"Thank you for having us over, Elijah."

"Eli," Eli corrected with a grin, "but I doubt you'll ever call me that, will you?" Chief shook his head. "Thought so. I just wanted to finally meet your son, I've heard so much about him."

A little boy poked his head from behind his dad, making Chief laugh. "Say hi, Noah." He nudged his son forward, "he's not usually in situations like this."

"I understand," Eli kneeled down, holding his hand out towards Noah. "it's very nice to meet you."

Noah's bright blue eyes avoided the young stranger, but he shook the hand in front of him. "Hi..."

Eli smiled. "I've been friends with your dad for a while now. I knew your mom too."

"Okay..." Noah whispered, backing into Chief.

"Megan should be down soon."

"I'm here!" Megan ran down the stairs, jumping the last three steps to reach the small group.

"Megan," Eli sighed, shaking his head, "manners, please?"

Chief smirked in amusement, "She's a kid, Elijah, let her have fun while she still can. Besides, I specifically remember when you slid down that banister just to see if you could, and you were a lot older than she is."

Megan's eyes widened up at her uncle. "You did??"

"No I didn't," he shot a look at Chief, "I didn't do that, that would be extremely irresponsible."

"It was," Chief shrugged, "you still did it though."

Megan giggled, moving past her uncle to take Noah's hand and pull him towards the dining room with her. "I'm so glad you could come!! Do you like my house??"

Noah's cheeks turned pink. "I-I guess?"

"You guess?"

Noah pulled down his blazer cuff. "It's all a lot different than what I'm used to... it makes me uncomfortable."

"Well don't be," Megan playfully hit him on the shoulder, "we're best friends, and you'll be coming here a lot more! I want you to get used to it." Noah nodded. She took his hand again, "I hope you like steak and potatoes, I know for a fact it's what we're having for dinner!"

"They're good," he moved from his sleeve to the bowtie around his neck. He couldn't remember the last time he'd worn something so formal, but Chief had insisted Noah make a good first impression. "You look nice, Meg."

"Thanks!" Megan gave a little twirl, letting the silver and gold sparkles on her cream-colored dress reflect the light. She giggled, "It's my favorite dress!"

"It makes you look really pretty." He braved a little smile.

Megan nodded. "I know it does!" She spun around again but had to stop when her pinned-up curls threatened to fall out. "Don't you think my long hair makes me look like a princess?"

Noah rolled his eyes. "You don't have to be a princess, you're already so much more than that."

Megan tried not to frown. What he was referring to was his belief in their destiny, and she wasn't in the mood to hear it. Like an escape from responding, a knock came from the door.

Megan was relieved that the dinner was going well. She leaned against her uncle's arm and closed her eyes, stomach full of steak and potatoes.

"So, what have you been up to, Noah?"

Megan's eyes popped open and she sat up, not knowing what to expect.

Noah smiled politely at Eli. "Actually I've been very busy."

"With school?" Eli asked offhandedly. "Megan says you have really excellent grades. You must study a lot."

"I do study a lot," Noah answered slowly, "but that's not why I've been busy. I've been climbing an old phone tower the past few days and-"

"Noah?!!" Chief dropped his fork, eyes wide at his son.

Noah cringed in his chair but looked up at his dad. "Yes?"

Chief's eyes narrowed. "what did I tell you about going up that tower?"

Megan knew what he'd told Noah. It was her job to keep him from going up there. Megan thought she'd succeeded, telling him there were much safer missions on land. But apparently, he hadn't listened; his confession was a shock to her too.

"Dad," Noah sighed, "we've talked about this. I had to go up there to talk to her."

Eli raised an eyebrow. "Her?" Megan flinched.

Noah nodded. "There was a woman up there who committed suicide. I found her one day and decided I would help her find peace." Baby blue eyes sparkled, "eventually she warmed up to me, and told me why she couldn't go. But yesterday I helped her understand why finding peace would take her to a better place. So she's safe now."

Megan sank into her chair, wishing she could vanish completely. Stop talking, please!!! She could already see the shocked concern in her uncle's eyes. They would talk about this later, no doubt about it.

"Noah," Chief grit his teeth, "I don't want you putting yourself in danger for the sake of your imagination!"

"It's not my imagination," Noah mumbled under his breath, "and I didn't ask for your opinion. If I have to help them find peace, then I will!"

Megan pulled her beret over her eyes, wanting to scream at the top of her lungs.

"Noah Jacob Seers!"

Noah shrugged, "I'm just telling you the truth. I have a destiny, and you can't change that."

Megan rested her head in her arms, feeling the full force of Eli's eyes on her.
...

"Megan? Yoo-hoo, earth to Megan!"

Megan turned at whoever was yelling directly into her ear. When she saw it was Cody she turned the other way, rolling her eyes. "What do you want?"

Cody shrugged, sitting in the empty spot beside her, practically relishing its vacancy. "Just wanted to know when No-good would be coming back to school. Or if."

She pushed a stray curl out of her face, eyeing him. "What do you mean if?"

Cody tapped his fingernails against the cafeteria table. "Just checking to see if he's still alive."

Megan narrowed her eyes, turning to face him. "of course he's alive! What," she raised an annoyed eyebrow, "worried you'd get arrested for causing his death?? Because me and the hall monitor were witnesses??"

"Chill, Megan. You know I have nothing against you." Cody brushed some of her hair behind her shoulder, making her flinch. "I just wanted to know how much time I have before No-good follows you around like a puppy again."

She flicked his hand away from her shoulder. "Shut up, Cody," she gritted her teeth, "he doesn't follow me like a puppy. We're just friends. And leave me alone, your breath is terrible." She moved her chair towards the opposite wall.

She heard him breathe into his hand, but didn't hear the chair move; he was still sitting beside her. His voice was low in her ear, "You know he's crazy, right?"

Megan closed her eyes. "I told you to shut up..."

"When we were kids? That weirdo said strange things. But you still stay with him? Why do you do that to yourself, Megan?"

Megan's hand tightened into a fist. "I mean it, shut up."

Cody just smirked, getting closer to her ear; she could feel his bottom lip brush against her earlobe. "No-good must've done something bad to go from Seers to Blanche, right?" He chuckled while her cheeks burned. "Mom and Dad get paid to pretend he's normal, but I never forgot. All those times he walked around in town without you? Talking to his imaginary ghosts?" Her fist shook against the table, almost making it rattle. "I mean, that kid is looney-"

Suddenly Megan's hand was throbbing and she was on her feet. She didn't connect the dots till she looked down to find Cody on the ground, blood dribbling from his nose. She trembled, full of anger. "HE'S NOT CRAZY!"

Cody glared up at her, holding a hand to his swelling nose. "Yes, he is! And everyone at school knows that except you! And the fact his daddy works so hard to shut Parano up?? Could that not be any more of a clue for you to just let him go??"

"You don't know what I think!!" Megan knew students were gathering to watch the drama, but she was too angry to care. "Maybe I know, and maybe I don't!! And maybe I'll never say!!"

"Why do you defend him??" Cody yelled back, "Admit it, Megan! You're friends with someone who needs to be locked up and have the key thrown away!"

Her toes curled in her shoes. "You're one to talk! You should be locked up for hurting him!"

"I didn't touch him!" Cody scoffed, "he was probably so caught up in that important journal that he couldn't keep his feet flat on the ground!"

Megan gasped. "How do you-"

"Oh I heard everything, Megan," he laughed out, blood reaching his chin now. "You two hid in that small little janitor's closet and I couldn't resist a little eavesdropping!" He made his eyes wide, "'It's important; I can feel it!'" He laughed harder, making Megan's cheeks burn hotter. "So what's that journal anyway? More proof that No-good's spoiled in the head-?"

"SHUT UP!!" Students cheered as Megan jumped on Cody.

And then the adult supervision came...

Megan's hands were still shaking as she side-glared at Cody.

"Okay," Principal Olmen clasped his hands at the desk, "this is something I've expected to happen eventually. But not from you, Megan." He frowned, "what happened?"

Megan dug her fingers into her skirt. "Just call my uncle..."

"I will," the principal furrowed his brows, "but after you tell me why you got in a fight; because this isn't like you."

She wiped at excess tears as they bubbled in her eyes. "Nothing, I just got a little mad and attacked without thinking," Cody smirked, making her hand form a fist again.

"Cody," Principal Olmen sighed, "you can leave now. I'll call your parents, and don't forget your detention slip."

"Yeah, yeah," Cody took the yellow slip off the principal's desk, "whatever."

Megan stared daggers into her enemy's back as he walked out of the room, acting like he hadn't done anything wrong. She breathed out, turning back towards the principal. "I told you that I got a little mad. I know it was wrong to hit him, and jump on him, and pull on his hair," she grumbled, "but I-" he held up a hand.

"Megan," the man sighed again, rubbing at his eyes, "I'm going to have to call your uncle. But you know that."

She nodded. "I know. Just go ahead and get it over with."

"But I want to talk about your subjects first."

Megan tensed.
...

"The principal... the principal??" Eli clutched at the steering wheel.

Megan sighed, clutching her dark green skirt. "Yes...?"

Cody had caught up to her when she left the office and shoved her onto the floor. "That's it, I give up on you! You want to have starry eyes for Loony No-good?? Go ahead! I'll just make you miserable too!"

"Megan!"

Megan looked up at her uncle. "What?"

"Pay attention, please," Eli exhaled, "and what am I hearing from principal Olmen?? You're the one failing??" His eyes narrowed, "how long has your friend been covering for you?"

Megan bit down on her bottom lip as tears built up in her eyes. "I'm sorry Uncle Eli. I got upset..."

"Megan Elenore..." Eli closed his eyes. "You're going to give me grey hair at thirty-five years old..."

"Sorry, Uncle Eli."

He sighed. "and I don't want you lying to me anymore. You know a person's best feature is their honesty."

She looked out the window. "I know."

"Megan I could've sworn you were doing well in school! Like I did instead of Rol..." Megan glanced at him. "Anyways," he breathed out, "I can't ground you so just know I'm upset."

Megan frowned at her uncle. "I'm not grounded?"

"No," Eli pulled into the driveway, "I can't risk that. Chief's kid shouldn't be on his own when he's not home. And we can't risk another phone tower situation, can we?"

Megan crossed her arms. "That was years ago. And I did my best then! I didn't know he was still going!"

"Megan, why did you really punch that kid? Because I knew he bullied Noah, but you've never retaliated." Reaching the middle of the driveway, he stopped the car, putting it in park, "So why did you today? And I want a truthful answer."

Megan could just see the top of a chimney, annoyed at how close she was to running into her room, slamming the door closed from the subject, and putting on her mother's beret. But Eli knew she would try that; this was a clever trap. "Fine," she sighed, playing with the hem of her skirt, "Cody said Noah was crazy. He called him looney and made fun of him and... and I lost it." She slowly turned her head to look at Eli. "That's the truth."

Eli took the key out of the ignition, putting it in his pocket. "Meg," he pursed his lips, "we have to talk about this. You keep trying to run off and ignore the subject, but I need to have this conversation with you. So you're going to sit still, and listen, okay?"

Megan wiped at her cheeks. "Uncle Eli..." He shook his head.

"Are you listening?" She closed her eyes, nodding slowly. "Good. Now it was one thing when he was a kid, Meg. But now? Well, that kid's turning fifteen on the fifteenth. So tell me, is he better than the things he said that night? Does he still go out and talk to nothing? Tell me the truth." His eyes met hers, completely serious.

She clasped her hands tightly together. "He's..." She could've lied, but Eli was already upset, and he wanted her honesty. "Not... He's not better."

"And what happens when he's twenty-five and still seeking out hallucinations? What if he dies because his imaginary friends tell him to jump off a cliff?"

"He doesn't have imaginary friends," Megan muttered under her breath.

Eli still heard her. "Yes, but he does think he sees people that aren't there. It was a habit from his childhood that grew due to the hidden grief of losing his mother. And it hasn't gone away."

"That's what Doctor Duman says, at least," Megan sighed.

"Well I think I'd believe a therapist's diagnosis rather than some made-up story your friend would give; like how he has a destiny! Look," Eli put a hand on her shoulder, "that boy isn't a kid anymore, and his imagination is dangerous. He's not healthy, And I need you to know that."

"I do know that." A stabbing guilt hit her in the stomach. "But what else was I supposed to do? Cody was insulting Noah when he wasn't even at school today!"

"Meg," he pulled gently on one of her curls, "I don't think you should've hit Cody. You should've admitted that he was right instead of defending your friend; I don't want you to trick yourself into believing Noah's fine."

Megan fixed her eyes on the windshield. "Noah's my friend, Uncle Eli. I couldn't just let his bully have the satisfaction of being right, even if he was..."

"Megan it's not just admitting that boy's not well," he drummed his hands on the steering wheel, "it's also admitting to yourself that if he doesn't get better... he'll have to go somewhere that's safer for him. You know that too, don't you?" Megan wouldn't answer, biting her lip instead. "and he won't be your friend forever, Meg-"

"I know, Uncle Eli!" She shot out, tears sliding down her cheeks again. "I know all of that! If you aren't going to keep driving, I'll just walk the rest of the way!" She opened her door, trying not to sob as she unbuckled.

Eli calmly leaned over and shut her door. "We'll go. I just want to make sure I'm still being a good guardian for letting you do this. I know it means a lot to Chief, but your mentality is important too."

She dried her face with the cuff of her grey sweatshirt. "You're still a good guardian. What I don't understand is why you hate Noah so much!" She hiccuped, covering her trembling lips, "or anything that has to do with ghosts! I know it's stupid, but sometimes you treat it like it's the plague!"

Eli took the keys out of his pocket, putting them in the ignition and bringing the engine back to life. He kept his eyes on the driveway. "I don't hate him, Megan."

"Then why do you always talk about how troubled he is?"

"Because he is," Eli responded. "Noah gives his dad a lot of trouble and I can't stop thinking about how he could become like..." he trailed off.

Megan raised an eyebrow. "Become like what, Uncle Eli?"

"Hey," light green eyes glimmered, "what do you say to a movie tonight?"

Megan frowned at the change of tone. "I say it's not Friday. Uncle Eli, it's a school night, don't you want me in bed early?"

Eli waved his hand around. "Tonight we can overlook it. Noah kept us busy and I feel like we should pretend it's Friday."

"I'm guessing he's back home?" Eli nodded. Megan laced her fingers together, leaning against the passenger seat. "That's good I guess; it means he's not hurt anymore. But he should still take it easy, I'll be sure to remind him that tomorrow. And-"

"The movie, Meg?"

"Oh," after a few seconds, she shrugged, "I guess we can."
...

Megan threw a piece of popcorn in the air, catching it on her tongue.

Eli rolled his eyes, "try not to choke, please?"

Megan laughed, hugging her uncle's arm. "I'm glad we're doing this."

"Me too," he kissed the top of her head and rearranged her curls with his free hand. "I don't think we've had much time together recently."

"That's okay," Megan sat up, reaching for another handful of popcorn from the dark blue bowl. "I love you anyway." She looked at the main character on the television screen and smiled. "He's kinda cute."

Eli rolled his eyes. "Movie scouts tend to find good-looking people. You could probably be an actress if you wanted to."

Megan blushed. "You think so?"

"Yes," he patted her shoulder, "but don't be vain about it; I'm already spoiling you way too much."

Megan almost spat out her popcorn. "I'm not that spoiled!" Glancing up at the incredulous look from her uncle, she started to giggle. "Okay, I guess I'm a little spoiled."

"A little?" He challenged.

"A lot?"

Eli gave a satisfied nod. "There you go."

Megan ate the last piece of popcorn that she'd gathered in her hand. She turned her right hand over to examine her knuckles. They were gradually starting to turn green and blue and purple. She made a fist and a sharp pain made her wince, catching Eli's attention.

He frowned, gently taking her hand to examine it. "You said it wasn't bothering you."

"It wasn't," she hesitated, "when you asked last time... But I'm alright." She took her hand back, shoving into the couch arm.

"Maybe I should get you some ice?" Megan shook her head. "Meg," Eli sighed, "you need to take care of that hand. Yes, you punched a kid, but that doesn't mean you should keep the pain, okay?"

"Have you ever punched anybody?"

He rolled his eyes. "Loads of times, but we aren't talking about me."

Megan looked down at her colorful knuckles again. "If we get some ice, will you tell me why hate you ghosts so much?" He tensed. "Was it a childhood fear? A scary movie? I'm curious, Uncle Eli."

Eli tugged on the hair behind his ear. "I'll tell you another time, Meg. For now, let's just get some ice on your hand." He reached down and picked up the remote next to the popcorn bowl, freezing the actor in place the same moment they were getting sliced across the cheek.

For a moment Megan wondered if the special effects used ketchup instead of fake blood. It looked a lot thicker and brighter than the color of Cody's blood after she'd hit him. It must've been some kind of ketchup or jelly. She rolled her eyes at the idea and looked up to tell Eli.

But he was already gone.