Chapter 9

Crystals

Lee texted their dad that they would be out late, they were with a friend and would keep him in the know. Because I’ksha was their friend, right? They couldn't have actually known each other for more than maybe 4 days but in that time she had seen Lee have a meltdown, offered to help go through newspapers and didn't laugh when Lee said they were trying to solve a murder, had reached out to make sure Lee was ok and then helped Lee figure out this would ‘my mom was a witch’ thing. Pagan,  they corrected themself, I’ksha said she was a pagan… probably. Lee didn't want to think about it but it felt like I’Ksha had become some emotional babysitter for them. She was offering to help too much, she was being too kind. Alice was never like this and they had known each other for years. She would have told Lee to suck it up at this point, that this was pointless, that there was no reason to be looking into this. Lee knew this because the very dead Alice was telling her this the whole walk to the car with I’Ksha. 

Lee tried not to respond but it was getting to the point that Alice was yelling over I’Ksha when she spoke. I’Ksha beeped on her keyring and her car’s lights flashed on. It was a cute little old beater of a car. Lee dug into their pocket for their phone. “ Uh i need to take this,” they motioned to their phone as if they were getting a call.

 “ That's cool, I'll warm up the car.” I’Ksha smiled back and disappeared into her car, turning on the wipers to brush the snow off. 

Lee turned away from her and looked at Alice. “That is enough, what is wrong with you?” they hissed into the receiver. 

“What is wrong with me?” Alice yelled back, “You're the one who has totally derailed us with that dumb book of yours"

Lee's eyes stung and they suddenly felt a wave of hot rage overtake them and without thinking they began to hiss back. “First it is my mom’s book. Second, I don't think you get to make decisions when it comes to my mom. I know you loved her too, and she loved you but it has been years Alice! This is the first time anyone has even talked about her. Dad going into the attic? That was the first time he has brought her up in almost 4 years. And it isn't completely derailed. Do you know how hard it is going to be to put you to rest? To find whoever did that to you?” Lee’s hands were shaking with anger. They were not yelling but they could feel their whispers coming out like venom. “ This book might have an answer. Mom could see them too Alice, maybe she found an easier way to make them move on. Maybe it has to do with whatever thing that spell was about. Maybe if I fail… maybe you can still move on.” Their throat was raw and Lee couldn't remember the last time they had spoken this much in a day. There were days, weeks even where they had gone without talking. They had never stood up to Alice like this before, sure there was the small fight that they had had after visiting the Library but this was different. Lee wasnt willing to just drop this.

Alice looked pretty raw too. She had begun crying and her face had grown red. Brown tear streaks made thier way down her cheeks and quiet sobs made the slit in her throat gape wider. “ I-I just w-want to spend t-time with you,” she whimpered in between sobs. Lee’s heart broke. 

“We can,” they tried to make their voice small and gentle. They reached out thier hand to try and grab Alice's hand forgetting that contact couldnt be made. “But I need to do this first, ok? Tomorrow we can watch tv or talk but today, I don't know when I'm going to get another chance to talk to I’Ksha and the person she thinks will help us. We can hang out tomorrow.” 

Alice’s face grew frustrated, the tears stopped and the scowl reapeared on her face in a blink. “No, I don't want to wait for you to go off with some random girl! Why is she even helping you in the first place? I mean really think about it. Who would believe in this magic shit anyway. She is probably doing all of this just to amuse herself and laugh at you! What do you think is going to happen if you tell her that you can see ghosts? It will probably be like when Hannah found out.”

Lee’s throat tightened. Alice could be right. I’ksha had never known them before this, had never spoken to them before even though they had been in the same classes. She could end up exactly like Hannah when Alice had told her, spreading rumors about Lee and all of the 'creepy things' they did. Then again, Lee had not known Alice when they had met. She had just popped into Lee’s little bubble one day when they were 7 years old and acted like she was their new best friend, like they had known each other all of thier lives. If Alice could do that, who was to say that I’Ksha couldn't as well?

Lee took a deep breath in and out, vapor trailing out in the cold. Lights were starting to go on in the streets and businesses were turning on their neon signs and early Christmas lights. A few businesses down they saw their father turn the sign to closed and flick on a santa lamp in the window. He saw them and waved and Lee smiled and waved back. Lee turned back to Alice. They shrugged, “Then let me make that mistake.” They placed their phone into their pocket and turned away from Alice and got into the car with I’Ksha, apologizing for taking a moment. 

Alice didn't follow. 

……