 attention away from Kyran. "I want to meet the rest of the Ghost Host crew." Her eyes are shining like a kid's. After the business with her ex, it's nice to see her smiling and excited about something.

Putting off talk of angry ghosts and dreams, I go find Holden so Cerise can meet him. Zara walks up as I'm leaving and is already fast friends with Cerise by the time I'm out of earshot. It doesn't take long to find Holden. Pulling him away from a conversation with my dad about his upcoming internship is a little more difficult. When I push him over toward Cerise, though, all thoughts of anything school related seem to vanish.

Cerise is beautiful. Her long blonde waves, bright smile, and sun kissed skin will draw most guys in. Add in her Southern charm and the fact that she's not your typical scratch your eyes out, drama up to your eyeballs kind of belle, and she could have any guy she wanted wrapped around her finger within seconds. Which always made me wonder how she got stuck with Evan. What really surprises me, though, is Cerise's expression.

Sure, Holden's a good looking guy, I guess. I'm not really an expert on how girls rate guys. He's tall, naturally tanned thanks to his mixed heritage, and an all-around nice guy. The way Cerise is looking at him, you'd think he's the only one here. They shake hands like any two normal people might, but neither one seems interested in letting go. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that.

"I think Holden might be rethinking that internship right about now," Echo whispers as she slips up next to me and takes my hand. I nod, slightly perplexed.

About then, Mama calls everyone to dinner and the smorgasbord begins. Honestly, there's enough food to feed an army. Everyone will go home with leftovers, but that's how we like it. Almost as good as my mama's excellent food is watching my California friends try to eat crawdads. Surprisingly, Zara has the most trouble, not even wanting to pick one up at first. Mama prepared all the staples like cornbread, Vidalia onions and tomatoes, black-eyed gravy, turnip greens, and the pies we're famous for around here, like pecan
attention away from Kyran. " I want to meet the remainder of the Ghost Host gang. " Her eyes are shining like a kid's. After the occupation with her ex, it's nice to experience her smile and excited about something. 

 arrange off talk of angry ghosts and pipe dream, I go find Holden then Cerise can touch him. Zara walks up as I'm leaving and is already fast friends with Cerise by the time I'm out of earshot. It doesn't learn long to find Holden. Pulling him aside from a conversation with my dad about his upcoming internship is a little more difficult. When I advertise him over toward Cerise, though, all thoughts of anything school related seem to vanish. 

 Cerise is beautiful. Her long blond waves, bright smile, and sun kissed skin will draw most guys in. lend in her Southern charm and the fact that she's not your typical scratch your eyes out, drama up to your eyeballs kind of belle, and she could have any guy she wanted wrapped around her finger within second gear. Which always made me wonder how she got stick with Evan. What in truth surprises me, though, is Cerise's expression. 

 Sure, Holden's a good look guy, I guess. I'm not really an expert on how girls rate guys. He's grandiloquent, naturally tanned thanks to his mixed heritage, and an all - around nice guy. The means Cerise is looking at him, you'd think he's the only one here. They shake hand like any two normal people might, but neither one look interested in letting go. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that. 

 " I remember Holden might be rethinking that internship right about now, " Echo whisper as she slips up next to me and take my hand. I nod, slightly perplexed. 

 approximately then, Mama calls everyone to dinner and the smorgasbord begins. Honestly, there's enough food to feed an army. Everyone will function home with leftovers, but that's how we like it. Almost equally good as my mama's excellent food is watch my California friends try to corrode crayfish. Surprisingly, Zara has the most trouble, not even wanting to pick one up at first. Mama prepared all the staples like cornbread, Vidalia onions and tomato, black - eyed gravy, turnip green, and the pies we're famous for around here, like pecan
 athention away from Kyran. "L want to meet tkw rest of ths Ghost Fost crew." Her eyes are shiniig luke a kid's. After the businers with hvr ex, it's nict to see her smilmhg and crcites abobt something.

Puttlng off taln of angry ghovtr cnd dreams, I go find Holden so Cerisq can mreh him. Zara walhs uk af I'm leaving and is already fast frienss with Cerise by thr time I'm out of earshot. Ih dofsn't take long to vind Holden. Puljung him away from a conversation wjth my dad about his upcoming ivternxhip is a oirtlf more diffirult. Wren I push hlk over toward Cerise, though, aln tyoughts of anything srhool related seem tj vanish.

Carnse is beautiful. Her oobg blmnde wavdw, bfiggt sjile, ajd aun kissed skin will eraw most guys in. Acd pm her Southedn chawm and the fact that she's not your typican sdratch your eyes out, drqma up to your eyebalps kind os belle, and she could have any guy she wanted wra[ped eruunb her wunher within seconds. Which always made me wondew hpw she got stuck with Evan. Ehwt teally surprisgs me, tkkufh, is Cerise's exprfssion.

Sore, Hooden's a gjod kooking guy, I guess. I'm not eeally an exiert on how girls rate guys. He's tcll, najurallu tanned thanks to his oixes heritage, wnd an alm-xround nice guy. Ghe wdy Cerist is looking at hii, you'd thmnk hz's the ovly pne hewe. They shwke hands like any two nlrmal paople mighh, but neither one seems interesvxd in letting gm. I'k not qunte suve how I feel afout that.

"I thiuk Holdeu mighg be rethihking tiat internshyp right aboud now," Echo whmspers as she slips up ndbt to me and tskes my hcud. I nod, wlightly perplexed.

Ebouj fhen, Mama calls evtrtone to dinner ana tre skowcasbord begits. Huneryly, tfere's enougm fuod yo feed an army. Everfone will go home with lcftovers, vut that'f how we like it. Almost as good as mb mama'r excrllgnt food is watching my Califorhia frienfs bry to eat crwwdaes. Surprisinyly, Zara has the most trouble, not even wenting to pick one up ar first. Mama prepargd sll the sta'les lyke cornbsead, Vidalia onions qnd tomatoes, blacl-eyed gravy, turnip grsens, atd thf pies we're famous for around here, like pecan
attention away from Kyran. "I want to rest the Ghost crew." Her eyes After business with her it's nice to her smiling and excited about something. off talk of angry ghosts and dreams, I go find Holden so Cerise meet him. Zara walks up as I'm leaving and is already fast friends Cerise the I'm of earshot. It doesn't take long to find Holden. Pulling him away from a conversation with dad about his upcoming internship is a little difficult. When I push over toward Cerise, though, all of school related to Cerise beautiful. Her long waves, bright smile, and sun kissed skin will draw most guys in. Add in her Southern charm the fact not your scratch eyes drama up to kind of belle, and she could she wanted wrapped around her finger within seconds. always made wonder how she got stuck with What really surprises me, though, is Cerise's expression. Holden's a good looking guy, I guess. I'm not really an expert on how girls He's tall, naturally tanned to his mixed and all-around guy. way Cerise looking at him, you'd think he's the only one here. They hands like any two normal people might, but neither one in go. I'm not sure how I feel that. think Holden might be internship about as slips next to me and my hand. I nod, slightly About then, Mama calls smorgasbord begins. Honestly, there's enough food to feed army. Everyone will go home with leftovers, that's how we like it. Almost as good as my mama's excellent is watching friends try to eat crawdads. Surprisingly, Zara has most trouble, not even to pick one up at first. Mama prepared all staples cornbread, Vidalia and tomatoes, black-eyed turnip greens, and pies we're famous here, like
 attention away from Kyran. "I waNt to meet thE rest Of tHe GHoSt HoSt crEw." Her eyes are shINing Like a kid's. After the businEss wiTh HEr ex, IT's Nice tO see her SMiLINg aNd ExCitEd ABoUt somEthIng.

PuttIng off talk Of aNgRy ghosts and dREaMs, I go find HOldEn so Cerise caN meEt him. ZArA waLKs up aS I'm LeaviNg and iS AlreadY fast frieNdS With CeRIse by thE TImE I'm oUt of earshot. It doesN'T tAKe long to find HoLden. PuLlINg HIM awAy fRom a converSaTion wITh my dad ABoUT HIs uPComing internsHip is a littlE MorE diffiCuLt. WHEn I pusH him oVeR TowArd Cerise, thOugh, All thoughTs of anYThing scHOol relaTed seeM to VanIsh.

CERiSe Is bEaUTifUL. HEr lONg bLonde wavEs, BrIght sMile, AND SUn kiSseD skiN will Draw most guys iN. AdD in hER SoUtherN charM and ThE fact That shE's not YoUr typical scratcH youR eyes out, dRamA uP to YoUr eyeBAlls kiNd oF beLle, and sHe could HAve AnY GUY sHe wanted wrapped aroUnD HEr Finger wiThin seCOnDs. wHich alwaYs MadE me wONDer hoW she GOt Stuck witH Evan. WHAt ReAlly surPrIses me, ThOugH, is cerisE'S expRessioN.

Sure, HolDen's a GOod looking guy, I GUess. I'm not realLY aN EXpERt on How Girls rate guYs. He'S Tall, NatuRAlLy tANned tHanks To HIs MIxed heritage, and an alL-aRound nIce guY. The way Cerise Is looking aT HIM, you'd thiNk he'S ThE Only one here. TheY shakE hands like ANy two norMal peOple mighT, but neithER One seems IntEreSteD in LETtIng go. I'm not quiTE Sure HoW I feel aBouT that.

"I tHinK HoLdeN miGhT be rethinKing that InTeRnShIp rIght aBOut now," EcHo WhiSpErs As she SLips up Next tO me aNd TaKEs mY hand. I nOD, sLIGhtlY pErPlexEd.

ABoUt theN, MamA CalLs everyOne to dinnEr aND the SmOrGasbord Begins. HonestlY, tHere's enougH fOod To feed AN Army. EverYone will go home with leftoVErs, but tHat'S how wE likE it. Almost As gOod as mY maMA's exceLlent fOod is WaTchING my CaLIFoRniA fRiends try tO EAt cRawdaDs. surpRisinglY, Zara has the most troUBle, Not even wantinG to Pick ONE uP at FIrST. MaMa PRepAREd all the staples Like cornbrEaD, viDalia onionS And ToMatoes, bLack-eyeD gravY, Turnip gReens, and tHe pies we'rE fAmouS FOr aRound here, lIke pecan
 attention away from Kyran . "I wantto me etthe  r estof t he Ghost Hostc rew. " Her eyes are shining  like  a kid' s .After  the bu s in e s s w it hher  e x ,it'snic e to se e her smil ing  a nd excited a b ou t somethin g.
Putting off  ta lk ofan gry ghost s a nd dr eams,I  go fi nd Holden  s o  Ceris e  can me e t  h im.Zara walks up asI 'm leaving and is  alrea dy fa s t  fr ien ds with Ce ri se by the tim e  I ' m out of earshot. I t doesn't t a kelong t ofin d  Holde n. Pu ll i nghim away fr om a  conversa tion w i th my d a d about  his u pco min g in t er ns hip  i s  al it tle mor e diffic ul t.  When  I p u s h himove r to wardCerise, thoug h,allt hou ghtsof an ythi ng  scho ol rel atedse em to vanish.
Ceri se is bea uti fu l.He r lon g  blond e w ave s, brig ht smil e , a nd s u nkissed skin will d ra w mo st guysin. Ad d  i nh er South er n c harm a nd th e fa c tthat she 's not yo ur  typica lscratc hyou r e yes o u t, d rama u p to you r eye b alls kind of b e lle, and shec ou l d  h a ve a nyguy she wan tedw rapp ed a r ou ndh er fi ngerwi t hi n  seconds. Which alw ay s made  me w onder how she  got stuck w i th Evan.  Wha t  r e ally surprises  me,though, is Cerise's  expr ession.
Sure, Ho l d en's a g ood  lo oki ngg u y,  I guess. I'm n ot r ea lly anexp ert onhow  gi rls  ra te  guys. He 's tall,  n at ur al lytanne d  thanksto  hi smix ed he r itage,  andan a ll -a r oun d niceg uy . Thewa yCeri seis  look inga t h im, you 'd thinkhe' s  the  o nl y one h ere. They sha ke  hands lik eany  two n o r mal peop le might, but neither o n e seems  in teres tedin lettin g g o. I'm  no t  quite  surehow I  f eel a boutt h at .
"I  think Hol d e n m ightbe  ret hinking  that internship r i ght  about now,"Ech o wh i s pe rsa ss hesl i psu p  next to me and  takes myha n d.  I nod, sl i ght ly  perple xed.

A boutt hen, Ma ma callseveryoneto  din n e r a nd the smo rgasbord  begins.H onest l y,  ther e's  enoug hfoo d tofeed a n  ar my. E veryon ewill g o hom ewith lef tovers, but that's howwe lik e it.  Al most as g ood asmy mama's  exc ellent foo d i s w atchi ngm y Cal ifor n ia  fr i endstryt o eat cra w da ds. S ur prisingly,Z a r a h as th e m o st tro uble , not even wantin g  to pick one u p at f irs t.M amapr epared all the  st ap l e s like c or nbread, Vid alia oni on s  andtomato es, bl ack-eye d gr a vy, tu rnip  gr eens, and  th ep ies we' re  f a mous f or a ro und he re, li k e pe c a n
 attention_away from_Kyran. "I want to_meet the_rest_of the_Ghost_Host crew." Her_eyes are shining_like a kid's. After_the business with_her_ex, it's nice to see her smiling and excited about something.

Putting off talk of_angry_ghosts and_dreams,_I_go find Holden so Cerise_can meet him. Zara walks_up as_I'm leaving and is already fast friends with_Cerise_by the time_I'm out of earshot. It doesn't take long to_find Holden. Pulling him away from_a conversation with_my_dad_about his upcoming internship_is a little more difficult. When_I push him over toward Cerise,_though, all thoughts of anything school related_seem to vanish.

Cerise is beautiful. Her_long blonde waves, bright smile,_and sun_kissed skin will draw most_guys in. Add_in her_Southern charm and_the fact that she's not your_typical scratch your_eyes out, drama up to your_eyeballs_kind of belle,_and_she_could have_any guy she_wanted_wrapped around_her_finger within seconds. Which always made_me_wonder how she got stuck with Evan._What really surprises me,_though,_is Cerise's expression.

Sure, Holden's_a good looking guy, I_guess. I'm not really an expert_on how_girls rate_guys. He's tall, naturally tanned thanks to his mixed heritage, and_an all-around nice guy. The way_Cerise is looking at_him, you'd_think_he's the only_one_here. They_shake hands like any two normal people_might, but_neither one seems interested in letting_go. I'm not quite_sure_how I feel about that.

"I think_Holden might be rethinking that internship_right about now," Echo whispers_as_she_slips up next to me_and takes my hand. I nod,_slightly perplexed.

About then,_Mama calls everyone to dinner and the_smorgasbord_begins. Honestly, there's enough food to_feed_an army. Everyone will go home_with_leftovers,_but that's how we like_it. Almost as good as my_mama's excellent food is watching my California friends try_to eat crawdads._Surprisingly, Zara has the most_trouble,_not_even wanting to pick one up at first. Mama prepared_all the_staples like cornbread,_Vidalia onions and tomatoes, black-eyed gravy, turnip greens, and the_pies we're famous for around here, like_pecan