Certainty.

Eileen Sharp.

For Lindsay.

CHAPTER ONE.

Ren.

Mrs. Kellerman's bracelets clinked on her thin wrists as she moved the mouse and typed. Her eyes glanced down at my high school transcript a few times. I hadn't wanted to leave California, but my father's company had transferred him to an east coast office. So here we were in Delaware, a state so small it could have been a county, or maybe half of a county.

Compared to Huntington Beach, and there wasn't much to look at other than small-town streets and dead leaves. We'd come at the beginning of October, the weather always in a wet chill that dampened my sun-soaked skin and went to my bones.

Mrs. Kellerman's desk took up most of the tiny office. She had a stack of folders on one side of the desk but other than that it was tidy and organized. Her pencil holder had a black and white swirled design on it and her mousepad matched. A picture of her and a young boy, and a man with his arm around her, stared back at me. Her husband and her son, I guessed.

"Ren is an honor student," my mom said, her eyes a little anxious. She sat next to me, nervously clutching her purse. Although she pretended to like this move, she didn't enjoy change, and she was worried about my credits transferring.

Mrs. Kellerman took a moment to answer, still clicking away, then she looked up and offered a smile. "He's an excellent student-we're happy to have him. His classes are going to work out fine. He actually has a few more credits than he needs."

"Wonderful, thank you, " my mom said. She tucked some of her black hair behind her ear and stopped clutching her purse like it was a life-raft.

Mrs. Kellerman made one final click of her mouse and rolled her chair back towards the printer, catching the papers that slipped out. "Looks like we're good to go. He can start Monday morning."

She handed me and my mother a copy of the transcript and started going over my classes.

I stole a glance at the woman who stood at the window. She looked very much like Mrs. Kellerman, the same red hair and long facial features, but with a few differences. She was two decades older, with a bowed back and she had more wrinkles, her face soft. She was also slightly transparent.

I'd been seeing these ghosts since I turned eleven. It had taken me a while to understand them and what they were. These older replicas of everyone I met were ghosts of the future, the way people would be in fifteen or twenty years. Everyone had one. They appeared the moment I saw someone, and left me with their stories when they faded. I didn't know why they came. They didn't seem to notice me or have a particular need to tell me anything. They appeared and I instantly learned all about them, whether I wanted to or not, and a few seconds later they disappeared. My brain was crammed with memories that weren't my own and hadn't happened yet. After a while I found myself calling them Yurei, a Japanese word that for spirit. Technically it meant someone who had died, but it was the closest I could get to what they really were. It made them seem friendly, though some of them weren't.

The future Mrs. Kellerman turned to look at me. Her story came to me without words, transferred as quickly as my eyes could see the color of her graying hair. Her husband would die suddenly of a heart attack a few years from the present. In the future I could see she lived alone. She had a son but he lived far away. He was married now and would soon have his first child. She'd decided to sell her house and move across the country to be with his new family. The Yurei smiled at me and disappeared.

The present Mrs. Kellerman smiled and handed me a copy of my schedule. I thanked her and tried to put her Yurei out of my mind. It was strange to know so much and keep it to myself. No one knew what I could see, not even my parents.

My mom nudged my arm. "How do your classes look?"

"Good," I said, looking down at the list of classes and times. It was hard to focus on my own life sometimes.

I'd seen the Yurei of my parents. My mom seemed to be shorter but a little on the soft side, though she aged well. The gift of being Asian, I suppose. My father was Asian as well, and also looked younger. He would get some gray streaks at his temples and start wearing a goatee. Seeing them become elderly changed the way I thought about them. None of us are really in control of everything, and we will all change.

We stood up to leave the office and I braced myself to enter the hallway. We had come at the end of the school day, and the hall would be flooded with students getting ready to leave, and their Yurei.

I stepped out into the crowd of students. The crush of Yurei and their stories slammed against me, a relentless flow of brilliant successes and painful tragedies. I didn't see awkward freshman, popular girls and nerds. I saw entrepreneurs, politicians, scientists, frustrated artists and everything possible, the good and the bad. Few people looked the same. Some gained weight, lost their hair or changed physically in other ways.

Some of the Yurei saw me, and some of them didn't. The ones who saw me stayed the longest. One boy walked by and his Yurei glanced at me before fading. In the present he had an exaggerated swagger, but his Yurei had a more measured demeanor, smart and cautious. He would make decent money investing in a few businesses, but only after a string of humiliating failures.

Another guy, tall and athletic, probably a football player, dropped one of his books. His Yurei watched him for a moment. This ghost was not much older, and I knew that whoever he was, this athletic kid didn't have many years left. I wasn't quite sure what would kill him, but I got the feeling it was a health problem he didn't know about. The Yurei caught my eye and winked out of sight, as if he didn't want me to pry any further. The ones with secrets were the fastest to leave.

I blocked out as many impressions as I could. This number was too overwhelming. Once we got in the car I relaxed a little more. When my dad first made the decision to take this job, he told me he knew the transition might be hard for me. I couldn't tell him that he had no idea. Finding new friends and fitting in was a small concern compared enduring all the Yurei I was about to experience. They would come like a flood at first, until I had seen all of them. There would be new ones every time I saw someone I hadn't met, but a few at a time weren't so bad. Getting lost in a sea of them was like drowning.

My mom turned on the radio and we drove down the street of the small, historic town. Every house on our street was different. There were brick colonials, cedar shingled cottages and cape cods, some of them in bright colors. The house my parents had bought was a blue Victorian, with a wrap-around porch and a tower. I liked it, but it was nothing like our old house in California.

As we drove down the street I saw a girl walking home. She had her head down, as if deep in thought, her hands tucked into her hoodie pockets. She wore her blond hair up in a ponytail, and I could see she wasn't very tall, maybe even short. Her Yurei appeared beside her as we drove by. She was older, but the same height, with the same pretty features.

The Yurei caught me in her blue-eyed gaze. An eerie sense of recognition hit me. Rather than learning about her, she told me about myself. College, falling in love, a family and a world we would build together. Shocked, I stared back at her as we drove past. She wore a ring on her finger that I would give to her, and she carried my last name. I would marry this girl. The Yurei smiled at me, a hint of sympathy in her eyes, and something stronger. My skin prickled and I tried to catch a glimpse of the girl, though it was hard to see because her head was down. She had a simple, natural beauty. She didn't wear a lot of makeup, but she didn't need to.

We drove past her and I turned around. Who was she? My heart hammered in my chest and I was both afraid and curious. I'd never even thought about the idea of meeting a girl who would be in my future. I wasn't ready for that.

When we got home I lingered by the front window, pretending to unpack some boxes. She walked past and I almost cut my finger on a boxcutter. She still had her head down, her hands stuffed in her pockets, and a strand of blond hair blew against her cheek. She looked up at the window and I moved away. I didn't want to meet her, and yet I did.

I stabbed at a box with a pair of scissors and cut the tape. I lifted the lid, trying to sort out my thoughts. Should I be nervous about ruining our future or confident because we had one?

I realized I'd been staring at the contents of the box for a few minutes without doing anything with them. It was a bunch of knick-knacks no one cared about but my mom. I picked up a snow globe. Inside the globe sat Tinkerbell, looking over her shoulder, her hands on her hips, her small painted lips smirking back at me. She looked as if she knew something I didn't.

With a quick jerk, I shook Tinkerbell. Sparkling glitter swirled around her until she almost disappeared, and then the glitter settled, glinting off her porcelain body. I had no idea what to do. I couldn't deny the spark I'd felt when her Yurei looked at me or that I wanted someone to know everything about me. It would be a relief not to have so many secrets. I looked out the window at my new neighborhood. Apparently, it was going to happen soon.

CHAPTER TWO.

MacKenzie.

Monday morning I couldn't find any matching socks. Digging around in my sock drawer for the one hundredth time I decided to wear boots. I had one pink striped sock and a green argyle sock but they wouldn't show. I pulled a brush through my hair, went downstairs and grabbed a yogurt and ran out the door, saying goodbye to my mom.

A cold wind shoved against me as I stepped outside. I walked by the blue Victorian, wondering who the new owners were. We only lived one house away. Mom talked about meeting them over the weekend but she decided to give them time to move in. I spent my walk to school imagining who they might be.

An eccentric old man maybe, but we already had one of those on the street. I'm not sure if you should have two. Most likely a young family with kids. Maybe someone who liked history, like a librarian. Most people who bought these homes loved the historical stuff about them.

My cell phone buzzed, startling me out of my daydreams. I was nearly at school already, to my surprise.

Hi--it was from Katie, probably already at her locker by now.

I answered her. Hi.

Where are you?

On my way.

Okay.

Inside the front entrance of the school the tall windows towered like cathedral glass. The crowded halls were noisy; lockers slammed shut and people talked loudly so everyone else would notice them. I checked the time on my cell phone. I wasn't late, just cutting it a little close.

"MacKenzie!' Katie jumped out at me, bouncing on her feet.

"Hey, yourself. What's up?"

Katie always looks like she's questioning everything, her face rounded to her small pointed chin and her eyebrows in a naturally high arch. Her hair is a reddish brown except when the sun hits it, and then it lights up to a brilliant fiery red.

"I almost broke my cell phone," she announced, waving it at me.

"Almost?"

"Yeah. I dropped it when I got off the bus and some kid stepped on it. My mom already said she wouldn't buy me another one. She says I need to learn responsibility. Like it would be my fault if some noob stepped on it."

"Well, your cell phone survived," I noted. "Lucky for you."

"Spared," she said with a sigh.

"Someone moved into that house down the street," I said, changing the subject.

"What house?"

"The Victorian one that was sold."

"Who's moving in?"

'I don't know. But I'd like it to be a new guy. You know, mysterious, available and all that."

She smirked, her nose wrinkling. "I doubt it. That is an old lady house. An old lady that yells at you to stay off her lawn, even though you aren't even on it."

I rolled my eyes. "Most likely. See you at lunch!"

"Dibs if he's hot."

'Riiiiight," I said, laughing.

I went up the second floor stairs to Homeroom and then suddenly remembered I forgot to do my Biology lab. Homework always seemed to be some sort of panic thing. I had plenty of classes before Biology so I could probably finish it in time, though. No worries.

I made it to homeroom and slid in behind Kyle, who was slouched in his chair. My heart lurched. He's biologically designed to make any girl's heart do that, so there is no defense. He's not just good-looking, he's beautiful. From his slightly messed up, perfect hair to his easy smile I can never help staring at him when he talks to me.

I started thinking we could be more than friends, but then there were days when he ignored me. He'd sit silently behind me, his eyes down on desk, sketching words on paper. After a while I realized I wasn't the only one he ignored; he didn't talk to anyone else either. And then a few days later he would be fine, like nothing had happened. Even though I didn't understand it, when he was social again I always responded. I couldn't resist. He was Kyle.

"Hey." He poked me in the back of the head with his finger. "I heard your brother was outstanding Friday night. He's turning out to be a great running back for the JV team."

I turned around to give him my full attention. "Thanks. I'll pass along the compliment. By the way, nice haircut," I said, examining the wheat-colored strands falling in his eyes. I wasn't sure if he'd cut it, because he likes to keep it longish; he usually only trims off a millimeter.

'"Thanks," he said, his smile crooked and pleased.

"Yeah," I continued, squinting my eyes at his hair, "It was hard to tell at first, but I think you cut this one..." I reached for a strand of his hair and his gaze rolled up to my fingers, a wry smile twisting his lips.

"That's the one."

"All right class, let's settle down!" Mr. Parker said, pushing his thin, silver glasses up on his nose. He leaned back in his chair as the announcements came over the intercom.

I pulled my biology lab out of my backpack so I could work on it. I ignored the announcements, especially the chirpy notice about buying tickets for the Homecoming Dance. No one had asked me yet and my prospects weren't looking so good.

Kyle whispered, "You forgot to do your lab? Slacker."

I put my finger on his lips, giving him a condescending look. "Shhh."

He clicked his teeth at me and I snatched my finger back. He grinned, leaning forward like he was giving away the secrets of the universe, "Number three is 18 grams."

I shook my head at him and dove back into the lab. Number three was supposed to be an explanation of the experiment so he wasn't helping at all. The worksheet was crinkled and folded like it I'd pulled out of the bottom of my bookbag...which I had. I finished scribbling it out as the bell rang and everyone got up to leave.

"See you later!" Kyle said and winked at me before he swaggered off.

The hallways were crowded as usual but I found myself watching all the faces to see if there was anyone new, which made everyone seem new. That pale girl with the ponytail, had she been here before? Could she be my new neighbor? Or maybe it was that little freshman dude who dropped his books...there were too many who suddenly looked like strangers because I was actually seeing them now instead of passing by.

I made it to Spanish class a little early-- not even Sr. Ruddy was there yet. The classroom walls were covered in Spanish phrases--some kind of attempt at subconscious osmosis. I sometimes stared at them when I was bored, so maybe his evil plan was working.

I pulled my books out of my book bag and doodled in my notebook. A familiar ball of anxiety roiled in my stomach as I listened to all the voices coming in, waiting for one in particular. Noah was charming, fun to be around and he absolutely despised me.

I wish I could say the same, but I had a terrible crush on him when he first moved in last year. He was so confident and smart. His olive toned skin made his green eyes even more vivid, and I was mesmerized by him along with everyone else.

We ended up with the same friends at lunch, and I thought it was going to be the greatest year ever, until he started pointing out every stupid thing I said or every time I made a mistake. Far from ever attracting his attention in a romantic way, I hoped he would forget I existed.

All my friends adored him and the only way I could get away from Noah was if I gave up my friends, and I couldn't do that.

"Hey, Maddy." So he was here. I saw him from the corner of my eye but I didn't look up. We never said hi in class or the halls or anything.

"Hey, Noah." From my semi-discreet glance I could see Maddy's gold hair was straight and silky today, pulled back from her flawless skin and emphasizing her light blue eyes. Her lashes were thick and black, and her lips were glossed like pink candy. She propped her long, tan legs under his desk, her miniskirt sliding up her thighs. Every guy in the room pretended not to check her out.

The bell rang and Sr. Ruddy walked in the room, greeting us in Spanish. He picked up his book from the desk and opened it, looking out over his glasses. He is a big man who looks more like a cowboy than a teacher, with craggy features. We all like him so he hardly ever has to correct us-we want him to like us. "Everyone is so quiet today."

"We can change that," Maddy offered, and all the guys laughed like it was comic genius.

"Nope. I like it," Sr. Ruddy said. "It means we're going to make progress. Homework."

I opened my notebook to the page where I had written the assignment last week while watching TV. My pen ran out in the middle of my answers so I had to wait for a commercial to go get a pen and finish. I probably should have concentrated more.

Ruddy called my name to answer the last question. I studiously avoided Noah as I answered. As soon as I'd said it I knew it was wrong by the pitying look Sr. Ruddy gave me over his glasses.

"Very close, MacKenzie. Can anyone tell me what mistake she made?"

Noah answered, "She used her brain?"