Nick and I were about to leave school when we heard some commotion outside.

Trey was surrounded by the football team as well as a few other people from our school.

"We all know that we would not have made it this far without Nick. He was the best captain this school has had," he told the group. I elbowed Nick's ribs, he stayed stoic as he stared at the group. "I am going to try my best to lead you as captain and I know Nick wouldn't want us to quit or back down. He would want us to win. And we will. We'll win all our games with Nick in our hearts."

The crowd cheered, a few clapped Trey on the back. He was made captain. I looked at Nick who gave nothing away. I did not want to talk to him in front of such a big group and risk being targeted again, instead I put my hand in his and began dragging him away. I didn't pull back when Nick intertwined our fingers and squeezed. It was as if that was the only thing keeping him from breaking. He kept losing everything. Every day he lost more and more. It was heartbreaking.

I began walking to the movies for my shift. Nick remained silent. As soon as I felt like it was safe to speak, I did. "Talk to me."

He shook his head. "It feels like everything that was about me is slipping away and soon people won't even remember me and I can't do anything to stop it. It's like I'm sinking and grasping for air, but I just sink deeper and letting this darkness swallow me. It's suffocating."

"Hey, hey, hey," I stopped walking turning to face him. I squeezed his hand tighter. "That's not true Nick. Don't you dare think like that. Your parents will never forget you. Trey looks like hell, it does not seem like he will forget you. And... I won't forget you. It's not like I get to meet a ghost every day."

Nick let out a chocked sound that was supposed to be a laugh.

I ran my thumb soothingly on his hand. "You can get through this. You are Nick Leighton. People would kill to be you."

Something about that line made me pause. The amount of people that would benefit from him gone was endless.

Nick seemed to no longer be listening. Instead, he was looking down an empty road with furrowed brows.

"What do you see?"

Nick opened his mouth and closed it. "I'm not sure. I feel like I should follow it."

"That leads to the highway."

He shook his head. "Let's just go to the movies. I want to see the candy girl in action."

I ignored the weird feeling and walked to work. I changed into the uniform in the washroom before stepping out to a wolf call. I threw Nick an unimpressed look.

"You look good in uniform Candy Girl," he teased.

"Oh shut up," I whispered underneath my breath. I forced a smile on my lips when a few customers walked in. I helped them before we were left alone again.

"You know you are pretty in your own way," he said, from the look on his face it looked like he meant it. I rolled my eyes in response.

"Hey, I mean it," he said looking offended. "I'm not calling you hot or anything—"

"Geez thanks."

"No, no," he shook his head. "Let me continue. I'm being honest, you're no Amelia but you have your own charm."

I let out a scoff. "I don't know whether that's a compliment or an insult."

He gave me a sheepish look. "Compliment. You are attractive, but I dunno... being with you. It's nice. Makes you more beautiful."

My cheeks blazed red and I was suddenly too aware of everything touching my skin. My chest felt too tight. I was saved from answering him when a few other customers came.

No wonder every girl wanted to be with him. Other than his good looks, Nick was a charmer.

"You really have worked hard on your tongue," I scoffed.

Nick smirked. "I can show you what my tongue can really do."

My jaw dropped. "Jesus Christ Nick! That's disgusting!"

He threw his head back in laughter clenching his sides. "I was talking about a monologue, it's your mind that's filthy!"

I narrowed my eyes at him unimpressed. "Yeah sure Shakespeare."

He gave me a wide grin before popping a popcorn into his mouth and frowning. "Forgot I can't taste anything."

Poor boy. He was just existing. Well not even existing.

"If you could have one last meal, what would it be?" I asked him trying to distract him.

He pursed his lips thinking. "A fresh pizza from Joe's. Cheese still hot it stretches as the sauce barely burns your mouth."

"Let's make a deal then, in our next life you're taking me out for pizza." I teased.

Nick smiled and stuck out his hand. I reached out to shake it, but instead he brought it up to his lips and placed a kiss on my hand. "It's a date."

I couldn't help but blush. "Deal."

I finished what usually is a boring shift, but this time it was amusing with Nick's comments and teasing. Despite him being a ghost, it felt nice not being alone all the time.

We were walking back home when Nick froze at the highway again.

"We should follow it," I said breaking the silence.

"Tomorrow, when there's light," Nick nodded. I liked when we agreed on the same thing.

We continued to walk, silence still hanging in the air.

"You walk this every day?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yup, ever since you and Trey ran over my bike. Thanks a lot by the way."

He gave me a sheepish look rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah sorry about that. Again, I'm an asshole."

I scoffed. "That's a given."

"Hey!" He put his hand to his chest as if he was offended. "I'm a changed man."

"Yeah, yeah. The new, improved and a little invisible," I said. This made him chuckle.

"Just a little," he said as we reached my house. I unlocked the front door. We went in together. My father was asleep on the couch, I went over and covered him with a blanket and kissed his forehead before turning off the tv.

"That's sweet," Nick whispered.

"Why are you whispering?" I whispered back as we head upstairs to my room.

"I don't know, force of habit," he continued to whisper.

I chuckled as I opened the door and threw my backpack on the floor. I motioned for Nick to turn around with my finger so that I could change my clothes. He thankfully obliged.

"I feel like I could have been a better son. My dad really wanted me to go into football. I mean everyone did."

"From the tone of your voice I'm guessing you didn't want to," I said as I slipped on a pair of shorts and a tank top. "You can turn now."

"You're gonna laugh," Nick turned with a frown. He stopped, eyes looking me up and down. I almost felt naked. Was Nick checking me out? "Are you trying to seduce me Montgomery?"

I scoffed. "Oh shut up. It's hot today." I began to tie my hair in a bun. "And I probably will laugh at you."

He shook his head and cleared his throat. "I wanted to be a writer. There was this amazing program in Notre Dame. Not that I can anymore."

"And your parents didn't want that?" I asked as I leaned against my desk.

"They believed that I would be wasting my talents and scholarships to pursue a dream that may or may not succeed," he sighed as he sat on the edge of my bed. "We fought all the time, I used to avoid coming home all day. Took it out on other kids. Took it out on you. Again, I'm sorry."

"How long are you going to keep apologizing?" I asked him softly. "I forgive you, truly."

He shook his head. "Not until I feel like I deserve your forgiveness."

I walked up him slowly and cautiously and stepped between his legs. I put my hands on his shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes. "For the first time in a long time I have felt happy. I have a friend. I have company. My constant feeling of loneliness has vanished. You gave me a that."

He stood up, what little distance between us disappeared as his body was pressed against mine. "It's not enough. It's never enough."

My hand left his shoulder and travelled up until I was caressing his cheek. "It's enough. For me it's enough."

He let out a shudder before nuzzling his head in the crook of my neck. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly. Nick returned the hug with as much force if not more. The boy was a mess.

"It's enough," I whispered over and over again. I would keep saying it until Nick believed it.

We stood like this for what felt like hours before Nick let go.

His eyes were soft. "You won't be alone forever. One day someone's going to love everything about you, believe me Eva there's nothing not to love. And he's going to be the luckiest man in the world. You will be happy, I know it."

I sucked in a deep breath and stopped breathing. Everything stopped. My heart. Time. Was I even still alive?

His words kept playing in my head over and over again.

He pulled away and began walking to the door.

"Nick," I stopped him. He looked over his shoulder.

"Thank you."

He smiled. Then he walked through the door. That's never not weird.

I finally was able to breathe again, but my heart would not stop beating so fast. I threw myself on the bed and sighed.

I think I was in trouble.

I think I was falling for a ghost.

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