quote: "when I first met you, I honestly didn't know you were going to be this important to me," —unknown

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MY EYES DART FROM where I'm sitting it couldn't be him, after all, he shows up. He said to everyone that he wasn't going, he's been a jerk to me, to everyone. And to add to the list of most embarrassing things in my life is that he's coming towards me. A girl who is sitting on the most uncomfortable bench watching the whole town dance.

My mother didn't go, she didn't go because of dad. She's doing it again, forgetting him again. I knew that there was a part of me that wished for this moment when I was younger but I no longer felt it. Jason held out his hand, which I took, forcing myself. He pulled me up to my feet. I don't want to be in this situation. And to the love of God, a slow song comes on and I wanted nothing more than to run away or vanish as Casper can.

"May, I'm sorry." He starts his attempt at an apology really poor. "I've treated you wrong, ever since kindergarten." I snort in disgust who did he think I was? There was no way I would ever believe that after what he had done he would be kind to me or attempt to apologise. "You've treated me horribly since my dad died. Why should I forgive you?" I blink twice awaiting an answer. "Because we're friends and I'm a screwup." He says his chocolate eyes looking in mine. "We are friends right?" He asks, peering down at me and for a moment I wanted to forgive him. "I suppose," I say reluctantly agreeing with him.

Jason pulls me closer and I stiffen, "more than friends maybe?"

"No, way. You just crossed the line, buddy. Don't you dare treat me like this! You're trying to take advantage of me you jerk. I was trying to be nice, understanding, possibly your friend." I push him away, sending him backwards. He manages to maintain his balance. I honestly didn't I know I had this much strength. "Well, I hope you have a nice night." Then I run, I give an Abby a nod from the dance floor, for her to stay she doesn't deserve me ruining her night. She looks right at me, and mouths, 'I'll call you.'

Maybe I was a little too harsh and didn't hear him out. I had realised what friendship was. I had realised what love was. I lift my skirts and run, I run with the wind in my hair, it swirls around me. It was like a comfort, It was odd but yet it gave me my favourite feeling of being free. My feet thud on the concrete desperate to get home. Even my feet want to go home. I had to find Casper, I had too. I just had too. I had never needed him more. I run like I never have before, I just keep going. I feel like one of those energiser bunnies, they have so much energy.

The stars twinkle in the sky above, the moon provides light for me, as I somehow find myself at the last bend, the home stretch. I follow the now dirt path, almost home. I count down the seconds now and I sighed in relief knowing that I was home. The gates greet me with the wind almost like a welcoming. I was home, Whipstaff felt like home.

I stumble up the steps barely managing not to trip as stumble towards the front door, "Mum!" No answer, of course, she was playing poker again with The Ghostly Trio, "Mother!" My mother rushes into view. "Back so soon? you still have two and a half hours." She greets me as I walk past her, she stands in front of me blocking my path. "Yeah about that...." I start, "Do-you-know-where-Casper-is?" I ask really fast, panting as I bend lean on my legs. "Casper what?" My mother asks rather puzzled. "I want to see him," I say, giving up on my mum, I run towards the stairs and she yanks me back.

"You look like you've been in a hurricane!" She exclaims. She was right my hair was a little bit out of place, just that didn't matter right now. "And run a marathon." She adds. "So? What have you done."

"I can't talk Mum! I need Casper!" I say, getting to the point. "So what I'm guessing, you've run all the way home to see Casper? From the festival, you go to every year, the person who has begged me and your father to stay longer than all the other 'cool' kids?" She was right as over the years I liked staying longer than the other kids so I could brag about that I stayed longer and I had better parents. Her arms are placed on her chest, she shifts her foot.

"Yes," My mother's laugh echoed through my ears, she was almost admiring me. Rather proud. "You sound like I'm a love-sick girl." I spit. "You are, you are sweetheart." She says placing a hand on my shoulder, it was for comfort. I don't need comforting, I only had one goal now.

"What!? No bloody freaking way!" I exclaim, my green eyes in shock as I pull at the roots of my brown hair messing it more than it was. "May!" She scolds my language with a small chuckle. "Sorry," I say, my mouth forming a small smile. I lay in the middle of the floor of the entrance, well the dance floor Casper once danced with Kat. My mother stands there laughing at my actions."You're a funny child. So much like your Father. What are you even doing?" She jokes, pulling me up on my feet. I couldn't be bothered so I fall back on the floor. "I'm having a nap, duh."

Kat peers over me, her hands slap on her jeans. "Your gonna wanna see this, May. Forget your nap." I jump up and roll my eyes. "What could be so important that you both want me to see?!" I say, turning around. My eyes widen, to a golden-haired boy that has grace in every step. A boy with blue eyes. And who all the girls at my school would drool over which includes me. Casper's hand is on the rail, that seems so familiar to him. He was so carefree and happy. I'd feel sorry for him if he tripped, which would send him tumbling down the stairs and it would ruin the moment. One thing else was on my mind. And which would ruin this moment.

I literally run to the steps. His ocean coloured eyes were fixed on me. Nothing else, he wasn't even looking at Kat and I smiled ruefully. I launch myself at him when he reaches the last step. I hug him hard. Casper chuckles as hugs me back, his laughter rumbling through his chest? Casper was spitting image of the boy in the photo but his appearance had changed and somehow he seemed older but I knew I was probably just imagining it.

"Y-You're alive?" I stammer reluctantly letting Casper go to examine him. Casper nods, his grin making me weak in the knees. "After all, I still owe you a dance don't I?" His voice sounded different, deeper and older (I knew that I was most likely not imagining it) but his words and actions were the same. Did he sound older? But it was still Casper. Tears form in my eyes as I embrace Casper again, letting myself cry into his white shirt. "Lazarus?" I ask craning my neck up to look at him, and he smiles and shakes his head with a smirk, "No."

I smile gleefully, as I start to laugh at how incredible this was. I was so confused about how he was alive. But I didn't care. "You're ruining the moment!" He complains, laughing also and those ocean eyes find mine again but suddenly as my mother coughs, Casper looks up and still clutching his waist I turn to face my mother and Kat. Casper's eyes lock with Kat, she just smiles but in her eyes, I could see she wanted to hug him, hold him. But she also didn't want too, she was torn. Then Casper looks to my mother. She smiles and nods rather approvingly which surprised me. The next thing I know Casper gently entwines our fingers and then I'm pulled along, by Casper's warm hand. Casper was warm.

"This is gonna take some time getting used too," I say the smile unable to leave my lips, the cool air hits my skin as we walk out of Whipstaff Manor and Casper slows to a walk and laughs a bit. "I know, I'm getting used to it again too," he sympathises as we begin to follow the dirt path towards the Lake Tree that was so familiar now. There were so many questions, but I ask the first one that came to mind. "You look older than the photo you showed me," I say, gripping Casper's hand so tightly afraid that this was a dream and he could vanish before my eyes.

"I am fifteen May." He says, not meeting my eyes because Casper knew that I noticed. "You were twelve," I say, confused as Casper continues to lead the two of us. "It's sort of hard to explain honestly," Casper argues as I sigh. "You gave up three years of your life for me!" I say, outraged and surprised. There was a cheeky and mischievous grin that grew upon his lips but by the look I gave him, Casper knew that I was expecting an explanation. "Well yes, of course, I would do that for you. May you are always there for me. You were there when no one wasn't. You liked me despite I was an undead ghost. You treated me like I was alive and you made me feel alive too." Casper says sincerely with so emotion and I realised that there was a possibility I was her along.

I did think he was going to tell me how he was alive but he didn't, I think that was a secret he'd never want to tell me. "So let me ask you a question, why did you come home early?" He questions, wondering and waiting for my answer. "I-I realised what was truly in front of me and I learnt something, so valuable, something that lasts forever love and friendship."

Casper stops and looks back, his face hardening and scrunching together like he might cry. Then as I wrapped my arms around him, breathing in his unfamiliar scent and what I had been waiting for and for the first time Casper Jonas McFadden begins to cry.

"You gave up the one night that means the most to you, for someone who was dead? Someone who has been dead for the last one hundred years? For a ghost?" Casper says, not believing my words. "I can go next year and for the rest of my life, I've been doing it since I was born and it's about you anyway. I'd rather spend my time with Casper McFadden anyway." I say honestly. Casper's smiles in disbelief. "Casper, when I first looked into your eyes I saw something that I've never seen before." Casper stares at me blankly and I noticed he was still in disbelief as his feet come to a stop.

I suddenly realise that we were standing under the lake tree. Casper still holds me, not letting go and I realised he felt the same way, we couldn't let go of one another afraid that the other would disappear. "You've found someone to love you." He whispers, resting his chin on my shoulder, snuggling his face into and pulling me somehow closer. "Looks like you've found someone to love you too," I say with a smile. I could feel Casper's face change into a smile, his even breath on my neck. Casper pulls away suddenly looking into my eyes, they were so bright, loving, gentle and content and he wouldn't let me go.

"You're so beautiful, do you know what?" Casper compliments giving me that dreamy smirk that made butterflies flutter wildly in my stomach. "I think you have the all of the female school population at my school drooling over you?" I say laughing.

Casper chuckles, but his gaze was hopeful, then slowly leans and whispers into my ear four words. "Can I keep you?" Casper shifts back, examining my reaction and I smile suddenly happier than I had ever been. I smile shyly, standing on my tippytoes, putting my hands on his shoulders and lean into his ear, "Always."

Casper smiles like a goofus, both hands cupping my cheeks as he slightly cranks his head and brushes his lips gently to my own for a few short-lived seconds until I pull away, I felt myself blush bright red. "S-Sorry I don't know what I am doing..." Casper gazes down his eyes showing me that he understood, but Casper had let me go as if I needed space and I didn't like that I wanted his comforting touch. I shifted my footing then closed my eyes for a view brief seconds until I gathered my own courage and then opened my green eyes reaching out for Casper, grabbing him by his white shirt and with no hesitation I crashed my lips to his.

The kiss we shared itself wasn't like the movies when only with desire and passion, well that was there of course but it ran deeper, it was more conveying the words we couldn't say out loud, to show each other how we felt and how we cared for one another. Casper broke away slightly winded, "Well I don't understand what you were so worried or nervous about. That was brilliant May." I blushed heavily, unable to move until Casper himself does. Casper slowly starts to sway to a rhythm that I didn't know and gently moves my hands that rested on his chest to around his neck and then Casper snakes his arms around my waist.

Then a pang of recognition comes to me, I knew what he was dancing too. I follow his lead, as we dance on the spot. Casper hums the song that I knew, the whole town knew. Then I found myself humming it too. Casper smiles pressing his forehead against my own. "After all, I owe you a dance." He whispers his voice a little husky. I smile boldly unable to hide my happiness and kiss his cheek, Casper blushes madly at the gesture.

"You always ruin the moment!" He scolds, trying to keep his face stern. "I can always fix it by kissing you!" I say scolding him a hint of mischief in my eyes. "That is a prominent solution." He says adds with that grin that made my bones go to mush. Then before I know it I quickly peck his lips and run. Leaving the stunned Casper, whom's smile was such a goofball. I find my footing and start to climb. With great difficulty from the dress, I sit in my usual spot. "Casper Jonas McFadden, are you seriously going to stand there all night looking like a goofball?" I exclaim, trying once again not to cackle up with laughter.

"I could." He jokes, rushing over to me, I who was sitting on one of the highest branches. Casper slowly comes up climbing as agile as a cat faster than I would have expected, sitting next to me with a huge grin his face. "You know, I was thinking that you and I should get a photo together one day at least." He says. He wanted this to last, and I feared that this was all a dream. "Yeah! And we can have a photo album and everything!"

Casper smiled and nodded but burst out laughing, "I'm taller than you now!" He jokes. "Real funny but I don't care, you're here with me alive and that's all that matters!" I slap his arm playfully. "Were definitely going to have to take you clothes shopping!" I say with dread, I didn't like clothes shopping. "I am gonna need your help, like a lot," Casper says and I smile and give a wink."I'll be there every step of the way McFadden you have my word." Casper seemed to sigh in relief, "Thanks, Clarence."

I laughed at my sudden thought. "You know your just lucky I'm wearing a dress. I won't wear a dress again until next year on this very day." Casper smiles, "If you were alive in my time a young woman like yourself would wear dresses every day."

"That would suck," I sighed imagining how hard it would have been, "I found it very difficult to climb this tree wearing this dress."

"It's getting late and your mum is gonna murder me," Casper says, I was rather surprised by his words, he didn't sound so old fashioned. Maybe he was around me too much. "Definitely, but me first anyway I would protect you," I say, sending him a smile. We both slowly climb down the tree both of us not wanting to leave. Casper holds my hand, as we walk back to Whipstaff together, both laughing at our own stupid and cringey but hilarious pickup lines.

Casper raced up the steps just to open the door for me and although he wasn't a ghost anymore, Casper was still Casper. We have grins on our faces, my mother practically ran to me. "Just on time, you two. I would kill you both if you had been a minute longer." Casper and I both give each other a grin and it was then that I noticed Kat was gone. "Kat left didn't she?" I asked. "Yeah, she left after you and Casper ran off." I look at Casper who nods, reassuringly. He understood now. "I don't mind if you guys stay up a little later, just only for tonight. I and the boys are finishing our poker game, so run along."

Casper flashes a playful grin. It was like someone had given him a million dollars. It made me laugh. "That was rather mother-like? Don't you think so too, Casper?"

"Yeah, May. I thought I'd get killed for bringing you back so late." He says, like was going to be killed. "What do you want to do?" I ask, sending him a playful grin that would match his own.

"Hmmm..." He says, thinking in deep thought, "I know!" Casper pulls me along eager to take me somewhere as we both dash up the stairs. Casper leads me towards his mother's reading room and then opens numerous cabinets by the large circular window to find something in particular as I watch helplessly in not knowing what to do, I wait patiently as the sound of a very old tune that I did not know blasted from the record player. Casper smiled as he pulled me in to dance with him and twirled me gently as I found myself falling for Casper all over again and I found myself even more thankful that he was alive, with his heart beating and blood pumping in his veins. And this was undoubtedly a moment to I would remember forever and ever and I wouldn't change a thing.

— Edited: 25/08/2019