~~~ 5SOS - Outer space ~~~

"You are not normal Ghost, jeez! I was supposed to end up on the floor," I growled. I was supposed to just fly through his embrace and hit the hard floor. At least that is what would happen with normal ghost, if that expression even existed. Instead, I was now being still in his arms. I know I should be grateful and not act up like this, instead I was frowning on his materialized face, instantly forgetting why I got angry. As relaxed I was a minute ago while dancing, I was now tense as a string.

"I apologize that I didn't let you fall on the ground," He whispered next to my ear, which made me a bit dizzy. I was suddenly thankful he was holding me, otherwise, I'd have problems to stand on my wobbly knees.

"Could you please stop disappearing and appearing without any heads up? It's not good for my health," I changed the topic as I pulled away from Damon's arms, ignoring the dwindling colour in his face.

"I can't do anything about it. It just happens. I'm appearing more often since you arrived," he confessed. I know I should stop being surprised, when he tells me something shocking, but I couldn't stop myself. Even more when I find out that my presence has too much of a good effect on him.

"Ah," I let out.

"And just to be clear. I am normal ghost. You are not normal human," when I heard him saying this, I looked up to meet his eyes. His wry smile got me unprepared, was he making fun of me right now? It's not even one week since I met him, and he is already being all comfortable teasing me.

"Pfff! I am completely normal, thank you very much. Since you appeared before me... I am..," I forgot what it was I wanted to say, thanks to his intense gaze. He examined me from the head to toe, the way I never would have expected from him. I quickly checked what I was wearing. Simple tank top and shorts. Nothing special, but his sight made my breathing speed up. I shrugged off the weird feeling, but I could not stop the blush forming on my cheeks.

"I didn't mean to affront you," he muttered. I could only guess if he meant the look he was giving me or what he said. Or maybe both. I didn't feel like finding it out.

"Stop it," I grovelled, annoyed.

"Stop what?" he resorted playfully. I stared at him in astonishment.

"Are you actually provoking me?" I grunted, turning my back to him. I was freaking out, his arrogance didn't have boundaries. I felt like kicking and screaming, why can't he leave me at least for a minute.

"Never mind that. I wanted to tell you, that you are indeed very skilled singer and dancer," alright he was definitely doing this on purpose. I groaned, as my privacy was being seriously invaded by this creature.

"Goddamn it," I cursed quietly, sinking into the chair behind me. I put one leg over the other, massaging the tip of my foot that I hurt before. I cussed under my breath a bit more as it became painful, when I acknowledged it.

"Did something happen?" He asked with concern in his voice. The cheeky glint vanished from his eyes, when he looked up.

"Caring much now?" I snapped sarcastically, then we both heard the house door closing. I jumped up, Damon evaporated, and I went to greet my aunt.

"Hello Ellen. Where have you been?"

"Ah you know, I'm visiting all my friends in neighbourhood. You don't feel alone here, right? I know it's one big old house. You know you can always invite your friends," She graciously grinned at me. I was thinking about the mention of me being here alone. Hah... not at all. Not even a little bit. There was not enough space for me and one more supernatural creature. I shook my head and helped Ellen take out the shopping she brought, then I went to my room to work on some school homework and sent few emails to friends in my home town. Before all that I locked the door of my bedroom, like It could help me to stop the sneaky ghost from coming in.

I was trying to focus on the history book in front of me, but I found it very hard, with swirling thoughts in my head, it was all his fault. Where is he, when I need his help, as I was struggling to look for few dates in my exercise. Oh well, let's try to call him then. He needs to be useful, huh?

"Damon?" I spoke into the silence reigning in the room, instantly regretting calling out for him. Why would I do that? Am I sane? Before I could decide whether I am in the right state of mind or not, the person I called out appeared on the soft mat in front of headboard of my bed. His eyebrows were lift in interrogative gesture. Dear... I buried my head into the sheet, while lying on the stomach on the bed. When I looked up again, he changed his position, now sitting next to me on the mattress.

"Can I help you with something?" He asked politely and I couldn't peel my eyes off him. Get a grip girl! I realized odd nature of my behaviour and darted my gaze into the book.

"I was just thinking... you are here for god knows how long, if you could tell me some dates I need to fill in here...," I stuttered.

"Certainly," a smile brightened his features. I quickly turned my head away from him, reading the events in the history I needed to assign the date to, while he stated every one of them, plus with few details I couldn't find in my textbooks. When we finished, I closed the book and dared to glance at him again.

"Where do you always vanish to, when...," I thought it was the right time to ask him some questions, which were burdening me since we first bumped into each other. I was examining his handsome face.

"Nowhere really. I stay in the house, I just appear in different room," His lips spread into the light smile again, making me divert my gaze away from him. I took a deep breath and rolled on my back. It was better for me to stare at the ceiling, than at him. His smiles had too much of a big impact on me. Countless guys smiled at me, but I never felt so intimidated, like when Damon did it. It confuses me.

"Hmm," I nodded. In my thoughts he always disappeared into the unknown place.

"What else would you like to know?" He incites my curiosity.

"I know it's probably pretty inappropriate question. But can you tell me, how did you die?" Who would have known I will ever ask someone how did they died? Ridiculous. Against my will my head turned to his direction, I had to see his face, while he tells me his story.

"I fell from the stairs and I hit my head. Cerebral edema and that was the end," He conveyed simply.

"I'm sorry, I was thinking what kind of weird death it must have been, but it wasn't," I said honestly. I was hoping his death must have been the reason for him to stay here even after he was supposed to move on. The reason why he got imprisoned.

"The only interesting thing was, that someone pushed me, and I don't know why," He added without hesitation. It got me unprepared, I opened mouth in shock and gazed at him, not being able to imagine the situation. So, it was murder, covered as an accident. That's something else.

"Why would someone do this to you. Did you have any enemies?" I was following the flow of my thoughts and asked so.

"No one that I know of," he shrugged his shoulders, still smiling over my thrilled mood. But I couldn't stop myself from wanting to know more about him. He looked like absolute gentleman, young and hot as hell as cherry on the top. Who would have the audacity to go and kill him like this? I felt sorry for him, which was new feeling for me. Then another urge took over me, as I wanted to give him comforting hug, but as soon as this though visited my mind, I dropped it. That is not going to happen, missy!

"I'm sorry," I murmured quietly, not being able to think of something a bit better to say than that. I was exploring his relaxed face features. His expression didn't give away anything about what he felt.

"It was a long time ago. I'm used to it now. It the beginning I got often incredibly angry, fretted about my situation. I got over it," he explained his attitude. I nodded knowingly.

"You were about to get married," I reminded him, knowing as soon as the words left my lips, that this wound wasn't healed yet. His expression broke for a second, looking unbearably hurt that it pained me. His eyes revealed the truth, he loved her. His fiancé must have been crushed after losing someone like him.

"Before she could be mine, I was killed. The worst thing is that before I appeared here, as a ghost, her family moved away. I haven't seen here ever again," his voice sounded rough. I felt like crying over his destiny. His story was heart-breaking, even more so, when I'm the only one who could learn about it since his death.

"It sucks you couldn't even look for your killer," I spoke my mind. His calm mask returned, hiding the pain behind it. I knew why he is doing that, I have done it many time, protecting myself.

My phone started to ring. It was Lizzie. When I picked it up, feeling Damon's curious sight on me.

"Hey," I answered the call, returning Damon's gaze.

"Hey, girl. How you doing? We are so bored with Chris. Don't you wanna come over?" I heard Liz's enthusiastic voice. I haven't finished with all my work for school, even though I wasn't planning to look into my studies today anymore.

"How about you come over to mine?" I asked, instead of declining them. I saw Damon's eyebrows shooting up, I made funny face at him, which made him laugh. The sound of his laughter was stunning, I had to hold myself from starting to laugh as well.

"Okay, we will be there in ten," Liz said bye and hanged up.

"And you! I don't want to see you. You will be distraction. They won't see you, like I do. Don't you dare to talk to me. If they see me chat with the air, I'm quite sure, they would think I'm mentally unstable," I commanded him.

"Why should I listen?" his deep voice along with what he just let out of his prefect lips, drove me crazy. Is he kidding right now?

"What a ...! Hey, listen, I tolerate you butting in my life, but we have to set some boundaries, mate," I snarled furious. He narrowed his eyes, but the corners of his lips turned up, making me want to punch him in his beautiful face.

"Really? I'm wondering, if I can make you materialize, then I can very likely hit you in the head, am I right?" ha! Here you go! The only response on my threats were gaily glint in his eyes.

"I'm all for testing your theory. Give it a try," He dares to challenge me? I took his words seriously. I got up on my feet, looking around for something big and heavy. Ahhh... I picked up nice china vase and made my way closer to him. Finally, I saw flash of doubts in his expression. I snorted.

"Come to me," I waved with my free hand, luring him to walk towards me.

"After you let go of the very old vase," He is making up his own conditions. He stood up from the bed and walked slowly to me. My knees started to tremble against my will. I let go of my idea to hurt this arrogant jerk and placed the vase on its rightful place. Another idea came to my mind.

Hesitantly I took his hand and watched the change in his complexion. He excitedly observed his fully changed hands and then arms. He couldn't see anything else, that's why I led him in front of my full-length mirror in the corner of my bed room. We both stopped in front of it, when I lifted my eyes to meet his, he already understood why I did that. He turned his head to look at his reflection.

"I wouldn't have thought of this," He breathed out. I smiled for myself, of course I'm the genius one here. I squeezed his hand and pulled him closer to me, so he can see himself on the entire surface of the mirror. He was watching his reflection, but I was looking at him, seeing his slightly pink cheeks and small smile on his full lips. I glanced at the mirror, just to make sure, he really is there. His reflection was as real as himself. It seemed like he wasn't sure if he is not dreaming as well.

"I still wasn't sure... but you must be real," I murmured in whisper.

"This is... this means, everyone can see me, as long as you hold my hand," He stated, speaking my mind out aloud. Something inside me was against it. I didn't want anyone else to know about his existence. I didn't want to share him. Oh, dear lord. This was the most selfish thought I have ever had.

Don't be absurd, Chelsea! I was cussing myself in my head. I chased those thoughts away. I have no right to think this way. Instead I lifted my head to look into his eyes, and I really had to try, because he was much taller than me and I was standing closer to him than usual. I was getting lost in the blue of his irises, while he was smiling at me for a while, then his expression gradually changed. Watching me rather earnestly. That caught me off guard. Before I could give it a deeper thought, I heard the house bell. We both twitched. Suddenly I didn't want to leave, there was something weird in the atmosphere around us. I wanted to know what it is. But I still took one step away from him, releasing my hand from his hold.

"I gotta go," I cleared my throat, not looking at him again, I ran downstairs.

"Wow!" I heard someone exclaiming behind the closed house door. I had to suppress laugh, over my friends' enthusiasm. Before I opened the door, I let my aunt know that my friends have arrived.

"Boooo!" I screamed when I opened. Liz started to scream on top of her lungs, at once hanging on evidently happy looking Chris.

~

I must have gone crazy.

It must be true, otherwise I can't explain anything from all the situations I happened to be in just in few days. It was overwhelming, since Chelsea stepped inside this house. I don't know who she is, but she changed everything. Thanks to her, I stopped being just a ghost, a phantasm. I was given the chance to be flesh and bone again.

I cannot believe it. It's horrifying, the thought I might be just imagining it. It frightens me even more than Chelsea, who seems to be getting over the fact that I'm supernatural creature. Or she is simply good at hiding her true feelings behind the mask. I will see, when I get to know her more.

I remember the moment our hands touched while making the first proper acquaintance. The feeling of waking up from the long dream.

Waking up to the reality was bitter sweet and it was just short moment, that was why I needed to do it again. I needed to feel it again, to assure myself, that I didn't imagine it. Thanks to my persuasive skills, or more likely my obnoxiousness, I managed to change her mind.

I thought of the second she placed her warm palm on my face, the sensation of warmness being extended through my whole body. I could finally see her clearly, which made me realize, how beautiful she is.

When she took me in front of that mirror, I was born there again. But something was making me disquiet. I couldn't think of the true reason. The fate was playing with us, that was the right reason, I'd say. I know that I stayed within human world for reason, I felt it inside me burning, especially from the day, Chelsea set her foot inside the house. The fact she can touch me and make me human, if it's that what I can call myself, was the first piece of puzzle. Now was my turn to make a move.

She says I'm not included in her fate, but the moment she held my hand in hers, Chelsea involved me, even if she doesn't realize that yet. But her own curiosity made it easier for me. I must just make her trust me, but I can't rush things, if I want her to help me.

I enjoyed my talks with her. It felt good to be able to confide to someone, then the wall. It was time to know something more about her as well.

I walked out from her room where she left me few minutes ago, while she went welcome her friends. Isn't it the right time to find out more about her? I pushed her words about telling me not to approach her while she is with her visitors away, and slowly came down the stairs.

Just on time, I saw Chelsea walking out of the lounge, coming to the front doors. She didn't notice me. She startled the girl behind the door on purpose, as the girl jumped on the boy standing next her, who was now holding her in his hands, with delighted expression in his face. I smiled. After long time I see someone of my age, apart Chelsea and the group of older ladies, I was seeing on regular basis.

I was hiding in the shadow of the hall, so Chelsea couldn't see me. I was holding my laugh. I never needed to hide myself from anyone since I was a ghost. How entertaining.

"Come on in. Welcome," Chelsea invited her friends, who were now hesitantly stepping across the door threshold.

"It feels like in the museum," the boy whispered. He came in, observing his new surroundings.

"It doesn't look so horrible under the bright daylight, not the way I imagined it," The girl stated, while looking around, almost like waiting for something supernatural to happen.

"Right? I told you. I'm starting to get fond to this place as well. Come and meet my aunt," Chelsea went to the lounge, followed by her friends and me. I felt like I belonged within this little group, even though it wasn't true.

"You have very likeable friends," I couldn't stop myself from mocking Chelsea, by revealing my presence. Chelsea visibly yanked, but no one saw her flinch away. I supressed amused chuckle, when she turned around, glaring at me, while her friends spoke to Ellen. Chelsea looked like she is about to commit a murder and that image really made me laugh aloud. It made her furious, judging from her current expression.

"Well, are you going to give us the promised tour?" Chris wondered. I know now the names of two new faces, as I heard them while they were introducing themselves to aunt. Chelsea recovered from my disruption, not even daring to look at me, when leading her friends out of the lounge. I was following them all the way to the kitchen.

"It looks normal here. But the atmosphere is so nice, with all the chaise lounges and candelabrums. I want to live here too," Liz was gushing over the house I almost grew to hate.

"Yes, it is very nice. But some things are very annoying, making me want to kick them hard...," Chelsea retorted sweetly, looking my direction. I couldn't stop the smile from spreading over my lips. I started to like her spirit. Plus, the reality, I laugh with her more than I did over the decades I was stuck here. Even though she just threatened to physically harm me. On the other hand, I quite understand her attitude, as I could imagine how bothersome it must be, to have ghost following her like shadow. The thought of her getting furious later, made me excited.

But right now, I was trying not to come any closer to her, so I don't touch her by a chance and happen to scare her friends to dead. She would most probably did not like it, and I doubted Liz and Chris would appreciate it as well. Somehow, I knew one day, they will know about my existence.

I like the way she and her friends were talking, and I was trying to catch most of it, so I can stop getting on Chelsea's nerves while talking to her. I was following them all around the house, finding out that those two new people are actually very interesting and amusing, then we stopped on the spot where I first interacted with Chelsea.

"What is up there?" Liz suddenly asked, pointing up at the ceiling, when was a little lever which helped to open the hinged door leading to the attic. When those were open, the door let the wooden stairs slide down, allowing to get up. Chelsea looked up, and then glanced at me with curious spark in her yes.

"Don't," I grunted, which made her frown. I knew if it wasn't for her friends, she would be already asking me tons of questions.

"Just don't. I don't wish you to go up," I added more firmly. In the answer to my words I saw defiance burning in her sight. Making me think If I should have told her more gently. I already knew she doesn't like to be told what she can or cannot do.

"What are you looking at?" Chris wondered, looking at me as well, more like through me, after he realized Chelsea is fiercely staring in to the empty space. She shook her head and peeled her eyes from me.

"I have no clue what is up there. Shall we have a look?" she was thinking out loud, on purpose. She took one courageous step towards the ceiling door, but I predicted her moves and quickly blocked her way, giving her triumphant smile on top. That caused problem, because if she continued walking, eventually she would bump into me, causing shock for her friends. And there was no point in walking around me, as it would look probably very odd.

"Sure," Chris exclaimed, already jumping up and down, trying to reach the lever of the door.

"Actually, let's leave it for now. Ellen has her junk there, I don't want to invade her privacy," Chelsea suddenly changed her mind, when she realised she can't get through me. Chris and Liz didn't question Chelsea's sudden change of mind and after a while of relaxing in her room, they went home. I stayed upstairs, while Chelsea was walking them out. She came back to me, as I expected, rewarding me inquiring look.

"So? What are you hiding up there?" She started with integration. I realized there is no point obstructing her way up. She will find her way, even without my permission.