Nick hadn't appeared since the moment I yelled at him. He wasn't there the next morning either. It was good a sign. I was not being haunted by Nick's ghost. Maybe it was the stress as being labelled a murderer. I left my house and looked outside for Nick's ghost, but he wasn't there on the porch like he usually was in the morning. I walked to school, a sense of relief that Trey was not following me with his car along with Nick teasing me. It felt amazing, maybe the big guy up in the sky was finally looking out for me. I walked to school happily only to realize how limited it was. As soon as my feet reached school grounds all eyes were on me. Whispers and pointing started again.

"Did you hear? She's the one who killed Nick."

"She's so guilty she's seeing his ghost."

"I think she's only acting crazy to get out of a prison sentence."

"Maybe she killed him because she is crazy."

I pushed past the gossipers. I didn't know how much longer I could go with this.

"You'd think they would have something better to do," said Nick. A scream left my lips as I jumped away from him.

He was back. His ghost was back.

"S-stay away from me!" I stuttered in fear. I was being haunted by Nick's ghost. In life and death, he was still tormenting me.

She's doing it again.

She so needs a doctor.

Do you think it's contagious?

"They get pretty creative don't they?" Nick said looking impressed.

I tried walking away from him, away from the madness, but Nick followed. "Eva!"

I ran into the girl's bathroom to avoid him. Girls moved out of my way, afraid of me for some reason. I washed my face at the sink trying to calm down my nerves.

"It's just a bad dream, it's just a bad dream," I whispered to myself over and over again.

"Hey! I would be a good dream! A really good dream!" Nick defended himself ever so arrogantly.

I screamed again and girls ran out the bathroom at my psychotic episode. Great, this is just great.

I turned to glare at him. "What is your problem?! Leave me alone!"

Nick put his hands up trying to calm me. "Just hear me out Eva."

"No!" I shook my head ferociously. "You make everything worse!"

"Eva, if you don't listen to me I'm going to keep following you until you do, I will sing Candy Girl continuously in my wonderful off pitch voice," Nick threatened. I shivered at the thought of horror that was to come.

"You wouldn't," I gasped, my whole body frozen in fear.

A mischevious smile spread on his lips before he took a deep breath in. "WHO CAN TAKE THE SUNSHINE! SPRINKLE IT WITH DEW! THE CANDY--"

"Stop! God, please stop," I put my hands to my ears trying to block him out. "Just say whatever it is you want to say and leave me the hell alone."

He really could not sing for his life.

Nick's whole expression turned to glee. "Okay, so I've been thinking about what you told me yesterday that I may have been mean to you over the years." I scoffed at that. May? "Okay, so I have been bad to you for years, like really bad, like so bad--"

"Are you going to keep repeating this or continue?"

"Right, sorry," Nick blushed. "So I thought maybe the reason I haven't gone to heaven or the other side or whatever is waiting for me is because I have to finish something here. Since you are the only person who could see me, that means that I have to earn your forgiveness and right my wrong. So... I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" I repeated dumbfoundedly. Never in my life did I expect Nick to apologize to me.

"Yes, I have realized my... my wrong?" he tried.

Very convincing Nick....

I frowned and crossed my arms in front of me. "Wow, you really sound sincere."

"You're being sarcastic aren't you?" Nick sighed.

I gave him a look that said 'no shit'.

"I'm trying okay," Nick groaned. "If I were to put myself in your shoes, I would hate me too, so I'm sorry you had to go through that."

Okay... we were getting somewhere.

"As well, I don't think you killed me, despite how intimidating you try to look. It's almost cute, you are so small and you try to brew a fire, but its more like a spark--" Nick stopped upon realizing my dark glare. "Yeah, so I hope you didn't kill me? So, uh-- am I forgiven? Can I go into the light now?"

I calmed my nerves and thought about it. If I forgive Nick, he is out of my hair for good, despite not wanting to forgive him. "Yeah sure, you're forgiven, just leave me alone."

"Nice," Nick grinned. He looked up to the ceiling. "God? I'm ready to go now."

I waited to see the miracle of afterlife, but after a few moments nothing happened other than the first bell ringing. I tried slipping past the glum looking Nick who was still staring at the ceiling hopefully. I finally slipped out the bathroom only to hear Nick swear and follow me. Why god?! Take him!

"Eva! It didn't work! You weren't sincere enough with your apology!" he complained.

"Did you really expect it to be sincere? After years and years of torment?" I glared at him. I didn't think I would ever be able to forgive him. Nick looked guilty and shook his head. He was still following me. "I thought we made a deal that you'd leave me alone?"

People looked at me, whispering to each other as to who I was talking to.

"But I am still here!" he groaned.

"Not my fault God doesn't want you either," I mumbled under my breath, but Nick heard according to his insulted gasp.

"Eva!" he scorned me. "You will learn to forgive me!"

I highly doubted that.

"Maybe you can start by not talking to me when I am surrounded by people? Everyone thinks I'm an insane murderer," I whispered to him. Nick nodded his head motioned zipping his lips and throwing away the key.

I walked into math class and Nick followed. I widened my eyes looking at him. "Why are you following me?"

Nick pointed to his mouth motioning he couldn't speak. I scowled at him which made him sheepishly smile. "Why can't I follow you?"

Um hello?!

"Despite it being freaky?" I whisper-yelled.

"Do you think ghosts are real?"

"Who else could she be talking to?"

"Should we tell a teacher?"

Nick pointed towards the whisperers and back to his sealed lips, he then pointed at me. "Maybe it's you who should keep the talking to a minimum, I mean after all no one could hear me."

I angrily marched to my seat throwing my books on the table earning a scared look from those around me. Nick came and sat in the empty seat in front of me like he usually did every morning to ask for my homework.

"Go away Nick," I scowled.

Someone gasped from behind me.

He only shrugged his shoulders. "I'm bored. Feels like old time doesn't it nerd-- I mean Eva," Nick corrected himself, his attempt to get me to forgive him. "So like are you a math genius?"

"I wish," I scoffed. "I do my homework. Remember that? That thing students do that aren't given special treatment by teachers because they are a football star?"

Nick looked embarrassed. Serves him right.

"Eva? Are you feeling well?" Mr. Cordon asked from the front. Great, now even my teachers think I am crazy.

I tried smiling charmingly. "Just practicing for a play sir."

He didn't look convinced but didn't pry. Nick quickly turned to the front of the class to avoid my murderous gaze. Smart boy. Nick didn't bother me for the rest of the class, but he did proceed to follow me to my other classes looking bored as ever. Finally, lunch time was here, I could escape all the looks I have been getting even if it was only for an hour. I went to buy my lunch from the cafeteria with Nick by my side, he was looking at his group of friends longingly. They all looked glum, probably missing him. Amelia and Trey were not at school today, they were probably taking it the hardest.

"I'm sorry you died," I whispered. I meant it. "I wouldn't wish this on anyone."

Nick had his whole life ahead of him. He had a football career, he had a hot girlfriend, he had a big group of friends, and a bunch of people adoring him. It wasn't fair he had to go so young.

"Hardest was seeing my parents cry," he croaked. "I just hoped I could give them a body to bury, you know? Put them at peace?"

I saw tears forming in his eyes proving two things; Nick had a heart and that ghosts can cry. He cleared his throat and tried smiling, but I could see it didn't reach his eyes. "I realized animals could sense me. Flash would bark and look around and then stop. A cat hissed at me too."

"That's a good sign, right?" I asked him as we left the cafeteria and went to sit outside. There were less people outside.

Nick shrugged his shoulders.

He sat there silent for a moment as I ate my lunch. "Eva... can you help me find my body?"

"What?!" I chocked on my sandwich.

"Maybe it will help me find out who killed me," he said hopefully.

"Do you know what you are asking of me?" I asked with wide eyes. An impossible mission. The cops didn't even find anything, how was I going to do it?

"If we find my body and the killer than we can help clear your name, maybe people will start leaving you alone?" Nick offered. That sounded very tempting. Very tempting.

"And," Nick added, seeing that I still needed some convincing. "Maybe that could help me move on and go to heaven? You know the whole put my body at peace, finishing business, or whatever. Plus, you were always a Nancy Drew fan growing up."

Lose the killer title and get rid of Nick? Sounded amazing. I was a little surprised he remembered my favorite books as a kid. "Fine."

"Yes!" Nick yelled in glee before throwing his arms around me in a tight embrace. I fell over sideways with an oomph as Nick fell with me.

"Damn it Nick," I groaned trying to push his heavy body off of me. Nick rolled to his side groaning, "I forget my body solidifies around you."

"Eva Montgomery, to the principal's office please. Eva Montgomery, to the principal's office," a voice said over the intercom. I shared a worried look with Nick before going to the principal's office.

Principal Hanks was usually an okay person, I rarely got sent to the office since that usually involved getting Nick in trouble as well which they couldn't have. I walked in to the office where the secretary pointed to the open door to Principal Hanks' office. Her head shot up upon hearing me enter her office.

"Ms. Montgomery! Have a seat," she gestured to one of the two chairs in front of her desk. I noticed a frame of Principal Hanks and Nick holding a trophy after winning one of their games, both smiling widely into the camera. I squinted at the frame to find Nick's autograph. I looked over at Nick who had followed me and nodded towards the picture.

He blushed embarrassedly, but he shrugged his shoulder to show as if it was no big deal. "She said in case I get famous one day."

Principal Hanks didn't seem to notice me having a silent conversation with the ghost.

"Nick's disappearance has been hard on all of us, and now with the whole murder rumour going around parents are getting anxious," she said with a tired sigh.

I let my gaze go to her seated on her chair.

"And?" I raised a challenging eyebrow. "What does this have to do with me?"

Why was I here?

"Well, you know with you being a suspect--"

"I've been cleared."

"-- and as many witnesses have seen you talking to yourself and seeing ghosts. Parents are worried," she continued as if I didn't say anything. "Maybe it would be best if you--"

"Excuse me, but no one has the right to accuse me of anything. Not you, nor the cops, and especially not the students or their dramatic parents," I stopped her. "Now I know you don't want any trouble, especially not from the press or lawyers?"

"What?" squealed Hanks.

"Why yes, my uncle is the owner of the Daily Era and I'm sure he wouldn't mind writing a lengthy article about the abuse of authoritarian power against the minority that is myself," I threatened. "Along with the lawsuit I plan to use if I feel any sign of foul play."

Her face turned extremely red as she glared at me. I knew I had a death sentence going after the principal, but she started it. Nick was guffawing in laughter, bringing up my spirits. I got this.

"Now, if you have anything else to ask instead of framing me for murder and unprofessionally diagnosing me of a mental illness, I will be on my way," I said grabbing my bag off the floor and strutting out the office slamming the door behind me.

Nick walked through the door still laughing. He threw his hands in the air. "Eva! Oh my Eva! That was amazing."

A small smile tugged on my frowning lips. I was angry at Hanks and the parents of the students in this stupid school.

"Did you see her face?" he went on. "She was furious! I have never seen a human turn that red!"

She was very red.

"I think she almost shat her pants!"

"So did the cops when I threatened to bring my lawyer into this," I added, only to make Nick's eyes go wide before he burst into a new fit of laughter.

"Wow, badass Eva is hot as hell," Nick teased making me blush a deep shade of red. Looks like Hanks has some competition. I hated when he flirted with me.

"Believe it or not, this is not my first throw down with Hanks thanks to you," I said, remembering all the times I've gotten in trouble because of him and having to deal with Hanks alone since he's the football god of the school. They can't have their star in detention now can they.

Nick gave me an apologetic look.

I've had enough playing victim and murderer.

"So what's your plan Leighton?"

"My plan?" Nick looked confused.

"Yes, how are we clearing my name?"

I was done with all this shit. It was time people left me alone.

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