The Cold of December

“Are you sure you’re going to be all right?”

“Mom,” I sighed as I stretched out on the couch.  “I’m just going to drink water and sleep all day.  Don’t worry.  Instead of getting whatever you guys had I just got a cold.”

“Well, I’ll come check in on you after I get everyone to school,” my mother explained for the fifth time.  “I’ll be at the store and a few other errands, but I’ll have my cell phone.  Call me if you need anything.  I’ll get you some soup and pudding.”

My laugh turned into a cough as I bid my mother farewell.  I had been feeling miserable when getting the sixth and seventh hours, and I was absolutely no help when getting the eighth last night.  This morning I could hardly get up.  My mom took one look at me and ordered me to stay home from school, something I would have asked for anyway.

I was asleep within minutes and stayed in that state for a while, only briefly waking up when my mom came home after dealing with my siblings’ school absences.  I think she tried to hold a conversation with me, but I doubt I was completely coherent.  It was something about she needing to go into work and to call her if I needed anything.

It wasn’t until some time later that I felt a cool hand on my forehead.  I blinked my eyes open and found myself staring at both nothing and something at the same time.  Chaz was sitting on the floor next to the couch and even in my half dazed mind he somehow seemed clearer to me.  I had noticed that lately.  He remained the spectral, but it was as if was gaining more definition.  I no longer had to do double takes to find him.

“You found an hour?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said quietly.

“But if we don’t go now, won’t we lose it?”

“I’d rather lose an hour than you,” Chaz said quickly.

I closed my eyes, wondering if he was aware of what he said.  I blame being sick since my mind is being a stereotypical girl.  Rarely do I over analyze what guys say since I hang out with a lot of them and know that half the time they, like me, just speak without thinking.  But I find myself wondering if he had actually meant to say that out loud.

Having a crush on a Ghost was probably the weirdest crush I’ve ever had.  Blaming my confusion on my cold only worked so much.  I had always thought that the kind of guys I liked would be tall, dark, and handsome.  Not invisible.  But it wasn’t really Chaz’s looks that I enjoyed in the first place.  I just enjoyed being around him.

Of course, he might have made that comment since I was the only person who could safely touch a corrupted hour.  And I was back to over analyzing again.  In the end, it was just easier to assume that he felt nothing and that we would just always be friends.  That view of mine was probably why I never had a boyfriend.

“So, how did you get in?” I asked when I opened my eyes again.

“Waited for your mom and snuck in after her,” Chaz said honestly.  I laughed and so did he.  “That makes me sound like a thief or something.  Well, uh, if you need anything just let me know.  Um, want a glass of water.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I told him.  “I’m actually feeling much better than I’m sure I look and sound.  All thanks to my mom’s famous water cure.  It’s simple.  Drink water, get sleep.”

“Simple,” Chaz observed.

“What does your mom suggest for cold remedies?” I asked.

“I don’t have parents,” Chaz answered.  “Ghosts aren’t like humans.  We don’t grow up in families.  It looks nice though.”

“So, how did you grow up?”

“I was told the situation and came and found you.”

“Wait, what?” I said with surprise.  “You mean to tell me that you just suddenly exist?”

“Yep,” Chaz nodded.  “We are born, in essence, with all the knowledge we need.”

“Wow.”  Not the best response, but I kind of wish I could just know everything.  “Tell me.”