Free See Me by Susan Hatler Page A

realization sunk in. The photo from the article appeared in my mind. I could see him with his emerald green eyes, his dark hair, flashing that dimpled smile. The zombie wasn’t evil. He was just a teenage boy from a car accident.
    Jonathan Jacob Miller.
    And he was dead.
    ****
    I bit my lip, staring at Owen’s face. Well, Owen’s face that was now being used by Jonathan. I wasn’t sure if that was gross or cool. How had this bizarre situation happened, anyway? I needed answers. “If you died, then how are you able to be here?”
    He speared a hand through his hair. “I’m not exactly sure.”
    My tummy kind of did a flip-flop. Now that was weird—when Owen shoved his hand in his hair I usually just found it a bit annoying at how all the spikes went in different directions. When Jonathan did it . . . well, Owen’s hair had never looked better.
    “But you were killed in a car accident. And then suddenly you’re in my body. And now Owen’s. How did that happen?
    Then I remembered Nicole’s Ouiji board game. Chills ran through me.
    I whirled around, throwing my arms out. “We summoned your spirit through the Ouija board. Didn’t we?”
    His brows drew together. “No, of course not.”
    “It’s making sense now.” I snapped my fingers as it all came together—the planchette moving around the Ouija board and that feeling I’d had of being watched. “You’re a total ghost. No, a zombie. Or, a zombie-ghost. A zhost?”
    “Don’t be ridiculous.” He grunted then pushed off the counter, moving toward the hallway. “Are you always this insensitive? I feel sorry for your new boyfriend.”
    My brows shot upward. “Boyfriend?”
    He gestured toward his torso. “The guy whose body I’ve borrowed.”
    “Owen? Not even.” I laughed. I mean, Brynne sure thought he was hot, but I found him way too serious. Besides, I needed someone who didn’t worry about the monetary percentage he was saving on a cheeseburger. And someone who made me tingle, and not because a zombie was trying to inhabit my body. “He’s not my boyfriend—just a friend. Sort of. It’s none of your business, anyway.”
    “Whatever. Your busy love life doesn’t concern me.” He paused at the edge of the kitchen, slipped his hands into his pockets, and pulled out a set of keys. “These to Owen’s car?”
    If I said yes, he might drive off with Owen’s body, and that wouldn’t be good. Plus, I was still wondering what he meant by my busy love life. “No. They’re, uh, someone else’s keys.”
    Lying’s not my strong suit.
    His eyes narrowed. “This has been real, but I have things to do.”
    I stared blankly as he slipped out of the room, then I revved up a gear and charged down the hallway after him. “Hey, you said we were in this together.”
    “Change of plans.”
    “Why? Where are you going?” I grabbed his arm at the entryway, then blocked the front door with my arms. “You can’t just leave.”
    He gave me a side-glance. “Says who?”
    “Me.” I thrust my hands to my hips. “I know you’re having problems and all, but you’re being kind of rude.”
    “I’m being rude?” He threw me an incredulous look. “This from the girl who just dubbed me a zhost?”
    “Okay, you don’t like that term.” I lunged left, then threw my arms wide again so he couldn’t slip past me. “Noted for the record. I’ll just call you Jonathan.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “Brilliant idea, considering that’s my actual name.”
    “Could you cut me a small break?” I groaned, exasperated. “I get that you’re going through a tough time, but today hasn’t been a dream for me, either.”
    “How can you compare—”
    “I got pushed out of my body against my free will,” I reminded him. I dropped my hands to my sides. “I realize that’s not as bad as what you’re going through, but it was more than a little scary. On top of that, my English teacher gave me an F on my paper, my Government teacher gave me two weeks of