Dark Angel Academy (The Complete Series) - G. Bailey
Chapter 1
“You have popcorn in your hair, did you know that?” the spirit I’m pretending I can’t see asks me for the fourth time, his form flickering in and out like a broken lightbulb. He continues to put his hand through my hair, even though we are both aware he can’t actually touch me. Between the gaping hole in his chest and the old-fashioned clothes, I suspect he has been here a long time and he has no intention of leaving anytime soon. I knew it was a bad idea to try this place when the cinema in our town was closed. New places always mean new ghosts.
But I wanted one date. Just one normal date where the weird fact I can see ghosts and talk to them doesn’t bother me, but of course, that didn’t happen. Finally, the movie, which I have no clue what happened in, finishes and the end credits roll down the screen. My poor date stares at me hopefully, and I’m pretty sure he is thinking I’m the worst date ever. Jordan O’Moran is a cute guy with messy red hair, blue eyes that pop, and soft looking lips. Not that I would know what they feel like, considering the ghost hasn’t left me alone, and touching someone else’s skin means trouble when a ghost is around. Sometimes they can see the ghost with me, and sometimes they just pass out. I stand up and tap the shoulder of Riley Becker, my best friend in the entire world and the only one who knows my secret.
Well, the only one that knows my secret and believes me. My therapist is proof of how crackers my mum and dad think I am. Currently Riley’s tongue is diving down Mandy Maguire’s neck, so he hasn’t noticed me. For a second, I’m jealous of Riley. He gets to be a normal eighteen-year-old. They both snap out of it at the same time, and Riley stands up, brushing a hand through his wispy blond hair that is all over the place, with questioning eyes.
“Code ten,” I whisper to him as we walk through the seats, and Riley looks back at me, nodding once.
“Wanna come back to mine, Riley? My parents work night shifts, so they won’t be home,” Mandy asks when we get outside. I think the only legit reason Riley asked her out is because she tells the entire school about her empty house and low standards. Riley towers over us both with his lanky six-foot form, and Mandy looks up at him so lovingly. That is until Riley talks.
“I can’t. I promised my bestie I’d stay over at hers while her parents are working away. Sorry, another time maybe?” he replies, and Mandy’s blue eyes flicker over to me, pure annoyance flashing in them. My mum always says eyes are the windows to the soul, and I’m certain Mandy’s soul is thinking of ways to get rid of mine.
“Can I come back to yours?” Jordan asks me, touching my arm. I practically jump away from him, and he looks so confused. Poor guy. For a moment, I actually forgot he was still here. I glance down the empty street outside the cinema, smelling the piles of rubbish by the side of the road, hearing nothing but very distant cars and an owl hunting somewhere in the nearby fields. Thankfully, the chill from the ghost is gone, and he isn’t following. Score.
About ten years ago, this town would have been full of people; the cinema would have dozens of people leaving it, but now there is no one but us. Most people live in the big cities these days, and only the rich get to live in the towns, with their kids, of course, like us. Fortunately, my mum and dad are saints with their dozens of charities and thousands of homes they have bought and given to people in need. When I turn twenty-one and finish college, I’m going to help them and hopefully set up my own charity with Riley. That’s the game plan anyway.
“Mandy, you live down Tuckers Lane, right? Why don’t you take Jordan back with you as he lives close by?” Riley speaks for me when I don’t say a word.
Mandy and Jordan look between me and Riley before they both blurt out the same question at the exact same time. “Is there something going on between you two?”
“Nope,” I say with a chuckle, and Riley sighs, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.