Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay: A Young Adult Haunted House Mystery by R. Barri Flowers Page B

about her latest crush.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
     
    Peyton was actually glad Vance had to work
late today so he couldn't give Bryant the third degree before they
went to the movie. Her mother was much more amicable.
    "Your father used to take me to movies,"
Melody said as they stood in the foyer with Bryant. "It was so
romantic that sometimes I couldn't even remember anything about the
movie, but I could remember everything about the time we spent in
the theater."
    Peyton blushed and was a bit shocked. The
thought of her parents making out in the theater was
unappealing.
    She glanced at Bryant, who seemed
amused.
    "Well, we'd better get going, Bry, don't you
think?"
    "Yeah, it's about that time."
    "Be careful out there," advised Melody. "And
try to have Peyton home by no later than midnight. Otherwise Vance
will probably blow a gasket."
    Peyton rolled her eyes. "Mom--"
    "That's fine, Mrs. McIntyre," Bryant said.
"I'll get her back before the bewitching hour."
    "Thank you," she said, a tiny smile playing
on her lips.
    "Sorry about that," Peyton said.
    Bryant shrugged. "Don't be. We've got plenty
of time to see the movie and even grab a bite after, if you're
game."
    "I'm game," she said quickly. "I just didn't
want you to think my mom and stepfather's rules and regulations
were too much."
    "I don't. Parents are parents. I really like
your mom. She's pretty cool." Bryant frowned. "Now your
stepdad...well, I guess he's like my dad--always wants to be in
charge."
    "That definitely sounds like Vance, at least
lately," Peyton admitted. Luke didn't seem nearly as bossy, but
then she hadn't been around him very much.
    At the car, Bryant opened the door for
Peyton, and said with a grin, "By the way, you look really nice
tonight--"
    "Thanks," she told him, feeling good about
the compliment. "So do you. You smell nice, too."
    "Yeah?"
    "Yeah." She grinned.
    "I had a little extra motivation going out
with you," Bryant admitted.
    "Same here," Peyton told him as her heart
skipped a beat.
    Peyton enjoyed the movie--a teen
comedy--more than she thought she would. It took her mind off other
more troubling things and was a chance to further bond with Bryant,
especially when he put his arm around her and they shared a few
kisses.
    * * *
    They went to a restaurant not far from the
theater afterward.
    "I gave Kirk your friend's number," Bryant
said, chewing on a ranch fry. "He's pretty stoked about meeting
her."
    "Lily feels the same way," Peyton assured
him.
    "Enough about them," he said. "Right now I'd
rather enjoy our time together."
    "I think we're doing that," she said
spiritedly.
    "Yeah, I guess we are." He sipped his Coke
and looked at Peyton thoughtfully. "I've been asking around some
more about this mysterious girl in the bay--"
    "You have?" Peyton wondered if he'd come up
with the same thing she had.
    "A friend of a friend's half sister was
visiting that weekend. She supposedly took a dip in the bay and may
have been in there around the same time as you. I wouldn't put it
past her to have--"
    "Stop!" Peyton raised her voice
unintentionally.
    Bryant lifted a brow. "Excuse me?"
    She hesitated. I've got to come clean
with him and hope I don't live to regret it.
    "It wasn't her that I saw, Bry."
    "How can you be so sure?"
    Peyton sucked in a deep breath. Here goes
nothing. "Because the girl in the bay was... dead --"
    "Dead? You mean like she drowned?"
    "Not exactly." Peyton cleared her throat.
"Um, the girl I saw has been dead for half a century--"
    Bryant's head snapped back like she'd
punched him. "What are you talking about?"
    "I'm talking about a ghost !"
    "A ghost...?"
    "Afraid so," she said lamentably. "I know it
sounds off the wall, but it's true. Her name's Caitlyn St. Claire
and the bay isn't the only place I've seen her."
    Bryant made a face. "You're telling me you
think you saw an actual ghost?"
    "Yes, that's what I'm saying. And I don't think I saw one, I know I did. Caitlyn St. Claire
lived in our house fifty years ago. She was shot