Excerpt: Currently Untitled

My alarm didn’t even sound the next morning, so as I rolled over to be greeted by the harsh sunlight coming through open curtains, I sat up straight away, stumbling blindly to close them back. What the hell? I had closed those the night before. My back was hurting. I had laid the wrong way. Even my neck was killing me from the odd angle. “Morning, Sunshine!” I jumped back, damn near falling over a pair of shoes as I reach out to grab the dresser, knocking over an empty coffee cup as it fell to the carpeted floor. I turned and stared at Millie. She was standing at the foot of my bed and all smiles.

“It’s such a pretty day. I hope you don’t mind that I opened the curtains. It looked like you could use some sunlight. You’re so pale.”

“You what..?” I stared at her for a few seconds in horror before shaking my head. “Okay, you know what?” I threw my hands up in the air in surrender. “You’re not here. I’m seeing things. I have officially gone crazy. I’m going to go call my doctor now and fix this. Right now.” I walked past her as my skin tingled again and I completely ignored it. I really needed to pee but getting a hold of the head doctor seemed more important at the moment.

“Why?” She asked, following behind me. “You’re not crazy, Morgan. I’m really here. Are you really so upset over me opening the curtains?” I turned around to stare at her and then remembered I’d left my cell phone in my pants. I shook my head, laughing a little as I walked past her and back into my room again. I bent over, grabbing my phone from my pocket as I flipped it open.

“You have a missed call.” She chimed. “I think it might’ve been Danny. Robbie isn’t even awake yet.” I held my phone in my hand while staring at her.

“What do you do? Just stalk everyone?” She blinked, tilting her head to the side. I shook my head. “Never mind. Don’t even answer that. I don’t want to know. I’m getting rid of you.” I dialed the number to the local doctor’s office which really wasn’t that local. I’d have to take the ferry to get there but I didn’t care. The line was busy. “Damn.” I shut the phone and began pacing the floor.

“Why are you so worked up?” Millie asked, sitting on the edge of my bed as she peered up at me.

“Why?” I repeated the question, “Why am I so worked up?” I smirked and then shook my head. “You aren’t supposed to be here. Today? I should be going to your grave and crying over you. Which means you should be up there.” I pointed towards the ceiling. “Being all happy and.. Angelic. Or whatever it is you do. That’s why.” I hit redial but it was still busy. Lovely. Just lovely.

“I think you’re getting worked up over nothing.” She insisted as she stood up and walked towards the windows. She pulled the curtains open again and I squinted, my eyes trying to adjust to the light.

“Oh right. Nothing. I’m seeing dead people but I’m getting worked up over nothing!” I pushed my hair back from my face as I walked into my bathroom and opened the cabinet to take another pill. I popped it into my mouth and closed the cabinet, jumping as she was standing right behind me. I turned to look at her, pressing myself back against the counter. “How can I see you in the mirror?”

She shook her head and smiled. “I’m a ghost, Mo. Not a vampire.” She rolled her eyes and walked back into my bedroom. I watched her for a minute before turning to brush my teeth. I could still do normal things right? Even though I clearly wasn’t normal at all.

“Ooh. Who’s this?” She asked. I turned to look at the picture she was holding in her hand. It was Jarret.

“My boyfriend.” I replied, resuming the task of splashing water on my face. Maybe if I just woke myself up enough, she would go away. This entire messed up dream would go away.

“He’s a fox.” She commented before putting the picture down and then suddenly she was leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom. When I straightened up, I jumped again from her close proximity.

“God. Can you stop doing that?”

“Sorry.” She stepped away from the door and then continued to stare at me for a few minutes. I stared back and then finally shut the bathroom door to take a shower.

“Do. Not. Come. In. Here.” I said, turning on the water before I began undressing. I shook my head and then hit my forehead against the wall in frustration. This just wasn’t happening. Not to me. Not now. It wasn’t possible. As I got into the shower, I heard music blaring from my room. The station was changing constantly throughout my entire shower so by the time I got out, I was a bit annoyed.

With a towel wrapped around my body, I opened the bathroom door and stared at her. She looked up at me and smiled. “Who is this group they call Cobra Starship? Do they actually have a cobra?”

I blinked and shook my head. “No. Names are just getting somewhat more ridiculous. But cool at the same time.” I walked over to my dresser to pull out a blue sweater to wear. I was rummaging through my jeans as she changed the station yet again.

“So this is what music of the future sounds like.” She said curiously. My cell phone began ringing again so I quickly grabbed it, flipping it open as I turned the volume down on the stereo.