Page 70 of Ghost
“S-Sorry,” I interrupted her, apologizing. Arguing would only make things worse. My hands shook as I tried to mop up the mess with the few napkins I had. “Give me a minute, I’ll—”
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
My actions halted as a new, also feminine, voice cut into the conversation. This one, however, was familiar. I hadn’t had many conversations with my dorm-mate, but I knew her better than anyone else on campus.
But she was friends with this person. Did this mean I’d be tortured in my own room now? I glanced up nervously.
Jiayi Chou wore a black dress with red flats today. Her red-streaked hair was curled away from her face, highlighting her cherubic features. And much like every time I saw her, she was adorable. But just as eccentric as always.
It had taken time to get used to, and some research into lolita fashion to understand, but this appearance was familiar. She had not faltered a single day this semester.
So that wasn’t what surprised me.
No, it was the expression on her face. Normally she was a picture of serenity, but now she wore a chastising glare. But it wasn’t levelled at me.
The blonde returned Jiayi’s expression with equal amounts of disdain. “What are you doing here, you freak?”
Jiayi didn’t appear to be intimidated. Instead, she raised her eyebrow as her vision trailed over the other girl. Then, without changing her expression, she tilted her head curiously. “What are you up to, Heather Rais? I’ve arrived to have lunch with my roommate, only to see that you’re up to no good again.”
“Your roommate?Youhave...” the blonde—Heather—stuttered a moment. But she regained her ground quickly enough. “Who cares, she’s overstepping. This is our table. My parents have paid good money for—”
“Grow up. There are no assigned tables here.” Jiayi strolled past the three of them, putting her bag at the table across from my own. “Go away now. Discover some mischief somewhere else. And you might want to recheck your sources.”
Heather and the two others grumbled, looking at each other. It appeared as though they wanted to say something very badly, but held themselves back. Then, to my utmost surprise, they turned and left without argument.
Jiayi didn’t even glance at me as she sat down. Instead, she used her handkerchief to clean up the rest of the spilled liquid, and proceeded to unpack her tiny lunch.
And me… I was too stunned to do anything besides sink back into my seat.
“T-Thank you,” I said, my voice faint as I toyed with the edge of my braid. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I was hopeful. From the time I met her, I dreamed Jiayi and I might become friends. She was cute, delicate, and a little bit scary.
She was only slightly taller than me; and I was jealous of her fashion sense. But what always made me wary was the hint of something unpredictable about her. As if she was one spark away from becoming a fierce force of nature. Hints of that personality broke through every time she sang along with her heavy metal bands in the shower.
No, while Jiayi seemed aloof, once she focused her attention in your direction, there was something about her that was irresistible.
“You shouldn’t allow people to push you around. It makes you look weak. Especially when it’s someone on their level,” Jiayi replied, organizing her lunch into little piles. “When are you coming back? I have things to prepare.”
“Professor Hamway will be home on Sunday,” I answered, poking at my pasta. Where was Miles? Lunch was almost over, and I was tired of waiting to eat. “I’ll be back in our room then. I’m sorry.”
There was a brief silence, and I raised my gaze. Jiayi was looking at me with a curious expression. “Why are you sorry?”
Wasn’t it obvious? She had said she even needed to prepare. Clearly, she was having the time of her life. “Because you have the room to yourself. I’ll be back to being in your way.”
She hummed, picking up one of her finger sandwiches. “You’re very strange.”
How wasIstrange? She was the one confusing me. I wasn’t even sure how to take her, this was the most we’ve spoken all semester.
“Why are you here?” she asked, wiping her mouth with another lace handkerchief. “You usually don’t meet Finn until after dinner. And you don’t eat lunch out, there’s too many people. Is he meeting with you earlier today?”
I stopped pushing around a noodle and glanced at her. I had no idea she noticed me meeting with Finn every night.
I might have said I was meeting my friend, but had I ever told her his name? I didn’t remember.
“No.” My gaze returned to my plate. I wasn’t sure what to make of this, but perhaps she was trying to be my friend also? I didn’t want to push my luck. She was my roommate, she’s morally obligated to be kind. That being the case, I needed to let her know. In case Finn showed up one day.
Perhaps she’d even scream at him for me.
“I’m not friends with Finn anymore,” I informed her. “He did something… bad. So if you see him around you don’t have to be nice to him or anything.”
