"Ever," she says, pausing by my bed. "I've been thinking.
Since I'm not really comfortable with this whole grounding business, and since you're almost an adult, I figure I may as well treat you like one so-"
So you're no longer grounded, I think, finishing the sentence in my head. But when I realize she still thinks my troubles are due to my grief, my face burns with shame.
"-you're no longer grounded." She smiles, a gesture of peace I do not deserve.
"Though I was wondering if you changed your mind about talking to someone, because I know this therapist who-"
I shake my head before she can finish, knowing she means well, though refusing any part of it. And when she turns to leave, I surprise myself by saying, "Hey, you want to go out for dinner tonight?"
She hesitates in the doorway, clearly surprised by the offer. "My treat." I smile encouragingly, having no idea how I'll possiby get through a night in a big, crowded restaurant, but figuring I can use some of my racetrack money to cover the bill.
"That would be great," she says, tapping the wall with her knuckles before heading into the hall. "I'll be home by seven."
The second I hear the front door close and the dead bolt click, into place, Riley taps on my shoulder and shouts, "Ever! Ever!
Can you see me?"
And I nearly jump out of my skin.
"Jeez, Riley, you scared the hell out of me! And why are you yelling?" I say, wondering why I'm acting so crabby, when the truth is, I'm overjoyed just to see her again.
She shakes her head and plops onto my bed. "For your information, I've been trying to get through to you for days. I thought you lost your ability to see me and I was totally starting to freak!"
"I did lose my ability. But only because I started drinkingheavily. And then I got expelled." I shake my head. "It was a mess."
"I know:" She nods, brows knit
with concern. "I was watching the whole time, jumping up and down"in front of you, yelling and screaming and clapping my hands, anything to try to get through to you, but you were too whacked to see me. Remember that one time, when the bottle flew out of your hand?" She smiles and curtsies before me. "That was me. And you're lucky I didn't conk you over the head with it instead. So, what the heck happened?"
I shrug and gaze down at the ground, knowing I owe her an answer, a valid explanation to ease her concern, but not sure where to begin. "Well, it's like, all that random energy just became so overwhelming, I couldn't take it anymore. And when I realized how alcohol shielded me from it, I guess I just wanted to keep that good feeling going, I didn't want to go back to the way I was before."
"And now?"
"And now-" I hesitate, looking at her. "And now I'm right back where I started.
Sober and miserable." I laugh.
"Ever-" She pauses, averting her gaze before looking at me.
"Please don't get mad, but I think you should go see Ava." And when I start to balk, she raises her hand and says, 'Just hear me out, okay? I really think she can help you. In fact I know she can help you. She's been trying to help you but you won't let her. But now, well, it's pretty clear that you're running out of options. I mean, you can either start drinking again, hide in your room for the rest of your life, or go see Ava. Pretty much a no-brainer, don't you think?"
I shake my head despite all the pounding, then I look at her and say, "Listen, I know you're all enamored with her, and fine, whatever, that's your choice. But she's got nothing for me, so please just-just give it a rest already, would you?"
Riley shakes her head. "You're wrong. Ava can help you. Besides, what could it hurt for you to give her a call?"
I sit there, kicking my bed frame and staring at the ground, thinking the only thing Ava's ever done for me is make my life even worse than it is. And when I finally look at Riley again, I notice how she's ditched the Halloween costumes for the jeans, T-shirt, and Converse sneakers of a normal twelve-year-old kid, but she's also turned filmy, translucent, and practically seethrough.
"What happened with Damen? That day you went to his house? Are you still together?" she asks.
But I don't want to talk about Damen, I wouldn't even know where to begin. Besides, I know she's just trying to shift the attention from herself and her lucent appearance.
"What's going on?" I ask, my voice rising, frantic. "Why are you fading like that?"
But she just looks at me and shakes her head. "I don't have much time."
"What do you mean-you don't have much time? You're coming back, right?" I shout, panicking as she waves good-bye and disappears from sight, leaving Ava's crumpled-up card in her place.