I nodded. Thatll work. What is it?
After a few moments thought she rattled off her MySpace username and I found the page. Not surprisingly, it was pink and seizure-inducingly sparkly.
And covered with pictures of a definitely alive Kimberlee from junior high school. She looked a little different but it was definitely her. I squinted at a couple of group shots and recognized Langdon, the guy who had almost squished me to a pulp today. Hey! I said, pointing. Thats Langdon.
Kimberlee rolled her eyes. So?
I turned back to the computer and took a deep breath. Okay, I said, this is definitely Kimberlee Schaffers MySpace page. Whats the password? And none of this guessing stuff. You nail it the first try, or I ignore you for the rest of my life.
Fine, Kimberlee said, leaning forward with a predatory look in her eye, but I get a part in this deal, too. If the password works you believe me, one hundred percent. No more made-up-person stuff. Deal?
I swallowed hard. Deal.
UMMM, I SAID SLOWLY AS I stared at the screen.
What? Kimberlee said, tension spiking her voice about two octaves. It didnt work? You typed it wrong, thendo it again!
You have over three thousand new messages.
Oh, Kimberlee said. Then she straightened casually, as though she hadnt been on the verge of hysteria an instant ago. Well, dying makes you popular.
I stared at Kimberlee as if seeing her for the first time. All the ghosts in movies were see-through and white and did that glowing thing. And they floated. Kimberlee looked solid and walked right on the ground like anyone else. The lights made her hair shine a little, but she definitely wasnt glowing. Can I touch you? I asked curiously.
She put her hands on her hips and pushed her chest out. I admit, I havent gotten any action in a while.
Not like that, I protested, mortified. I mean in terms of, uh, physics. Can I touch your arm, or will I go right through?
Kimberlee studied her arm quizzically. Everyone else goes right through. Course, none of them can see or hear me either. You can try. She held out her arm.
I lifted my hand for a second before wussing out and turning back to my computer. I dont want to.
Come on, she said. If you dont, I will.
I felt something cold pass through my shoulder and a massive chill shot down my spine. Okay, I said when I could talk again. That was the creepiest thing thats ever happened to me. And after today, thats really saying something.
But when I turned to her, she looked disappointed.
What?
She gave me a one-shouldered shrug. II hoped youd be different, thats all.
Sorry, I muttered. Not that I could help it. So, I said, feeling suddenly very awkward. Youre a ghost, huh?
Nothing gets past you, does it? she said, rolling her eyes. Are you going to help me now, or what?
Uh . . .
Her perfectly plucked eyebrows furrowed. Look, she began hesitantly, you can see me. And hear me. So youre the only one who can help me. You have to say yes.
I sighed. What do you need help with?
My unfinished business.
Your what?
In books and movies people become ghosts when they have unfinished business. That must be why Im still here.
Did someone tell you that? Did you have some, I dont know, angel, I guess, tell you what you need to do?
She shook her head. Uh-uh. I just woke up in the middle of the school and I was dead. Im guessing on the rest.
Whats your unfinished business?
She twisted a ring around on her finger. I kind of stole some stuff when I was alive and I think I need to return it.
Thats it? No unrequited love? Revenge unrealized?
Nope.
And you want me to return it so you can be on your merry way?
Thats the plan. Its the only thing I can think of. I had a great life. Pretty much everyone loved meexcept the people who wanted to be meand I had everything I ever wanted.
Which forced you into a life of crime? I have never under- stood rich people stealing.
Whatever. Will you help me?
I laid my arms on the desk and let my head rest against them. I return a couple a things for you and you leave me alone? I asked, more to the carpet than her.
Yes.
Forever?
I promise. She laughed. Id pinky swear, but, you know.
I did knowand I didnt want to do that again.
I was kinda starting to miss just being crazy.
Jeff?
I looked over at her. Her smirk was gone. So was her pout.
Please? she asked, her tone completely genuine.
Im such a pushover. Fine. Ill do it.
She squealed and clasped her hands together. Thank you thank you thank you! and then in the same breath, We gotta go to the cave.
The cave?
Its where the stuff is.
Youre in Santa Monica and you hid stuff in a cave?
Its on my parents private beach. I found it when I was, like, ten. Its been my secret place ever since.
Okay, I said. We can go tomorrow.
Why cant we go today?
I dug around in my backpack and held up a copy of Les Misérables, and not the abridged version. Because I have a hundred pages of this to read tonight. Not to mention calculus homework and a history outline everyone else has already been working on for a week. The thought of all the homework Id had heaped on me today was almost enough to make my ghost problem seem small.
Almost.
Unlike some people, I still have a life, I muttered.
Kimberlees lips pressed into a straight line and before I could apologize, she spun on her heel and disappeared through my bedroom door.
When Kimberlee popped up silently beside my locker the next morning, I tried to apologize for my harsh comment. I was stressed, I said quietly, hoping no one was close enough to catch me talking to myself. Again. I should have kept my mouth shut.
Whatever, she said, not meeting my eyes as I slammed my locker shut. I just want to get this over with.
I had almost reached the stairs that would take me up to Bleekmans room when a flash of red grabbed my eye. I tuned Kimberlee out and my eyes tracked the redhead.
Finally, something good about Whitestone.
Fingers snapped in front of my face. Hello? Focus!
Kimberlee. It was a testament to the sheer hotness of the other girl that I had, for ten seconds, managed to forget Kimberlee entirely.
Hot Girl was standing less than twenty feet away, digging through her locker with her back to me. I was trying to figure out a nonlame way to approach her when she stopped and turned. I glanced away, afraid shed been able to sense my eyes burning a hole in her back. Maybe a few inches below her back. After what I hoped was a safe amount of time, I glanced in her direction again. It took me a few seconds to find her.
Hugging a guy in a letter jacket.
I couldnt tear my eyes away from the two of them. It was like a car wreckyou dont really want to see the guy all mangled inside, but you cant look away. And it wasnt some third-string nobodythis guy was majorly ripped and could probably break my neck with two fingers. Maybe one. It took me a second to realize that he wasnt very tallbut whats a little height when youve got shoulders like steel girders? The redhead leaned against the lockers next to him and smiled.
I knew that kind of smile. It was a special smile reserved for special people. Like, boyfriend people.
Damn.
But really, why wouldnt she be taken? She was totally gorgeous andconsidering she was at Whitestonealmost certainly rich. Girls like that dont just wander around single.
Enjoy your little trip down fantasy lane, loverboy? Kimberlee was leaning against my locker looking totally bored.
Oh yeah.
But I couldnt help glancing back at the hot girl again.
Trust me; leave that one alone, Kimberlee said, following my gaze. She was this total slut as a freshman, but she doesnt really date now. Probably not even into guys anymore.
I looked over at Kimberlee with my best duh face and flicked my head in her direction. Human tractor over there?
Wait, wait, she said, laughing. Him? Mikhail?
She would think this was funny.
Youre barking up the wrong tree. Mikhail is Her mouth snapped shut and her eyes took on this funny look. She sighed melodramatically. I must be wrong. After all, just because he was dating someone a few months ago doesnt mean theyre still together. Im so out of the loop. She sighed again.
Was she being sarcastic? I felt like Id missed something, but couldnt imagine what.
You really better stay away from her now, Kimberlee continued. Mikhail could break you in half without even trying.
Just tell me her name, I whispered.
Why? Kimberlee shot back. So I can help you keep having a life? So much for her whatever.
Im helping you, I reminded her.
Fine, she said, sounding way more pissy than I thought my request could possibly justify. Its Serafina. Serafina Hewitt. Ill meet you outside of Kellers class at three fifteen sharp so we can go to the cave. Back out and youll be sorry. She shot a finger gun at me and walked through the wall of lockers.
AS SHED PROMISED, KIMBERLEE WAS waiting for me after school, just inside the front doors. Finally, she muttered.
I pushed open the door and instinctively held it a few seconds to let Kimberlee out. She snickered as she walked by. Holding the door for your imaginary friend?
Thats only an insult to yourself.
She tossed her hair. Whatever. Wheres your car? she asked.
I grinned. I couldnt help it. A black BMW Z4 con- vertible was my moms idea of a good, sensible car. Something about them lasting forever? I turned to Kimberlee. This way.
I headed to the farthest end of the lot, where almost no one parked. The spaces on both sides of my Z4 were empty. That was worth the walk.
Kimberlee stroked her fingers along the black hood as though she could actually feel something. I saw this yesterday when I followed you home, she said, as if following people home was completely normal. Daddys?
I put my shades on as I pressed the unlock button on my keychain. Nope. Shes all mine. Kimberlee, meet Halle.
Halle?
Its not that Im embarrassed that I named my car, but, well, its kind of personal.
Kimberlee stood outside the door. After almost thirty seconds I rolled down the window. You coming?
I thought you were going to open the door for me.
I thought I wasnt supposed to do stuff like that for my imaginary friend.
She rolled her eyes. Fine. She slipped through the door and settled in the seat.
I stared at her, everything Id learned in physics screaming that this made no sense. Why dont you fall through the bottom of the car? I finally asked.
I dont know, she said testily. Why dont you?
I shook my head and put the key in the ignition.
Should I put on my seat belt?
Can you?
That shut her up.
Come on, why Halle?
Okay, not completely. Not telling you.
Spill!
I didnt have the stamina for another battle of wills with Kimberlee. I named her after Halle Berry. She played Storm in the X-Men movies.
Youre such a nerd. Why her?
I could feel my face getting hot. Well, you know . . . cause shes hot. And black. And my car is hot, and black.
Kimberlee smirked. So you want to ride her all over town?
What? No, its a compliment! Like naming a boat! I justits just a stupid . . . Forget I said anything. Can we just drop it now?
Whatever you say, Grand Wizard.
I shook my head and started the car. She was just baiting me. Again. How did I keep walking into her traps?
You drive like my grandma, Kimberlee said after a few minutes of inching along.
You think thats an insult? Try harder. I knew what this car could do. The first week I got it I took a trip to Vegas and made it from Phoenix to the Hoover Dam in just over two hours. My car is fast. And I admit, I roared into school moving pretty quick yesterday, but then I realized the kids here all drive like theyre on crack. Seriously. So after a near miss with a red Miata, Id decided that slower was better.
At least until I got out of the parking lot.
Kimberlee pointed me down several streets, each wider and more stately than the last, until I pulled up in front of a huge white mansion.
Whoa, sweet. Our house was supernice, but this was the kind of house you see on the home-design shows my mom watches. The feature homes.
Turn down that little road over there. Itll take you to the beach, Kimberlee said, clearly not impressed.
Are you sure nobodys going to arrest me for being here? Because I was most definitely not sure.
Nah. Theres a gate. Ill tell you the code.
I pulled onto the drive on the right side of the house and stopped next to a keypad.
Eight-six-four-two-two, star.
I punched in the numbers, then my finger hovered over the star. I closed my eyes and pushed, expecting flashing lights and cops with their guns drawn. I could almost hear the megaphone. Step out of your car with your hands up! But all I actually heard was the quiet whir of the gate sliding open. So far, so good.
The road sloped sharply before ending in a ten-space parking lot in front of a gorgeous white beach, surrounded on both sides by tall cliffs. Whoa! I said as I climbed out of my car, feeling more like I was on a movie set than what was essentially someones backyard.
Kimberlee glared at the foamy green waves. Youll excuse me if I dont share your enthusiasm.
Why? Cause you died here?
Lets just get to the cave.