Free Tamsyn Murray-My So-Called Haunting by Tamsyn Murray

different I really was. But I preferred to think that he’d noticed me in spite of my off-the-wall behaviour, so I decided to change the
subject. ‘I think my career as a triple jumper may be over.’
    He grinned and held open the door to the main reception for me to half hop, half limp through. It was the first time I’d seen him smile and it changed his features from intense and
brooding to gob-stoppingly handsome. I’d never understood what the word ‘swoon’ meant before; I did now.
    ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ he said. ‘You could be the one everyone underestimates.’
    I nodded, picturing the scene at the regional competition. ‘Then I start my run-up and it’s hop, skip, jump and finish with a spectacular face plant in the sand.’
    We looked at each other and burst out laughing.
    ‘I was rubbish, wasn’t I?’
    Nico’s laughter slowed. ‘Yeah, but I bet you’ve got other talents, right?’
    I think that was the exact moment that I gave up fighting the attraction, although to be fair, it hadn’t been much of a fight. He was gorgeous. He was interested. I’d have to be dead
not to want to snog him, and I definitely wasn’t dead. ‘I do, as it happens.’
    It was his move. I waited, not daring to breathe. His lips parted. If this was a rom-com, he’d be about to ask me out.
    ‘Skye!’ a voice bellowed. My head jerked up and I stared wildly around the hallway. Dontay was watching us through heavily lidded eyes. And he did not look happy.

I did what any sensible person would have done. I froze.
    Nico stopped. ‘What’s the matter? Are you OK?’
    Unsticking my tongue from the roof of my mouth, I forced my lips to work.
    ‘I’m fine,’ I mumbled. What the hell was Dontay doing here? How did he even know which school I went to?
    Frowning, Nico said, ‘You’re shaking.’
    I was. In fact, I felt like I was about to have an out-of-body experience at any second. I could hardly back out of seeing the nurse without making Nico suspicious, but I couldn’t talk to
Dontay either. When he came over, I’d be forced to do something I’d never done before. In all my fourteen years, I’d never ignored a ghost. He’d understand, wouldn’t
he?
    ‘Delayed shock, I suppose,’ I said, dredging up a smile. ‘I’ll be OK in a minute.’
    There was nothing for it; I was going to have to face the music. With my eyes fixed straight ahead and my teeth firmly gritted, I leaned on Nico and limped towards the double doors.
    Dontay waited until we were through the doors and level with him before he spoke. He eyed my crumpled state impassively and got straight to the point. ‘What’s going on?’
    Pressing my lips together, I threw him an imploring look and concentrated on reaching the nurse.
    Dontay’s expression darkened. ‘Who’s this? You never said you had a boyfriend.’
    He sounded like he was accusing me of something, but I couldn’t work out what. Every one of my brain cells was screaming at me to reply. No one else even knew he was there, but for me he
was as real as the living, and ignoring him went against everything I valued. I could see the anger building inside him and squeezed my eyes closed, relying on Nico to lead me the last few metres.
Surely Dontay knew I couldn’t answer?
    ‘Can I ask you something?’ Nico said.
    Dontay stepped in front of me. ‘Don’t ignore me.’
    That was it. My resolve snapped. ‘Not now, OK?’
    Dontay shrugged and backed off. ‘Whatever.’
    He turned and slouched through the double doors. I knew he was hurt, but I couldn’t do anything to make it better.
    Beside me, Nico was staring at me in confusion. ‘Right. Sorry.’
    Crap. I’d forgotten Nico had asked me a question. He’d obviously thought I was answering him. I gave myself a mental slap – of course he had, who else was there? ‘No,
I’m sorry. My ankle is making me a bit crabby.’
    ‘Does it really hurt?’ he asked.
    Actually it was starting to ease off, but I couldn’t very well