"HEY GHOST." A FAMILIAR voice pipes up just behind me.
I steel myself for a moment. I'm so tempted to ignore her, to just close my locker and walk away.I turn around already knowing who I'll see. Beth, Bailey and Becca – or the Three Bs, as they're known at Huntson High.Beth is the Queen Bee, and Bailey and Becca are sort of like the worker bees. They do everything for her; they even carry her bag and her phone.Jamie says the reason people call them the Three Bs isn't because their names all start with B, but actually because they’re all "Blonde Brainless Bitches". She's wrong though – Bailey gets good grades and she’s sort of nice, and Beth and Becca aren't really blonde.They only started dying their hair blonde last year after they became obsessed with Fable and Alastaire said in a TV interview that he only dates blondes.Alastaire's elite fans, or “Alastaire’s Angels” as the media calls them, are like an exclusive club, and having the right look is a must. That means blonde, skinny and pretty.Maybe it's because I fit the description that on my very first day at Huntson High, Beth actually tried to recruit me into her little clique. I was sitting alone in the cafeteria, feeling totally out of place, when she introduced herself to me.The first thing she said to me is that I'm really beautiful, “like a model” but I'd be “sooo much hotter with a tan.” She also said that I was waaaay skinny and she wanted to try whatever diet I was on.The truth was that I hadn't been eating properly for months. I was still so wrapped up in everything that had happened. Of course, I didn’t tell her that. I just shrugged, said thanks, and started to walk away.Then she told me they had space for me at their table.I guessed it was probably a big deal to be invited, but I'm not even remotely interested in being friends with someone like Beth.Popularity is seriously overrated.After I turned Beth down that first day, the taunts started. I guess she figured that if I'm not going to be on her team, I'm a threat.She played around with stupid names like “Trashling” and “Ashtray” before she settled on “Ghost”.I guess it's because of how I look. Ashen. Airy. My hair is long and straight and whitish-blonde; my skin is way too pale, and my eyes are the same light green as both my parents.Besides my appearance, I was so quiet and detached in those first few weeks at Huntson High that I probably did resemble some sort of lonely specter.I didn't talk to anyone. I drifted along the corridors in my own world. I wanted to be invisible, to fade away. Until Zee and Grace and Jamie rescued me.I can see what Beth was thinking with the nickname, but she probably doesn't even realize how close to home it is. Some days, especially on days like today when I'm thinking about the bus and Mia and Evan, I really do feel like a ghost.Most of the time Beth and I avoid each other, but sometimes when we pass each other in the corridors or in the cafeteria, the Three Bs make spooky noises.Beth's standing in front of me now, arms crossed in front of her."I heard a rumor about you," she says, twining a long strand of GHD'd blonde hair around her finger as she stares intently at me. She's ignoring my friends and staring only at me, as if they aren't even there. "I heard you're bailing on the concert tonight."I just shrug, trying to look like it's no big deal. "So what? Why do you even care Beth?"Beth's jaw literally drops. "Oh my god. So it's true?"I'm starting to get irritated. I swing open my locker so that the door is between her and me, hoping she gets the message.She pokes her head around the side of my locker."No way," she says. "I guess you couldn't get a ticket, huh? They sell out so fast. You poor thing. You must be devastated."Her voice is as sweet as honey. She's loving this."She had a ticket," Zee says, stepping in front of me, "she's choosing not to go. For... um... personal reasons."I cringe a little. I think Zee's trying to help, but she's just making it worse."Seriously?" Beth is now smiling so hard she looks like her face is about to split open. Something about her makes me think of a cobra about to strike."Wow Ghost. I thought you were such a big fan. You seemed so dedicated." She draws out the words, eyes glittering with glee."I am dedicated," I say. "There's a reason I'm not going, it's just... personal."I'm sure that must sound extremely stupid.Beth's eyes twinkle. "Well, I guess not all Enfablers are for life. There are always gonna be wannabes".It's ironic that Beth would say that. She and the other Bs only really got into Fable at the end of last year, but since then they've made up for lost time.The Three Bs are the kinds of girls who give Enfablers a bad name. Sending threats to the boys' girlfriends on Twitter. Hating on other fandoms. Turning fans against each other.I just stare at Beth, trying to keep myself composed until Becca starts giggling behind her."Let's go Beth," she says. "She's a lost cause."Beth shakes her head and turns her gaze finally to my friends."Have fun tonight girls," she says in a sugary voice. "Try last the whole show, ok? I'm sure you're gonna get tired standing around in general admission.""You're not in general admission?" Zee asks, taking the bait."We're in a suite," Bailey says from behind Beth. The sound of her voice always surprises me a little – she doesn't usually talk. Beth does all the talking for her."Seriously?" Zee asks, innocent and wide-eyed as ever. "Aren't suites, like really expensive?""Yeah, I guess they are," Beth says. "But that's what makes us real fans... as opposed at posers like you freaks. Money's no issue when it comes to getting close to our boys.""I think you're forgetting that technically we'll actually be closer to them if we're standing on the floor," Grace says. "We're going early to get a spot near the stage.""Whatever," Beth says. "You and twenty thousand other fans. Good luck with that.""You probably won't see them at all," Becca chimes in. "It's a cesspit on the floor. You'll be lucky if you can even see them on the screens.""You might as well stay at home and watch the show on YouTube," Beth taunts."So what?" Jamie's getting angry now. "They're sticking around Portland for a few days. They'll probably be checking out all the tourist attractions. It's not like tonight is our only chance to see them.""Yeah," Zee says brightly. "We're all gonna see them. And meet them even. You too Ashling." She reaches for my hand and gives it a quick squeeze."Actually, they're flying out tomorrow, so no," Beth says."And how the hell would you know that?" Jamie asks.Beth flashes a victorious smile. "My mom works for the limo company the boys are using here. They're getting driven out to the airport tomorrow."She could be lying, but she knows we'd find out on Twitter soon enough anyway. I'm guessing there's no point in asking what time they're getting driven out, so that we can meet the boys at the airport – Beth wouldn't tell us anyway."Anyway, I'm done mingling with the riffraff," Beth says, turning her back on us and heading down the corridor. "TTYN bitches"."Let's go," I say to Jamie, Grace and Zee.THE REST OF THE MORNING goes by excruciatingly slowly. My first three periods are the worst. Chem, math and physics. The deadly trio.The fact that I'm still feeling down about the concert doesn't help matters.My next class is art, which I actually like. Plus it's one of the few classes I have with Jamie, Grace and Zee.We usually meet up at our lockers before walking out to the arts building together, so I'm not surprised when I hear Jamie's voice as I'm about to turn the corner by our lockers. She sounds upset.I stop dead in my tracks when I hear her say my name.I'm not totally sure what it is that makes me press my back against the wall and stand listening, concealed around the corner where they can't see me. I'm only a few feet from them, and they could leave the lockers and turn the corner at any time, and this would be very weird to try and explain to them.I don't usually randomly eavesdrop on my friends. But there's something in Jamie's voice
AFTER SCHOOL I WALK to The Night Owl. Most Fridays the girls come with me. Everything's on the house for us – the Night Owl, along with the restaurant upstairs, is owned and managed by my parents.Ever since they met and fell in love at chef school in Seattle (pretty romantic I guess), they dreamed about starting a business together.The only complication was that my dad wanted a haute cuisine restaurant and my mom wanted a cozy little coffeehouse.So when my gran offered to put money down on a building, they decided on a compromise. Fine dining restaurant upstairs, coffeehouse downstairs.When they first moved in eleven years ago, the building had been abandoned for ages. I was only five years old, so I don't remember much – but whenever I look at it now I can still see the blanket of moss and ivy growing all over the facade so thickly you could barely see the walls.Today a small group of tourists in flannels and hiking gear are standing outsid
UPSTAIRS IT'S CHAOS AS usual. Biblio only officially opens at six for dinner, but the preparations start in the early afternoon. There's inventory to take, plates to wash, stock to prepare, gelato to freeze.Every time I walk into Biblio's entrance I love to imagine the first impression diners get of it.It's massive – a double vaulted ceiling with chandeliers illuminating tapestries and old paintings. Oak bookshelves crowded with books bought in second hand stores line most of the walls.The cleaner is changing the roses and candles on each table, while a waiter stacks menus on the bookshelf at the entrance. The menus are inside old book covers to keep with the library theme.I consider going into the kitchen to say hi to mom and dad, but I know they have their hands full.So I spend the rest of the afternoon in the back room working on my school assignments.Even though I have a couple of solid hours uninterrupted, I still only manage to finish
ON THE WAY OUT I stop to say goodbye to Jade.Jade looks up from the latte he's making."What are your plans for the rest of the night?" He asks."Home. YouTube. Dinner," I answer. What I don't mention is that by YouTube I mean I'll be lounging around in my pjs crying over Fable music videos. And by dinner I mean pistachio ice cream. Probably a whole tub.With mom and dad working in the kitchens until late every Friday, I basically have free reign. "Sounds fun. That reminds me though..." he leans across the counter, tucking a loose strand of sandy blonde hair behind his ear. "Why didn't you go with your friends to the concert? I thought you loved Fable. Like, a die-hard super fan."There's no sarcasm in his voice.One of the things I admire most about Jade is how he's so accepting, and he actually makes an effort to see from other people's point of view. I doubt he listens to Fable – he told me once that he mostly listens to old retro stuff
FOR A GOOD TEN seconds, all I can do is stare. This can't be happening.Finally I feel my lips move. "Felix... Lockhart?""In the flesh," he says.I take in the familiar features, looking for some difference which would prove he's just some lookalike having a laugh.I take in the beautiful, perfect face, vampire-pale skin, high cheekbones framed by dark hair. It's his eyes however that banish any doubts – they're recognizable anywhere.Intense hazel green with a ring of brown around the pupil, with a few gold flecks near the rim. Cold and cat-like, predatory even – but somehow too beautiful to be real. I've always wondered if they're actually contacts, but up close I can see his eyes are perfectly clear.No contacts. No Photoshop."They're real," I murmur. "Wow"."What's real?" He asks.I just stare.Felix Lockhart is here, standing right in front of me. The real deal, totally legit. Living, breathing, not just in the mag
INSIDE, THE LIMO IS cool and softly lit. I slide across the leather seat until I'm sitting opposite Felix.There's a cold, fluttery feeling in the pit of my stomach.Felix places the guitar case on the floor between us. He stretches back, crossing his long legs out in front of him at the ankle.I notice he's wearing the same outfit (a dark top, black jeans and navy blue converse sneakers) he was wearing in one of Lyall's Instagram updates from earlier in the day.It's all just so surreal.I look down at my own outfit and realize we're wearing practically the same thing. I didn't change after school, so I'm still in my skinny jeans, converse and a red hoodie.I'd give anything to be wearing a pretty dress right now. Or some killer lipstick or even just eyeliner. I can see Jamie's logic in wearing makeup 24/7 now.But there's no way when I was rushing to get dressed this morning I could have known I'd be going to the concert, escorted by none other t
AS WE PULL INTO the stadium parking lot, I realize that the screaming is coming from a huge crowd of girls hanging around outside.Zee, Grace, Jamie and everyone else who has a ticket will be inside by now.These are the fans who didn't get concert tickets in time.Most of them are standing around waving signs that read "FABLE FOREVER" OR "ENFABLER4LIFE", singing, screaming, showing their support even though they won't get to see the actual show.When Fable first started getting popular, their fans were mostly teenaged girls. The press were quick to label them as a boy band, even though they play their own instruments, and their sound is closer to rock than pop. As they started winning awards and earning respect, the press changed their tune. They were the band that "brought rock back". The cherry on top was when David Bowie, dressed head-to-toe in his Jareth costume from Labyrinth, joined the boys onstage during a performance of Déjà Vu at Central
"THIS WAY," TODD SAYS, walking down the corridor at a fast pace.As I follow the security guard past several sets of frosted glass doors, I remember Beth boasting that her dad got her a suite.If she was telling the truth, it means she and the other Bs are probably somewhere nearby on the same level of the arena.I might even run into them.Oh hell no.Although even if that were to happen, it’s no big deal. Nothing could ruin my good mood. This is shaping up to be officially the most amazeballs night EVER, and it’s only going to get better. I still can't believe I'm going to meet the rest of the band after the show.I'm not too nervous about meeting Lyall or Elliot, because everyone knows that Lyall's a total sweetie and Elliot's super nice. Ben has a bit of a "hothead" image going on but he's really fun, and Alastair is... Alastaire.I have no clue what I'm going to say to them.Todd finally stops in front of a brightly lit room w