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Teenage Ghost
During the year nineteen seventy nine at boy scout camp, two eight year old boys discovered they were from the same town. Jeffery and Evan were bunk mates at the beginning of camp. Two weeks later by the end of camp they were blood bothers.
When the boys returned home they found out they only lived five blocks from each other. They became inseparable.
All through middle school the pair could always be seen planning some sort of adventure for the coming weekend. Every weekend they would explore some place new. One time it was the abandoned house at the end of the lane, at night. Another time it was the forest on the outskirts of town.
Their favorite adventures however took place in Evan’s tree house. Evan’s Grandpa built it for them during the summer of eighty two. It had a wooden rope ladder to climb up, the door was a panel on the floor you had to push up to gain entry. Hand painted on the door in huge black letters “No Girls Allowed”. Once up in the tree house they would pull the ladder inside and place an old suitcase full of books over the panel.
They would travel to planets unknown facing fear and lack of oxygen to fight aliens never before seen, saving the human race before mission control recalled them for nourishment. Pirate the seven seas and plunder til the moon rose high into the sky and only the crickets remained singing their victory songs.
When the summer of nineteen eighty six started Jeff noticed his friend Evan becoming more distant. Spending more time with Celice, Janice, and sometimes Rachel, three girls from school. Jeff pleaded with Evan to spend more time with him.
Evan had simply found something that interested him more than aliens, rockets, and pirates. He also was having a hard time understanding why Jeff was not interested in growing up.
By the end of the summer of their fifteenth year Jeff and Evan had parted ways. Evan began to chase girls and pursue their interests as if they were his own. Jeff turned to books, having his imagination as his only friend.
The first year of high school defined the two of them in different ways. Jeff excelled in school, spending almost all his free time volunteering in the library. He soon made friends with the Audio/Video Club and joined. Evan found out girls like a bad boy, he began to hang out with smokers at the handball court in the back of the school. It wasn’t long til he was accepted into the group of local stoners.
And so this was how it went, for two years. Jeff didn’t speak to Evan, Evan didn’t acknowledge Jeff’s existence.
It was Valentines nineteen eighty eight. Jeff and the Audio/Video Club had a dance planned. “Techno Heart Beats”. It was sold out. The homecoming committee did the balloons, streamers, glitter, and ticket sales. The A/V Club did the lighting, music, and various other special effects. Most of the machines were donated by Greg’s dad, owner of “You Party Rentals”. He had a puppy crush on Ms. Flatmore, head chaperone to the dance.
It was also a memorable time of year because a troubled teen by the name of Vi Iamdoe transferring in from out of state somewhere. Her clothes and her attitude left nothing to the imagination. Her glare was like a razor, her touch was said to be like snow in late January. Her dark eyes were an endless soulless pit of despair. When she spoke her tone always hinted the tone, “Abandon all hope, Ye who enter here.”. You could feel the darkness radiating off her. Her flame of attraction rose like funeral pyre in an autumn gust.
The party started with much success. Revelers enjoyed themselves within their various cliches. Evan and his stoner friends congregated towards the back watching the scene.
Then in walked Vi.
It was like a vampire had walked into the room as a vacuum simultaneously sucked the air out. Everyone’s eyes turned. Time seemed to slow, and the music seemed to fade into silence. Jeff felt a ghost run over his grave, a cold chill ran up his back forcing the hairs on his neck to stand on end.
Vi said nothing, she stood just past the entrance. Her posture enforced the sharpness of her outfit. Evan had one look at her and the sirens call had been too strong.
All that night Evan and Vi could bee seen together, entwined as if lovers of ages past now reacquainted.
Jeff watched the next two months as Evan and Vi became closer. Vi with her penchant for hallucinogens and speed, soon had Evan following in close pursuit. Jeff heard rumors. Evan and Vi were running a scam in bars. She would distract, he would pickpocket. Then more rumors about heroin. By the time October rolled around Jeff had had enough.
On Halloween, the most sacred of sacred times the two had shared growing up he decided to confront his blood brother. Between third and fourth he caught Evan going up the middle stairwell.
Students pushed past the two acquaintances who seemed to be having a heated discussion as the tardy bell rang. A few lingering students heard their shouting in the hall as they made their way into their classrooms. No one knew what the argument was about. No one really knew why a Nerd would be hassling a Stoner, or cared.
Jeff pleaded with Evan to stop seeing Vi, he pleaded with his blood brother. Out of his love, he cried tears of pain. He pleaded and begged, he shouted and cursed. Anything to make his closest friend in the world turn back to good. He feared for Evan’s life on the path he now choose to tread.
Evan tired of his friends nagging turned to walk up the remaining few stairs.
Jeff in a last ditch effort reached for his friends jacket.
Evan tired of the nagging, the judgment, the berating, belittling, holier than thou rantings… grabbed Jeff’s hand and forced it off his jacket.
Jeff lost his footing in the scuffle and began to fall backwards.
Evan tried to reach out and grab Jeff, but he was too slow.
The memorial was on a Sunday. The A/V Club put together a tribute. Evan stood alone.
He’d lost his taste for Vi.
Decades passed at Deerborne High. No one remembered Jeff from the Audio/Video club. People passed his picture every day year after year and never glanced at it. The story and his face hidden in the trophy case with a small caption. Some people got a small chill when they passed through the middle stairwell. Most would just avoid it all together, though no one could ever say why.
There had been a rumor long ago, but it had long since been forgotten.