

“Your hair's... long.” 

Genius, Eli. Real smooth. 

The corner of her mouth twitched. “I groomed it to be that way, so yes. It is.” 

She turned and looked at me. Her green eyes pinned me to the wall. 

“You're taller than you feel on the inside.” 

“Yeah, well. You're...” ‘Pretty’ was too much. ‘Creepy’ wasn't true. 

“You're very... present.” 

She snorted. “Go shower, Eli. Before your mum comes in and hears you talking to yourself. She'll book you for therapy.” 

I clutched the towel tighter. “Don't go far.” Stupid. 

I left for the bathroom before she could say anything else. 

I showered fast and got dressed. Farrah wasn't in my room when I got back. Maybe she was giving me privacy. 

Mum had two PHS uniforms tailored for me, so I wore the other one. I'd still have to explain the torn one later. 

‘What should I say? I tripped?’ I'd worry about that later. 

I was ready for school, but Farrah still hadn't come back. I called her name a few times. No answer. 

Worry pricked at me. Then Mum called from downstairs. 

“Morning, Mum,’ I said, grabbing the milk. 

She didn't turn around. “Elijah Norman. Want to explain why the turkey club I made yesterday is gone?” 

I froze. The shelf was empty except for one sad tomato 

“I... uh... didn't,” I started. Then I remembered. Farrah. She really did eat everything. 

“Maybe I did. Sorry, Mum.” 

Mum sighed and handed me a banana instead. 

“It clearly said ‘DO NOT TOUCH’. Were you that hungry yesterday?” 

“I... the bus was late. It was hot. I think that contributed.” 

I lowered my eyes. I was definitely going to get Farrah for this. 

“It's alright, Mum said, softening. “They were for you anyway. My boy’s growing.” 

She fixed my tie. “We're late. Finish up.” 

I checked the clock. 6:47. Crap. 

I shoved the rest of my food down and ran with Mum to the bus stop. 

We missed the first bus. 

Shitty way to start the day. Now I'd have to go to the cafeteria. 

Luckily the second bus came in under five minutes. 

Second day at this school. I hadn't had time to think. 

Should I talk to someone? I'd probably mess it up. 

Should I act high and mighty so no one tried anything? 

And most importantly — the gatekeeper. 

I got off the bus and rushed to the assembly hall. Still annoyed they did this every day. 

The assembly finished faster than expected. Then it was class. 

Physics. Chemistry. English. Biology. 

Each one crawled. 

I'd never been happier to see break. 

I was heading to the cafeteria when someone tapped my back. 

“Hey. Brown hair. Familiar face. 

“Annabelle! From yesterday. Remember?” Right. She helped me find the library. 

“Yeah. Sorry, I... forgot. Bad memory.” 

“No, I don't think so, she smiled. “First days are overwhelming.” 

“How’s PHS so far?” she asked. 

Strange. Haunted. Name it. 

“It's... not what I’m used to. It’s crazy.” “Why is assembly mandatory?” I asked. 

She laughed. “The director thinks ‘the best way to start an orderly day is to have an assembly’. His words.” 

“I guess he's an orderly man.” 

“I'm heading to the cafeteria. Wanna join?” 

“Sure.” 

That's when I noticed it. Eyes on us. Mostly girls. A few boys. 

When I met their gaze, they looked away. 

“I heard you're from the city, Annabelle said. “What's it like?” 

Word traveled fast. 

“Faster.” I said. “Life here is calm. Peaceful. 

Would've been, if yesterday hadn't happened.” 

We got food and sat down. “What class are you in?” 

“2-B. The one next to yours.” 

Because of how many students they had, the school split us by subjects. 

2-A was science. I guessed 2-B was arts. 2-C was

“I see you've made a new friend, Ana.” 

A tall guy with dark brown hair pulled out the empty chair at our table. 

“Hi. I’m Gabriel.” He turned to me. “And you are?” 

“Elijah.”