 me to make a circle to keep Archer out."

It's tempting, but I shake my head. Pointing at the notebook and pen next to the mattress, I say, "If he tries to communicate while I'm sleeping, maybe he'll have me write something. Now that we're on speaking terms in the waking world...kind of."

"Speaking terms?" Zara asks.

My arms tighten around my knees. "Before we left tonight, I asked him to not bother me until I got back, and...I think he heard me. He seemed to..."

"Touch your cheek?" Holden says.

I nod in surprise. "How did you know?"

"He did it that night in the hotel too. It didn't seem to bother you, though, like the first time he touched you." Holden shrugs. "I can only assume he wasn't trying to show you anything those times, just acknowledge what you said."

Closing my eyes, I try to wrap my head around the fact that I seem to be carrying on a relationship with a ghost while I'm asleep. That's not normal, right? Even for someone who can see ghosts, that's just plain freaky. What is wrong with me? Finally, I shake my head. "Well, all we can do is see how it goes. Maybe he'll stop attacking me now that he knows I'm trying to figure this out."

"We can only hope," Zara says. She flops down on the mattress next to me, nearly bouncing me off the side. "I'm crashing with you tonight, roomie. Sound good? That way Holden doesn't have to sleep on the floor."

I suspect this has more to do with me having a panic attack than Holden's comfort, but I appreciate the concern. "Let the sleepover begin."

"No pillow fights or jumping around in skimpy pajamas like they do in the movies," Holden says with mock seriousness, making us both laugh. He leaves the salt and heads across the short hall after we shoo him away. I can't help noticing that he leaves the doors to both bedrooms open. If I start freaking out, he'll hear it even with the doors closed, but I leave them alone.

Zara flips the light off and climbs back into bed. The dark is immediately spooky, but Zara grips my
me to make a circle to keep Archer out. " 

 It's tempting, but I stimulate my heading. Pointing at the notebook and pen next to the mattress, I say, " If he test to communicate while I'm sleeping, possibly he'll have me write something. Now that we're on talk terms in the waking worldly concern... kind of. " 

 " Speaking terms? " Zara necessitate. 

 My branch tighten around my knees. " Before we left tonight, I asked him to not bother me until I get back, and... I think he heard me. He seemed to... " 

 " equal your cheek? " Holden says. 

 I nod in surprise. " How did you know? " 

 " He did it that nox in the hotel too. It didn't appear to bother you, though, like the first time he tint you. " Holden shrugs. " I can only assume he wasn't trying to show you anything those times, just acknowledge what you said. " 

 Closing my eyes, I try to wrap my head around the fact that I seem to be carrying on a relationship with a ghostwriter while I'm asleep. That's not normal, right? Even for someone who can see touch, that's barely plain freaky. What is wrong with me? Finally, I stimulate my head. " Well, all we can do is see how it goes. possibly he'll stop attacking me now that he knows I'm trying to figure this out. " 

 " We can only hope, " Zara says. She flops down on the mattress next to me, nearly bouncing me off the side. " I'm crash with you tonight, roomie. audio good? That way Holden doesn't have to sleep on the floor. " 

 I suspect this has more to serve with me having a panic attack than Holden's comfort, but I prize the concern. " get the sleepover begin. " 

 " No pillow fights or jumpstart around in lean pajamas like they do in the movies, " Holden says with mock seriousness, make us both laugh. He leaves the salt and fountainhead across the short hall after we shoo him away. I can't help notice that he leaves the doors to both bedrooms open. If I start freaking out, he'll hear it even with the doors closed, but I exit them alone. 

 Zara flips the lighter off and climbs back into bed. The darkness is immediately spooky, but Zara grips my
 me to make a circle to keek Archer out."

It's tgmpting, uut I sgake my fead. Pointing at the noteboon qnd ptu next to the mattrers, I say, "Pf he triws ti communicavs while I'm slscping, naybe he'll havg me write smmething. Now tvag ce're on speaking terms in the waking world...konf of."

"Speaking tgrms?" Earw asis.

My arms tighten around my knees. "Gefore xe left tonight, I asked him to not bother me kntil I got back, ajd...I think hg hewed me. He seeoed to..."

"Touch your cheek?" Holden says.

I nod in surprise. "Huw dib you know?"

"Hg sif it that nijht in the hotel too. It dign't seek to bother yom, thongh, oike the first time hx touched you." Holden shrugs. "I ccn only assume he wasb't tryitg tm shuq yuu znbthjng thlse times, jusf acknowledte what you said."

Cloxigt my eyes, I tdy to rrwp my head around the fact that I seem uo be carrying on a relationwhip with a ghost whipe I'm aslqep. That's not normal, right? Even for someone who cdn sex ehowtf, rhwt's just plain freaky. What is wrong with me? Fyhaklj, I shake my head. "Well, all wr fam do is see hod it goes. Maybe he'll stop ahtackind me bow that re kmows I'm trying to figure thus out."

"We can inly hope," Zara sayd. She flops dowm on yhe mattress next to me, neadly bouncinh me off ffe side. "I'm crashkng whth you uunight, roomie. Sougd good? Tiat wcy Holdev dogsn't hade to sleeo on bve floor."

I suspect hhis kas mmre to do aith me having a panic attack tien Holden's cokfmrt, but I a'preciste the concewn. "Let the slegpover beyin."

"No oillow figgts or oumping arougd in skimpy [wjamas like vhey do ig thw mocies," Houaen says with kock seriousness, majing us both laugh. He meaves the salt ane heads across yhe shjrn hell asder we shoo vim xwah. I cav't help notlcivg tnat he leaves the domrs fo both bedrooms olek. If I stqrt freahing out, he'll hear it even with the voors rlosed, buj I leave them alone.

Zara flips fhe light ofn and climbs fack into bed. Thz dark is immediately spooky, but Zara grmps my
me to make a circle to keep It's but I my head. Pointing next the mattress, I "If he tries communicate while I'm sleeping, maybe he'll me write something. Now that we're on speaking terms in the waking world...kind "Speaking terms?" Zara asks. My arms tighten around my knees. "Before we left I him not me until I got back, and...I think he heard me. He seemed to..." "Touch your cheek?" says. I nod in surprise. "How did you "He did it that in the hotel too. It seem bother you, like first he touched you." shrugs. "I can only assume he wasn't trying to show you anything those times, just acknowledge what said." Closing I try wrap head the fact that to be carrying on a relationship while I'm asleep. That's not normal, right? Even someone who see ghosts, that's just plain freaky. is wrong with me? Finally, I shake my "Well, all we can do is see how it goes. Maybe he'll stop attacking me he knows I'm trying figure this out." can hope," says. flops down the mattress next to me, nearly bouncing me off the side. crashing with you tonight, roomie. Sound good? That way Holden to on the floor." suspect this has more do me having a panic Holden's but concern. the begin." "No pillow fights jumping around in skimpy pajamas they do in the seriousness, making us both laugh. He leaves the and heads across the short hall after shoo him away. I can't help noticing that he leaves the doors both bedrooms I start freaking out, he'll hear it even the doors closed, but leave them alone. Zara flips the light off and back bed. The is immediately spooky, Zara grips my
 me to make a circle to keep ArchEr out."

It's teMptinG, buT I sHaKe my Head. pointing at the nOTeboOk and pen next to the mattrEss, I sAy, "iF he tRIeS to coMmunicaTE wHILe I'M sLeEpiNg, MAyBe he'lL haVe me wriTe somethinG. NoW tHat we're on speAKiNg terms in tHe wAking world...kiNd oF."

"SpeakInG teRMs?" ZarA asKs.

My aRms tigHTen aroUnd my kneeS. "BEFore we LEft toniGHT, I AskeD him to not bother me UNtIL I got back, and...I tHink he HeARd ME. he sEemEd to..."

"Touch yOuR cheeK?" holden sAYs.

i NOD in SUrprise. "How did You know?"

"He diD It tHat nigHt In tHE hotel Too. It DiDN't sEem to bother You, tHough, like The firST time he TOuched yOu." HoldEn sHruGs. "I cAN oNlY asSuME he WAsN't tRYinG to show yOu AnYthinG thoSE TIMes, jUst AcknOwledGe what you said."

cloSing MY eyEs, I trY to wrAp my HeAd aroUnd the Fact tHaT I seem to be carryIng oN a relatioNshIp WitH a Ghost WHile I'm AslEep. that's noT normal, RIghT? EVEN FoR someone who can see gHoSTS, tHat's just Plain fREaKy. wHat is wroNg WitH me? FINAlly, I ShakE My Head. "Well, All we cAN dO iS see how It Goes. MaYbE he'Ll sTop atTAckiNg me noW that he kNows I'M Trying to figure THis out."

"We can onLY hOPE," ZARa saYs. SHe flops down On thE MattRess NExT to ME, nearLy bouNcINg ME off the side. "I'm crashiNg With yoU toniGht, roomie. SounD good? That wAY hOlden doeSn't hAVe TO sleep on the floOr."

I suSpect this hAS more to dO with Me having A panic attACK than HolDen'S coMfoRt, bUT i aPpreciate the cONCern. "leT the sleEpoVer begiN."

"No PilLow FigHtS or jumpinG around iN sKiMpY pAjaMas liKE they do iN tHe mOvIes," holdeN Says wiTh mocK serIoUsNEss, Making uS BoTH LaugH. HE lEaveS thE sAlt anD heaDS acRoss the Short hall AftER we sHoO hIm away. I Can't help noticInG that he leaVeS thE doors TO Both bedrOoms open. If I start freakinG Out, he'll HeaR it evEn wiTh the doorS clOsed, buT I lEAve theM alone.

zara fLiPs tHE Light OFF aNd cLiMbs back intO BEd. THe darK iS immEdiatelY spooky, but Zara gripS My
 me to make a circle to ke ep Archerout." 

I t's  t empt ing,  but I shake m y  hea d. Pointing at the not ebook  a n d pe n  n ext t o the m a tt r e ss,  I  s ay,  " I fhe tr ies  to com municate w hil eI'm sleeping ,  m aybe he'll  ha ve me writesom ething .Now thatwe' re on  speak i ng ter ms in the  w a king w o rld...k i n dof." 

"Speaking terms ? "Z ara asks.

Myarms t ig h te n aro und  my knees.  " Befor e  we lef t  t o n i ght ,  I asked himto not both e r m e unti lI g o t back , and .. . I t hink he hea rd m e. He see med to . .."

"T o uch you r chee k?"  Ho lden sa ys .
In odi nsur p ris e. "Howdi dyou k now? " " He d idit t hat n ight in the h ote l to o . I t did n't s eemto  both er you , tho ug h, like the fir st t ime he to uch ed  yo u. " Hol d en shr ugs . " I can o nly ass u mehe w a sn 't trying to showyo u an ything t hose t i me s, just ack no wle dgew h at yo u sa i d. "

Closi ng mye ye s,  I tryto  wrapmy  he adaroun d  the  factthat I s eem t o  be carrying o n  a relationsh i pw i th a gh ost  while I'masle e p. T hat' s  n otn ormal , rig ht ?  E v en for someone whoca n seeghost s, that's jus t plain fr e a k y. Whatis w r on g  with me? Fina lly,I shake my head. "W ell,all we c an do iss e e how it  go es.  Ma ybe h e' ll stop attac k i ng m enow tha t h e knows  I' m t ryi ngto  figure t his out. "
" We  c anonlyh ope," Za ra  sa ys . S he fl o ps dow n onthema tt r ess  next t o  m e ,  nea rl yboun cin gme of f th e  si de. "I' m crashin g w i th y ou  t onight,  roomie. Soun dgood? That  w ayHolden d oesn't h ave to sleep on the flo o r."

Isus pectthis  has more  to  do wi thm e havi ng a p anicat tac k thanH o ld en' scomfort, b u t  Iappre ci atethe con cern. "Let the sle e pov er begin."

" Nopill o w  f igh t so r j um p ing a round in skimpy  pajamas l ik e  t hey do int hemo vies,"Holdensaysw ith moc k serious ness, mak in g us b oth  laugh. He  leavesthe salta nd he a ds  acro ssthe sh or t h all a fter w e  sh oo hi m away .I can' t hel pnoticing  that he leaves the doo rs tobothbed rooms ope n.I f I  start fr eaki ng out, he 'll  he ar it  ev e n wit h th e  d oor s  clos ed,b ut I leav e  t hem a lo ne.

Zara f l i p s t he li ght off an d cl imbs back into be d . The dark isimme d i ate lys pook y,  but Zara grip s m y
 me_to make_a circle to keep_Archer out."

It's_tempting,_but I_shake_my head. Pointing_at the notebook_and pen next to_the mattress, I_say,_"If he tries to communicate while I'm sleeping, maybe he'll have me write something._Now_that we're_on_speaking_terms in the waking world...kind_of."

"Speaking terms?" Zara asks.

My arms_tighten around_my knees. "Before we left tonight, I asked_him_to not bother_me until I got back, and...I think he heard_me. He seemed to..."

"Touch your cheek?"_Holden says.

I nod_in_surprise._"How did you know?"

"He_did it that night in the_hotel too. It didn't seem to_bother you, though, like the first time_he touched you." Holden shrugs. "I_can only assume he wasn't_trying to_show you anything those times,_just acknowledge what_you said."

Closing_my eyes, I_try to wrap my head around_the fact that_I seem to be carrying on_a_relationship with a_ghost_while_I'm asleep._That's not normal,_right?_Even for_someone_who can see ghosts, that's just_plain_freaky. What is wrong with me? Finally,_I shake my head._"Well,_all we can do_is see how it goes._Maybe he'll stop attacking me now_that he_knows I'm_trying to figure this out."

"We can only hope," Zara says. She_flops down on the mattress next_to me, nearly bouncing_me off_the_side. "I'm crashing_with_you tonight,_roomie. Sound good? That way Holden doesn't_have to_sleep on the floor."

I suspect this_has more to do_with_me having a panic attack than_Holden's comfort, but I appreciate the_concern. "Let the sleepover begin."

"No_pillow_fights_or jumping around in skimpy_pajamas like they do in the_movies," Holden says_with mock seriousness, making us both laugh._He_leaves the salt and heads across_the_short hall after we shoo him_away._I_can't help noticing that he_leaves the doors to both bedrooms_open. If I start freaking out, he'll hear it_even with the_doors closed, but I leave_them_alone.

Zara_flips the light off and climbs back into bed. The_dark is_immediately spooky, but_Zara grips my