After it all went down, it was the weekend, so at least we had time to process without having to deal with college. Which is why Josh and I went for a walk around Nottingham city centre to get out of the house.
He was still too freaked out to sleep properly, but was trying his best to pretend he was fine. His jumpiness and the bags under his eyes were a dead giveaway, though.
It was one thing to process the existence of ghosts, but demons, too? Even I was still dealing with that. These weren’t just things that went bump in the night. These were things that bumped into us. Or, in Josh’s case, threw him across the room and could’ve killed him.
‘Want a coffee?’ he asked as we walked past Starbucks. To your average person, he sounded fine. But I knew him better than that. He was weak, drained, confused, and conflicted. So many emotions were playing across his face, body language, and voice. Why wasn’t there more I could do to help him?
‘Yeah, actually. That would be good,’ I said. ‘I’ll grab us a table outside.’
‘Cool.’
I found a vacant table in the sun and rested my weight on my left side, trying to ignore the protesting in my back. A metal chair was probably a bad idea. And I know, I should’ve been resting, but I was worried about Josh. And staying in was boring.
I looked out across the market square, to the fountain. It ran most of the length of the square, from where I sat towards an empty building that had once been a department store. The fountain was turned off for the winter, but that didn’t stop kids from splashing through the water. It was just deep enough to work as a paddling pool.
Their parents sat nearby, absentmindedly watching them while scrolling through their phones. Ghost friends and relatives followed the children, laughing and, for just a few moments, pretending they weren’t dead. It was a heartbreaking and heartwarming sight.
It reminded me of how I felt about Josh. So close to him, yet so far away. Since the showdown the night before, I’d wanted to reach out and hold his hand; to hug him and reassure him.
But things had gotten weird between us. There’d been a vibe there. And it’d made things seriously awkward. I didn’t know how he felt about me, and I knew that if anything happened between us, it would change our dynamic forever. It could ruin our friendship if things went wrong. Could we take that risk? He was the only friend I had. I couldn’t lose him.
‘How cute, you’re sitting outside Starbucks on your own. And you don’t even have a coffee,’ said Tessa’s snide voice. Melanie and Laura snorted. Ugh, where had they come from? Did they really have to do this now? There were more important things in life than her desire to maintain her Queen Bitch status.
I didn’t respond. I didn’t even acknowledge their presence.
‘Have you gone deaf?’ said Tessa.
I sighed. ‘No, Tessa, I’m not deaf. I just don’t have time for your crap.’
She gasped, her hand going to her chest. Drama queen. ‘I was merely enquiring as to whether or not you need a friend. It must be hard being such a loner.’
I stared into her cold eyes. ‘It must be hard having to pretend to be someone you’re not to get people to like you.’
Her eyes twitched. No one else noticed, it was such a small movement. But I’d hit a nerve and I knew it. She tossed her hair, pretending I hadn’t gotten to her. ‘I don’t need to pretend. People love me as I am. Unlike a bitch like you.’
I clicked my tongue. ‘If calling me a bitch is the worst you can do, by all means, keep going. After everything I’ve been through lately, nothing you can say will hurt me.’
She leaned in, resting her hand on the metal table. ‘I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m just reminding you of how pathetic you are.’
I straightened up, ignoring the twinge in my back as I did so. It put me at eye level with Tessa. ‘Pathetic people don’t need other people to remind them that they’re pathetic. But bullies need people to remind them that they’re bullies. It’s unhealthy to take your insecurities out on other people, you know. You should really talk to someone about how insignificant you feel.’
Tessa’s nostrils flared. Her cronies struggled to suppress laughs. I’d never stood up to her like that before. It was exhilarating.
Josh came out of the door behind Tessa. He didn’t see her at first. ‘Edie I got you a—oh, hi Tessa. Melanie. Laura.’ He sat down, putting our drinks on the table.
‘You’re hanging out with her?’ Tessa snarled. ‘Still?’ She stood up, her jaw tight and her lips pursed. She looked like she had a stick shoved very far up where the sun didn’t shine.
‘Yeah. So?’
‘So? She’s worthless.’
Josh stood up. He was almost six foot, and he towered over her. The voice he spoke in made what he said even more menacing – for her, anyway. ‘Don’t you ever say that about her again. Edie has been through more than you can possibly imagine. She’d do anything to help anyone else. Even a stranger. She’s one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.’
Tessa recoiled. ‘You deserve each other.’ With one last huff, she turned on her heels and stormed off, her sidekicks scurrying behind her. They were like a less funny version of the Plastics from Mean Girls. And with a worse fashion sense.
Josh returned to his chair and looked at me.
‘What?’
He shook his head. ‘Nothing.’ He sipped his coffee like nothing had happened. Like he hadn’t just defended me in front of a total bitchface.
‘You…what you said.’
He tilted his head towards me. ‘Yes?’
‘Did you mean it?’
‘Have you ever known me to say anything I don’t mean?’
I bit my lip. His gaze fell to my lips. Oh god. I’d read enough romance novels to know what that meant.
‘Do you—I mean—are you—’
He leaned forwards and kissed me.