4 GHOSTS FROM THE PAST

I stare blankly through the mirror at the girl I never imagined I would call myself. Lily’s navy blue A-line dress has surely saved the day, which ends just above my knees, but my hair just won’t behave.

I need to buy some dresses, after I unpack. My luggage mostly only contained dozens of t-shirts, a couple of shirts and all kinds of trousers.

I never really liked dresses that much, I guess. But now that I see myself in one, it’s not so bad.

Lily is completely done and is waiting impatiently on the chair in my room. Looking beautiful never takes her time. Or effort. If only she hadn’t been my best friend, I would’ve tossed her illegally-skilled-at-makeup self into the trash.

“Adalanna Callister, you take one minute more and I’m gonna leave you here.” I hear her voice with an exasperated sigh.

“Oh yeah? You should have told me earlier that that’s all it took to escape from this.” I try once more to comb my hair in some sort of a bun or something except that it won’t stay. Disobedient piece of shit! Die, you brain dead, no good loaf of stale bread! I like you, don’t make me regret liking you.

“Dello, it’s a brunch. Not a dinner. Hurry up.”

“Okay. Done. Let’s go.” I give up. I decide to let my hair open which reached my lower back with a few tendrils hovering over my forehead. Not that it looks bad. Just stereotypical, one thing I can’t bear.

“I’d almost forgotten what a sex on legs you were!”

Lily says with awe and a proud smile on her face. And I blush crimson red with wide eyes and an unbelievable laugh at her choice of remark.

She is looking nothing less, probably much more than me in her blood red low neck dress. She always does. But I’m not telling her that right now, because I’m feeling bitchy like that. I sneer and smile evilly on the inside. I’ll tell her after we return, when I’ll have to bribe her into ordering pizza again.

I take one last look at the mirror and I’m convinced that this will do. Lily has done an excellent job at the eyes but I feel she’s put a bit excess of the lip gloss. I wipe off a little with the tissue before following her out.

The drive takes us half an hour and nothing could have prepared me for my reaction on seeing the venue.

They call this a mansion?

If you ask me, this would have definitely passed for a penthouse had it not carried the plate with the word ‘mansion’ written in bold. Just for the sake of the aesthetic. I scoff.

The house looks complete state-of-the-art with glass walls of full length, white curtains adorned at the sides.

Woodwork is at its finest and the projecting balcony literally steals my heart out.

In a jiffy, the house is a dream.

I wonder who lives here.

“Oh darlings, you are here! Oh, and look at you Adalanna, all grown up.” Mrs. Preston exclaims as soon as she sees us, and engulfs me in a hug soon after.

“It’s nice to see you too Mrs. Preston. And please, call me Alanna.” I answer with a smile. It really was great to see her after so long.

“Oh, only if you call me Georgia, for God’s sake. Mrs. Preston sounds so formal, and old, might I add.” She says with a careless wave of her hand.

“Come, I’ll take you to Eva, she’ll be ecstatic to meet you!” The name sounds complete Hebrew to me and I wonder why she’d be so delighted to meet me.

I look over at Lily and she whispers a quick “What the hell would happen if you just add an ‘Ad’ to the ‘alanna’?” before I walk away, with an amused smile.

“How’s Celia, love? I haven’t heard from her in – forever.” She asks with genuine curiosity and concern.

Georgia Preston has always been the mother I had lost. She is caring without trying and it seemed like she has all the love in the world to give. Her face always brims with well groomed attention, making her appear and feel much younger than she really is.

“She’s doing great. I’m sure she would have loved to meet you.”

“Oh my God, can it be Adalanna?” I shake off my thoughts and am met with gentle, well taken care of blue eyes, and a wonder filled smile.

“Yes. And please, call me Alanna.” I reply with a polite smile. I remember Lily’s comment and stifle back a smile.

How does she know me, though?

“Still don’t like the full name, I see.” She says with a light laugh that freckles her cheek, making her look that much more beautiful.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t recall knowing you.” I say with embarrassed cheeks and a small smile.

“Of course you wouldn’t now, darling. You were but five when I last saw you, all ferocious and violent with that pixie hair, ready to slash open throats of anyone who dared steal a chocolate bar from you!”

She says with a fond laugh of remembrance while I stand there completely blank, contemplating if I really was this child that she spoke of now.

But then again who doesn’t stand up for chocolate after all.

At least that explains why I don’t remember her, I was five. And I do remember never liking the ‘d’ sound in my name. For reasons unknown.

“Who knew you’d turn into such a beautiful, young lady! I’m Eva, by the way. Eva Alderidge. Your father was such an honorable member of the association and oh, so responsible. We could always count on him for the best of everything, you know. How is he doing, by the way?”

The name’s just as beautiful like the woman. In general, anyone with blue eyes automatically has my heart. Plus her warmth, immediately puts me at comfort.

“He’s doing good. I really miss him sometimes, to be honest.” I hide my unease with a small, sad smile.

“Of course, darling. We all do, don’t we? Anyway, you enjoy the brunch. I’m so happy you’ll be studying here. It’s a total pleasure.”

“Absolutely.”

Eva walks away, to attend to the other guests and I locate Lily soon afterwards. It’s been a while since I’ve been here and I still haven’t been able to get over the beauty of this place.

The garden area is decked with long, white dining tables and the thought of actually eating there, bubbles me up with excitement. Food, I want food.

A lot of people are here but it strangely doesn’t seem too crowded, if at all. All posh and sophisticated population around me and I wonder if all of them possess the same kindness and humility as Georgia and Eva.

Many of them seem to be students, just like us and the rest, of course, privileged members of the esteemed, vintage association.

Besides the superficial environment, I actually am having a good time and the smile I had since meeting Eva has refused to leave.

It has been so long since I attended something like this. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea, after all.

“Oh, that’s Steve, hey I’ll just be back okay?”

Lily has suddenly turned into a bottle of brimming energy at the sight of a Steve, and I quickly nod a yes with a sly smile, before she disappears from my sight. She’s in for an enquiry. I smile internally.

I decide to take the time to see around the house that has my heart.

I casually start strolling along the corridor with the glass wall displaying the spectacular garden.

Whenever I buy or build my own house, I’m so going for the glass walls.

I still don’t know who lives here. I haven’t met Mr. or Mrs. Hayden as yet. And I wonder if they knew Dad too.

He was admired even here. I let out a chuckle at the thought. The perfectionist who stole every heart and impression. Always responsi -

My thoughts are suddenly paused at the sound of hushed crying. Instinctively, I follow it to a room where the sound has magnified and I could see a small female figure sitting and surrounded by four people.

I don’t mean to eavesdrop but from the looks of it, they are probably scolding her and she is crying incoherently, with sobs and jerks.

I know I should have walked away but then I know I couldn’t. The girl was crying so bad, I can’t possibly leave her with them. Before I think twice, which I definitely should have, my feet are through the door.

“Can’t you see she’s crying?”

I walk straight through them and all eyes turn to me. I hold the girl softly yet firmly and she leans in gently.

“Don’t get involved in matters that don’t concern you.” A boy among the three says with a rude and straight face.

“Is this what you’re going to do now, Brit? Cower behind someone you don’t even know?” That would be boy number two.

“Okay, that’s enough. I might not know what is happening here, but I’m certainly not that blind as you all to see the condition of this girl. A state to bear up a dram more of rudeness, is one thing she’s certainly not in right now.”

I’m done with it. What the hell do they even think of themselves? Rudeness is one thing I don’t tolerate.

Well- not anymore.

I silently comfort the crying soul holding onto me, while whispering words of relief.

The faces around me have gone somewhat softer and I am glad they aren’t as thick skinned as some people can be.

“Did somebody die out here?”

I freeze at the sound of that voice.

I could recognise the thick accent even in my dreams. My heartbeat accelerates in a whirlwind of emotions. My face drains out of color, and I don’t even know what to feel right now.

I look up to see my worst thoughts personify as all air leaves my lungs. I am left a shocked mess of nothing, as the sight of that one person stuns the living daylights out of me.

One voice I never wanted to hear again.

One person I never wanted to see again.

What the hell is he doing here?

Author's note:

There be ghosts. And then there be GHOSTS. You know which is which, and which the worse.

Anyone tries to steal chocolate from you, stand up for your rights.

;D

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