Adrian Wells was haunted by the ghost of Emmeline.

The ring he usually kept in his dresser under all his underwear was on his bed side table. He was planning on a proposal, they might have been young but they had known each other since they were children and had been officially together since Freshman year of high school.

The ring was out in the open, like the conversation he had with the police that night. The night Emmy went missing.

They assumed she was dead, that some drunk party kid killed her with their powers.

Adrian's worst fear was happening, the fear that someone important to him would suddenly disappear from his life.

He felt like his world had turned upside down over night, but it didn't. It completely fell apart.

The only person he could really talk about his emotions with was Talia, so she promised herself that she would be with him that night, no matter what.

"I still see her." He said sitting in a chair across from where his sister was sitting, a tear falling down his cheek. Adrian wasn't one for crying, but this was different. It's all he wanted to do.

"What do you mean?" Talia looked at her brother, not like he was crazy, but like he was sick.
She would never judge him, he was her best friend despite being her older brother, she was just so concerned. This person he had spent nearly six years of his life loving just vanished, without a trace and he was very obviously not all there.

"In my mind I can see her. I can fully picture her right in front of me, yet just out of reach."

"Ian, I think you need to get some sleep." She helped him up from the chair. "You have been up way too long. I mean you had to talk to the cops and everything."

"You're right. I just don't know if I am going to be able to go to sleep tonight."

"That's okay. I'll stay over. You don't need to be alone right now." She had a look of worry on her face, but he just smiled at her.

"Thanks sis." Adrian looked almost numb as he took her into his arms. He needed the hug.

And after letting him sink into the hug she helped him move over to his bed and into it. It was as if losing Emmy had made him lose his sense of function.

She waited for him to fall asleep before she went into the living room.

"How is he holding up?" Kali asked, her voice so quiet it sounded like a whisper.

She felt weird being there, almost like she had been the person to take Emmy herself.

It was so strange to her. She didn't even know Emmy for a day and here she was in her boyfriend's off campus apartment, while she was nowhere to be found.

"Not good." talia frowned, she barely knew this girl, yet she felt more comfortable with her than with others. Her usual awkward self was on the back burner. In this moment she only cared about Adrian.

"I feel so guilty."

"Don't." Talia's response was quick and short, yet she really meant it.

"I can't help but wish it was me instead. She doesn't deserve this."

"She wouldn't have been able to stand that someone went missing at her party. It would have eaten her alive. That's just how much she cared about everyone."

"She seems amazing."

"She is." They both went silent, Talia's usual awkwardness rushing back like a tidal wave. "So..." She said in attempt to not be awkward, yet it just made it worse. She hates small talk. "The weather is nice."

"It's pouring right now."

"And, I love the rain!" Talia exclaimed, a little too loud and passionate about the rain.

"Right, me too." She nodded, yet feeling even more strange than before, and taken completely off guard hearing Talia's next words.

"Why were you at the party?" She changed the subject so quickly.

"Well I'm used to the area, I mean I've been to several Godolkin parties, but never as a student there. I'm about to be a sophomore. I'm transferring from the community college."

"Nice."

"Yeah. It's a great way to meet new people... why were you there?"

"I stay sober to make sure Emmy and Adrian don't do anything stupid. Though I wouldn't ever actually drink in general. I hate the taste of alcohol and the feeling of being drunk, my thoughts are already disorganized without it."

"I actually get that." Kali smiled, she didn't expect to have anything in common with Talia.

Talia was starting to feel a little more comfortable around Kali, it helped that she saw Emmy being so nice to her at the party.

"I feel like I know you already."  Talia instantly felt like slapping herself. She thought it sounded creepy. "Sorry that was stupid. I always sound stupid."

"No you don't. I know what you mean. I feel the same."

A very unexpected friendship was blooming between them slowly but surely, perhaps it was due to both girls being extreme over thinkers. They just instantly got each other.

"Is it too soon to ask if you need a place to stay? I could really use a friend and as you can see... I don't have very many."

"I do actually. I've been staying with my aunt and uncle until school starts up and I can movie into the dorms, but I know I'm just a burden."

There was just two weeks before school and here
Talia was asking a complete stranger, someone who she usually stays away from, to stay in her brother's apartment.

Maybe they were bonded because of Emmy's disappearance.

Whatever it was, it didn't matter, what mattered was that with Kali temporarily moving in, Adrian would never be alone with his own thoughts.

For the next two weeks they both stayed in Adrian's three bedroom apartment. He had two roommates the semester before, but they had already graduated and moved out.

Kali ended up being a big help in more ways than one. She helped out with chores and Adrian, but most importantly, she was there for Talia when she needed it most.

She was someone Talia had never had before, a real friend that she became friends with without the help of her brother. And while they were becoming friends before school started, Grayson had things to do of his own.

He forgot about Kali, or tried his very hardest to.

Kali was everything from the past that he couldn't stand. The death of his sister, the town, but also friendship, love, and compassion.

She cared about him. If she knew what really happened she would have stopped everything she was doing to help him search for answers.

Not knowing the truth about his sister's death just drove him over the edge.

Because now she's just someone who haunts him.

A/N: okay guys. So hi. I know its been a super long time since i have updated. (Almost 5 months omg) I have been superrr busy in school. Just to elaborate even though no once asked: got a boyfriend (he was awful), got broken up with said boyfriend, got a job, quit said job, and recently joined a sorority??? On top of classes. So yeah a lot has happened since I last updated. As always I hope you enjoyed!! I'm sorry it's so short but the next chapter will have more characters and be longer!!