high knowing she was pregnant!
I scoff to myself. If she’d lived longer, she’d have realized all of those are typical teenage emotions and, with age, we learn to grow out of them or at least develop coping mechanisms to keep them in balance. How could she have done that to herself after seeing the pain it caused everyone with Angie?
I realize that she couldn’t have. There’s a reason she’s taken me back so far. Her message is more than just showing me how she died. She wants more, I can tell. I’ve played my trip back with her over and over in my mind. I’ve memorized the dialogue and the emotions. It’d be great if I could somehow locate Pierre. What she shared with her diary she did so with no holds barred.
I’m at her grave now, the wind and cold isn’t as apparent as it was a few days ago. I’m well insulated thanks to my worry-wart father.
Here goes.
“Hey, Cece, it’s me,” I say aloud. “Sorry about the interruption the other day. My dad doesn’t really understand all of this, so I came alone today. I’ve given a lot of thought to what you’ve shared so far I need for you to present yourself again. I’m ready to face the end if you’re willing to take me there.”
I look around the cemetery, seeing wreaths and Styrofoam candy canes still decorating a few of the graves nearby.
“I’m here,” a voice says behind me.
I turn abruptly. There she is. Cute little cheerleader that got herself into some trouble.
But how much?
“I’m glad you came back,” I say, smiling at her. “I was afraid you thought I’d deserted you or something.”
She gives a radiant smile. “I knew you wouldn’t boogie on me like that. Your mom adores you. She assured me you have what it takes to help me.”
“I hope so,” I say, not feeling quite as confident as this ghost does about my abilities. Leave it to Ma to brag on me like that. “But listen, can we just cut to the chase? I mean, I’m not sure why you took me back so far, especially since it says here you died as a result of blunt force trauma…in a car accident. You were high,” I reply, hating the fact that the last part comes out as an accusation. I’m holding the copy of her death certificate.
“We’re nearly finished,” she says, “You’ll understand once you see the final act. There was no accident…at least not the way you think. Are you ready?”
I nod and, for some reason, I close my eyes. It’s not because it’s scary, it’s just...weird when her body merges into mine. “Let’s do it,” I say.
Chapter 22
Erik just left and Mom is due home any minute. We had our talk and it left me feeling a lot better about things. Not enough to tell him my secret though. But I will soon.
Once in bed, I pull Pierre from my shelf.
February 4, 1974
Dear Diary,
Things seem to be getting stranger by the day. Kim’s been trying to talk to me, but I can tell Keith doesn’t want her near me. She’s scared. I can tell. I think she thinks Marshall is somehow involved in what happened to Angie, though she stopped short of saying it to me. Keith interrupted us talking. She hasn’t come around me since then. Erik and I finally had our talk tonight. He apologized over and over for how he’s been acting. He explained that it totally blew his mind about Angie dying and all and that he’s dealing with it and trying to lose the guilt. I shared with him what Kim told me. He agreed it was pretty weird.
He’s promised me no more getting high—except for weed and no more missing school. He told me he loves me too much to lose me again. I hope he means it. Until I’m sure, I’m not telling him about my condition. I’m sure of what I’m going to do, I’m just not sure if Erik will approve.
Erik swings by to take me to school. I’m perfectly able to drive myself, but he wants to take me somewhere right after school. He says it’s a surprise. Thankfully, I’ve experienced no morning sickness yet, though I’m clueless as to how long
I scoff to myself. If she’d lived longer, she’d have realized all of those are typical teenage emotions and, with age, we learn to grow out of them or at least develop coping mechanisms to keep them in balance. How could she have done that to herself after seeing the pain it caused everyone with Angie?
I realize that she couldn’t have. There’s a reason she’s taken me back so far. Her message is more than just showing me how she died. She wants more, I can tell. I’ve played my trip back with her over and over in my mind. I’ve memorized the dialogue and the emotions. It’d be great if I could somehow locate Pierre. What she shared with her diary she did so with no holds barred.
I’m at her grave now, the wind and cold isn’t as apparent as it was a few days ago. I’m well insulated thanks to my worry-wart father.
Here goes.
“Hey, Cece, it’s me,” I say aloud. “Sorry about the interruption the other day. My dad doesn’t really understand all of this, so I came alone today. I’ve given a lot of thought to what you’ve shared so far I need for you to present yourself again. I’m ready to face the end if you’re willing to take me there.”
I look around the cemetery, seeing wreaths and Styrofoam candy canes still decorating a few of the graves nearby.
“I’m here,” a voice says behind me.
I turn abruptly. There she is. Cute little cheerleader that got herself into some trouble.
But how much?
“I’m glad you came back,” I say, smiling at her. “I was afraid you thought I’d deserted you or something.”
She gives a radiant smile. “I knew you wouldn’t boogie on me like that. Your mom adores you. She assured me you have what it takes to help me.”
“I hope so,” I say, not feeling quite as confident as this ghost does about my abilities. Leave it to Ma to brag on me like that. “But listen, can we just cut to the chase? I mean, I’m not sure why you took me back so far, especially since it says here you died as a result of blunt force trauma…in a car accident. You were high,” I reply, hating the fact that the last part comes out as an accusation. I’m holding the copy of her death certificate.
“We’re nearly finished,” she says, “You’ll understand once you see the final act. There was no accident…at least not the way you think. Are you ready?”
I nod and, for some reason, I close my eyes. It’s not because it’s scary, it’s just...weird when her body merges into mine. “Let’s do it,” I say.
Chapter 22
Erik just left and Mom is due home any minute. We had our talk and it left me feeling a lot better about things. Not enough to tell him my secret though. But I will soon.
Once in bed, I pull Pierre from my shelf.
February 4, 1974
Dear Diary,
Things seem to be getting stranger by the day. Kim’s been trying to talk to me, but I can tell Keith doesn’t want her near me. She’s scared. I can tell. I think she thinks Marshall is somehow involved in what happened to Angie, though she stopped short of saying it to me. Keith interrupted us talking. She hasn’t come around me since then. Erik and I finally had our talk tonight. He apologized over and over for how he’s been acting. He explained that it totally blew his mind about Angie dying and all and that he’s dealing with it and trying to lose the guilt. I shared with him what Kim told me. He agreed it was pretty weird.
He’s promised me no more getting high—except for weed and no more missing school. He told me he loves me too much to lose me again. I hope he means it. Until I’m sure, I’m not telling him about my condition. I’m sure of what I’m going to do, I’m just not sure if Erik will approve.
Erik swings by to take me to school. I’m perfectly able to drive myself, but he wants to take me somewhere right after school. He says it’s a surprise. Thankfully, I’ve experienced no morning sickness yet, though I’m clueless as to how long
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