Ghost Girl - A Short Story

There were never any unusual occurrences in our town. If you looked from the outside, you’d see what everyone presumes: a regular and boring town where nothing ever changes. And they’d presume right. That is until the night Paige Pearson arrived. At least that’s what she told us her name was. She arrived out of nowhere and then disappeared suddenly a couple of weeks afterwards. I never believed in ghosts until I met her.

Paige was the type of person who liked to be alone and isolated. This kind of outlook on life might seem odd to the average person. But Paige wasn’t the average person. Something about her made you feel drawn to her no matter how hard she tried to push you away. Her whole soul was intriguing but she was always just at your fingertips; you could never fully reach her.

The night she arrived, we were all down at the beach, messing around on the shore and making the most of our last day of summer. I was sat on the sand, looking out at my friends swimming and laughing in the glistening ocean as the reflection of the moon and stars lit up the water. I glanced to the right for just a second but that’s when it caught my eye. Her hair. Her deep crimson hair that blew about slightly in the wind as she looked down at the book in her lap. She was wearing red shorts with a black vest top and black vans. Her knees were tucked up to her chest as she rested her chin on them, her long wavy hair reaching just above her waist. She seemed at peace. She turned the page to her book and moved her hair out of her face. And that’s when I knew that this was someone you don’t have the ability of forgetting. I found myself standing up and walking towards her before I had even registered that this was something I wanted to do. She didn’t look up at me until I sat down next to her.

“What do you want?” Although the tone of her voice was stern and unwelcoming, her crystal blue eyes caught my attention and I couldn’t look away from her. Her full, pink lips were slightly parted, and she raised her perfect brown eyebrows as she waited for my response. That was when I noticed the crimson dye of her hair fading into her brown roots. And that was the first lie of hers. Although the colour of one’s hair not being what it seems at first glance doesn’t seem like a huge lie, this was only the beginning of the web of secrets Paige Pearson had.

“I’m Alec.” I held my hand out to her, expecting her to shake it. But she just looked down at it and then looked back at her book.

“It’s Greek. Alec. It means protector of mankind.” She folded the corner of the page she was on, closed her book and looked up at me with an expressionless face. “Are you?”

“Am I a protector of mankind? Is that what you’re asking?” I asked and she simply nodded in reply as if this was a question I was asked every day. “Not really. I haven’t exactly protected anyone.”

She sighed as if that was a disappointment for her to hear. Those crystal eyes seemed to stare into my soul, as if they were searching for the answers I couldn’t give her. “I’m Paige Pearson.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” An awkward silence followed where neither of us knew what to say. I looked over to see my friends still swimming in the cold water and Paige followed my gaze.

“Are they your friends?”

I looked back at her. Her expression seemed to have softened but I still couldn’t read her. “Yeah.”

She watched them. It was as if she was analysing them one by one. “They look like idiots.”

I don’t know why but part of me took offence to that and the other part of me wanted to agree with her. “Why do you say that? Because they’re having fun?”

“Because they haven’t even noticed that you’re gone.” She looked back at me. And something about the look she gave me sent a shooting pain straight through my heart. Maybe she was right. Why hadn’t they cared enough to notice that I was gone? I knew that this was some sort of trap and I didn’t want to start overthinking so I decided to change the subject.

“What are you doing out here all alone anyways? Couldn’t you read your book at home?”

Paige simply shook her head. “My house isn’t exactly a home. I’d prefer to sit out in the open air where I have all the space in the world than sit in my cramped room.” She looked down at her book and turned it over so the cover of The Great Gatsby was facing upwards. “Although, it is getting late so I think I’m going to go.” She stood up and I followed. We stood facing each other for a few seconds, her book clutched in her hands as she looked at me. I could see her walls built so high that they were impossible to break down.

“Will I ever see you again?” I questioned, hoping that she would smile and say yes. But expecting even a smile from her was a pipe dream.

She bowed her head and kicked the sand a little. “I don’t know. Maybe. It’s a small town; we might run into each other at some point.” And with that, she turned on her heel and walked far into the night as I watched her shadow disappear. Just like a ghost.

That night, I found myself searching her on the internet. Paige Pearson. Plenty of results came up but none of them were her. I tried to find her on any kind of social media she might have and once again, I couldn’t find her. It was like she didn’t exist at all. My phone began to buzz beside me and I looked at it to find my friend, Johnny calling. I swiped to answer and put the phone to my ear.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Alec, hi. Where did you go tonight? One minute you were sat on the sand and the next you were gone.” He sounded urgent.

“I saw a girl sat on her own so I sat and talked to her for a while.” And then I furrowed my eyebrows. “Didn’t you see us sat together?” There were a few moments of silence where I thought he hung up so I took the phone away from my ear to check it and find that the call was still active. “Johnny? Are you still there?”

I heard him let out a breath before he finally replied. “Yeah. I’m just… confused. I didn’t see you with any girl.”

How was that possible? How did he not see me with Paige? “Well I was only sat with her for a few minutes and then I went home straight away so that may be why.”

“Ah right, okay. We were just concerned that’s all.”

“No, I’m fine. Thanks for checking in though.” I smiled and we ended the call, enabling me to go back to searching for Paige but it was helpless. She’s a ghost.

The next day, I was serving customers at the coffee shop I’d worked at for what felt like an eternity when I looked up and saw wavy crimson hair passing the window. It was as if everything started moving in slow motion. The bell rang as the door swung open. A pair of black vans stepped inside and her hands held a new book: Emma by Jane Austen. I noticed a plaster on her first finger just above the knuckle as she closed the book and held it under her arm. Her eyes searched for a free seat in the bustling café until they fell on me. It was at this moment that I realised my manager was yelling at me to continue serving the customer I had stopped paying attention to.

Once I had made my way through the queue of customers, I decided to approach Paige with a pad and pen. “Can I get you anything?”

She was sat at a small circular table for two in the corner of the café, her book grasped between her hands with her lips parted slightly as if she was breathing in every essence of the story she was reading. She looked up at me and I knew that she recognised me despite her pretending not to register it. “I’ll just have a black coffee please.” Then she looked back down at her book, as if to try and ignore me.

I nodded and tried to turn away to prepare her order but something in my body stopped me and told me to talk to her for just a second longer. “I see you’re reading a new book. It was Great Gatsby last night.”

She turned the page of her book and continued reading as she simply answered, “I finished it”, not caring to look at me.

“Okay.” I awkwardly turned away and walked back over to the counter where I began to make her coffee.

Paige sat in the café for hours, making her way through the book as if she was oblivious to the rest of the world. So when my shift finally came to an end, I saw this as an opportunity to sit with her and learn more about this curious girl.

“Hey.” I sat down in the chair opposite her and she peered up at me over her book.

“Hi…”

“You’ve been here for a long time.” I noted.

“Well done. You’re observant.” She continued to read her book but I was persistent on talking to her.

“So I guess –”

Paige shut her book and slammed it down on the table. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?”

I sat back, a little scared of her and how suddenly she stopped reading. “My shift is over.”

She nodded and pursed her lips. “And why are you taking such a huge interest in me?”

“I… I don’t know.” I realised how strange I must have seemed. Why was I constantly trying to talk to this girl that I didn’t even know? Why was I so drawn to her? “I guess nothing ever changes in this town and you’re something new. Maybe you might cure my boredom.”

Paige scoffed and rolled her eyes. “You did not just say that.”

I frowned, a little offended. “What do you mean?”

Paige leant forwards onto the table and hugged her book close to her chest. “I’m nobody, okay? You don’t want to get involved with me. I’m not as interesting as you think and if anything, I’ll just bore you even more.”

“I’m sure that’s not true.”

“Believe me, it is. All I do is read. All day, every day.” She sighed, as if she was tired of the life she was living. “I like being on my own, in my own world. I don’t have friends so don’t waste your time trying to be one.”

“Why do you love reading so much?” I asked, curious.

She thought for a bit, as if she was unsure herself. “I guess I just like getting lost in a world I don’t exist in.”

“Or eras.” I noted. “The Great Gatsby and Emma aren’t exactly stories from this era.”

“Yeah, everything seemed like it was simpler then. I don’t know. I guess I want to live in a world where everyone isn’t looking down at screens twenty-four-seven.” I admired the way her eyes lit up when she talked about something she was passionate about.

“Why don’t you like having friends?” I questioned.

Her face hardened as if she remembered something from her past that haunted her. “Jesus what’s with the questionnaire?” And behind her eyes, I saw her walls building higher.

I scoffed. I wasn’t going to take this anymore so I stood up to leave. “Never mind.”

“What?” She stood up too, as if some part of her panicked at the thought of me leaving.

“I don’t get why you have to be so rude.” I sighed. “I’m just trying to be nice.”

“Well I didn’t ask you to be!” Paige shouted. And for a split second, I thought I saw her tear up. “I didn’t ask you to just be another person to let me down!”

“So because you’ve been let down by someone before, that means you push everyone who is ever nice to you away?” I asked. “Just because one person let you down doesn’t mean everyone else will. You can’t live in fear of losing people.” And with that, I turned on my heel and left.

A few days went by and I started to think that maybe Paige was just a figment of my imagination. I just couldn’t understand what was going through her head to be so rude. But what was going through my mind to be so persistent on talking to her? I was once again serving customers in the coffee shop when I noticed who was next in line. Deep crimson hair.

She stepped forwards and looked at me sympathetically. “Can I get a black coffee, please?”

“Sure.” I pursed my lips and started making her coffee with an expressionless face.

I handed her coffee to her and she took it from me. “Thank you. When do you get off shift?”

“Why do you care?” I knew it was petty but I wanted to give her a taste of her own medicine.

“Because I want to take you somewhere.” She said. “I’m sorry about the other day.”

I hesitated for a second. Her kindness surprised me slightly. “I get off in an hour.”

She nodded. “I’ll be waiting.”

As soon as my shift ended, I joined Paige at that same circular table in the corner of the café. She was sat, to my surprise, looking out the window rather than reading.

“You ran out of books to read?” I asked.

She looked up at me and turned her whole body to face me. “No, I just had more important things to do than reading.”

“Such as?” I didn’t bother to sit down because something told me we would be leaving very soon.

And I was right because she stood up and took my hand. “Apologising to someone who has been perfectly nice to me.” She dragged me out the café, down the street until we reached the beach.

“What are we doing here?” I questioned.

“Well, this is where you first took an interest in me.” Paige let go of my hand and walked to the shore, looking out at the sea. “It doesn’t look as pretty in the daytime, does it?”

I walked over and joined her, standing next to her, looking out to the edge of the sea.

She turned to me. “You want to know my story so ask away.”

“Really?”

“Yep.” And for the first time that whole week I’d known her, she smiled. It was the most beautiful thing I’d seen; her straight, white teeth completely on show with dimples dipping into her cheeks as little creases formed under her eyes. Her whole face lit up.

“Okay, well I guess my first question is why can’t I find you anywhere? I looked for you on social media and you’re a complete ghost.”

“Stalker much?” Paige laughed slightly. “I don’t like having social media. I don’t see the point in sharing your life with strangers who don’t care.”

“Fair enough.” I nodded. “Why are you suddenly opening up to me?”

She looked at me as if she searched my face for the answer I wanted. “I guess out of the millions of people I’ve walked past every day, you’re the only one who cared enough to force your way into my life. And I guess part of me trusts you. I don’t know why. I don’t even know you. But you’ve shown me more compassion than I’ve experienced in a long time. Why have you become so invested in me?”

“Because you’re different than anyone I’ve ever met. You don’t care about following today’s society; you’d rather read a book in a day and experience a storyline that you don’t exist in. You see beauty in the little things. You’re breath-taking. Plus you have really beautiful hair.” I

laughed, causing her to smile in response.

We stood in a comfortable silence for a second, looking out towards where the sky meets the water. Then out the corner of my eye, I saw her turn to face me. “I truly am sorry, Alec. I treated you unkindly.”

“It’s okay.” I smiled. “I forgive you.”

Paige looked down at her feet and kicked the sand slightly, deep in thought. “I should go. My parents will be wondering where I’ve gone.” She looked back up to me and smiled a little. “Yes, I still live with my parents and yes they like to know where I am.”

“I think it’s sweet.” I smiled. “Will I see you again?”

“Definitely.” She nodded. “Bye.”

“Bye.”

She turned and started to walk away, down the sand then up the steps to the road. She stopped. Just for a second. And then she turned her head to face me, smiled, waved and then continued to walk away. Little did I know, that was the moment she realised she made a mistake. And that’s where our story began and ended all at once.

A couple of days went by and I didn’t hear anything from Paige Pearson. That was until the day I uncovered just another lie of hers. I was walking down the street, on my way home from the coffee shop, when I saw her walking along the path on the opposite side of the road to me. Her long crimson hair was now tied back into a ponytail, swinging about as she walked closer and closer to the hotel.

“Hey, Paige!” I attempted to get her attention. But she was in her own world once again; earphones plugged into her ears as she bopped her head slightly to the music she was listening to.

I looked down the road to see if any cars were coming so that I could join her but just as I looked back over to her, ready to cross the road, I saw her walk through the automatic, sliding doors of the hotel. I frowned, confused. Why would she go into a hotel? I found myself following her. I knew it was wrong but I couldn’t help my curiosity.

She didn’t go up to the reception desk, but instead entered the door to a corridor where a long line of doors stretched far out to the end. I followed her down the corridor, keeping my distance, until she came to room 14 and swiped a key card over the sensor, opening the door and entering. I stood staring at the closed door for a minute. I couldn’t understand what was going on. Why did she have a hotel room? I stepped up to the door and knocked three times before waiting for her to open it.

After a couple of seconds, the door swung open. “Sorry, I didn’t order any room service…” She stopped when she noticed that it was me. Something in her eyes told me that she was ashamed. That she wished she could turn back time and keep her secret for a bit longer.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

She raised her eyebrows, not to be harsh but trying to avoid the question. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“I saw you walking across the street and I tried to get your attention but you didn’t notice me so I followed you.” I explained. And when I said it all aloud, I realised how odd it sounded.

“Wow.” She smiled. “You really are a stalker, huh?”

I could tell she was trying to lighten the mood but I was still confused about everything. I looked into her room and saw a suitcase sprawled across the bed with clothes being packed into it. “Are you leaving?”

She looked down. “Yeah. Like I said, my house isn’t exactly a home.”

“You’re living here?” I asked. “What about you still living with your parents?”

“I lied.” She looked at me, crystal eyes wide and lips parted, waiting for me to say something, anything.

“Why?”

“Because that’s all I’ve done my whole life.” She sighed. “I’m sorry. But all I know; all I’ve ever known is to run and lie.”

“You ran away? And you’re going to do it again?”

Paige looked at me, distress and loneliness building up behind those walls she’d kept up for so long. “I know I haven’t been here long but… I’m tired.” And then she stopped to think for a second. “I’m tired of running.”

I grabbed her arms delicately, in a pleading manner. I really didn’t want her to go. I was too drawn to her. “So don’t leave. Stop running and stay here.”

“I don’t know.” She pulled away from me but I was persistent on making her stay.

“Please.” And she stopped. I don’t know what made her stop. Maybe it was the desperation in my voice or the fact she’d never had anyone want her to stay. But she nodded simply and smiled.

“Okay.”

I sighed in relief. Was it really that easy? “Do you want to go get a coffee or something?”

She shook her head. “No. I better unpack everything again. How about you go get some to go and bring them back here?” She passed me her key card so that I could get back in when I returned.

“Yeah, sure.” I smiled. “I’ll be back.” I turned and left her. And that was the biggest mistake of my life.

When I returned to room 14 with the coffees, I opened her door with the key card she’d given me and entered the room. “I was going to get you a muffin too but they ran out.” I laughed and looked up. And then I stopped. She was nowhere to be found and the room was completely empty, as if someone had never been here.

I walked over to the table in the corner of the room to find a small piece of paper folded up with ‘Alec xo’ written on it in beautiful, swirly handwriting. I put the coffees down on the table and picked up the piece of paper, walking over to the bed to sit down as I unfolded it and read it. This was the point that I realised I had met Paige Pearson but I never really knew her. She had left me a letter, disclosing all of her secrets.

Alec, I know this may come as a surprise to you but I’m not who I say I am. I never have been. My whole life has always been made up of secrets and lies. I’ve never had a home and I don’t have parents. I’m an orphan. I’ve been alone my whole life and I’ve always liked it that way. And then you came along. It sounds crazy but in the two weeks I’ve known you, you made me want to stay. You made life enjoyable again. ‘Alec’ is Greek for protector of mankind. You told me you’re not a protector but I think you are. You protected me from the loneliness. But that’s why I had to leave. Because I don’t let people in. I made a mistake letting you in. You’re better off not knowing me. And it’s easier to leave now than wait for us to get to know each other and build up some sort of relationship only for me to leave again. I know you have many questions about me. And I haven’t even started with my explanation to all of this. So I guess we’ll start with my name. Paige Pearson isn’t my real name. The orphanage gave me a name I didn’t like and I guess when I grew out of the system, that’s when this all began. I left the system with a new name and a new identity. I was Stella Stoneheart. It seems like an odd name when I think back to it but I was eighteen and thought it sounded cool. I guess I’ve always been one to make mistakes. Speaking of which, Stella Stoneheart had blonde hair. Yeah. I don’t know why I died it blonde. My natural colour is brown so it didn’t exactly suit me. I moved to a different town and started a new life for myself. I became obsessed with reading because if I got lost in these stories, I wouldn’t feel so alone anymore. I’d have this adventure with the characters. I don’t know. It kind of seems silly. When I was twenty, I changed my identity and moved to a different town again. I died my hair back to its natural colour and changed my name to Holly Anderson. From then, I fell into a vicious cycle of changing my identity and moving to a new town. Gradually, I started doing it more often. Until I’d only stay in the same town with the same identity for a couple of weeks before leaving. That way, I didn’t get attached to anyone. Stella Stoneheart had social media. You can search for her. But after that I realised it was a bad idea to create social media for each new identity. People would become suspicious of all the doppelgängers. I guess you’re the only one who became suspicious of the fact I couldn’t be found anywhere. I like that analogy you made of me. A ghost. I guess I kind of am. I don’t know why I fell into this life but I did. And I know you wanted me to stay but I couldn’t. That’s just not how I live and nothing is going to change that. I know my kind of living might sound depressing to you but I like it. I feel like a character in a story. I create who I want to be and I live as that person for however long I want. No responsibilities, no pressure, just me. Now it’s time to create a new identity and start a new life somewhere else. I’m sorry that I lied. And I’m sorry that I let you in only to let you down. But it’s time to let me go. Don’t try to find me. You have to let me let you go. Live your life and forget about me; you don’t belong in my world.

Your friend,

Ghost girl xo

Part of me knew there was more to her story; there were more secrets than she let on. But I would never find out and I would never find her. But I never forgot her. So that was that. The girl with crimson hair was gone. Just like a ghost.