#i need figure out how to draw miles and madeline... and deal with the hell of colorpicking from live action

[tickfleato]

little guy

[wasted-my-time]

A Friend From the Other Side

Part two: Presentations

Warning: One little swear word in English and a slightly bigger one in French.

-------------------------------------------------------

My eyes flutter open as I start to remember my weird dream: Steve Clark's ghost needed my help to take a physical form and he walked out of my mirror... My brain has strange ideas.

-I was starting to worry about how much time it would take for you to wake up. You scared me a lot, you know. I hear a voice on my left.

-Tabarnak! C'est toi qui a peur!? I scream as I jump out of my bed, English now out of my reach because of the surprise.

Steve is sitting by the bed on the chair from the desk, legs crossed and looking slightly amused by my fear.

-What did you just say? He chuckles, his smile growing bigger across his face.

-It was French, and Québécois slang. You could translate it to... To "Fuck! You're the one to be scared?!". I answer unsure of what the hell of a conversation this is.

-Sorry about that, but I had to draw your attention. He chuckled. So, what's your name?

-Antoine, but my nickname is Billy.

-Why? He asked, puzzled by the absurdity of it.

-My uncle, who is also my boss, started calling me like that because it was miles away from my real name and now everyone calls me like that in my town.

-Yesterday, you said you were here for a student exchange, how long will you stay?

-Until mid-December. But enough about me! You, how come you're like that?

-Well, it's like in the stories, sometimes when someone dies in a tormented state of mind they... Stay.

-Was it long, all that time?

Am I asking too much?

-It passes fast... But what year are we?

-2022, we're in late August.

-Good Lord! I thought it was something like 2005, at most!

-And what happened exactly, with the mirror and everything?

-I'm not sure. All I know about that kinda' stuff is what I heard in movies or stories. He deadpans.

-What? They don't sign you up to Ghosts 101 when you die?

-If only... But some things simply feel like they're going to work...

-Antoine, who are you talking to? I hear Mrs Rogers voice through the door.

Out of panic, Steve disappears into thin air and I see the chair being transported back to the desk. I desperate search for some excuse and grab my cellphone, just to make it look like something normal.

-Can I come in?

-Of course, I was calling my mother on Messenger, I was speaking English to, you know, maintain the habit.

-Could I talk to her? It would be nice to know her a bit.

-... She just hung up, she had to go, you know...

-Oh alright, do you want to eat lunch with us?

-Sure, I'll be there in no time. Thank you!

She turns around and closes the door as she leaves the room. Steve reappears besides the left closet, letting out a long sigh of relief.

-Do think she can see you?

-No idea.

-Let's find out. Just disappear and wait to be with them to show yourself.

-No... How would you react if some guy just popped up out of nowhere in your kitchen?!

-Well there aren't sixty way to figure it out, and if you do it really fast maybe they won't even think something actually happened.

-Okay, but you do the explaining if I get caught.

-Sounds like a fair deal to me. I smile.

I get out of the room, still in my pajamas, and although I can't see him, I'm pretty sure Steve is following me.

-Do you need to walk on floors and stuff like that, like us? I whisper to him.

-No. An eerie voice answers me. But I'd rather stay with you.

Oh, that's kind of sweet, should I tell him?

Nah...

-Well thanks!

Everyone is down in the kitchen, we couldn't have picked a better (or worse) time to try this.

-Good morning young man. Mr. Rogers greets me with a amused smile.

-This is rather early in Québec.

-I hope you don't mind quiche for breakfast. Madeline comments

Right at this moment, Steve pops up, to everyone's indifference, and we just stare awkwardly at each other. He then leaves only to start flashing like a Christmas light, unsuccessfully attempting to get their attention.

-Antoine, Antoine? If you really don't want to eat that, we have cereals, you know. She snaps me out of the focus I maintained not to burst in laughters.

-No, it's fine, I was just wondering what was "omelette" in English, but it's the same isn't it?

-Yes it is, little daydreamer. Nathalie chuckles.

-Good appetite, see you later. I hear Steve's voice in my head.

Thank you. I think back at him.

-------------------------------------------------------

Sorry it took so long, that part wasn't in the original text from school. Next part coming up God knows when...