“Happy birthday!” A ton of Tessa’s friends tell my sister. The backyard is full of teenagers. Maryann glances at me with a look like she just smelled something funny, then walks over to Tessa, hugging her. 

“Happy birthday.” Cal says, appearing next to me. I fold my arms and glare at him. “Lara, I’m trying to be nice.” He says. 

“I still hate you.” I inform him, and start to walk away to be a wallflower somewhere. Cal grabs my arm, and I turn to look at him struggling. 

“Is there a place we can talk in private?” He asks. 

“Fine. But you better keep your hands out of trouble.” I tell him, then open the garage side door, and pull him inside. We stand in the dark garage, and I sigh. “So what did you want to talk about?” Cal’s arm loops around my waist, and I can feel his breath on my neck. “What did I say about keeping your hands out of trouble?” I ask, struggling.

“I’m only in trouble if I get caught.” He says with a perfect white smile. I glare at him in the dark, and keep struggling. 

“Don’t you already have a girlfriend?” I ask, stepping on his foot and wriggling out of his arms. 

“No.” He says. “She broke up with me.” I laugh humorlessly.

“So you’ll listen when she says no, but not when I do it?” I ask. 

“Are you jealous that I was dating her, and not you?” He asks.

“No. I’d never date you, ever.” I tell him. He laughs, and puts his hand behind my back, pulling me into a kiss. I pull away, and kick him in the shins. “Are you going to get to the point and talk, or just keep kissing me?” Cal sighs, and lets go of me. I walk far enough away so he can’t grab me again, and I mess with the ribbon on my dress. 

“Where’s your car?” He asks, pointing to the empty space in our garage. “Is your dad staying late at work?” My face goes pale, and I look down at my hands. “What? It’s just a simple question.”

“We don’t have a car.” I say quietly. “And my dad left when I was eight.” I flush in embarrassment. But at least us being poor will maybe get him to stop liking me? 

“Oh.” Cal says, awkwardly. “Sorry for bringing that up.”

“It’s fine. You didn’t know.” I mess with a piece of my hair. “So, are you going to talk about a nonexistent car, or is there something actually important?”

“I actually wanted to apologize for being a jerk.”

“You realize that even if I forgave you, I wouldn’t date you?” Cal nods. 

“I’m not looking for a girlfriend.” 

“Then explain the last month of following me around and invading my personal space!” I say, gesturing in the air. 

“Well, maybe you said no, and I actually listened!”

“That would be a first!” I whisper-yell. Cal sighs, and sits down on a crate. “Is that what this whole ‘trying to be nice’ crap is about?” He nods. “I guess I could forgive you. If you don’t kiss me or do anything of the sort ever again.” He nods again. 

“Deal.” 

“Oh, and I’m going to require some of your mom’s pretzels too. To fully forgive you.” Cal laughs, and brushes his hair out of his face. 

“That’s…” He laughs. “That’s what I brought for your birthday present. A huge batch of pretzels.” My eyes widen, and I grin, almost knocking him over with a hug. 

“You’re forgiven!” I say, as he blinks, staring at me. 

“You really like those pretzels, don’t you?” He asks. I nod, and pull out of the hug awkwardly. “We should probably get back to the party.” He says. I nod again, and lead him out of the garage. 

“There you are! It’s time to open presents!” Tessa says, pulling me into a circle of sparkly girls and grinning boys. Henry winks at Tessa, and she blushes. “Let’s do Lara’s presents first.” She says, and goes over to the table, grabbing all the packages with my name on them, which is significantly less than the number of people at the party, so obviously, they weren’t aware it was my birthday. Typical. 

The first present is from Kathy. It’s a little pendant on a length of black ribbon, a cute little necklace. I thank her with a smile, and grab Maryann’s present. It’s… a cheap plastic hair clip and some very condescending fashion advice. I thank her with a fake smile, and grab the next gift. As soon as I open the box, I smell buttery dough, and smile at Cal. 

“Pretzels?” Maryann asks incredulously. “What weirdo sent those?”

“There wasn’t a name on the package.” I say, smiling to myself. “But clearly they know how much I like pretzels.” Maryann stares at me, as Tessa hands me the next gift, from someone I don’t know. It’s a stuffed bear holding a little book. Lara must have told them my obsession with encyclopedias. 

“Now time for Tessa’s presents!” Mom says, and carries over the enormous stack of wrapping paper and ribbons, setting it in front of my sister. I stand up and move to the outside of the circle, sitting down next to Cal. 

“I’m going to eat all of those by myself, you know that?” I tell him, smiling. He grins. 

“Can I at least have one?”

“No, you have them at home.” I tell Cal. 

“But it will mean more coming from you.” He says, with a smirk. I roll my eyes. 

“The meaning of the pretzel makes no difference.” I inform him. Mom taps my shoulder, and puts a little cardboard box into my lap, wrapped with twine and brown paper.

“Jack’s brother just delivered this. Jack was planning to bring you a present, but…”

“Okay.” I say, as she walks away. Cal goes back to watching Tessa get a new dress. I untie the twine, and unfold the brown paper surrounding the box. It looks like an old box that people keep fancy fountain pens in. I slowly pull off the lid of the box. Inside, there’s a little popsicle stick, stained purple with grape juice, sitting on the velvet cushion. A note is folded up next to it. 

Lara,

I thought you would like this. I’d just lose it anyway, and you seem to treasure it as a town relic, so I’m delivering it into your possession. I want you to know that you’re amazing, and kind, and smart, and you’re one of my favorite people ever. In this decade, or previous. Happy birthday. Hope this year treats you well. Thanks for helping me come back. Thanks for trusting me when I was a ghost, even if I did get you in trouble. 

Sincerely,

Jack Evans/Mortimer

I smile and fold the note back up, tucking it under the cushion to keep it safe. Cal stares at the popsicle stick inside the fancy box. I laugh, and close the box, putting it with my other presents. 

“Do I want to ask about that?” Cal questions, pointing to the box. I chuckle, and sigh. 

“You wouldn’t get it. It’s an inside joke.” He nods, and looks at the ground. 

“Is Jack one of the reasons you wouldn’t date me?” He asks quietly, barely audible. I flush, and again wish I had hair to cover my face. 

“N-no.” I say, hoping the dark hides me. “It’s cold. I’m going to go get a jacket.” I stand up and walk towards the house. I go inside, and grab my sweater, coming back out. 

“Let’s play hide and seek out in the forest!” Tessa announces, queen of the party. “Kathy, can you be it?” Kathy nods passively. “Okay, give us sixty seconds.” She says, and leads everyone into the woods behind our house. We scatter. Henry goes with Tessa, and Cal follows me. 

“The best places to hide are up here.” I say, going up the hill. “That way you can see the seeker, while still hiding in a tree.”

“Cool.” Cal says. A chill goes down my spine, and I look through the fog. Ghosts.