After getting back to the hospital, sneaking in through the "nightmare path" and ditching the motorbike, Claire was back in her bed, in her hospital gown. Dean sat next to her, arms crossed and deep in thought.
"Why so quiet? What's on your mind?" Claire asked casually.
"You said you want to move in with me. That's a big deal. I barely know you, even if we have the same job and our debts are linked like some kind of 'debt marriage'," Dean replied.
"You're overthinking it," Claire said, shrugging with a smile.
"I've got a tough past, and anyway, I'd feel awkward with Uncle Liam if you moved in with me," Dean explained.
"Hmm, okay. How about we just wait until we graduate? I won't switch schools. We'll go to college, right? So then, we can just rent our own apartment. How does that sound?" Claire asked, sounding easygoing.
Dean looked up and turned to Claire. He really studied her face; she seemed relaxed, but her eyes showed she was serious.
"You trust me? I'm a guy, and you saw how I handled things for you earlier. Aren't you scared?" Dean asked.
"Huh? Why would I be scared? I should be asking you that, right? When I was a ghost, you weren't scared of me," Claire countered.
"True, I'm not scared of ghosts or anything like that because I'm not normal. But why do you trust me? We just met today, didn't we?" Dean pressed.
Claire thought for a moment, seriously watching Dean's face as he waited for her answer.
"I don't know why, but I know one thing: out of all the people who came to that building, you were the only one who talked to me and touched my head without being afraid. Then you avenged me and gave me a second chance. Plus, besides you, I don't know anyone else I can really talk to. I can't think of my cousins as my mom and dad. So honestly, I want to be with the person who helped me and someone I can try to trust completely," Claire said, serious and honest.
"I see," Dean replied simply.
"I also have trust issues with people. When I was alive as Jenna, you saw how I was used until I died, and it turns out Claire went through similar things, though not as bad as I did as Jenna," Claire added.
"Hmm, really?" Dean asked.
"Really, I'm telling you the truth. If you can trust me and want to talk about what's bothering you, I'll listen," Claire said.
"Maybe I'll open up to you later," Dean replied.
"Alright, I'll wait then!" Claire said, suddenly cheerful. "So, what do you say? Can I move in?"
"Hmm... how about we wait until we graduate? We can look for an apartment together then," Dean answered.
"Okay, deal! Thanks, Dean," Claire said, leaning over and hugging Dean.
"Hey, hey... yeah, yeah, let go," Dean replied, pushing her away.
"Hehe, sorry," Claire said, letting go of the hug and sitting back on the bed.
*****
The next morning, using the path from the nightmare realm, Dean arrived at the abandoned building frame where he first met Jenna to head to school. After leaving the construction site, Dean walked along the sidewalk to his school, which wasn't far.
"Ugh... so sleepy. Didn't get enough sleep. Claire kept talking all night, it was intense," he thought to himself.
["Good, isn't it? Husband and wife should communicate often so there are no misunderstandings."]
"Damn you, I still can't accept all this, you know," Dean retorted in his head.
["Hohoho, relax, no need to rush."]
"Why didn't you explain from the start that a soul partner is like a wife?" Dean asked in his head.
["Because I knew you'd refuse, and I can't retire early even if I'm still an advisor, hohoho."]
"Grrr... you're really out of line," Dean replied.
["A soul partner is just like a soulmate, and everyone has a soulmate, even more than one."]
"Huh? What do you mean, 'not just one'?" Dean asked.
["You'll find out later, hohoho."]
"You talked about transparency yesterday, why are you being so secretive now?" Dean asked.
["Let's not talk about it anymore, hohoho."]
"Grrrrr... you bastard," Dean thought angrily.
Dean kept walking, then he saw several police cars parked in front of his school. He calmly approached the school gate.
"Hmm... oh yeah, there's a police presentation today, the teacher said so yesterday," Dean thought to himself.
["Hmm... interesting."]
"What's interesting?" Dean asked.
["You'll just have to see."]
"Secrets again... you jerk," Dean replied.
Dean continued walking and finally reached the front gate, then stopped for a moment and turned to look at a police car that seemed to have just arrived and parked in front of the gate. "Click," the car door opened, and a woman around 26 years old, beautiful, with short, shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a shirt layered under a brown long coat, stepped out of the car. She took off her sunglasses and folded them, then put them into her shirt pocket.
Dean could see a police badge on her hip, and he stood still, not moving. Suddenly, the detective turned to look at Dean and smiled.
"Whoa, she noticed me standing here? Don't I usually go unnoticed?" Dean thought, surprised.
["Looks like it, that's why it's interesting, hohoho."]
"Grrr... what's so interesting?" Dean grumbled.
["You'll see."]
"Hello, aren't you going in?" the female officer asked Dean.
"Ah, yeah... I'm about to go in," Dean replied.
"Let's go in together. Today, I'm here to give a presentation. Oh, my name is Detective Natalie Garcia. Nice to meet you," Natalie said, extending her hand.
"My name is Dean Wilson," Dean replied, shaking her hand.
"Wilson?" Natalie asked.
Then Natalie gripped Dean's hand tightly and moved closer, carefully examining Dean's face up close, which made Dean uncomfortable.
"Are you Victor Wilson's son?" Natalie asked.
"Um... yes, that's right. How do you know my father?" Dean asked.
"Your father was my father's partner in the police force. My father's name is Michael Garcia. Do you know him?" Natalie asked.
"Oh... are you Uncle Michael's daughter?" Dean asked.
"Yep, that's right, his only daughter," Natalie said, looking at Dean again and staring into his eyes. "You've never killed anyone, have you?" Natalie asked, suddenly serious.
"Huh... of course not, ma'am! (Whoa, her instincts are sharp too)," Dean replied.
Natalie paused for a moment, her face suddenly more serious than before, staring at Dean without blinking. But after a few moments, she smiled and released her grip to release Dean hand.
"I was just kidding. Let's go in together," Natalie said, inviting Dean inside.
"O-okay, ma'am," Dean replied.
Then they walked together to enter the school building. As they walked, Dean glanced at Natalie beside him, who was almost the same height as him.
"Hmm... this person is dangerous," Dean muttered to himself.