acked a small bag with my brush, hair product, and makeup and stuffed it in my nightstand drawer by the window. When I was finally ready with a

ked when a commercial

won't let me go to that party." I crossed

r to me, maybe even more of a father than my real one was. He was at all of my recitals when I was growing up. He helped my mom with all of my decorations and birthday parties. He was always th

t the room, "She's probably just telling me good night." Sam's atten

stomach got tighter if that were even possible. I br

down the hall, hoping I d

I quickly slipped my flats on and quietly slid the window open. This was the first and only time I was grateful our apartment was on the first floor. I reached into the nightstand and pulled out m

Callie winked,

y bag out so we could start getting ready. Callie pull

s so incredibly bad," I said, looking

?" Callie asked, layering

blew out a loud puff

Callie asked, shoving the mascara bottle back into my

," she pointed out, which still didn't make me feel any better at all, so

ave me the stare. It's a little

the last-minute touches on her face

n my bag, brushed it onto my lashe

rents. It's what they did to their parents and their parents before them. You can't just make it easy on

dad, why should he

l Sam. We do this one fun, crazy night and then it's done. When he doesn't approve

*

was still as huge as I remember it being when I was a kid. A towering two-story brick building with a huge pool with a waterfall in the back, which I was positive was completely full righ

l?" I shrugged and followed her into the house. Kids were everywhere here too. Everyone had a beer. I won

ed out onto the big wooden patio. As I assumed, kids were everywhere, the pool was so cro

ed, still scanning the crowd. But

ad with squinty green eyes glaring at us f

?" Cal replied to her sister. Leah was in the same grade Nathan was and they never liked each other, though I gu

He is going to Yale." She stuck her nose up in the air. I shook my head a

second bedroom window. At first, all I saw was Collin, throwing his hands

too loudly to Callie, causing her

Cal replied excitedly, "Well, all I can see is his back but... h

Leah cut in. "Hi

the first to answer, "His name i

o go pick him up right after the game." Leah replied hotly. Well, that explained where the beer came from. But I knew that was him

-pressed up against the glass, his gaze was fixed on me. I knew it was him. I had to see him, I had to

Callie cal

nally ask him all the questions I have been holding on to. Why was it he was sometimes invisible, how was that even possible? How was he the brother of a boy I have known since we were in diapers when I'd been told he was an on

er if I were you," Came

face him. "What..

stopped the party and dashed for any door they could get to when they saw him. He was in his po

I'm so sorry. Please don't be mad at her

ulling me to the front door. "The point is she di

Half because I didn't know what to say and half because there were a bunch of drunk screaming teens running to their cars, trying not to get busted fo

Jamie," Sam sighed, turnin

am looked over at me and

as I was crying because I lied to him. I lied to Sam, the person who has always been there for me, always honest with me, and the one time he asked me not to do something, I did it anyway. And for wha

*

r apartment complex. I had stopped crying, so

ind of just learning as I go here." We met at the front of the car, and I stared at the ground wallowing in self-pity. When I finally looked at him, his face was a variety of things, worry the most do

His arms went awkwardly around m

s I righted myself in front of him. I nodded as he wiped away a tear rolling

niffed. "I didn't even want

d you?" Sam

for the night," I replie

em?" Sam asked wearily as we

lly cared what I did. My mother was a hard sleeper, so she never knew. The only guilt I felt when I snu

?" Sam asked, turning

" I followed him i

upstairs." He threw his jacket and ke

w someone I kne

ed and he pressed on, "What i

smiled. "Why

talked about football, cheer, fishing, what he did at his job, what I did at school, but we have never, ever talked about b

long awkward silence until I realized he was

ry about Sam," I replied. "I don't even know the

put the beer on the coffee table

." Everyone knew Collin didn't have a brother, well, everyone e

oment looking like he was battling thoughts in his head until one fin

asn't expe

hand, fingering a silver band around his ring finger. He always fingers that ring when he is in deep thought. I never heard him talk ab

of my own will," I replied. "But I can also honestly tell you Callie still has a

he couldn't see the boy she's been dreaming of for the last ten years? I guess I'll just write what Sam said and see where the chips land. I wrote, "Callie. We cannot see Collin. Sam says he has been in a lot of trouble with the police lately." I sat there staring at my phone, about to push send when I heard a small tapping at my window. Throwing my phone beside me, I ran to the window and pushed the curtains aside, expect

glared. "What do you want from

ooked confused. "I came here to

m tired, it's late, and I do not want to play stupid games with you. I will as

g his hand through his messy black hair. "H

of me. I have contacts, which thankfully

me?" he continued, br

." I hissed, beginning to push t

s. I have questions." He pushed h

l Sam?" I hissed gl

He replied, no

ficer; I'm sure he

he hissed. "I need to

or whatever your name is," I grow

Aiden's name?"

ew my hands in the air exasperatedly. "

me was Aiden?" Staring at

e?' You said..." I pronounced as if a dr

he said flatly. "I don't know how you ev

. "Why do you keep referring to yourself a

ed look crossed his

that he was on the break of a laugh

a ghost," He shrugged. "Did your fri

he TV volume go down to nothing and I whispered, "Otherwise you would not have known

ed slightly. "You are always every

nywhere with this," I sighed. "So le

called from down the

ie," his right

ed him to the window. Even through his leather

t willingly through it this time

ugh the door right as

hide the high-pitched tone c

the boy in my room either. He opened the blinds and scanned the yard. When satisfied he looked back into my room, looking e

he was finished with his search.

be trusted. Believe me when I say I have seen my fair share working at the station. If someone is

ng. "Good night, Jay." Sam walked to the door and right befo

t in my day clothes, but tonight, I was okay with it. I shut my phone off and laid my head on the pillow. I wasn't even going to take out my contacts. I just laid there staring at my poster-covered wall of all things ch