Holden frowns, his overprotective side spawning a heavy dose of concern. Zara only shrugs. "It's not like you actually need permission, Echo. You're eighteen."

Shaking his head, Holden says, "It's not about permission, Zara, it's about being careful. Running off on her own might not be the best thing for Echo. Think about your friend instead of just having fun and playing around."

Zara glares at him, but I look away. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Holden. I don't say it out loud, but keeping quiet doesn't do anything to stop the sting of his words. They've both known me since kindergarten, before things got bad, but not before the ghosts. The ghosts have always been there. Even now, there's at least six of them standing around the table, hoping I'll acknowledge them. I don't.

Somehow, I always knew the people I saw hovering around looking aimless were ghosts, and it never really bothered me. Sometimes I talked to them when I was little. They never talked back. Sometimes they would play with me, though. My mom used to tell people what a good baby I was, how I never cried or fussed. She thought she had just lucked out with an easy first kid. Really, I always had someone standing over my crib smiling at me or making silly faces. Ghosts really seem to like being around babies for some reason.

It wasn't until I got a little older that I realized some of my ghostly friends were hanging around for a reason. A few of them were just lonely and either weren't ready to move on or didn't know how. I haven't got a clue about how to send them on their way, so I figure the least I can do is keep them company.

Others, they had messages they wanted to pass on. At first, I didn't know how to do that without getting into trouble. My mom refused to make phone calls or send my letters to random strangers. I found ways to get the letters in the mail without her knowing, but it wasn't easy and they occasionally got sent back to us when the address proved inaccurate. Mom wasn't happy when she found one and realized what I'd been doing.

Holden was the one who came up with the idea for the webshow. It made things a lot easier since my parents think it's just a
Holden frowns, his overprotective side spawning a heavy venereal disease of business. Zara only shrugs. " It's not like you actually necessitate license, Echo. You're eighteen. " 

 Shaking his head, Holden says, " It's not about license, Zara, it's about being careful. tend off on her own might not be the best matter for Echo. remember about your friend rather of just having playfulness and playing around. " 

 Zara glares at him, but I look away. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Holden. I don't state it out loud, but keeping quiet doesn't practice anything to stop the sting of his words. They've both known me since kindergarten, before thing got bad, but not before the ghosts. The ghosts have always been there. Even nowadays, there's at least six of them standing around the table, hoping I'll acknowledge them. I don't. 

 Somehow, I always knew the people I saw hovering around looking aimless were ghosts, and it never really bothered me. Sometimes I talked to them when I was little. They never talk back. Sometimes they would play with me, though. My mom use to distinguish people what a good child I was, how I never cried or fuss. She thought she had just lucked out with an comfortable first kid. Really, I always had someone standing over my crib smiling at me or making silly faces. Ghosts in truth seem to wish being around baby for some reason. 

 It wasn't until I got a little older that I realize some of my ghostly friends were hanging around for a reason. A few of them were just lonely and either weren't ready to act on or didn't sleep together how. I haven't got a clue about how to mail them on their way, thus I figure the least I can suffice is keep them ship's company. 

 Others, they had messages they want to pass on. At foremost, I didn't know how to do that without getting into worry. My mom refused to make phone calls or mail my letters to random strangers. I establish ways to get the letters in the mail without her knowing, but it wasn't easy and they occasionally got sent back to us when the savoir-faire proved inaccurate. Mom wasn't happy when she found one and realized what I'd been doing. 

 Holden was the one who came up with the idea for the webshow. It produce things a lot easier since my parents think it's just a
Holfen frowns, his overprotegtive side spawnnbg a hxavy doae of covcern. Zara only shrugs. "It's nlt like you actually need peroission, Ebho. You're eigiteen."

Shaking his head, Holden szns, "It'v not about perkission, Zasa, it's about baivg careful. Running off on her own migrt not ne the best thind fog Qcho. Nhlnk about your friend instead of just heving fun and pkaying around."

Zara glares ah hil, but I look away. Hhanks for jge dite of confiaence, Holdtn. I don't sai it out loud, but keeping quiet aoesn'c do anythibg to vtop the stmng of his words. Tmvy've bodh knowm me since kincerjartwn, before things got uad, but not before tre ghosts. Tke ghosts have always bwen tvere. Evev nod, tgece's at lewst six of thsm standing around the table, hppybg I'll acknowmedge ehqm. I don't.

Somehow, I always knew the peopne J saw hovering around lioking aimless were gjosts, and it never really bothered me. Sometimes I talked tm thej whtn I war llttle. They never talked back. Sometimes they wjhlc ilay with me, thounh. My mom used to yepl keople what a eood bcgy I was, how I never cried jr fuwsed. She uhougnt she had just lucked out qith an easy dirst kid. Really, I always had somgone syanding over my crib smnling zt me or maning sillg faces. Ghosts rexllj seam to like being around bafies for wome reason.

Kt wssn't ugtil I got a libdle older that I rfalizgd soma of my ghlstly friends were hanging arouiv for a reasom. D fvw of thei werc just lonely agd either wereu't ready to muve on or sidn't kiow how. I haden't got a clgg about how tm send trem in tyeir wah, so I figure tne least P ean do is keep them company.

Pthgra, they had messcyew they wanted tp pxss oj. Et fiwvt, I didn't ktow fow yo do that withomt eettong into trouble. My kom defused to make phpnc calls ot send my letters to rsndom strangers. I vound wabs to bet the letters in the mail withoht her knlwikg, but it wasg't eqsy and they occasionally got sent back to us when vhe address proved inacxurate. Mom wasn't hakpy when she fpund jne and raalized what I'd been doing.

Holden was uhe one who came up witg the hdea vor the webshow. It made things a lot easier since my parents think it's juwt a
Holden frowns, his overprotective side spawning a of Zara only "It's not like You're Shaking his head, says, "It's not permission, Zara, it's about being careful. off on her own might not be the best thing for Echo. Think your friend instead of just having fun and playing around." Zara glares at but look Thanks the vote of confidence, Holden. I don't say it out loud, but keeping quiet doesn't do to stop the sting of his words. They've known me since kindergarten, things got bad, but not the The ghosts always there. now, there's at six of them standing around the table, hoping I'll acknowledge them. I don't. Somehow, I always knew people I around looking were and never really bothered I talked to them when I never talked back. Sometimes they would play with though. My used to tell people what a baby I was, how I never cried or She thought she had just lucked out with an easy first kid. Really, I always standing over my crib at me or silly Ghosts seem like being babies for some reason. It wasn't until I got a little that I realized some of my ghostly friends were hanging a A few of were just lonely and weren't to move on or how. haven't about to them on their way, I figure the least I do is keep them they wanted to pass on. At first, I know how to do that without getting trouble. My mom refused to make phone calls or send my letters random strangers. ways to get the letters in the mail her knowing, but it easy and they occasionally got sent back to us the proved inaccurate. wasn't happy when found one and what I'd been was the who up for the webshow. It made things lot since my parents think it's a
Holden frowns, his overprotecTive side spAwninG a hEavY dOse oF conCern. Zara only shRUgs. "IT's not like you actually neEd perMiSSion, eChO. You'rE eighteEN."

SHAKinG hIs HeaD, HOLdEn sayS, "It'S not aboUt permissiOn, ZArA, it's about beiNG cAreful. RunnIng Off on her own mIghT not be ThE beST thinG foR Echo. think aBOut youR friend inStEAd of juST having FUN aNd plAying around."

Zara glAReS At him, but I look aWay. ThaNkS FoR THe vOte Of confidenCe, holdeN. i don't saY It OUT LouD, But keeping quiEt doesn't do aNYthIng to sToP thE Sting oF his wOrDS. ThEy've both knoWn me Since kindErgartEN, before THings goT bad, buT noT beFore THe GhOstS. THE ghOStS haVE alWays been ThErE. Even Now, tHERE'S at lEasT six Of theM standing arouNd tHe taBLe, hOping i'll acKnowLeDge thEm. I don'T.

SomeHoW, I always knew the PeopLe I saw hovEriNg AroUnD lookINg aimlEss WerE ghosts, And it neVEr rEaLLY BoThered me. Sometimes I TaLKEd To them whEn I was LItTlE. they neveR tAlkEd baCK. sometImes THeY would plAy with ME, tHoUgh. My moM uSed to tElL peOplE what A Good Baby I wAs, how I neVer crIEd or fussed. She tHOught she had juST lUCKeD Out wIth An easy first Kid. REAlly, i alwAYs Had SOmeonE stanDiNG oVEr my crib smiling at me Or Making Silly Faces. Ghosts reAlly seem to LIKE being arOund BAbIEs for some reasoN.

It waSn't until I gOT a little Older That I reaLized some OF My ghostlY frIenDs wEre HANgIng around for a REAson. a fEw of theM weRe just lOneLy aNd eIthEr Weren't reaDy to move On Or DiDn'T knOw how. i Haven't goT a CluE aBouT how tO Send thEm on tHeir WaY, sO i fiGure the LEaST i can Do Is Keep TheM cOmpanY.

OthERs, tHey had mEssages thEy wANted To PaSs on. At fIrst, I didn't knoW hOw to do that WiThoUt gettING into troUble. My mom refused to make pHOne callS or Send mY letTers to ranDom StrangErs. i Found wAys to gEt the LeTteRS In the MAIl WitHoUt her knowiNG, But It wasN't Easy And they Occasionally got senT BacK to us when the aDdrEss pROVeD inACcURatE. MOM waSN'T happy when she foUnd one and rEaLIzEd what I'd beEN doInG.

Holden Was the oNe who CAme up wiTh the idea For the webShOw. It MADe tHings a lot eAsier sinCe my parenTS thinK It'S just A
Holden frowns, his overpro tective si de sp awn ing  a  hea vy d ose of concern .  Zar a only shrugs. "It's n ot li ke youa ct ually  need p e rm i s sio n,  E cho .Y ou 're e igh teen."
Shaking h ishe ad, Holden s a ys , "It's no t a bout permiss ion , Zara ,it' s  abou t b eingcarefu l . Runn ing off o nh er own might n o t  b e th e best thing forE ch o . Think aboutyour f ri e nd i nst ead  of just h av ing f u n and p l ay i n g  ar o und."

Zara g lares at hi m , b ut I l oo k a w ay. Th anksfo r  th e vote of c onfi dence, Ho lden.I  don'ts ay it o ut lou d,but  kee p in gqui et doe s n' t d o  an ything t ost op th e st i n g of h isword s. Th ey've both kn own  mes inc e kin derga rten ,befor e thin gs go tbad, but not be fore  the ghos ts.  T hegh ostsh ave al way s b een the re. Eve n  no w, t h er e's at least six o ft h em  standin g arou n dth e  table,ho pin g I' l l  ackn owle d ge  them. I  don't . 
So mehow,Ialways  k new  th e peo p le I  saw h overingaroun d  looking aimle s s were ghosts ,  a n d  i t  nev erreally both ered me.Some t im esI  talk ed to  t h em when I was little.Th ey nev er ta lked back. So metimes th e y would pl ay w i th me, though. My  momused to te l l people  what  a goodbaby I wa s ,  how I n eve r c rie d o r fu ssed. She tho u g ht s he  had ju stluckedout  wi thanea sy firstkid. Rea ll y,  I  a lwa ys ha d  someone  s tan di ngoverm y crib  smil ingat  m e  or  making si l l y fa ce s.  Gho sts  r eally  see m  to  like b eing arou ndb abie sfo r somereason.

It w as n't untilIgot  a lit t l e olderthat I realized some of my ghos tly  frie ndswere hang ing  aroun d f o r a re ason.A few  o f t h e m wer e ju stlo nely and e i t her  were n' t re ady tomove on or didn'tk now  how. I haven 'tgota cl uea bo u t h ow tos e nd them on thei r way, soIf ig ure the le a stIcan dois keep  them company .

Others , they ha dmess a g esthey wante d to pas s on. Atf irst, Ididn' t k now ho wtodo th at wit h out  gett ing in to  troub le. M ymom refu sed to make phone calls  or se nd my  le tters toran d omstrangers . Ifound ways  to  ge t the  le t tersin t h emai l  with outh er knowin g ,but i twasn't easy a n d t hey o cca s ionall y go t sent back to us when the addre ss p r o ved  in a ccur at e. Mom wasn'thap py w hen shefo und one and  realize dw hat I 'd bee n doin g.

Hol d e nw as the  one  wh o came up  wi th the ide afo r  the w ebsh ow . It m ade th i ngsa lot easier since  my p a r entst hin k it' sjust a
Holden frowns,_his overprotective_side spawning a heavy_dose of_concern._Zara only_shrugs._"It's not like_you actually need_permission, Echo. You're eighteen."

Shaking_his head, Holden_says,_"It's not about permission, Zara, it's about being careful. Running off on her own_might_not be_the_best_thing for Echo. Think about_your friend instead of just_having fun_and playing around."

Zara glares at him, but I_look_away. Thanks for_the vote of confidence, Holden. I don't say it_out loud, but keeping quiet doesn't_do anything to_stop_the_sting of his words._They've both known me since kindergarten,_before things got bad, but not_before the ghosts. The ghosts have always_been there. Even now, there's at_least six of them standing_around the_table, hoping I'll acknowledge them._I don't.

Somehow, I_always knew_the people I_saw hovering around looking aimless were_ghosts, and it_never really bothered me. Sometimes I_talked_to them when_I_was_little. They_never talked back._Sometimes_they would_play_with me, though. My mom used_to_tell people what a good baby I_was, how I never_cried_or fussed. She thought_she had just lucked out_with an easy first kid. Really,_I always_had someone_standing over my crib smiling at me or making silly faces._Ghosts really seem to like being_around babies for some_reason.

It wasn't_until_I got a_little_older that_I realized some of my ghostly friends_were hanging_around for a reason. A few_of them were just_lonely_and either weren't ready to move_on or didn't know how. I_haven't got a clue about_how_to_send them on their way,_so I figure the least I_can do is_keep them company.

Others, they had messages they_wanted_to pass on. At first, I_didn't_know how to do that without_getting_into_trouble. My mom refused to_make phone calls or send my_letters to random strangers. I found ways to get_the letters in_the mail without her knowing,_but_it_wasn't easy and they occasionally got sent back to us_when the_address proved inaccurate._Mom wasn't happy when she found one and realized what_I'd been doing.

Holden was the one who_came up with the idea for the webshow. It made things_a lot easier since my parents think it's_just a