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haunt this house; she could turn shadows into shapes

and hiss her displeasure from the darkest corners. She

could glare at me from behind my eyes, from my

deepest, darkest memories, but she wouldn't turn me

around. You always wanted doors to be shut,

Geraldine, I thought. Well, this time, I'm slamming

them shut on you.

Maybe it was the vodka talking, but I felt brave

and strong. I drank another and I sang along with the

girls whenever they burst into song. We ate

everything in sight and then collapsed on the sofas and in the chairs, laughing at our appetites, not caring about the loudness of the music or the noise we made It felt so good to do it, to have the freedom, but I couldn't help gazing up at the doorway and thinking about Geraldine. It was just habit. She wasn't gone

long enough for me to not feel afraid.

"What are you looking so worried about?" Jade

cried at me. "Stop looking behind your shoulder. She's

gone. She's a potted plant!" she declared, laughing.

Her eyes were glazed. "I ruined an expensive outfit

helping to plant her," she added, the vodka definitely

speaking now.

Star immediately sprung up, her finger pointed. "You did it," she accused. "You spoke the

unspeakable and you are fined."

"What?"

"Am I right?" Star asked us. "We made the rule

in the car. We all voted, right?"

Misty looked timid, but nodded.

"She's right, Jade."

"So, what am I supposed to do now?" Jade shot

back at Star. "Go to my room?"

Star straightened up and smiled.

"You clean up, girl. That's your punishment,"

she said.