Chapter 20:
Earrings
February 5, 2007
West Covina, California
“Why don’t
you just admit that we are lost?”
“Because we
are not.”
“Why don’t
you just call the real estate agent and ask for directions.”
“That is
not necessary.”
“We have
been driving for more than an hour and we are already late!”
“Rachel, I
freaking got this, ok? Just shut the hell up.”
I smiled
when I heard AJ finally yelled at his high-pitched girlfriend who wouldn’t stop
talking. Though, I was not confident as well that AJ would really learn the
directions just by staring at the map the real estate agent e-mailed to him. I
shook my head a little, folded my arms and stared out of the window.
It had been
a year since the Never Gone tour ended, and nothing much has changed except
that I hated now to be alone. Being with friends all the time was my excuse so
the ghosts wouldn’t bother me. That was exactly the reason why I thought it
would be smarter to hang out with the couple who argues 24/7 than to be alone
in my house.
“Nothing’s
funny, Carter.” Rachel puckered her lips and rolled her eyes.
“J, I’ll
just grab something to drink at the convenience store, want something?” I
tapped AJ on his shoulder and waited for his answer.
“I’m good,
man, thanks.” He answered without taking his eyes off the map.
“Rachel?”
“Orange
juice.” She said without looking at me.
I got off
the car and walked towards the convenience store. The old lady standing in
front of the antique shop beside the convenience store caught my attention. She
was staring blankly at the store with so much sadness and disappointment in her
eyes. I wanted to ignore her, just like the other ghosts that were passing by,
but I just couldn’t. There was something in her that made me want to help her.
“She had
been like that for three years now.”
I looked
behind me, and saw a middle aged man in a blue loose-fitting jumpsuit leaning
against the wall. I gave him a small smile as if his presence was just normal.
I guess it takes a lot now to startle me.
“You know
her?” I asked him while putting my headset into my ear, another cover up so
people won’t think I was talking to myself.
“No. She
won’t talk to anybody,” He shrugged his shoulder “She’s there the moment the
shop opens and will leave after they close.”
“How did
you know she had been like that for 3 years now?”
“I died a
couple of hours before her, and I was here when she took her last breath. The
paramedics said it was heart attack.”
“She died
here?”
“At the
exact spot where she is standing,” We both looked at the old lady again “You
are the only person who gave her a second look; everyone that was given an
ability to see us ignores her. Son, I know this might be too much to ask, but
do you think you can help her?”
I was
speechless for a second. I have never encountered a selfless ghost yet, this
was the first time someone asked my help for somebody else.
“I won’t
promise you anything but I will try.”
“That’s
fair enough. I’m Max by the way.”
“Nick
Carter.”
“It’s nice
to meet you, Nick.”
“Likewise.
How about you, Max? Do you need any help?” I thought he deserve a reward or
something.
“Nah, I’m
good.” He smiled
“Have you
seen the light?” I carefully asked him.
“Oh, so you
know about the light? Who are you, Mr. Carter?” He laughed “Yes. I saw it a few
hours after I died, but I ran away from it. I was scared because, you know, no
one told me about it. I was running away from the light when I got here and saw
her die.”
“Have you
seen the light again after that?”
“I’ve been
waiting for it.”
“Are you
sure there is no unfinished business that might have kept the light from
appearing?”
“None that
I know of,” Then his lips slowly broke into a smile “Or maybe there is.” He
said while looking at the old lady “You know, the light disappeared after I saw
her die, and from that moment I felt like I was connected to her. I watch her
watch the antique shop every day. Maybe it’s my mission to make sure that she’d
get the help she needed.”
“Nick!” AJ
waved at me “Let’s go, man.”
“Thanks for
your time, Max. I’ll be back one of these days to help you.”
“Thank you,
Nick. You have no idea how much you made me happy.”
“You’re
welcome. I’ll see you around.” I waved my hand a little before walking towards
AJ’s car.
“Where’s my
orange juice?” Rachel demanded when I got back to the car.
“I’m sorry.
My sister called and I forgot about the orange juice.”
“It’s ok,
babe, we’ll be at your dream house in no time.” AJ reassured his girlfriend
before she could start whining.
“Nick!” I
looked out the window when I heard Max called me “She said Earrings.”
All I could
do was nod.
***