My brain tries to push past the mental barrier to the memory it knows is beyond. I absolutely recognize the name Cade Blakemore, but I can’t even get a mental image to come up. Instead, my head pounds, which is totally lame.
I rub my temples with the tips of my fingers. “Ugh, if ghosts can eat, can they also take pain pills for headaches?”
Kaz winces. “We can visit the Healer Ward before I take you to the dorms.”
We drift toward the main building. Kaz pauses at the halfway point, and waves toward a path on our right. “Most of the trails around campus loop back around to form a circle, but that one leads to the Locklear graveyard. Just a heads up in case you stumble across it.”
My eyes widen. “The Locklear graveyard?”
Kaz nods. “When we track down students’ bodies, we move them here to protect them from the Xers. It’s much easier to keep an eye on them that way.”
Weird, though I guess it does make a certain amount of sense, especially if there are a bunch of people out there looking around to desecrate graves.
We follow Kaz into the hall of the main building and back toward the lobby. A few feet from the door labeled Healer Ward, a trio of students slides out through the wall in front of us. I collide with one of the two boys. The shock of how solid he feels throws me off so bad I stumble back into Rafe’s chest. His hands clamp down on my shoulders, keeping me on my feet.
They’re much stronger than what I expected, and they send an odd flush of warmth through me. Since I’m dethatched from my body, I know I don’t have hormones anymore, but pleasant jitters buzz through me anyway. Maybe my spirit remembers what physical attraction used to feel like…
The dude I ran into gives me a look with so much disdain I almost attempt to duck behind Rafe entirely. His expression is so ugly that it destroys his really ridiculous good looks. Almost anyway. I’ve always been into blonds, and this guy is nearly platinum. Not to mention that square jaw and those blue eyes. They remind me of the center of a flame, hot and cold all at once.
That sneer though.
“Watch where you’re going.”
I straighten and cross my arms. “Oh, I’m sorry, you’re right. I’ll ask the Healer to check my x-ray vision. It must be malfunctioning so I couldn’t see through the wall you ghosted through.”
Legit fire sparks in blondie’s eyes, then surrounds both of his hands. “Think you’re funny?”
“Generally speaking, yes I do.” I lift my chin, eyeing the flames.
In spite of myself, I shuffle back a bit into Rafe, whose grip tightens. This guy can’t hurt me with that fire, there’s no way. Not if I’m already dead. Then again, I do have a headache, and can eat, and Kaz said I should be afraid of these Xers. So maybe I should retreat a little, try to smooth things over.
Then Kaz steps between us. “Knock it off, Landon. You know torching new students is frowned upon.”
“Seems like a terrible way to welcome people,” Rafe says.
He’s still standing behind me, and I’m just now noticing the way he smells. Like hikes in the woods all full of cedar. Pine. It’s lovely, if not a little strange. Eventually I’ll figure out ghost rules, but for now I find the fact that he smells at all oddly comforting. Part of me wants to lean against his chest, breathe in that pleasant scent.
Maybe later.
Landon’s sneer tightens, and the fire intensifies, but he shoves past us instead of attacking, so I count it as a win. The other boy follows him, but the girl who’s with him hangs back and takes my hand, giving it a hard squeeze. She has short, copper colored hair and warm brown skin. Both glow with the same ghostly light as the rest of us, but with a bit of a golden tint, almost angelic.
“Sorry about that.” She pushes the thick rimmed glasses she’s wearing back into place. “He’s been cantankerous since he got here.”
I nod, laughing a little at her word choice. “Guess death’ll do that to a person. It’s super inconvenient.”
The girl grins. “Not everyone adjusts so well. It’s rather fascinating to observe differing reactions. I’m Haya. Are you Billie?”
“That’s one thing I am sure of.” I step awkwardly to one side, immediately missing the feel of Rafe behind me as I introduce him.
Dimple mode activates and he shakes her hand too.
“Welcome to Ghost High.” Haya looks back at me. “I’m your new roommate.”
“Oh! Cool. Fair warning, I sleep scream.”
Haya’s eyes widen. “You do? Not that it wouldn’t be an interesting study in the mechanics of sleep but…”
I chuckle. “Totally joking. I sleep like the dead...uh...which I guess is appropriate under the circumstances.”
Haya grins, then pokes Kaz in the shoulder. “Your hypothesis was absolutely correct. She will fill the void Erin left behind quite well.”
“Last roommate?” Rafe asks.
“Yes. She...” Haya frowns and trails off. Her eyes dart to meet Kaz’s again, then move quickly back to mine. “Left about a month ago. I’ll tell you about it when you get back from your tour. Or sometime. See you in the dorm. Bye.”
I blink after her as she coasts down the hall and disappears through a door. Before I can ask, Kaz launches into an explanation about the Healers on staff and leads the way toward their office. I’ll have to add Haya’s former roommate to my ever-growing list of questions, because it sure doesn’t sound like she completed her unfinished business and passed on quietly.
Chapter Three
After visiting the Healer working that night — an older woman with round cheeks and a thick Georgia accent — Kaz
