Ghost Kisses by H.L. Dyer (comprehension books .TXT) 📕

This story is still in the writing and editing process, thank you for your cooperation and patience.
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Tammy looked out of the car window, which was spattered with raindrops trailing across with the gravity of the moving Sedan. “We should be arriving there in a little while.” Her mother said, breaking the melancholy silence. Soon, they passed by a sign that said Blackwater 150 miles. Tammy continued staring out the window as she saw shrubs and other foliage pass by in a blur. Then, she began to remember what happened two days ago.

When Tammy’s mom knocked on her bedroom door, she told her to start packing her things. Right then, she knew that things have taken a turn for the worst. “I know this is difficult on you, but you must remember that the divorce is not your fault, it has nothing to do with you, sweetheart, okay?” Tammy already knew that though, her mom was telling this to a seventeen year old for crying out loud! But nonetheless, Tammy couldn’t help but feel like an anchor has dropped in her stomach. Once they loaded up their suitcases in the car, Tammy quietly said bye to her father, knowing that he was the cause of it. Her father squeezed her shoulder comfortingly before she ducked into the backseat. One final glance between her mother and father and then the black Sedan drove away.

Soon, the car slowed to a stop, jerking Tammy from her flashback. They pulled up in front of a grey-blue house and a wooden front deck that had posts to hold up the roof above it and to brace the fencing against. “Alright Tam, let’s get our things and take a look inside our new home.” Her mom said. Sluggishly, Tammy got out and got her suitcases from the trunk and walked up to the wooden front steps, splashing a little water in the process.
Dripping wet, Tammy set down her suit cases, examining her surroundings. In front of her was a winding staircase of wood and to her left was an antique dresser with a dusty mirror hanging above it. There’s a door a few feet away, most likely leading to the kitchen and another opening across the room which seems to open into a lounge room. A crystal chandelier twinkles above the balcony and the corridor that the stairs lead to fade into darkness. “Nothing to it, just some dusting...maybe a few refurbishes here and there....” Her mom nods, inspecting everything with Tammy. Then she looks at her daughter. “Oh, Tam, if you would like you can take your clothes and choose any of the rooms upstairs. Not the master bedroom though, you know the rules!” Tammy looked up at the smiling woman, she knows that beneath those rose colored lips and chalk-white teeth, she’s hiding the hurt that was gnawing deep from within. lifting her suitcases once more, she trods up the stairs, soles thudding against the steps beneath. Walking through the darkness, she looks at the long hall of doors. Her eye suddenly catches the third door on the left. She opens it and walk in the empty space. Rain patters against a window across the room, light thunder rumbling through the rolling monochrome of the sky. With a sudden inexpectancy, Tammy drops her suitcases as she falls to her knees and cries. Tears flowed, matching the falling raindrops pulled against the glass pane. After what seems like moments, she thinks to herself ‘Crying isn’t going to solve anything. What’s done is done....Mom’s out there being strong for me, the least I can do is be strong for her. Be strong....’

With a final shaky breath, she wipes her eyes and nose on her sleeve then starts unpacking her clothes.

Evening came and the rain finally stopped. The movers had arrived with the heavier furniture, so Tammy decided to be out of the way and sit on the steps in the spacious back yard of the house. A gray squirrel scampers across the lawn and up the willow tree a few ways off. ‘Maybe...living here won’t be so bad. I might make some new friends...maybe even meet a boy.’ Tammy thinks to herself, wind whipping against her mahogany colored hair. She shudders suddenly and then freezes. The feeling of being watched had heavily sunk on her. She looked up at the window that lets into her room, but no one was peering out of it. She just shrugged it off, dismissing it as a symptom of trying to get used to her new home. Starting to feel the nip of the autumn air, Tammy gets up to shower and change for bed.

Striding in her room with a towel, she dries her hair and then drapes the fabric on the back of a chair, over a heater. She then makes way to her writing desk and starts writing a story she had been working on. The hours tick by and soon she looks at the clock and it’s 11:38. Yawning, Tammy puts her notebook back in her drawer and turns her lamp off, retiring for the night under the covers.

Sunlight filters in through the window, casting a delicate light against the rug beside Tammy’s bed. She stirs and swings her legs over the bed. She then looks over at her desk. The drawer was open, and her notebook was laying on the desk. ‘That’s odd...I thought for sure I had put it away last night...’

She makes her way over to investigate and the notebook was open to the page where she had left off. She then put the notebook back in the drawer and closed it. Tammy then makes way to the door and noticed the towel she had dried off with had fallen to the floor. She picked it up, thinking it must have slid off of the chair while she was asleep and placed it in the laundry room.

Bare feet padded down the stairs and headed in the kitchen. “Hey, Tam. Eat your breakfast and then get ready for your first day of school.” Tammy’s mother said. “That’s today?!” Tammy groaned, biting into a granny smith apple. “Yes, now hurry up and get ready.” Her mom called from over her shoulder. The teen finished her last bite then tossed it in the garbage before bounding up the stairs once more and down the stairs once again, all changed. She waited by the bus stop not far from the house.

Tammy suddenly had that chilling feeling like she was being watched again. ‘New school angst....that’s all it is...’

She tried telling herself, but the feeling won’t go away as she looked nervously to the left and right. Suddenly, she hears a loud honk, jumping her from her state as she turns and sees yellow. She had somehow gone into the road without her realizing it and the bus had stopped inches from her face. Blushing, she climbed on, the bus driver giving her a nasty look. The feeling of eyes on her didn’t leave, but this time there were actual eyes on her. Staring, studying her up and down as she passed down the aisle. Not making eye contact with anyone, she picked an empty seat and sat down, bus driving off.

Classes came and went as if in a dream: fast and blurry. Unfamiliar faces laugh and gossip with their friends. Tammy sat at an empty table, away from the masses, mashed potato sticking to her mouth as it leaves a cardboard taste. Suddenly, a muscular guy about 6’8” walks over to the table. “Hey, there. You must be the new girl.” He says with a revolting smirk. Tammy wrinkled her nose as she smelt dog all over him. “It’s Tammy.” She corrects. “Well, since you’re new around here, maybe I could show you around the town sometime.” “No thanks.” “Y’know, I hear that there’s a movie playing at the Trion Cinema, maybe we can check it out?” The guy persisted. “Look, why don’t you go and take some little kid’s lunch money, I don’t want anything to do with you.” Tammy snaps, getting a little uneasy. “Huh? You’re going to regret that...!” The guy snarls. “Leave her alone!” A female voice says. The hulking guy turns around and inspects a girl about Tammy’s age with orange colored hair and a complementing blue t-shirt. “Hmph, whatever Ginger Root!” The bully grunts, walking away. The ginger shook her head. “Nick Butzcreak....He must’ve taking a particular liking to you to confront you so quickly.” “Yeah, well he can kiss my Butzcreak as cheesy as it sounds.” Tammy muttered miserably. The ginger giggled, “Erin Hawthorne.” “Tammy Sinclair.” The ginger then sat down.

“How do you like it here so far?” Erin asks. Tammy shrugs indifferently, “So far everything seems to be happening so quickly. I miss my friends back in Redwood Falls, I moved here only just yesterday so I haven’t really been exploring.” “If you don’t mind me asking, why did you move?” Erin asks. “My parents divorced. They tried to work things out, but dad was always away at work and didn’t really put the family first” “Oh I’m so sorry to hear that...” Erin says sympathetically, taking out a pen and writing on a napkin. “Here’s my number, add it to your mobile when you get the chance.” “Thanks.” Tammy sighs. Suddenly the lunch bell rings. “I look forward to getting to know you better.” Erin smiles.

Maple leaves blew across the air as the bus approaches the stop. Tammy strides out, walking slowly to her house. “So, how was school?” Tammy’s mom asks as the girl enters the house. “Went by fast, nothing to really say.” Tammy calls, pounding up the stairs. Plopping the backpack on the chair beside the door, Tammy makes her way over to her bed and buries her face in the pillows. She then glances over at her left hand, Erin’s number still folded within and adds her number to her cell phone. Suddenly, Tammy feels eyes on her again. “I’ve got to stop being so paranoid.” She mutters, getting up and digging out her homework. As Tammy’s day goes about her usual routine, that eerie feeling wouldn’t leave her. When the sun sets, Tammy retires to her room to write. A sudden chill against her shoulder causes Tammy to whirl around. “Must be the window...” She