Crystal Frost: The Complete Series

CHAPTER 1

My knees buckled and my hands trembled as I reached for the door to the school. An invisible weight came crushing down on my lungs as I gasped for air.

What’s wrong? Emma asked with urgency. Crystal, you look sick. Are you okay?

I paused, unable to move or speak because I was afraid I would collapse if I did. The truth was, I didn’t know what was wrong with me.

Crystal, Emma prodded, resting a hand on my shoulder.

I blinked a few times and finally caught my breath. My voice was hoarse and barely there. Yeah, I think I’ll be alright. I just have a weird feeling.

Once I found my legs, we entered the building. The commons took on a different role today. Instead of everyone seated at tables waiting for the bell to ring, most were crowded toward the far end of the room. It was quieter than normal, too, as if a tragedy had just taken place.

What’s everyone doing? I asked in a near whisper as I stood on my toes to get a better look.

I don’t know, Emma started, but she cut off. Oh, yeah. Remember the fundraiser they’re doing today for Olivia Owen? They must have started already.

Now that Emma pointed it out, I remembered yesterday’s announcements reminding students about a fundraiser in memory of Olivia. I knew Olivia’s story. In a small town of 3,500, everyone knew about Olivia’s tragic death that happened last year.

I approached the table where the crowd stood and moved to the side so I could see. When I got a clear view, I saw two girls sitting behind the table, Kelli Taylor and Justine Hanson, the co-queen bees of the school. Athletic, beautiful, straight A students, these girls were pretty much the poster children for perfection. In front of them sat boxes of candy bars they were selling for the fundraiser.

Informational flyers and pictures of Olivia scattered the table. There was even a large framed photo of her junior volleyball picture taken just weeks before her death. She stood with a confident stance in her number 17 volleyball jersey with the ball resting on her hip. Her blonde hair was straightened, and her dark brown irises made her eyes appear larger than they should. She looked more like an angel than a student. It’s sad, I thought, that she didn’t live long enough to finish the season—or even to graduate for that matter.

I grabbed one of the flyers from the stack and began reading.

Fundraising for Burn Victims: In Memory of Olivia Owen

By Justine Hanson

Olivia Owen was once a loving daughter, student, and athlete. She was a straight-A student who set an example for her fellow classmates by becoming an active member of the student council and the community service club. Her athletic abilities surpassed those of her fellow junior-year volleyball players despite her asthma, and if she would have made it to the end of the season, she would have undoubtedly claimed the title of MVP. Olivia was a spectacular human being, volunteering when she could, helping the community with things like the Peyton Springs Halloween Festival and the Fourth of July Parade.

But more than anything, Olivia was my best friend. I knew her and loved her like a sister, and it pains my heart each day to know that her life was cut short at only age 17. When Olivia forgot to blow out a candle before she fell asleep, her curtains caught fire, and she suffered an asthma attack before she could escape the smoke or find her inhaler. I can’t imagine the physical pain she must have endured that night.

Because of this tragic tale, Olivia’s family and friends decided to honor her life by helping raise money for other burn victims and their families who have survived house fires. Today, on the anniversary of Olivia’s death, we ask you to contribute by purchasing one of our fundraising products (candy bars, baked goods, and other donated items) or by simply dropping $1 into one of our donation jars located throughout the school.

Olivia’s mother and her friends thank you for any and all contributions, and we hope to continue raising money for families like Olivia’s. Thank you, and God bless!

What’s it say?

I jumped. I didn’t realize Emma had followed me to the table.

It’s just a flyer explaining the fundraiser, I told her.

Olivia’s story was sad. I felt like I couldn’t just leave the flyer there, one that told her story to the world. I wanted to contribute in some way, but I didn’t have any money on me, so I simply folded the paper up and slid it in my pocket, hoping that would show I cared.

The thought of death crushed my heart, so I kept my eyes down, avoiding gazes so I wouldn’t tear up. I didn’t know Olivia that well, but since we were both on the volleyball team—although she was Varsity when I was on the freshman team—I’d spoken to her a few times.

I blinked back tears as I thought of Olivia’s tragedy. The whole idea of death brought a lump to my throat and resurfaced memories that I thought I’d gotten over. Emma rubbed my back to comfort me because she knew the subject of death was a touchy one.

As I stared at the floor, afraid to look up for fear that tears might start falling, an invisible force—something unknown willing me to look—pulled my chin up. My gaze fell upon the empty hallway to the right of the commons area where students hadn’t yet been released to roam for the day.

In the middle of the hallway stood a tall, beautiful girl with blonde hair and dark brown eyes. She looked at me across the distance, her eyes full of emotion. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what she was trying to say with her expression, except that I knew it was urgent.

As soon as I spotted her, the bell rang, announcing that students could now go to their lockers and prepare for class. The crowd dispersed from the commons into the hallway and blocked my view of the girl. The students hurried down the hall as if they didn’t see her. I kept my eye on where she was standing, but I didn’t see her again.

Crystal. Emma’s voice seemed far off, a distant hum in my confusion.

The faintness I felt just moments ago returned. My heart pounded in my ears, and for a second, my knees felt unstable. I gripped the edge of the fundraising table for support.

Emma snapped her fingers in front of my face. Crystal, she said again as her voice came back into focus.

I was suddenly whipped back into reality, dazed. Wh—what?

Are you okay? Emma asked with a tone of serious concern. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.

I let the statement sink in for a moment. Yeah, I said. But I wasn’t answering her initial question. I was agreeing with her latter statement.

But I didn’t see a ghost. I couldn’t have. An odd sensation stirred as a chill spread from my spine to the end of my fingertips. This was the same type of chill I used to get when I had my imaginary friend Eva over for tea before I started kindergarten. I’m imagining things, I told myself, mostly as reassurance.

But I had seen her clear as day. Olivia Owen had stood in the hallway and begged for my help with nothing but an expression. Yet how could that be when she died a year ago?

Emma took my arm and led me to our lockers as I silently assured myself I wasn’t crazy.

CHAPTER 2

As we neared our lockers, I rationalized what I had seen.

Whatever bug I’m catching sure is making my imagination run wild.

I took a deep breath, willing my bad mood to go away, but a tension headache was already forming. I tried putting Olivia out of my head. Easier said than done.

We arrived at our first class, which was my favorite class of the day because it was the only one where Emma, Derek, and I had class together. Plus, Mr. Bailey always left us to our textbooks and let us talk with our group. Needless to say, there was more goofing around than working on geometry homework.

I walked in with a frown on my face. Derek noticed immediately. I moved my desk so it was facing my two best friends, forming a triangle so that we could get to work.

Derek shifted in his chair and looked up at me. What’s wrong? he asked gently, obviously concerned.

It’s just not a good day, I murmured. With that, I actually opened up my textbook and began reading.

I could see Derek’s expression out of the corner of my eye as he looked to Emma for an explanation. She simply lifted her shoulders and opened her own textbook, but I could still see her stealing glances at him.

I apologized for my behavior when the bell rang, but I still couldn’t shake off my mood. I seemed to walk through the hall in a daze, blinking back tears and cursing the knot that was forming in my chest. Was I getting sick, or was it something else altogether?

When lunch rolled around, I quietly found my spot next to Derek and Emma at our usual table. We normally sat with the other JV volleyball players but mostly kept our conversations to ourselves. Derek was freely welcome at our table. Last year when he tore his ACL in basketball, Emma and I begged him to join the team as our manager.

Besides, he didn’t really have the typical basketball player physique. He was shorter than most of the other players, although his attractive bright blue eyes and curly brown hair made him blend in with the other good-looking guys at school. He hung out with Emma and me more than any other guy, though.

Emma and Derek were arguing next to me about some issue I didn’t care to weigh in on, so I blocked them out as I picked through my food. When I lost interest in it and glanced up, I noticed the long table set up against the far wall of the commons.

Kelli and Justine sat behind it, still selling candy bars and taking donations. I watched in awe as they ran their campaign and encouraged passing students to purchase a candy bar or to spare a few pennies. The way they held themselves bit at my own self-esteem.

Our school wasn’t very big. In a small town like Peyton Springs, you couldn’t expect a large high school. Everyone knew everyone else here. It was so small that some of our team members—like Emma—had to double up on JV and Varsity.

I had talked to Justine and Kelli in volleyball once or twice, but they still intimidated me. Not only were they seniors and at the top of the social hierarchy, but they were gorgeous. Kelli was petite like me, but she’d had more time to fill out, and her gorgeous smile reflected her confidence in her beauty. Justine had a similar smile painted on her face, but her body was one to really be jealous of. She had long, slim model legs that she kept in shape with volleyball and weight training, and her tan skin and shiny dark hair had me cursing my pale skin and plain dirty blonde locks.

I had zero curves to speak of and a pencil-shaped body that puberty had not yet had a chance to fill out. I was willing to bet I was the only girl in my grade who hadn’t started her period yet. Granted, I was one of the younger students in the sophomore class with a summer birthday. I was nearly a year younger than Emma, who already had her driver’s license, but that wasn’t any excuse for the universe to slow down the onset of my menstrual cycle.

I wanted to hate these girls. I really did. As much as their mature bodies and full confidence bit at my self-esteem, I couldn’t hate them. They’d always been friendly to me. I didn’t have any legitimate reason to hate them.

I was still watching them when Kelli’s boyfriend, Nate, came up to her from behind and embraced her. She flinched at first in surprise. Then she tilted her head back to nuzzle against his shoulder. From this distance, they seemed to make a great pair. They were the designated It couple of the school, the two everyone thought would last long after high school. They looked good together, too, with her small but athletic frame and his tall, muscular body. Their blonde hair and blue eyes complemented each other. I couldn’t help but take note of how I’d like a boyfriend like that.

While admiring the girls, my mind thought back to Olivia. What would it be like if she were still here? Would she be sitting at that table with them fundraising for some other good cause?

My thoughts drifted back to those I was trying desperately to suppress. Did I really see Olivia this morning?

No, I thought, poking at my spaghetti. I was just stressed and had an image of her face fresh in my mind. I have a wild imagination, I rationalized. I don’t really know what happened this morning. I’m just remembering it wrong, I told myself.

With all these thoughts racing around in my head, I hadn’t noticed how much time had passed. The buzz of the bell pulled me from my reverie, and I sprang up in surprise. I pushed through the crowd and dumped my tray of uneaten food. Before I let it all fall into the garbage, I grabbed the piece of garlic bread and shoved it in my mouth. I knew if I didn’t eat something, I’d be curled up with hunger pains before our volleyball game that night.

The rest of the day continued in a haze, my mood lifting only so slightly in band class, where I fully enjoyed playing first-chair clarinet. When the final bell rang, my stomach called out to me, clearly upset that I didn’t eat my lunch. Oh, shush, I scolded my belly, which earned me a few odd stares.

I shoved my notebook in my locker and took several deep breaths. I needed to calm down if I was going to do well at the game tonight. Our JV team hadn’t lost all season, and there was only a week of games left. I wasn’t about to lose one because of a bad day, which wasn’t honestly all that bad anyway. Gosh, what was up with me?

Ready? Emma said cheerfully as we walked toward the locker room to gather our equipment.

Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess. I gave her a smile in hopes that it would cheer me up.

CHAPTER 3

When we got on the bus, I quickly claimed one of the empty seats near the back and placed my book bag on my lap. Emma sat next to me the same time Derek popped his head up over the seats at the front of the bus as he climbed the stairs.

There are my two favorite girls. He smiled, taking the seat in front of us. Chin up, Crystal.

I knew he was trying to get me to smile, but the way he touched my chin as he said this simply annoyed me further.

Knees and nose, I said, pointing to the front of the bus while repeating the phrase the teachers used to tell us in elementary school. Knees and nose to the front, they’d tell us for safety reasons.

Derek backed away from me with his eyebrows raised. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

I glared at him in warning. I loved Derek like a brother, but I wasn’t in the mood for his bubbly attitude. Yeah, I snapped.

He held his hands up in surrender. He turned away from me and pointed his knees and nose to the front. "Well, it’s obviously someone’s time of the month," he muttered, intentionally saying it loud enough for me to hear.

I rolled my eyes while silently thinking to myself that I wish it’d be my time so that I could finally grow into my body.

Are you okay? Emma said when we were on the road traveling over the flat terrain of southern Minnesota.

I tore my gaze from the window to look at her. Yeah. I just . . . I don’t know. I feel weird. I just woke up in a bad mood, and it’s been following me around all day.

I know what you mean. She rolled her eyes. Talk about being a teenage girl.

Derek popped his head back up over the seat. And what exactly is that like?

Knees and nose, Emma scolded. I laughed as they teased each other, and they joined along in my giggles.

Maybe I just need a girl’s night, I said once our conversation was private again.

Sure. Tomorrow night?

Yeah. It’s your turn to host, Emma.

Emma crinkled her nose, which made her look more like a chipmunk than normal. She ran a hand through her dark curls. My house? Are you sure? I mean, Andrea is way cooler than my parents.

My mom’s great, but I really like your house. You have way more fun things to do. Can we please stay at your house?

She seemed reluctant, but she finally agreed.

It didn’t take long to reach our opposing team’s school. Coach Amy must have not noticed my bad mood because she put me in during the first set.

This was certainly not a good day. I bent my knees, ready as the serves came over the net, but I felt so disoriented that I couldn’t seem to hit the ball just right. I knew where the ball was going to go before it got there, but my motor skills took a nose dive.

My first serve slammed into the net, and when I tried bumping the ball over on the third hit, the net caught it again. To avoid this the next time, I sent the ball to the other side of the court with a set, but one of the girls on the opposing team spiked it. The ball soared past me before I could process what was going on. A whistle blew, and I knew Coach was rotating me out before she stood from the bench. I slumped over to the boundary line and gave Jenna a high-five as she took my spot.

What’s up, Crystal? Coach Amy asked as I returned to the bench. You’re not at the top of your game like normal.

Yeah, maybe I should just sit this one out.

And I did. Coach didn’t put me back in for the second or third set, either. I was so out of it that I hadn’t noticed when the game was over. When I looked up, all I saw were the disappointed looks on my teammates’ faces. I didn’t have to look at the scoreboard to know we lost our first match of the season. My shoulders slumped in disappointment to meet the expressions of my teammates.

Coach called us together before we left the court. I don’t want you girls to get too disappointed over this. You’ve done great this season. You played well tonight, but we can do better next week. Let’s keep this as our only loss this year, okay? Team Hornets on one, two, three.

I kept to myself on the bleachers as the Varsity team warmed up. Emma was throwing serves over the net with them, and Derek was catching balls, so I didn’t have my best friends to talk to. My eyes fixed on the girls warming up, but I didn’t fully process the picture until I saw a blonde ponytail swishing around on our side of the net.

I know that ponytail. It shouldn’t be there.

As the girl with the ponytail turned, her brown eyes locked on mine. The other players were moving so fast that in an instant, the girl with the blonde ponytail disappeared.

I felt woozy as a shiver ran down my spine. My heart was beating so hard as if it might escape from my chest, and for a few moments, the sounds in the room ceased to exist. I bent my head down and rested my elbows on my knees, taking in slow, controlled breaths.

Finally, I regained my composure. The sounds of the gymnasium began to come back to life. I looked around uselessly, thinking for a moment that I would find an explanation somewhere in the gym.

But there was nothing. In that moment, I knew I had seen Olivia Owen for the second time that day.

No, I rationalized. I didn’t see her. I imagined her. I watched the girls more closely and wondered if I mistook one of the other team members for Olivia, but no one looked remotely like her. Once my heart beat settled, I shook off the bogus idea. Maybe I am going crazy, I thought to myself.

Time flew by, and before I knew it, our side of the gym erupted into cheers for the Varsity’s win.

The bus ride home wasn’t exciting since most of the people fell asleep. After working on a few homework problems under the light of my cell phone, I nodded off with them. When we arrived at the school, I deposited my equipment in my gym locker and changed back into my normal clothes.

See you girls tomorrow, Derek promised when we came out of the locker room.

Bye, Derek, Emma and I said together. Emma smiled back at him, and I couldn’t help but notice that she batted her eyes a bit when she did it. We walked most of the way home together but took our separate ways at our normal corner. I wondered briefly if I should tell Emma I was getting sick, but I didn’t want to worry her.

See you tomorrow morning, Emma waved. And don’t be late.

I won’t. I promise. I actually cracked a smile at that.

When I walked through the door, the smell of brownies hit my nose. I dropped my backpack instantly and raced into the kitchen. There on the counter sat a scrumptious-looking pan of freshly baked brownies. Well, they looked good if you could get past the crusty edges, which I was okay with at the moment. Without bothering to say hello to my mother, I dug in. Sweet, delicious chocolate after a day so sour felt great.

Hungry? my mom teased.

She was more like a friend to me than a mother.

I had an awful day. Back off. I narrowed my eyes at her, a warning that I might bite her hand off if she touched my brownies. It was a lighthearted glare, and she knew it. Even I couldn’t hide the smile twitching at the sides of my mouth.

How did the game go?

We lost.

I felt bad that my mom couldn’t be there for my games, but she had a business to run, and with Halloween just around the corner, it was the busiest time of the year for her. Mom owned a small shop on Main Street called Divination that specialized in everything Halloween, from costumes and decorations to candy and crystal balls. She and her two friends, Sophie and Diane, kept the business going by selling homemade candy and supernatural products like tarot cards throughout the year.

My mother let out a long yawn. Well, I’m going to bed. I just wanted to make sure you made it home safe. And, you know, I had to make you brownies. I had a feeling you’d need them tonight.

My mom was always so considerate and somehow knew exactly what I needed when I needed it. Right now, double chocolate brownies were my solace.

Mom, I said. Can I stay over at Emma’s tomorrow night after practice? I knew I didn’t have to ask, but I did anyway to be courteous.

Sure.

Once my mom left the kitchen and I felt like I’d eaten enough brownies, I covered the pan and went to get ready for bed. I flipped on the light in the bathroom and brushed my teeth. When I sat on the toilet, I thought I was imagining things.

Nope. My underwear was clearly stained. I had finally started my period!

So that’s what my bad mood was all about, I thought. If that’s what PMS is, I’m not sure I want to be a woman anymore, I joked with myself.

I searched under the sink for something to help me with my issue and found a half-empty package of pads. Soon afterwards, I crawled into bed and fell asleep.

CHAPTER 4

Iwoke with a start. My legs were tangled around my sheets, my whole body was wet with sweat, and my heart was pounding hard against my chest. I knew I had woken from a nightmare, but the details of the dream now eluded me as I struggled to remember what had terrified me.

I lay in bed for several long minutes until an image of my nightmare resurfaced in my mind. I remembered the sound of a car door shutting. I recalled the way the interior light lit up my face in the side mirror. No, not my face. It was the face of a young girl—maybe six—with brown hair and big chocolate eyes full of terror. As quick as I saw the image in my mind, it was gone.

When I finally calmed down, I made sure to fully dress before leaving my room because I could smell eggs and bacon. That only meant one thing: Teddy was here. The first time my mom’s boyfriend came over in the morning to make breakfast for us, I made the mistake of coming out of my bedroom in just a t-shirt and undies. I really should have made the connection that there wasn’t the smell of charred breakfast in the air, which meant someone other than my mother was cooking. Needless to say, it was a bit embarrassing.

When I entered the kitchen, I gave Teddy a hug. I was glad he was cooking since my mother was known to burn food and I had the tendency to over salt everything. I was fine with just a bagel, but I could take bacon and eggs any day.

Teddy and I got along well. Mom had been dating him for a few years, but he hadn’t filled that hole in my chest where my father belonged. I was sure he never would, but I still liked him.

An image of the crash replayed in my head as I thought about my father. It wasn’t a memory of the real car crash since I wasn’t there, but rather a memory of a dream I had before it happened. It was strange that I dreamt that my father died in a car accident and then he did. Young children do have wild imaginations.

Yum, I smacked my lips. Bacon and eggs.

I reached into the cupboard and pulled out three plates and set them on the table.

Almost ready, Kiddo.

Normally I would hate if people called me kiddo, but I really didn’t mind when Teddy did as long as he let me to call him Teddy Bear whenever I wanted as a way to embarrass him. He didn’t mind, even when he brought me to the police station once to show me around and I’d called him Teddy Bear in front of his coworkers. They just laughed, but he managed to laugh along, too.

Mom! I shouted down the hall. Breakfast.

Teddy and I took our spots around the table. He didn’t live with us, but he might as well have since he spent most of his time here when he wasn’t at work.My mother entered the room. The way Teddy gazed at her in awe told me he really did love her. In a flash, an image of a diamond ring popped into my mind, but it was gone before I could process it. I hear wedding bells, I thought silently.

So how’s everything going with planning for the festival? Teddy asked my mother.

I was intrigued to know this, too, so I listened carefully.

Most of our responsibilities are set up, but there’s another meeting before the festival, and we still have to get a few things together for our booths.

My mom was talking about the booth she and her business partners set up at the Peyton Springs Halloween Festival every year. Since they’re the experts in town on Halloween, they graciously volunteered. Plus, it was really good for business promotion.

Mom ran a fortune telling booth every year. She knew all about the superstitions with tarot card readings and crystal balls, but it was, of course, all just for fun. A lot of people raved about how accurate she was, but that was just because she was so involved in the community that she knew everything about everyone. It was actually kind of funny to see people talk about how great she was when she was really just faking it, but I guess people wanted to believe in that kind of stuff around Halloween.

Sophie and Diane helped out with other things at the community festival like the haunted trail, carnival games, and other fun things.

We have some really awesome ideas this year, and the haunted trail is going to be better than ever before, my mother continued. There are lots of people willing to help out, and Sheryl and Tammy are really doing a lot to make this year a blast.

Sheryl Stratton and Tammy Owen were the co-heads of the festival, but they were always begging my mom and her friends for help, which I found odd. My mom should have just taken over the festival. But then again, I thought, maybe Tammy needs it this year to help her get past this difficult time. After all, we had just passed the anniversary of her daughter’s death, which left me feeling kind of bad for her. I applauded her for how she was holding together and getting so much done with the festival.

I’ll try to be there, Teddy said, but I can’t make any promises. We’ve had a lot of work at the station lately.

I crunched into my bacon. It was like heaven in my mouth. I moaned, causing my mom and Teddy to stare at me. What? I said innocently. It’s good.

The kitchen went silent again when we dug into our food. Teddy was the one to break the silence. I was wondering if you girls are busy tomorrow night.

My mom and I exchanged a glance. No, she answered. What did you have in mind?

Teddy shrugged, but it didn’t feel like honest nonchalance to me. He seemed nervous about something. I just wanted to take you girls out. We haven’t gone out in a while.

Is it a special occasion? I asked.

No. I just thought it would be fun.

My mom looked at me again and nodded lightly. Sounds great.

I left the house in a much better mood than the day before and made it to the corner the same time Emma approached. Looking better, she complimented.

Feeling better, I agreed.

As we strolled to school, I was reminded of the scene we walked into yesterday with the fundraiser. I thought about Olivia briefly and wondered again if I should tell Emma that I thought I saw her in the hallway. I decided not to. It would just come across sounding as if I was crazy. When I told people in my kindergarten class that I had a friend named Eva, who apparently no one else could see or talk to, my classmates called me crazy. All it took was me telling Eva to go away before I made friends with Emma and passed the phase of imaginary friends. Maybe I could tell Olivia to go away and her face wouldn’t appear in my mind. That is, if I ever see her again, and since I’m not crazy, I told myself, I don’t believe that I will. I didn’t say anything to Emma.

I had a much more successful day at practice, killing my serves and reacting quickly.

When practice ended, I was about ready to eat a horse. I mentioned this to Emma. "Ugh, I want food now, but I still have to go home and get my stuff for overnight."

Why don’t you go get your stuff, and I’ll go home and start the pizza, she offered. It should be ready when you get there.

Deal, I agreed.

Emma and I walked to our corner. In our privacy, I again considered telling her about what happened to me. I still wasn’t sure about talking about Olivia. But I should at least tell Emma about getting my period, right? I thought. Perhaps that’s something best saved for girl talk tonight, or maybe that’s too private to mention. I tried thinking back to when Emma started her period. I couldn’t remember if she’d told me right away or not. The thought of what I should and shouldn’t say still nagged at me as we went our separate ways toward our homes.

When I entered the door to our one-story house, Diane and Sophie sat in our living room.

Girls night for you, too? I asked before they had a chance to greet me.

Yep, Sophie answered as she bounced up from the couch. She held me at arm’s length. Is something bothering you, sweetie?

Does being a teenage girl count as an excuse?

Diane laughed from her spot on the couch. Sure it does.

Sophie embraced me, which helped soothe me. I wrapped my arms around her small frame. Sophie was about my height with curly brown hair and bright eyes. She always seemed upbeat and happy.

Diane, on the other hand, was completely her opposite, which helped balance them out as best friends. Diane was a bigger woman with long, thick auburn hair that she always piled on top her head. She was less laid back and more serious.

It’s great to see you guys, but I have to pack up my stuff and head over to Emma’s.

I went to my room and filled a bag with overnight supplies.

Do you want a ride, Crystal? my mom shouted from the kitchen when I reentered the main room.

No, Mom. I’ll walk.

She poked her head around the wall separating the two rooms. Are you sure? It’s getting dark.

Mom, it’s only a few blocks. I’ll be fine.

Okay, sweetheart. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Bye, Mom. Catch you later, girls.

It really wasn’t a long walk to Emma’s house, but I found myself second-guessing if I had packed everything I needed. I mentally ticked off all the necessities in my head. As if the cramps in my abdomen were trying to tell me something, I knew immediately what I had forgotten. Even though I was nearly to Emma’s, I turned back toward my house.

CHAPTER 5

When I arrived back home, Sophie’s car was gone. They must have gone to the shop to play cards , I thought. I never understood why they went there instead of playing at our kitchen table. There was plenty of room. I didn’t fret on it too much.

I knew it wouldn’t take me long to get what I came for, but when I looked under the sink in the bathroom, I found nothing but an empty package. I must have taken the last pad this morning without realizing it, and I had used the last one in my backpack for volleyball practice.

I stood from the sink wondering what I was going to do. I could ask Emma, but that seemed almost embarrassing, and I didn’t want to just take her pads without asking. Plus, I knew Emma used tampons, and I was not ready for that. Weren’t they uncomfortable?

I headed to the hall closet where we kept linens and extra bath supplies, but no matter how far back I dug, there weren’t any feminine products around.

The gas station wasn’t far. Maybe I could go pick some up. That plan seemed like a good idea until I remembered that I didn’t have any cash. Maybe Mom had some stashed away, but I was not the kind of girl who would steal money from her mother’s purse. Besides, my mom probably had her purse with her.

That left only one option. I would have to go to the shop and ask my mom for a few dollars. She’d have to find out eventually that I’d started my period. I might as well tell her sooner than later.

The shop wasn’t far from our house. It was only three blocks down to Main Street and then a few more in the direction toward Emma’s house. The gas station was on the corner. It would hardly take me out of the way.

When I arrived at Divination, I wasn’t entirely sure my mother was there. The lights were turned off, and it seemed quiet. When I cupped my hands around my eyes and pressed my face to the front window’s glass, though, I could see a faint light creeping out from one of the doors in the back.

I headed around to the back of the building and tried the door. Sure enough, it let me in freely as if it was willing me to join their girl’s night. When I stepped into the hallway, I didn’t hear the giggles and commotion that I expected from my mother and her two best friends. Normally they’d be loudly bickering and accusing each other of bluffing while laughing hysterically, yet those weren’t the sounds I heard coming at me down the hall.

Instead, I heard a quiet humming noise that I couldn’t place and smelled the faint scent of a familiar aroma. I guessed it was incense or a candle of some kind, but I didn’t know exactly what scent they’d lit. A sense of eeriness overcame me, and I was suddenly afraid of what I might find. I neared the door with the light shining around the corners. It caught me off guard for a moment.

They wouldn’t be in there, would they? I thought. That’s the storage room, not the break room. Or am I wrong? What if they left the door unlocked by mistake and someone is robbing their storage room?

My heart raced as I considered this possibility. A shiver ran down my spine, and I felt a shift in the air. Still, my body sweated nervously. I considered turning around and fleeing for a moment, but I was too curious to turn away.

What would I do if there was someone else here, though? I would scream, I decided. I would scream and run as fast as I can.

My heart pounded on the walls of my chest, reverberating through my ears as I neared the door. I began to feel faint. I grabbed the handle with my damp palms and twisted slowly, and then in one quick motion, I whipped the door open.

My heart beat slowed when I found nothing in the storage room but a bunch of boxes. I switched off the light and let the door fall shut with a click.

Once I was back in the dark hallway by myself and ready to leave, the humming noise caught my attention once again. What was that? I followed the sound and pressed my ear against the door that led to the break room.

I could hear muffled voices, but I didn’t see a light under the door. Who was in there? The sound, I realized, was a woman humming a stagnant note.

We’re here to help you, Sophie’s voice rang over the humming.

I didn’t take a moment to consider what they were doing behind the door. Once I was sure it was my mother and her friends, I wasn’t scared anymore.

I had only a split second to take in the scene. The three girls sat in a circle around the break table, their hands connected as if in prayer. Candles lit up their faces. Just beyond the table stood another girl with blonde hair and brown eyes. Olivia Owen’s ghost stared back at me with that same look of urgency.

Help, she mouthed, but I didn’t hear any sound come out.

The sight of Olivia lasted only a moment before the women jerked their eyes up at me in surprise and pulled their hands back, breaking their circle. Olivia disappeared.

My jaw dropped. What is this? What are they doing?

Olivia, I murmured before I could stop myself, although I wasn’t sure they could hear me. My racing heart returned, and my fingers quivered against the door knob. I felt hot and sweaty all over at the same time a chill overcame me. I was frozen in place and holding my breath.

I am crazy, I thought.

My mother smiled at me innocently like I hadn’t just walked in on some satanic ritual. Can I help you with something, sweetie?

I couldn’t find my mouth to formulate my words. I stayed where I was, unmoving for several long seconds as my eyes fixed on the empty space where Olivia stood only moments ago. When I regained my composure, I simply spat out, I need some cash.

My mother rose from the table, grabbed her purse off the hook near the door, and led me out into the hallway. It’ll just be a minute, she assured her friends as she guided me out of the room.

My whole body trembled and felt weak as I tried to make sense of what I had just seen. I knew what I had seen, and I couldn’t deny the fact any longer. I was crazy. Olivia’s ghost? What was Olivia doing in my mother’s shop? Could my mother see her? Did I imagine her?

Wh—What? Did I—? Were you—? I spattered, unable to put my thoughts into words. Did they know Olivia was there? I couldn’t quite understand what had frightened me so much. Was it the fact that I saw Olivia? Was it the fact that I knew for sure that I had seen Olivia at school the previous day? Or was it because I started believing that I was going crazy?

We were just meditating, my mother said.

Meditating, I said without inflection, still trying to catch my breath.

It helps relieve stress.

Really, meditating? Because to me it looked like you were conducting a séance. But this kind of stuff is just for kicks! It isn’t real, right? I tried to rationalize.

I just need some money for pads, I managed to say almost normally.

My mother smiled at me as if relieved. She reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. Here you go. This should be enough.

I grabbed the bill and thanked her before I turned my back and headed toward the door.

Have a good night, sweetie. She disappeared back into the break room.

When I reached the back door, I paused for a moment and crept back to the break room. I pressed my ear against the door to listen.

I don’t know what she thought, my mother said. I mean, she can’t know what’s going on, right? Then again, she just started her period. Maybe there is still hope for her.

Hope? Hope that I’d finally grow into my breasts and my hips. If only.

The gas station sat another block down, and when I went in, I used the extra money I had left over to buy a bag of chips. I knew I’d be late to Emma’s. I was hoping this would be enough of an apology. I picked out her favorite, Old Dutch dill pickle chips, even though I didn’t really like the flavor.

When I got to her house, I knew she was about to scold me for being late. I lifted up the bag of chips, and that was enough to make her squeal in excitement.

I totally forgive you for letting the pizza go cold.

I smiled back at her, and within minutes, my bad mood from the previous day and fright of what I’d seen earlier melted away. I felt completely comfortable at Emma’s. Once we started gorging on pizza, soda, and chips, I was back to my normal self.

Where’s your dad? I asked, half expecting Emma’s father to come around the corner and make a silly joke like normal. Her mother was sitting at the kitchen table going over some paperwork and ignoring us. Her younger sister Kate was in the living room, but their family didn’t feel complete without John there.

He’s not here, Emma answered as if I was supposed to know where he was.

Oh, well, I thought.

We spent the rest of the night tackling homework and goofing off in Emma’s room while ignoring Kate’s pleas to play with us.

"We don’t play," Emma insisted.

When we sent Kate to watch a movie in the living room, she fell asleep almost instantly, leaving us alone upstairs to read magazines, listen to music, and try out different makeup techniques. Emma was great with makeup whereas I had a difficult time putting on eyeliner.

I was trying, and failing miserably, to put on a dark line across my eye when Emma turned off the radio.

What was wrong with that song? I liked it.

Emma wrinkled her nose. I hate that song. Let’s listen to some real music. She sifted through her stacks of CDs to find one she liked. Crap. I can’t find the one I want. That was my favorite CD! Oh, well. We’ll listen to this one instead. You can pick something if you want.

I sighed, finally giving up on my eyeliner. Emma returned to the mirror and began powdering her dark complexion. I switched spots with her and shuffled through her CDs. Where I collected owl décor, Emma collected CDs. I recognized several that I’d given her from birthdays and Christmases in the past as I ran my hands across the cases and read the artists’ names. Suddenly, an idea struck.

I stood up almost too quickly and fell back down at her open closet.

She turned to look at me in confusion. What are you doing?

I didn’t know how I knew, but I knew where she had lost her favorite CD. I threw clothes out of the way that she had let lay on her closet floor—the only part of her room that wasn’t pristine—and flung myself deeper into her closet. I couldn’t see what I was doing, but sure enough, my hand finally fell around the corners of a CD case. I pulled it out and looked at it in triumph.

Is this the CD you’re looking for? I asked, holding it out to her.

Oh, my gosh! she squealed. Yes! I don’t know how it got in there. Thank you.

We ended the night by watching scary movies and falling asleep in her queen-sized bed around four in the morning. I woke up around 10:00 a.m. and checked my phone for messages. There was a text from my mom telling me to be home by noon because I had chores to do. After chocolate chip pancakes, I said goodbye to Emma and headed home.

Thanks for staying the night, she said. I don’t know what I’d do Friday nights without you.

As I neared my house, the memory of the previous night at the shop came flooding back to the forefront of my mind. Did I really see Olivia in my mom’s shop? How was that possible?

I contemplated telling my mother about what I had seen in case I needed help or something. What if I started seeing other people, like my dad? I was sure that would make me go crazy for real, and I needed someone there to support me when they put on the straight jacket.

When I entered the house, my mom was already preparing lunch.

I’m not hungry, I told her.

That’s fine because I didn’t make you any food. I figured you would have eaten already.

I watched my mother set her grilled cheese sandwich on the table. It was charred in the middle. How had she not learned how to cook yet? She paced back around the counter and pulled one of the glasses from the drying rack.

Should I tell her? I wondered. My hands shook and my stomach knotted as I tried to work up the courage to say anything.

Mom, I managed.

Yeah? she said as she turned from the sink and took a sip of water from her glass.

I paused for a moment, unsure if I should admit I was going crazy, but in the next second, I knew I had to say it. I spat it out before I could stop myself.

I saw Olivia Owen last night.

My mother’s eyes widened, her jaw dropped, and the glass in her hand fell to the floor and shattered.

CHAPTER 6

H ow could you hide something like this from me? I stared at my mother in disbelief, trying to process what she’d just said. I wanted to be mad at her for keeping this a secret, but I just couldn’t.

An expression of guilt fell over my mother’s face. She sat across from me at the dining room table after we’d cleaned up the glass shards. She had just told me the truth about my heritage.

As much as some people would run from the house screaming that my mother was a crazy person, I believed every word she said. Perhaps it was exposure to the paranormal through her business, even if I always believed her crystal balls and tarot cards were fake. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t terrified. It was comforting to know that I wasn’t actually going crazy.

I’m sorry. I didn’t think you had the gift. I wanted you to live a normal life.

What do you mean?

Crystal, you have to understand, my mother pleaded, trying to justify her actions. She really didn’t need to. I wasn’t mad at her. I was just confused. Being psychic is hard. People will hurt you. It’s not all rainbows and butterflies.

Hurt me? How?

She took a deep breath. They’ll either think you can give them something you can’t, or they’ll shun you because you can do something they can’t. Sweetie, my mother said urgently, grabbing my hands from across the table. You can’t tell anyone. You know that, right?

Why not?

Some of them will call you a witch. Others will take advantage of you, she continued.

But Mom, you use your gift every year at the Halloween festival, I pointed out. It was odd to think that all the fun she was having didn’t originate from the town gossip but rather from her honest-to-god gifts.

Mom averted her gaze from my eyes and curled her mouth up guiltily. Everyone thinks that’s just for kicks. Even you didn’t believe I could do it for real.

She was right. No one really believed she was a fortune teller. She played her role well, a woman who wasn’t psychic but pretended to be. Except that she really was.

What I’m saying, she continued, is that you have to be careful. I’m carefully hiding out in the open where no one will notice.

I found that a bit ironic, but she was right. Okay, I agreed. I’ll be careful, but can I at least tell Emma?

My mother sighed. I would advise against it. It’s your own choice, but you have to be prepared for the consequences. You have to make sure she doesn’t spread it around. I don’t want people to hurt you. My mother’s eyes brimmed with tears.

It took me a few seconds to realize the meaning behind her words. If I told anyone, it would put her secret at risk, too. Still, she was giving me that choice, which is something I really respected and appreciated.

Mom, Emma’s not like that.

I know. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you, but you understand, right?

I smiled. Yeah, I understand, but how come you didn’t think I had the gift? Did I not show any psychic tendencies?

I could see it in my mother’s eyes that she was looking into the past. Do you remember your imaginary friend, Eva?

Of course I remember her.

When you first mentioned her, I was happy and devastated at the same time. At one level, I wanted to share so much with you about the gift, but on another, I wanted you to live a normal life away from the supernatural. When I asked you if Eva was real, you said she wasn’t and that you made her up. I assumed that she really was a figment of your imagination. It’s not uncommon for children, especially those without siblings, to create imaginary friends at that age.

My mouth fell open in disbelief. I remembered the moment she was talking about. I had been in my room having a tea party with Eva when my mother knocked on my door.

Who are you talking to, sweetheart? she’d asked.

Eva, I said in my high four-year-old voice.

My mother bent down beside my chair. Sweetheart, who’s Eva?

Eva’s my friend.

Where is Eva?

Right there. I pointed to the chair across from me. I knew by my mother’s expression that she didn’t see Eva, my first friend my own age.

In fact, I knew that no one else could see Eva because none of the other kids at daycare could. When I had asked my babysitter if she could save a seat for Eva at lunch, she had a long talk with me about how Eva wasn’t real and that I was imagining her. She told me that it wasn’t healthy to have imaginary friends and that I should play with other kids at daycare. So when my mother looked me straight in the eyes and asked me if I believed Eva was real, I put on my best lying face and told her no, I had made Eva up. It was the only time I can remember blatantly lying to her.

I told you she wasn’t real because I thought I would get in trouble if I believed it, I told my mother.

She smiled at me across the dinner table. Then my mother erupted into laughter. I simply stared at her for a moment, unsure of what was so funny. When she didn’t stop, I joined in the laughter.

After that, my mother admitted, you never really gave me a reason to believe you had a gift. I almost thought you were psychic when you guessed your birthday presents before you opened them. Remember that on your eighth birthday? You were so accurate, but then I figured you peeked before I had a chance to wrap them. I didn’t want to ruin your fun, so I didn’t say anything.

I hadn’t ever peeked.

"There were other times when I thought . . . maybe . . . but I convinced myself that I was looking for reasons to tell you about my—our—gift."

Memories flooded back into my mind, and suddenly, so much more about my life made sense. I guess I must have hid a lot from you.

Like what?

I picked at my fingernails and kept my head low.

Like what? she prodded.

You know when Dad died?

You saw his ghost? she squealed in shock.

I was taken aback by this statement because it never occurred to me that my father roamed the world as a ghost. A ghost? No. Is that what Eva was? A ghost?

My mother stared into the distance for a moment. Most likely. She could have been your spirit guide, but I’m guessing she was just a lonely girl who needed someone to play with.

My spirit guide?

Everyone has one. They’re like angels who guide you in the choices you make in life. I speak to my spirit guide all the time.

My spirit guide? I may have had psychic visions in the past, but I’d never spoken with a spirit guide.

What happened with Dad? my mother asked.

Well, before he died, I started reluctantly, I dreamt of the accident before you ever told me about it.

My mother gasped. You—you saw your father die before it happened?

Yeah. I think so. I mean, I always thought it was just a coincidence. Do you think it was a vision?

My mother’s lips pressed together deep in thought. I gave her a moment to digest this.

Her next words came out as a whisper. Do you know what this means?

No, I whispered back. Where was she going with this?

Crystal, there are different types of psychics. Some can predict the future. Others can see the past. Some psychics see ghosts while others hear voices. Do you see where I’m going with this?

No, I admitted.

"Crystal, most people don’t see spirits and predict the future. I mean, we can communicate with them—it’s easier in numbers, and that’s why séances work—but rarely do people like me see them. You clearly have an amazing ability. More amazing than any of us could have predicted. What else should I know?"

I thought for a moment. That’s pretty much it. I can usually tell who’s calling before I check caller I.D., but I always wrote that off as luck. Besides, you don’t need to be psychic to know who’s calling these days.

My mother smiled at this.

I continued. I always know when it’s going to rain, but I took that as a sign that I would make a great meteorologist.

My mom laughed. Anything else?

I froze. I knew she would believe me, but saying it out loud made me feel like I’d have to admit it was real. But it was, wasn’t it? I took a deep breath. I’ve seen Olivia Owen’s ghost three times now.

My mother didn’t call me crazy, and she wasn’t about to contact the mental institution, either. Three times?

Yeah. I saw her at school Thursday morning, at the volleyball game, and in the break room last night.

You saw her last night. It wasn’t a question, only a statement to mull the idea over.

Yeah, when I went to go get money from you, I clarified even though I didn’t need to.

Are you sure?

Yes. Why was she grilling me? Why?

She closed her eyes to soothe herself. We’ve been trying to contact Olivia for weeks, but we couldn’t get through to her.

Why was my mother trying to contact Olivia? Is Olivia in trouble?

Maybe, my mom started, but she was cut off by the sound of the front door opening. Teddy was here already. We’ll talk later. Before Teddy came too far into the house, Mom added with a whisper, Teddy doesn’t know.

Teddy entered the kitchen and looked from me to my mother and back again, and we shot him stares of our own. He held his hands up in defense. Whatever girl talk stuff is going on here, I don’t care to know.

CHAPTER 7

Now that Teddy was here, Mom and I couldn’t continue our conversation in