"You can see me?" My heart, that didn't exactly function, began to beat out of my chest.

Ryker let out a loud sigh and frowned. "No, I'm just talking to nothing." The sarcasm dripped from his tone.

I wanted to bark back a retort but in a way he was right. I'm nothing now. Absolutely nothing.

His gaze searched mine as I looked up. "What did I say?"

My eyebrows furrowed as I looked on. "What do you mean?" I tried to play coy. I couldn't let the only person who could see me know he was disliked.

He pinched his brow and looked down in exhaustion. "I said something that offended you. What was it?"

I rolled my eyes and leaned against the locker, letting out a sigh. "Nothing. You said nothing... Why do you care anyways? You've never spoken to me before."

He let out a deep laugh and put his back against the locker next to me. "You do know I'm talking to a ghost right?"

"Well you'd think out of everyone I would know best, hmm?" I raised a brow and smirked, noticing his change in subject.

Ryker rolled his eyes and looked away to the wall. "I can't exactly not talk to you. You're constantly looking at me or talking to yourself."

My mouth moved to pout and I let out a deep sigh. "Who do you suppose I talk to then? You're the only one who can see me."

He chuckled. "That's not my problem, princess."

I pushed off the locker to stand in front of him. "Like it or not," I said taking a step closer, "I'll talk to you as much as I possibly can because being alone isn't an option."

His face showed no emotion, but if I had to pick one it would be annoyance. "Do whatever you want. Who said I had to answer?"

"So you would just leave me-"

The door behind us opened and Mr. Bendy stepped out, Ryker's eyes snapping forward in paranoia. "Mr. Steele, you joining us for class today?" 

Ryker stood up straight and nodded. "Uh yeah, sorry I lost track of time." His eyes darted to me for a split second and he moved towards the room.

Mr. Bendy chuckled. "I'm sure." He looked to the lockers, his gaze falling on mine. For a moment I though maybe he saw me, but I was wrong. His eyes didn't show that gleam of surprise that Ryker's had when he saw me. All they held were remorse.

They both walked into the classroom and I quickly ran froward, slipping through the closing door. I let out a huff of breath at the sudden movement and looked up to the class. My eyes quickly found June and I smiled slightly. Her expression however wasn't cheerful at all. 

I stepped forward to her desk and bent down, watching her carefully. "June-bug?" 

I sighed when I got no response and stood again. Ryker's crystal gaze was examining me yet again as I walked over and sat in my desk, which was cold and empty. At least this time I didn't fall through, but felt the hard plastic under my backside. Throughout the class I heard friends speak about how much they missed me, but all I could think was why? 

"Why did they even notice I was gone? I didn't do much to entertain them."

A piece of paper fell into my lap that read, "Everyone loved you. Of course they're going to notice  your gone."

I turned to face Ryker, my expression confused. He sighed and quickly wrote another note. "You were talking to yourself again."

"Oh great." I closed my eyes and slipped out of my chair, laying on the uncomfortable floor. 

The bell rang within a few seconds and the whole class shot up, eager to get away from the idea of school itself. Kids walked where I was laying but they had no idea they were stepping on their dead comrade. Ryker was trailing behind, I'm guessing to wait till everyone left. Mr. Bendy was holding the door for the other students, so Ryker took his chance. He walked to my side and bent down.

"You gonna get up, or spend the whole day there?" His head was tilted so the first sunlight of the morning lit up his regal expression.

"Don't know. You might as well just step on me like the others." My voice was tainted with defeat as my eyes watched the bland ceiling above.

"Come on princess, get up."

I gave him a look of pure exhaustion even though my body felt as awake as ever. "I don't know what to do Ryker."

"What do you mean?" He looked to the door quickly before sitting down.

"My family, my friends. I can't do anything to talk to them."

He looked to the ground, a hint of sympathy in his endless eyes. "How do you know I'm the only one? That can see you I mean."

I sat up slightly and leaned against the desk. "I saw my family at the hospital; none of them even noticed I was right in front of their face." 

A tear fell down my cheek and I looked down half in eager surprise and sadness. "I can cry?" 

"I guess you can." He said reaching forward to wipe it away. 

For a moment I got hopeful. Maybe he could touch me. Hug me. Hold me till the pain went away. No. His hand passed trough and he quickly pulled back, as though he'd been licked by fire.

"I'm sorry. I thought maybe..."

"Forget about it; get to class. Like you said I'm not your problem." I stood as soon as Mr. Bendy walked in to see Ryker sitting in the floor alone.

"Mr. Steele, are you feeling ok?" His expression was laced with concern, a small smile on his lips.

Ryker looked to me nervously so I turned away and walked out. I couldn't let the end of my life be the end of his.