Free Ghost Betweens by E. J. Krause Page B

again at the door, and he got the idea they might be making out right now if it were closed. The butterflies already flapping around in his stomach swarmed.
    The computer gave a ding announcing it was ready. They turned towards it, and she fired up her email. "I guess a simple message, huh?"
    "Yeah, tell him that it went off without a hitch. We walked around for five minutes and the ghosts couldn't see us. Not much more to say than that." He reached down and squeezed her hand. "At least that a teacher needs to know about."
    She leaned in closer to him, glanced over at the door, and then turned back to the computer. Wow, she almost kissed him despite the open door. The butterflies threatened to fly up his throat. Would he have the guts to lean over and plant a kiss on her next time they were alone?
    "There, sent," she said. "Should we send one to Kendra and Zach, too? See what happened to them?"
    "Yeah, good idea. You send one to Kendra, and I'll log onto my email and hit one to Zach."
    Before she even started, Mr. Baxter's reply came. "Excellent. That's exactly what I thought would happen. I'll explain tomorrow after school. I promise."
    "That's that," Josh said. "Guess there's nothing to do about the ghosts but wait."
    She nodded and typed before turning the computer over to him. Both their emails were basically identical. They steered clear of asking why they got in the fight and simply asked what the consequences would be. In-house suspensions, for sure. Who knew what else? Josh had never been in a fight, so he didn't know the protocol. Whisper had the same experiences at her old schools.
    As they waited for a reply, they got started on their homework. They both had Algebra 2 with Mr. Harris, and though they had it at different times, their classes were on the same lesson. They were able to check each others work, and give each other help on the tougher problems. Zach and Kendra were both a year behind him in math, so this was a treat to be able to share homework with someone. Plus, damn, she looked cute when she concentrated.
    Before they finished the entire assignment, and before any email reply from their friends, the doorbell rang. Whisper leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Figured we were safe enough for that. Can you stay after dinner to finish this? It's nice to have help and support."
    Though Whisper wasn't wearing any lipstick that he could tell, maybe clear lip gloss, he felt like she'd left a big lip print on his cheek. He managed to keep his voice under control when he said, "Yeah, we can finish. We should make this a daily thing. I liked the support, too."
    She smiled and ran her hand along his cheek. A knock on her doorframe brought out a gasp from both of them.
    "And that's why we want the door open, you two balls of hormones," her dad said. "Dinner's ready."
    "We weren't doing anything, Daddy. Just homework."
    "Yeah, looked like it," he called over his shoulder.
    "Good thing he didn't see you kiss me," Josh said in a low voice, bringing out a giggle in her.
    They shut their math books and headed out to the dining room.
    *****
    "Good recommendation, Josh," Mrs. Douglas said. "Funny name, but excellent pizza."
    "Yeah, it's better than those chain stores. Though I usually eat frozen pizza, so any delivery is great."
    "Frozen pizza isn't bad," Mr. Douglas said. "Anymore, anyway. You should have tried it when I was younger. You know that cardboard that comes underneath the crust to keep it in shape?"
    Josh had just taken a huge bite, so he could only nod. Whisper tried to hide a smile next to him. Had he looked stupid taking such a big bite, or was she just laughing at her dad's timing with the question?
    "That's what the pizza itself used to taste like. Cardboard. Smothered with toppings that did little to hide the wooden taste."
    Whisper turned to Josh. "Ask him about going to school. He used to have to walk uphill both ways. In the freezing snow one way, and desert heat the other."
    With a