Chapter 15: Ghost Kiss

The next morning was silent as we prepared to leave at dawn. Our "friends" had horrible hangovers which made loading them in the car a nuisance. Paris's family was surprised at how early we were departing and insisted we stayed for breakfast. But Nolan being Nolan was obstinate about leaving.

I was praying he was leaving this breakup.

"I'll keep up with your progress," Paris whispered to me as I went to thank him for letting us stay. I nodded. "Remember to win over his heart, okay?"

"I'll try my best."

He simply nodded, gazing back with an expressionless look. I trudged back to the car where Nolan and the others waited.

¤》¤《¤

I was the last one to be dropped off since the other three weren't feeling well. We were outside my house in Nolan's car when he brought up his verdict about the sixth breakup.

"We'll leave Ruth for now, but when her parents find her a guy, we'll break them up."

I blinked at Nolan. "Okay."

I kept my mouth shut and opened the car door.

"Hey, Helen?" I turned back. "I have my reasons for doing these breakups, you know?" Was he telling me this or himself? "Blackmailing you is only a last resort because I know no one would help me otherwise." Why was he telling me this?

"Okay." I shrugged and moved to get out of the car.

However, Nolan's cold hand on mine stopped me. A psycho was touching me!

"Hold on," he said. He quickly removed his hand when he saw me eyeing it. My hand sanitizer was in my pocket. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

"Okay."

"Quit saying okay, okay?!"

"Okay." When he gave me a glare, I continued calmly, "Nolan, if you really were sorry about dragging me into this mess, you'd stop blackmailing me. Actions speak louder than words, after all."

His face was rigid and his cold eyes turned away from me.

I exhaled loudly, seeing my breath turn into a mini cloud before disappearing. Hugging my coat closer, I got out of the car and slammed the door shut behind. I had a little bit of a break for now. Hopefully, Princeton will send the acceptance (or rejection) letter soon.

I proceeded to the front steps when I heard, "Helen!" What did that maniac want out of my life now?! I turned around, masking my irritation. Nolan was half out of his window. "Fine," he yelled. Fine what? "You and I are done. Don't help me if you don't want to. I won't give the photos to anyone."

Was I hearing things? Was it April Fools' Day? Wait, it was the starting of February.

"What's the catch?" I asked.

"No catch. You're 'released' from my personal problems."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!" he said exasperated. He went back into his car abruptly and drove away just like that.

I blinked rapidly, trying to understand what made Nolan change his mind all of a sudden. Who cared?

Dobby--Helen is free!

I went home, content, for the first time since New Years'. First, I took a long shower, enjoying the hot water cool down my body. More than half of my stress washed away (along with Nolan's germs on my left hand). Then, I treated myself to homemade blueberry pancakes. My parents returned around noon from their night out. I was watching an old Hilary Duff movie "Cadet Kelly" when Mom sat down next to me.

"How was the Amish celebration?" she asked.

"Fantastic," I smiled.

Nothing could spoil my mood.

She smiled. "I can tell. Maybe you should spend more time with friends."

"Yeah . . . no," I said, shaking my head. "In the future, don't ever say 'yes' to anything my friends suggest." This was serious stuff. "They got drunk and all that nonsense. Disgusting!" Of course, Nolan and I were the reason why that happened but Mom didn't know. And I needed to warn her for the future.

Better safe than sorry.

She chuckled, ruffling my hair. "Okay." I didn't know why, but I ended up laughing pretty hard at the "okay." Maybe it was because that was the word that got Nolan to let me go. Mom gave me a genuine concerned glance. "Are you okay, dear?" I began laughing all over again. "Helen, what happened to you?" I made myself quiet down slowly. "You wanted to talk about something yesterday . . . something about catching up."

Yes, yesterday I wanted to tell her all about Nolan's blackmailing. But today, since the problem willingly left my life, I wasn't going to drag it back in.

"Catching up?" I feigned not recollecting anything. "It was probably--oh yeah!" I acted as if I remembered. "When is my Princeton letter coming?"

She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Within the next two weeks," she replied. We spent the next hour casually talking. My mind was stuck on getting my freedom back. Mom brought up Nolan but I easily moved the conversation into a different direction.

Nolan and I were finally done. I didn't have to bother with Paris's scheme.

No need to jinx it.

¤》¤《¤

I was in my room, making flashcards for my AP exams in May. Mom had given my phone back. It suddenly vibrated which nearly gave me a heart attack. Only my parents, my sister, and Nolan had my number. Was Nolan calling back to change his mind?

Was my happiness only for a few hours?

I checked the text message and found it from an unknown number.

You alive?
--Paris of Troy

I grinned. His number had erased from my palm and I had completely forgotten about Paris ever since I got the good news. Putting my index cards aside, I added his number in my contacts. Thank god it wasn't Nolan.

Hello to you too. I have shocking news to give you, partner.
--Helen of Sparta

I sent the text. He responded back with a call.

"Hello," I heard Paris say.

"Hey."

"What's the news? You and Nolan got together?"

"Quite the opposite," I said smugly. "He officially let me go! I am a free bird in this country. Finally."

"What do you mean?" He sounded confused as expected. I quickly informed him about what Nolan said this morning.

"I don't have to do what you said! Nolan went his way and I mine!"

"Happy to know how often you put others before yourself." My excitement died at his words. "I'm not trying to make you feel bad (maybe I am), but did you know not pay attention to anything we discussed? Helen, the goal was to help Nolan get over this issue. We don't want him to continue through revenge breakups throughout his life." I could hear his disappointment. "I can understand your happiness, but prioritizing yourself so much . . . is vain."

Even my parents never scolded me. "Why are you so concerned about Nolan?"

"I've always learned to help other people. Sorry if my concern bothered you." His bitter tone struck me.

"Paris--"

"Since your issue resolved, I don't think you need my help anymore, partner. Goodnight."

He hung up on me, just like that.

My happiness deflated and I laid down on the bed on my stomach. Paris volunteered to drag himself in mine and Nolan's business when I needed his help. Now, Nolan's situation was similar to mine and I stepped out.

But I preferred minding my own business. Why would I help Nolan when he made my life miserable?

What was the right thing?

No matter how hard I tried to ignore what Paris said, I couldn't. My whole weekend was spent contemplating what was right and what was wrong. I was selfish and vain--according to Nolan and Paris. But did I care? Not much. The one friend I made . . . was disappointed with me. Did I care? Unfortunately so.

Seeing me stressed gave Mom reassurance that I was back to normal. Always had that parental support, didn't I?

On Monday, I decided to check how Nolan behaved. If he acted okay, then I'd just enjoy my freedom. If he wasn't fine, then there was always me popping up to help a friend out, right? As usual, Monday dragged, giving me an unnecessary headache. Nolan acted like he didn't know me which made my life easier. Nevertheless, I wondered how he was proceeding with his revenge. Was he completing the last breakup by himself?

My thoughts of having permanent freedom disappeared when Nolan didn't show up to school for the next three days. One of the teachers said that Nolan was at the hospital!

My parents were surprised to hear that too.

I was obviously allowed to go visit him. I had to check how his health was. Riding the local bus to the hospital where Nolan was admitted was a journey of: Should I help him or should I not?

The hospital was the biggest one in Maryland. I had to wait a long time to go visit Nolan on the second floor. He was lying on a bed watching TV when I entered. I think seeing me gave him a shock.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Nolan asked.

I examined him. He had a blanket wrapped around him. His normally pale body appeared even paler. I saw dark circles under his green eyes. His dark hair really stood out.

Damn it.

I had to help this idiot.

"You look like a ghost," I stated.

"Why are you here?" he reiterated.

I pulled up a chair from the side and sat next to his bedside. "I could ask you the same thing." He clenched his teeth and tore his gaze from mine. "What happened, Nolan?"

"I accidentally took the wrong medicine," he replied. "It didn't work well with my body. Ta da. I'm here." He didn't know I knew about his stress cardiomyopathy and I didn't want to bring it up. Was it the medicine he consumed for his heart issue? "Why're you here again?"

"I was concerned--"

"Don't lie."

"I'll help you with the breakups," I told him.

"Helen, can you stop with the lying?"

Why didn't he believe me? As they did in the movies, I grasped both his hands in mine (don't worry, I carried hand sanitizer) and held his gaze.

"I'm dead serious. I figured that I might as well help make your life easier. We're friends, after all." I was a great liar. "If you don't want me to help or meddle in your business, I'll leave." I stood up, dropping his cold hands.

"You really want to help?" I nodded and forced a smile. "Helen, if you think I took that wrong medicine on purpose, then you're wrong. It was an honest, idiotic mistake. Don't think it was because of y--"

"That never crossed my mind."

We had a silent (and for me, akward) staring game. Nolan was to check my motive behind helping him. He needed all the help in the world. He ran a hand through his hair and sat back, breaking the ice.

"You sure about helping me?" I nodded, smiling. Progress. I had to keep this up. "We'll discuss the next breakup at school tomorrow. I'll be discharged in a few hours."

"Sounds good." Definitely not.

A tall, dark-haired doctor stepped inside the room. Seeing me, she extended her hand and introduced herself as "Dr. D'Italia."

"Helen, Nolan's--"

"Girlfriend. Heard a lot about you," the doctor said smiling. I looked at Nolan, who gave an embarrassed, boyish smile. "He said you'd be visiting sometime." That jerkface knew I was gonna come? He even talked to the doctors about it. Nonetheless, I smiled.

This was going to help me become his actual girlfriend.

"Sorry, but I have to head home, now," I announced.

"So soon?" I knew Nolan said it on purpose. He even captured my hand in his.

The doctor smiled at us and starting writing something on the clipboard in her hand. She muttered something about checking Nolan's heart rhythms. I got a great idea from that.

"Sorry, but yes." I internally mustered up all my courage. I bent down gave Nolan's cold cheek a swift kiss. A ghost kiss. He completely froze. "See you tomorrow, boyfriend." Nolan stared at me as if he couldn't believe what I had just done.

I couldn't either.

I bid goodbye to the doctor who was preparing her stethoscope. I wonder how his "heart rhythms" were now, eh?

I hurried out of there. As soon as I stepped out of the hospital, I texted Paris.

Can we talk? Nolan's in the hospital.

I crossed my fingers and waited at the bus stop.

¤》¤《¤

A/N

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