Chapter 2
The shop I owned was never too busy, but it attracted few customers. Enough for me to need and afford a helping hand. As Frank worked the cash register I re stalked some dolls that had just arrived this morning. Personally the dolls gave me nightmares, but they keep selling so I didn't complain. Frank is a good employee. He never asks any questions about me spacing out or talking to myself. I could sense that he was curious as to why I keep spacing out so frequently, but he is too afraid to ask. And truth be told, I don't know what I would say to him if he ever gathers up the courage. The bell I hung up in front of the door rang. I recognised the footsteps before I heard her voice. She was bouncing excitedly.
"He's in the back." Frank said.
"Nico! Nico! Nico!" Hazel jumped towards me. She was beaming with excitement. Despite being related, Hazel and I looked nothing alike. People liked to joke that I look like a vampire, pale skin, dark hair and fascination with antiques. Hazel was beautiful. She had smile that could light up a room, golden eyes to match her sparkling artistic personality. I smiled at my sister as she held up an envelope to her face. "Look what just came in!"
"Did you open it?" I asked putting down the last doll on the shelf.
Hazel shook her head, "No. I wanted to open it with you!"
I was touched. I nodded, and watched her rip open the envelope. She stopped and handed me her acceptance letter. "I can't do it. You read it!"
I took out the paper from the envelope and unravelled it. I made a grimace and Hazel gasped.
"I'm sorry, Hazel, " she didn't even let me finish. She snatched the paper from my hands. When she read it she hit me in the chest. I laughed.
"Thanks for giving me a heart attack, you jerk!"
"You got in!" I grinned.
She smiled, her golden eyes sparkled with glee. "I got in!" She repeated those words and jumped towards the cash register. Hazel prouldy showed her acceptance letter to Frank. Frank congratulated her. She skipped out of the store repeating those three words over and over again.
"She's really something," I said. Frank absentmindedly nodded before catching himself and jolted upwards as if I was a drill Sargent. Small part of me loved making people like Frank nervous. Frank is 19, when he isn't working he is at school studying to become a vet. He is rather large for his age, a head over me.
Store was almost empty, besides Frank and I there was a young couple browsing. My smile disappeared when I noticed a girl in her teens looking at the couple. The girl looked as if she wanted to reach out to them. She turned towards me, confused.
"You can see me?"
I quickly turned to Frank ignoring the girl. I told him to help the couple. He raised his eyebrow, like he was questioning what came over me.
"I saw you! You can see me! Don't ignore me. Please, you have to help me." The ghost of the girl screamed and pleaded. She was now standing right in front of me, wherever I looked. I slipped to the back, sure that the ghost followed me.
"I know you can see me! Stop ignoring me!" the ghost screamed.
"Yes, I can see you." I said when I was sure I was out of earshot.
The ghost of the girl looked pleased that I wasn't ignoring her anymore. Her hair was dark, and she looked beautiful even if her purple prom dress was covered in blood.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Selina. That woman out there, with red bandana, she's...she was my date to the prom." Selina looked sad. "She needs to stop blaming herself for what happened to me."
"What happened?"
"We were at our prom. She got in a fight with some guy over the parking space, it was a silly argument, really. I got tired of their fighting and went to the dance by myself." She touched her bloody dress, "The car came out of no where. Some drunk kid from the dance got behind the wheel." Selina looked at me, her eyes pleading for help, "Tell Clarisse, she couldn't have known. Tell her she needs to stop blaming herself."
I went back out, pretending I didn't just have a chat with a ghost. Frank was showing off some dream catchers to the couple. Clarisse, the woman with the red bandana around her neck, looked scary, but I could sense her heartache. Selina apeared by her side trying to touch her face. Then she looked at me, expecting me to do something. If Clarisse was alone it would have made my job easier. But when was talking to dead easy. I smiled and went up to the group. I made an excuse for Frank to show Clarisse's friend some sketchbooks we had, while I took Clarisse to see our collection of throwing knives. Sometimes it's good having a ghost around to whisper the interest of my customers into my ear. When I got Clarisse alone, I started asking some basic small talk questions, edging her towards the prom night. Selina was nagging me to hurry, which wasn't really helpful. Clarisse shut down at mere mention of the prom night, I got a clue why. Selina looked heartbroken watching the woman she loved suffer. I gathered up everything I had.
"It wasn't your fault." I said in a low voice so that only Clarisse would hear. "You should stop blaming yourself for something that isn't your fault."
"What?" Clarisse raised her eyebrows. Selina looked worried.
"Is this some kind of a joke?" Clarisse turned hostile. She gave me the most intense death stare. "What the hell do you know?"
I looked at Selina for help.
"Tell her she has a smile that can ward off monsters, and a stare that can kill dracons!" Selina urged me.
I repeated what Selina told me, and I watched Clarisse softening. Like she lost all will to fight.
"How did you?"
"Tell her I loved her, and that she must let me go. I am gone now." Selina cried and she touched Clarisse's cheek, "She will do great things. Tell her that."
I told Clarisse Selina's message to her. Clarisse seemed to believe me. She asked if I can see Selina, if she was still around. I nodded.
"Can you tell her-"
"She can hear you." I interrupted Clarisse. Clarisse looked up and held her tears back.
"I am so sorry. I should have been there for you. I miss you so much. Me and my short temper." Clarisse bitterly smiled. Selina looked at her full of love and forgiveness. I wished Clarisse could see how much Selina loved her.
"She forgave you." I told Clarisse.
"I love you, Selina." Clarisse said.
Selina looked behind her, what I assumed was the light. She told me to tell Clarisse she loved her back, and she walked into the light peacefully.