Written in the Stars

Nine in the Afternoon

Song: Nine in the Afternoon- Panic! At the Disco

Back in my room, I look at the picture again. My dad could obviously tell that something was up, but how do I tell him something like this? How can I just blurt out that I met the person in this photo? Especially since the person in the photo died years ago. He'd say that I was crazy. Or worse, he'd pretend to be understanding and suggest I "talk to someone." I can't tell him something like this.

A knock on my door startles me from my thoughts. "Come in!" I expected it to be my dad, but instead, Reggie walks through the door.

"What are you doing here," I ask. He walks over to the bed and sits cross legged in front of me.

"You looked really shaken up when you left. I wanted to make sure you were okay." I give a little half smile in thanks. He really is a sweetheart. I get up to go turn some music on so my dad doesn't think that I'm talking to myself. I take the picture and put it in front of Reggie so he can look at it while I get back on the bed. He looks at it then looks back up at me. He's waiting for me to start talking.

"It's just a lot to take in. I didn't even think the person in this photo still existed. Willie died before my mom did. And worst of all, I keep wanting to ask him more about how my mom was. It's like I want to think of him as a connection to my mom, but it's not fair to spring something like that on him."

"I get that but did you ever think that you could be a connection for him too?"

I almost don't want to say what's really on my mind, but something about Reggie makes me want to trust him. "Why didn't he ever look for her? All those years before she died, he could've stayed close by to keep an eye on her. Why didn't he?"

Reggie shrugs his shoulders and says "Maybe that's something you should ask him."

For a while, both of us are silent. We're both unsure of what else there is to say about the subject. While talking to Reggie, I grabbed one of my fuzzy pillows and started tracing designs on the surface of it. As much as I trust him, I also feel awkward and unsure around him.

"I really wish I could hug you right now, you look like you could use one," he says finally. I laugh quietly before a random thought crosses my mind. "I wonder if that's something you could work up to?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, if you concentrate hard enough you can lift objects right? Or knock on my door, or sit on my bed? Why couldn't that work for people?"

He's lost in thought for a moment. "I feel like it'd take a while to work up to that. I'd probably have to start small, like just concentrate on my hands first." He lifts his hands up and wiggles his fingers. He then has a look of intense concentration and stares at his hand for a second. Slowly he reaches his hand out and moves towards my hand.

I'm not sure who's more surprised when his hand actually makes contact with mine. We both look down with wide eyes at the sight of us holding hands. At the same time we both look up to each other. "I did it!" He's beaming at me and I'm smiling right back. We stare at each other before his eyes flash down to our intertwined fingers. He clears his throat awkwardly and let's go.

"So Nick right? How weird is he acting?" I can't help but smile at his attempt to sound casual. I shake my head a little before answering "Yea I'm not sure what's up with that."

"It's almost like he's possessed by some entirely different person," says Reggie.

My eyes widen and I look at him hard. "Say that again." He looks confused, but he starts to repeat himself. Towards the end of his sentence, his eyes widen too. "You don't think...?"

I don't answer right away because my mind is running so fast. Is possession even something that can happen? In the movies it can, but this isn't the movies. There's a piece missing, I can feel it. What could a ghost gain by possessing Nick? A body? The chance to feel alive again? Somehow I don't think that's why. If it were, this ghost wouldn't be trying their best to isolate Nick away from everyone.

The only social interaction he's taken part of was coming to band practice. He seemed all too eager to see Julie perform. But no that's not quite it either. Nick- or whoever this is- wasn't interested in watching Julie. He only perked up when the guys showed up. What ghost would be so interested in the guys?

Suddenly, I feel sick as I come to the answer. The fear must be plain on my face because Reggie starts talking in a panicked tone. I can't focus on what he's saying and my hands are starting to shake. Reggie snaps me out of it by taking my face in his hands and saying my name loudly. I blink rapidly and my eyes focus on his face. "Hey, talk to me. What's going on?"

"Caleb."

It takes Reggie a minute to get to the realization that I've already figured out. When he does, his hands drop from my face and he looks as shocked and scared as I feel. "Make sure Julie is awake, I'm coming over. Tell Alex to grab Willie too."  I'm already up on my feet to get ready. I'll have to sneak out of my window and pray that I don't get caught.

"I'll go tell them we're coming, but please wait for me to get back before you leave. I don't want you walking around alone tonight." He poofs out to go tell the others and I finish getting ready. While waiting for him to get back, I start pacing around in my room. Finally he poofs back in and I waste no time questioning him. "Do they know I'm coming? What did you tell them? Is Willie coming?"

Reggie holds out his hands to stop the flood of questions coming from my mouth. "Whoa hold on! Yes they know. I just told them it was really important and I'd let you explain. And yes, Alex did leave to go get Willie." I let go of the breath I didn't realize I was holding in. "Okay let's go." I grab my backpack and move towards the window. Luck must be on my side because it doesn't make a sound as I lift it open. I hesitate with one foot out the window. Should I be leaving my dad all alone? I shake the thought off though. It isn't my dad or even me that Caleb would want.

I start walking quickly to Julie's house, not really paying attention to foot placement. I stumble a little bit, but quickly regain my footing. "Hey slow down.  You're not going to be doing anybody any favors by getting yourself hurt." He's right, but I still have to force myself to not run the rest of the way there.

When we get there, everyone is already waiting in the studio. Julie is wearing pajamas and everyone is looking confused. "Sam, what's going on? Reggie wouldn't tell us, he just said it was urgent," Julie asks.

"I think I know what's going on with Nick."