Everyone loves Cake

This was going to be a long day, she thought when she opened her eyes. She closed them immediately fighting the fatigue she felt in her bones. She opened her eyes again glaring at her reflection on the ceiling mirror. She had mirrors lining every wall in her room, reflecting the sunlight, making the room glow with a white haze.

She hated the heat it produced but it was the only way to keep them out. The dead was always trying to get into her room. Slowly she climbed out of bed, stretching long limbs over her head. She winced, sunlight glinting over the large bruise on her back. She turned looking in the mirror. The black and blue area was the size of a grown man's fist. She stared at it for a moment, it has gotten smaller, that's a good sign. Her father gets upset when she spoke of what she saw. Be normal he was always preaching to her. She let her arms fall and made her way to the bathroom. She started a new school today and wasn't looking forward to going.

This would be the third one in a year, her mother always transferred her when she had an event. That's what her parents called it when her secret got out. They didn't care about rumors but when people started believing her and coming to the house looking to speak to their lost love ones. It becomes a problem. So a new school and fake address is necessary a few times a year. She slipped on a black tank top, with black cargo pants, and black sneakers. She pulled a black hoodie off a hanger and pulled it over her head.

With a heavy sigh, she pulled her hoodie low over her face. She wasn't allowed to leave out the front door anymore and she didn't want to see her parents having breakfast without her anyways. They never had anything nice to say and if she even looked at her father wrong she might get hit again. So she headed out the back door without a word.

Getting to her new school was easy, she usually kept to herself anyways, she had a special power at being invisible when needed. She did a good job at avoiding mostly everyone before the first class started. She came in through the side door to draw less attention to herself and slid into a seat all the way in the back of class just as the late bell went off. She saw the teacher enter the room and immediately pulled her hoodie up, putting her head on the desk for the entire lecture.

No one even knew she was there, just like she wanted. She was one of the last people to leave when the class was over, she took a short cut through the courtyard instead of the crowded hall to get to her next class. That’s how her morning went, she sat in the shadows of the class with her head down. Even a few of the teachers didn't notice her, just how she wanted it. Invisibility was her second name, she could blend in like camouflage.

Another bell later and she was leaning against a locker in an empty hall. She was waiting for the late bell so she could be the last to enter her next class. She heard the kids whispering about her but no one was interested enough to approach her yet so that was good. All the teachers were letting her pass on introductions so far as well; also good.

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a moment, exhaustion sinking in. This was tiring she thought. She felt a sudden chill, blue eyes opened and glanced down the hall. A girl stood in the shadows, her long hair wet, clinging to her shivering frame, her pale skin blistered and water logged.

She frowned, a floater, someone who drowned. The girl was wearing a school swimsuit, water dripping from her as she slowly moved forward. She just watched, floaters always freaked her out but she didn't turn away. She knew if she ran they would just keep following her, the dead was still among the living for one reason, unfinished business.

So she waited as the girl slowly came closer, her legs wobbling underneath her. She glanced around for a moment, making sure they were alone, she raised a hand to connect to the dead girl, to see what happened, to hear her story. When suddenly the girl looked up, she stumbled back in a gasp, her eyes were pulled from her sockets, her lips ripped from her face. Black bruising covered her neck. Her powers burst around her at her loss of concentration, a voice wailed in her head.

HE KILLED ME!

She shook her head, trying to focus, trying to stay calm, "Who did this to you?" but the girl didn't answer, she grabbed her neck, her jaw dropped and murky water spewed from her mouth as if she was drowning right in front of her.

She stepped back as the girl literally dissolved into a puddle on the ground. A hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder. Reflexes quick, grabbing the hand, twisting the wrist, spinning, slamming them face first into the lockers.

The boy winced at the pain, "Damn girl."

She blinked, pulling away, shit. He turned rubbing his red wrist between his hand, "I was just trying to say hi."

She glanced behind her, the puddle was gone, no sign of the dead female; she just shook her head, turning to leave. The boy followed her down the hall, “I saw you in my math class. You're new right? What's your name? I'm Mickey.”

She frowned, glancing to the kid, his vivid green eyes were wide and expressive. He was real, she felt his touch, the dead couldn't touch her. But she was still suspicious, it wouldn't be the first time she was tricked by the deceased. Instead of answering she turned, heading out the side door to the back of the school. She was done for the day, her parents wouldn't care if she stayed or not anyways. He followed her outside, “Hey where you going? School's not over yet.”

She ignored him, her motorcycle was parked in the back, she was hungry and wanted to get away from this kid. Stuffing her hands in her pocket she was passing the back of the building when she felt yet another chill. She paused, eyes scanned the building, they landed on a window on the top floor. Eyes were on her, she stared for a moment, trying to get a feel of the death. A sadness touched her, a lonely suicide.

“Hey, you okay?”

She grabbed the hand that touched her shoulder and twisted it into a wrist lock. The teen boy dropped to his knees at the sudden pressure. “Ow, ow, ow!”

She broke eye contact with the dead to look at the boy before her, “ What do you want?”

He shook his head, “ You're gonna break it!”

She let him go, watching as he looked at his hand, those eyes looked at her, full of life and curiosity, “You some sort of fighter or something?”

“No.”

He stood up, looking to the building, “ What were you staring at?”

She shook her head, “ Nothing.” turning away, heading towards her bike once more.

Again he followed her, “ Hey, wait!”

She stopped, “ What?”

He paused, a hand scratching his neck for a moment, “ Its lunch time. You hungry?”

Actually, yes, yes she was, “ Why?”

A grin crossed his face, he pulled his book bag off his shoulder and opened it, “ My mom is a baker and gave me a slice of cake this morning. Its really good.”

She watched him pull out Tupperware and opened it up. The smell of moist chocolate filtered through the air. Her lips twitched into a small smile, she loved chocolate cake. Mickey smiled, “I got two forks if you wanna split it.”

Again she looked up at those large green eyes, so different from the dull, clouded, dead ones she's used to seeing so often. “ Sure.”

Mickey grinned with a childish warmth, he plopped down on the sidewalk. Slowly she sank into a seated position beside him, he passed her a fork and she plucked off a piece of fluffy cake. She blinked, savoring the flavor, this was the best chocolate cake she has ever tasted.

He just smiled, taking a piece as well, “ Good right. My mom is the best baker on the entire west side. All the girls here are fake Barbie's, they don't appreciate the beauty of sweets. I gave a girl a cupcake once and been an outcast from everyone ever since. Do you like cupcakes?”

She blinked, glancing to him, then back to the cake, “ Sure.” she mumbled, taking another forkful.

He smiled, “ I knew it. I could tell by the way you dress you don't count calories. You must workout though. You're really strong. So what's your name?”

She leaned back to look at him, “ Taz. Like the cartoon.”

“ Like Tasmanian Devil?”

“ Yeah.”

He grinned, “ That's really cool.” he blinked when eyes trailed to the left, looking past him. He turned looking over his shoulder, seeing nothing, “ What are you looking at?”

She blinked, realizing what she was doing, “ Nothing.” she mumbled, standing up. She needed to leave before she did anything else that would get her a beating when she goes home.

“ Hey.” She turned, seeing Mickey has gotten to his feet. “ You wanna meet up tomorrow, I have more cake at home, I can bring you some.”

She watched him for a moment, then nodded, “ Sure.” she answered before turning away.

He waved as she walked away, "Okay, tomorrow right here at lunchtime."

She didn't respond, he was gone by the time she reached her motorcycle. Just as she got on, a black vehicle pulled up, blocking her exit. The window rolled down, “ Got a second?”

She frowned, getting off her motorcycle and stepped over to the car, “ Detective Malory, Detective Spinx.”

“ A family was butchered in their house sometime last night. Its a mess, we can really use your help.”

She crossed her arms, “ You know the rules.”

“ Cash up front and don't tell your parents, we know. The money is at the station, you can grab it after you see the crime scene. Follow us.”

She nodded, getting onto her motorcycle, following the police car out of the school parking lot. She wanted to glance back but she didn't, she had to mentally prepare herself for what she was about to see in this home. However she found herself smiling, thinking of chocolate cake and pair of expressive green eyes.