For example, learning how to meditate, trying to get to the off switch to cut off the ghosts, was turning into an al -time dreaded chore. Holiday had her hitting the mat three times a day. They'd tried burning incense, counting, music, and even visualization, but nothing seemed to help. Kylie's mind refused to find an altered state of any kind.

Holiday stayed forever hopeful, Kylie not so much. "It wil happen, I promise," Holiday would say after each failed session. For Kylie, it was just more proof that she wasn't one of them. Not that she real y needed more proof, but stil ...

The only thing that left the slightest bit of a question in her mind was that Soldier Dude wouldn't quit showing up. Kylie told Holiday to send him a message to quit wasting her time. Holiday gave Kylie the pat answer of, "It doesn't work like that."

Kylie had learned to hate that saying.

Almost as much as she hated the daily visits with the ghost.

Thankful y, he hadn't gone spastic on her with the blood games again, but just seeing him was starting to give her the heebie jeebies. The way he looked at her, the way he stood, it was eerily familiar. Kylie convinced herself that Holiday had been right. Her night terrors had probably been fil ed with images of him, hence the reason seeing him gave her an odd sense of deja vu.

Holiday had even suggested Kylie try talking to him, but that idea total y creeped Kylie out. She got this mental image of him opening his mouth only to have worms or blood ooze out. Nope, she'd keep her mouth closed and pray he did the same. Thankful y, the last few days she'd pretty much managed to stay out of Lucas's and Fredericka's way. But every morning when she waited to see who drew her name in the Meet Your Campmates Hour, Kylie would hyperventilate, worrying one of them would get it. And today was no different. If they did draw her name, Kylie had already decided to fake a bad headache and beg off. Sure, Fredericka would probably accuse Kylie of being afraid of her. But best to have her accuse Kylie of it than to have her know it for certain. And if Kylie had to spend an hour alone with the she-wolf, Fredericka would for sure smel Kylie's fear.

Kylie stood between Miranda and Del a watching as the campers drew names and announced their companions. Kylie knew Miranda was praying that Chris, a real y cute vampire, would draw her name. Del a never seemed to care who got her name, but yesterday Kylie had seen the way the sneaky vampire kept eyeing Steve, one of the shape-shifters. When Kylie asked Del a about it, she denied it, but Kylie noticed Del a's cheeks had actual y gotten a little color in them. Who knew a vampire could blush?

Derek walked up beside Kylie. "Hey." She smiled. And yeah, maybe her smile was a little wider than normal.

"Hi," he said rather matter-of-factly, and then focused on the campers drawing names. With his attention not on her, Kylie let her gaze move over him. He wore a light green T-shirt that fit tight across his chest. Kylie remembered resting her head against him. She recal ed with clarity how good it had felt, and how when she looked up, his lips had been so close to hers.

Blinking, trying not to let her mind go there, she shifted her gaze away from his chest. He wore khaki shorts that hit almost to the knee. His legs were a bit hairy but not at al skinny. She was moving her gaze up when she noticed the Band-Aid on the middle of his elbow joint. She reached over and pul ed his arm closer. "Is this ... is that ... You gave the blood?"

"Yeah." His eyes met hers and for the first time in days he didn't instantly look away. They were having one of those moments that she'd missed. She gently ran her finger over the Band-Aid. "I'm sorry."

"For what? You didn't do anything."

"Did it hurt?" she asked.

"No." He continued to gaze down at her and it felt like there was no one else in the world but them. She saw the gold flecks sparkle and darn if she didn't want to lean even closer.

"Derek!" a very hyper voice cal ed out. "I got your name!"

Suddenly, Derek was yanked away. Kylie looked up and focused on the yanker-Mandy, a cute brunette fairy. Kylie watched the girl wrap her arms around Derek's neck and pul him down for a fast kiss. At first, Kylie waited for Derek to look shocked at the girl's show of affection. Instead, he glanced at Kylie for a mere second and then refocused on Mandy, who then stepped up on her tiptoes and kissed the boy again.

And Derek didn't look surprised at al . He looked ... he looked happy. Then he smiled at Mandy-the same "special" smile he shared with Kylie.

"Great. Are you ready?" Derek asked the too perky brunette.

"Tel me again where this spot is?" Mandy asked.

"How about I just show you instead," Derek answered.

Was he taking her to the creek? Kylie's chest grew heavy. At first, she didn't recognize the emotion and then she remembered feeling it when she saw Trey with his girlfriend at the party. Thankful y, she managed to stomp it down before Derek turned back around. His soft green eyes met hers. "See you later. Okay?"

"Yeah." She forced a smile on her face that felt about as real as a smiley face. She and Derek were just friends; she had no right to be jealous. And yet ... why did it hurt so much?

She bit down on her lip. See, this was why she didn't want to start having those feelings for Derek. Because it hurt. Then as if she wanted to punish herself even more, she turned and saw the two of them holding hands and walking away.

"Oh, crappers," Miranda snapped. Kylie turned to look at her, realizing she'd almost forgotten her roommates were even there. Wel , Miranda was stil there. Del a had already left.