Trey walked me to my door after our date.

"Thank you Trey," I smiled. "I had a really great time."

Trey smiled, taking a step forward. If every rumor about first dates were true and knowing Trey, this could only end one way. Trey leaned down and I did the only thing I could to stop it. I hugged him. Trey stiffened then slowly hugged me back.

I pulled back and gave him another smile before heading inside. As soon as the door closed behind me, my hand flew to my chest. I took a few deep breaths. Whoa. That was close.

My father appeared in the foyer looking down at his watch. "Good timing kid."

I smiled brightly at him.

"How was it? Did... anything happen?" He pushed.

I gave a disgusted look. "Ew, dad! Not that we should ever have this conversation, but no nothing happened."

He looked relieved, nodding his head. "Okay. Good. Good. As long as you had fun."

"I did," I smiled warmly. "I'm gonna go upstairs and change."

He smiled and kissed the top of my head. "Alright, night kiddo."

I ran up the stairs excitedly, rushing to my room. I opened the door to find Nick on my bed with his feet on the headboard looking bored. The sight of ghost Nick in my room used to piss me off, but things have changed. I felt relieved and happy that he waited for me. Nick quickly jumped out off my bed upon hearing me enter.

"You're back."

"I'm back."

"How was it?" He took a step forward.

I shrugged. "Good, I guess. He's a sweet talker, he has a way with words. I mean any girl likes being showered in compliments and sweet talk."

Nick frowned. "So you liked it."

A statement, not a question.

I hesitated before I nodded. "I guess so. I found out why he broke up with Amelia. Something about her liking the hottest thing. First you, then him. But that doesn't make sense, she wouldn't have cheated on you with him if that was the case."

"Like I said, he's a liar," Nick crossed his arms.

"Maybe... You're just saying that because you don't like him," I pointed out. Because he stole his girlfriend and his title.

Nick scoffed. "Of course I don't like him. He's got everything I had. He even got you."

I snorted. "He doesn't have me."

Nick stepped right up to me. He looked beyond angry and bothered. "I'm going crazy Eva, I need to know. Did he kiss you? Scratch that- did you want him to kiss you?"

I opened my mouth and closed it. Why did it matter to him?

"Does it really bother you that much—"

Nick grabbed my arms tightly, his eyes bearing into mine. "Please, just tell me."

My lips parted but no sound came out.

Finally, I spoke. "No, I didn't let him."

A look of relief crossed his expression.

"Why does this matter to you?" I asked quietly. A part of me hoping Nick would share the same feelings I had, but I knew that was impossible. He liked girls that looked like Amelia. I was the girl he bothered for fun.

Nick looked serious. "At this point, he could have everything. I would give up everything if I had a choice, everything but you. He could have everything and everyone, but you. Not you."

"Why Nick?"

Why not me? What am I to you?

He shook his head. "I don't want to scare you, I can't lose you too Eva."

"You're a ghost, I think we're past scaring me away."

Nick's hand came to rest on my waist. "Promise things wont change?"

I ignored the tingles that came with touch. I needed to stay focused.

There was no way I was leaving him alone. I couldn't do that to him. "I promise."

"You consume me Eva. I can't help it. I can't control it. I have completely fallen for you," he said. The way he looked into my eyes telling me he meant every word of it.

Was this real? Did Nick just confess he loved me? That my feelings went both ways? How did this happen? How could this happen? I mean this was Nick and then there's me. I must be going crazy.

"W-What?"

"You don't have to love me back, I don't expect anything from you. I just... god Eva, I just want to be in your life," he said looking stumped.

Wait, wait! I want to love you back!

"You're the first person to make me feel alive in a long time," he exclaimed. "I feel heard, understood, accepted. I feel free. I feel like I'm coming home when I see you. I feel happy. You do that to me Eva. I don't want to lose that."

I was drowning. And falling. And rising. And breathing, yet not breathing. I was a mess. I was at a loss of words.

"I—" I choked on my words. Say it! "I don't want you to lose that either. I want to be that for you. I- God you made it so hard not to fall for you. I tried, but I failed Nick. I have fallen for you too."

A wide smile erupted on his face. Pure ecstasy.

"If you would let me, I'd love to kiss you," he asked. His eyes begging me to say yes.

I nodded by head unable to formulate the words. Yes! Yes! Yes!

Very slowly, Nick's lips came down on mine. For a man that was supposed to be dead, Nick made me feel warm. I felt tingles all the way to my toes.

His lips caressed mine gently, lingering for a few seconds before resting his forehead on mine. "How was that?"

"A perfect first kiss," I managed to tell him despite my breathlessness.

"Want to try it again?" He asked.

God yes.

I nodded and stood on my toes, this time crashing my lips to his. Nick came alive, his hands pushing my hips against his. One hand snaked around my neck, angling my head better. If I wasn't clenching his shoulders I would have fallen from how weak my knees felt. Any breath I had, had left my lungs. I was dizzy and breathless and in complete bliss.

"God Eva," Nick whispered against my skin. "If I wasn't dead, you'd be killing me."

I chuckled unable to keep it in. "This is so weird."

Nick pulled back to look at me. I was half expecting him to freak out. Instead he laughed. "It is, isn't it? It doesn't scare you, does it?"

I bit my lip. "A little...."

I constantly imagined this. How long would we have until he moved on? What if he didn't move on? Would I be with a ghost forever? Did I want that? I knew I eventually wanted to start a family. How would this work?

"It terrifies me," he said honestly. "I'm scared that loving you wouldn't be fair. That I would end up hurting you in the worst way. I don't want to hurt you any more Eva."

I cupped his cheek softly looking him in the eye. "We'll figure it out."

We had to.

"How about we try to be happy together until we can't," he said and I could tell the words pained him.

I nodded. "For as long as we can."

***

Nick and I went back to the lake to look for clues. The reason behind his anger spurts were because of me-- us-- we were past that.

We held hands as we walked along the lake. There was almost a peace here. No one could see us or hear me talking to him. The scenery was beautiful too. If it weren't for the weird circumstances of why we were there, it would have been a nice date.

"Anything?" I asked him.

He shook his head. "Sorry..."

"It's okay," I rubbed my thumb in calming circles. "It's not a waste of time. The weather is nice."

He looked at me deep in thought. "How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Find the good in the bad," he said.

I shrugged. "When all around you is bad, finding the good is what keeps you going."

He nodded. "I get that now."

I opened my mouth to reply, but I heard a snap. It wasn't the first time.

"Once is a chance, twice is a coincidence, and the third is a pattern," I whispered.

Nick furrowed his brows. "What?"

"I think we're being followed. I heard a few snaps, but I brushed them off. I'm pretty sure someone's following us," I told him.

"Go, run!" he said looking worried.

I shook my head. "I don't want them to know I know. Go see if you could see their face."

"I'm not leaving you--"

"Nick, uh-- you're a ghost. You can't really..."

.... protect me.

His face dropped and his jaw clenched. "Right."

"Nick," I sighed. "Don't be like this."

He shrugged. "I'm not being like anything."

"You know what I mean."

His angry eyes met mine. "Not being to protect those I care for is a pretty big deal for me. That's why it hurts more when the people I care for hurt me. Like my parents. Like Trey. Like Amelia. Like my friends."

Nick suddenly groaned, dropping to the ground clutching his head.

"Nick!" I gasped dropping down beside him.

His breathing was harsh.

I wrapped my arm around him, pulling him up. "Come on, let's go back."

We climbed back to the main road, walking past houses to get to my car.

Nick stopped in his track. I stopped too, looking at him with an arched brow.

"The number, I think it belongs to a mail box," he said pointing to a mailbox.

"That one?" I asked.

"No," he shook his head. "It was metallic. The numbers were black. There were maybe four numbers, no-- three. I think there was either a seven or a one, I can't tell them apart. I can't-- I can't remember the rest--"

"Shh..." I rubbed his back. "You did amazing. Give yourself a break. You'll figure it out eventually."

We made it back to my car without getting jumped by the person who was following us. "We'll come back another day, drive until we see the mailbox you're talking about."

Nick didn't say anything, instead he looked out the window.

I let out a sigh before driving back home. We went up to my room when my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and frowned before tossing it on my bed. Nick looked at my screen and scowled. "He's still calling you?"

"I've dodged his call twice already."

"Trey doesn't like losing," Nick warned me.

"Maybe I should answer, remind him I'm not ready for a relationship yet," I pondered.

The phone rang again. I groaned before answering.

"Hey! Eva! How's it going?"

I rubbed the spot between my eyes. "Good I guess, look Trey--"

"I know I'm coming on a little strong, but we have a home game soon and I would really like it if you came. It's my first game as captain and I'd really like to see a friendly face in the crowd," he said hopefully.

I groaned internally. "I don't know Trey, I've never watched a game. To be completely honest, I don't think anyone wants me there. Half of them still blame me for Nick's disappearance and the other half thinks I'm crazy."

Trey let out a heavy breath of air. "I get it, but I'd love it if you tried."

"Trey--"

"I've got to go. See you around."

I looked at my phone in disbelief.

"You should go," Nick said.

"What?" I brows shot to my scalp. "You are the last person I'd expect to want me there."

"I don't like this, but it's the perfect opportunity. With literally everyone at the game, you would be able to go to the boys locker room and search everyone's things. It's really hard for me to stay solidified for a long time if you're not around," he suggested. "From my snooping, the ones that wanted me gone most were the boys on my team. Something about scouts only coming for me and them never receiving the proper attention."

"Okay, okay. That's a good plan." I nodded thinking it over. We needed any clues we could get. "Let's go not watch my first unofficial football game."

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