I sat up in bed. I couldn’t fall asleep because the spirits were talking. I looked over and saw a woman and a man fighting about how the woman was looking at a guy when really she wasn’t. I looked at the clock, it was 12:37. The fighting started around 11. I wish I could tell them to shut up, even though I knew I couldn’t. My Aunt Gwen would most likely kill me if I did.

When I turned 13 (three years ago) my Aunt Gwen told me about the gift. The gift was the ability to see, hear and interact with ghosts, or as I call them spirits. My Aunt told me that she also had the gift and it had to be kept secret. My own mother didn’t even know about it. The gift had to be kept secret because it was dangerous letting people know about this. They might think we’re crazy and would lock us up or do tests on us.

Also the spirits couldn’t know either. I never understood why they couldn’t because all she told me was because it was dangerous and there were bad spirits. So I had to act normal while spirits walked, talked and stared at me. I turned on the lights hoping it would make them go away but nothing happened. All they did was look at me.

I stood up and walked out of the room. I walked downstairs into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water. A spirit dressed up like a chef walked into the kitchen and was humming the hound dog song by Elvis. This chef guy liked to hang out in my kitchen so every time I was in here so was he. I groaned and he stared at me. I was looking at a picture hanging up and he walked directly in front of it. He stood there and waited to see if I would notice. I finished my glass and turned away to put it in the sink.

“I swear, sometimes I think that girl can see us!” I turned back around to leave and saw another man was talking to the chef. I went into the family room and shut the doors. I took out some ear plugs and put them in. I smiled. Silence.

I lay down on the couch hoping to get some sleep when the house shook. I sat up and looked out side. Lightning flashed right outside and more thunder shook the house.

“Life does not want me to sleep!” I shouted. I took a pillow and put it over my head. I took out the ear plugs and threw them somewhere.

“Why do you think she can’t sleep?”

“I don’t know… you should ask her.” A group of people started to laugh. I lifted the pillow off my head and put it under me. A group of spirits that looked like they just came from the 70’s were standing there. They were all staring at me with eyes filled with wonder. I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep which I already knew was an impossible task to do.

“Well, what do you guys want to do?”

“Have any of you haunted in awhile?”

“Oh I did the other night!”

“Oh really? How was it?”

“Who did you haunt?”

“The lady who lives in my house.” I groaned. Life hates me.

“What’s with her?”

“Maybe she’s sick.”

“Ew. I hope she doesn’t throw up on me.”

“Why? It’s not like it’s going to hit you.” They all burst out laughing as another boom shook the house.

“C’mon lets go. I don’t like seeing people get sick.”

“But you we’re a doctor?”

I opened my eyes to see them gone. I sighed. Maybe I can sleep now. I closed my eyes and felt myself drift off to sleep.

“Jess, Jess! Wake up honey we have to go to Katie’s recital. C’mon don’t make me drag you out of bed.” I sat up and looked at my mother’s face. She has just taken a shower so her face was still a little wet.

“What time is it?” I stretched. I yawned and started to stand up.

“Its 12:05 and we have to leave at 1. So go upstairs and take a shower and get ready.” I looked outside. The houses we’re bursting with energy as a group of surfer boys hoped into a jeep. I looked up at the California light that was blinding me. “Honey?” I turned to my mother. “Why are you asleep down here?” She pointed to the couch that I slept on last night. “Did you have trouble sleeping again last night?” I nodded. My mom knew I had trouble sleeping but she didn’t know why.

“I’m going to go get a shower.”

“Okay. You’re the last one up there so please make the bathroom look nice incase we invite family over.”

“Yes mom.” I walked upstairs into my room where the couple was hugging. Oh great. They’re still here. Unfortunately for them, I knew how to get rid of them. I started to sing loud and obnoxiously. They glared at me and disappeared. Hallelujah. I started to sing normally when my dad popped in.

“What was that?”

“Oh nothing.”

“If your going to sing, sing like you just were not the loud obnoxious version please.”

“Okay.” I smiled at him and waited until he went downstairs. I grabbed my clothes and makeup and went into the bathroom. Thankfully no spirits were in here. I took a nice long shower and when I got out I looked out the window and the 70’s group were standing by my pool.

“If only we had pools like these when we were kids.”

“Boy would I have been happy.” I quickly got dressed and did my makeup. I started blow drying my hair in my room when a doctor came in. The man from the 70’s group came in with him.

“Is this the girl?”

“Yes, she never seems to sleep at night.” Are you kidding me? The doctor started to examine me.

“I don’t know she looks pretty fine to me.”

“Okay. Well, thank you doctor.”

“It’s no trouble. I think it’s nice that you’re looking out for this girl.” The 70’s guy nodded. He reminded me a lot of Eric from that’s 70’s Show. They walked out and I was left to blow dry my hair in peace.

“Jess? Are you ready?”

“Yes.” I fixed my outfit real quick (it was a white denim mini skirt and a pink tang top). I check my make up and my hair and walked downstairs.

“Couldn’t you have worn something nicer?” I rolled my eyes.

“Mom, it’s 90 degrees outside. I’m not going to wear a dress!” She sighed. I didn’t see what the big deal was. It’s not like it’s my recital. At my recitals I do wear a dress but it’s not so can we leave it be? Of course for my mom… we can’t. I walked outside and hopped into what was soon to be my car. When I got my license I’ll get this silver Mercedes. My mother and Father got in and started to drive. I looked out the window at all the houses that were being built. I turned to see a red head spirit sitting in the car next to me. She was staring out the window and was smiling. She was wearing renaissance clothing so I was guessing she never rode in a car before.

I quickly turned to look out the window before she saw me staring at her. We pulled into the parking lot and I got out quickly. I saw my Aunt Gwen and walked over to her.

“Boy you look tired.” My Aunt Gwen knew me better then anybody, including my own mother. “Is the couple still fighting?”

“Yup. The 70’s group came back too.”

“Aren’t they annoying? They were at my house a couple of nights ago.” She smiled and we started walking towards the place of the recital. My older sister Katie was playing the flute. I thought the flute was rather boring but I never told her that. I played the piano and sang. Katie tried to sing but couldn’t sing a note. I took my seat next to Aunt Gwen and listened as the guy introduced himself. The first girl was playing The Swan which I liked. When she started to play a couple spirits showed up. The boys and girls spirits started to dance. I tried not to watch them but it was hard. Most of the spirits were beautiful.

My eyes then wondered over to a guy standing in the corner. He looked around my age and looked like Chad Michael Murray. He was a spirit and was looking at me. My eyes darted over to the player who now finished. She stood up and bowed and walked to her seat. The Chad Michael Murray spirit got up and walked over to me. He was staring at me with blue eyes and my heart was racing. Kate stood up and started playing her song. The Chad spirit sat down next to me and was facing me. He was staring at me with eyes filled with some emotion I wasn’t quite sure of. My Aunt Gwen took notice and stared at me.

“Your sister is doing quite nice isn’t she?” She was trying to distract me from the beautiful soul sitting next to me.

“Yes she is.” The spirit stood up and stood in front of me. He bent down and brought his face inches from mine. My heart was racing as I tried so hard to focus on my sister.

“What’s your name?” He asked me. My heart raced and felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. I looked down at my hands and watched as his hands touched mine. Oh boy. I looked up to see my sister finish so I freed my hands from his and started to clap.

“Jess!” I turned my head towards my mother who was sitting in front of me.

“So your name’s Jess?” The spirit said. He’s an angel. I know he is. He sounded like one.

“Come get in the picture with Katie.” I stood up and bit my lip. I walked to the back of the room where my mom and sister were waiting. The Spirit followed me and stood next to me in the picture. When my mom was taking the picture his hand was on my arm. I tried so hard to look normal.

“Come and look at it and see if you like it.” I walked over and sure enough, he followed. I looked at the camera’s screen and saw my face. I looked good in the picture and so did Katie. I looked at where he was standing in the picture. Of course they couldn’t see him in the picture. But I can. He was staring at me with his hand on my arm. He looked like an angel and I felt a hand on mine. I looked down and saw his hand touching mine. It looked like he wanted to hold my hand but he knew he couldn’t. We sat down and listened to the rest of the recital.

The whole time he was staring at me and was touching my hair, my hands or my arms. During one of the slow songs on the piano he touched my cheek.

“You’re beautiful you know that?” His voice was music itself and sent my heart racing. I looked down at my hands which he now held in his. When the song was over everyone stood up and started to exit the building. Right next to me the spirit stood his ground. He was watching every move I made. I stood perfectly still because I felt his arm slide around my waist.

“Jake!? What are you doing to that poor girl?” I watched as an old red head woman walked over and took his arm away.

“Calm down mother, it’s not like she can see us or something.” I smiled. He doesn’t know how wrong he is.

“I don’t like you hanging all over that human.” She stared at me in disgust. My hands turned into fists as I tried to focus on my sister getting a lot of compliments.

“Jess!? I turned to my Uncle Jim. “Why didn’t you sing?”

“I have my recital next weekend.” He smiled.

“You sing?” Jake said. He walked over to me smiling.

“I love it when you sing.” My uncle said.

“Why thank you.” I bit my lip. I tried so hard not to look over at Jake. He was perfect. He looked just like Chad Michael Murray. I tried to focus on my tall blonde uncle. I got most of my looks from my mom’s side of the family. I had nice blonde hair, blue eyes and was naturally skinny and tan. My sister Katie was like my father. They had nice dark hair, green eyes and were very athletic.

“How about we go back to our house?” My mother said. Everyone nodded and we all climbed into our cars. I climbed into my sister’s car. I had to sit in the back because her friend who came to the recital sat in the front. I sat down and buckled my seat belt. Jake climbed in the other side and sat down next to me. I put my hand on the seat and he laid his down on me. My heart went racing as we drove back to our house.