Welcome to chapter Twenty Three! And I'm going to take this oppurtunity to say a real quick thanks! Thanks to you all who've read my legacy and thanks to those who have commented. I love writing this story and the readers make it worthwhile. Anyway, enough rambling, let's get down to business! Chapter Twenty-Two begins just a week or so after Petra grew up into a teenager.
Petra was still best of friends with Ziggy. He had always been there for her, through the really dark times after her father, aunty and cousin died. But now fears plauged her thoughts on Ziggy. Would he be forever relegated to the outskirts of her life?
Meanwhile Nora was going through her old potions and notes. She rarely touched her chemistry table since the day her messing with chemicals produced her ghostly daughter. But she had heard Petra talk about Ziggy and after whipping up a quick potion she thought it was worth a shot for her daughter's imaginary friend.
Petra was excited when Nora handed her the orange potion. It took her all of 30 seconds to find Ziggy and hand it over. He seemed as happy as she was. Apparently he'd also been worrying about what would become of him as Petra grew up.
The pair said a quick goodbye incase the potion was not what Nora thought and then Ziggy took a swig.
Petra was a bundle of nerves as she watched purple smoke and bubbles of light engulf her childhood friend. One moment of terror took hold as she worried about what she'd done. Would he still be her friend? Would it even work?
Amazingly something in that potion had an effect. Ziggy was transformed from the cushion-y doll like toy he had started out his extraordinary life as into a handsome young teenager with striking blue eyes and hair.
Shy Petra took a moment or two to recognise her friend under this new guise. But after he spoke her name she knew he was the same. Her nerves slowly dissapated and she and Ziggy embraced the fact that he was now a real person.
While Nora was still at work Petra and Ziggy decided to wait for her on the front lawn. Petra had never been happier than she was in his moment. Her wonderful invisible friend was finally part of her world. She could introduce him to people, and provided Nora agreed, he could continue living with the family.
Ziggy never thought he'd get the chance to sit by Petra's side under the stars as a fully fledged person. Sitting by her side Ziggy drank in the new experiences. From seeing the ghostly glow on Petra's skin with new eyes, to feeling the grass under him with new hands and the strange warm feeling in his heart everytime he looked on at his ghostly friend.
It was a nice night and Petra and Ziggy loved every minute spent together. Soon Nora was home for work and she took Ziggy inside for a chat.
It was a bit of a relief for Nora to discover that her daughter's imagination was stable and that Ziggy was real. After asking him what his aspirations for his new life would be and hearing his simple reply that he wanted to make sure Petra was safe and happy, Nora agreed to let this new teen stay with them.
A new bed was added to Petra's room. And her childhood friend settled into new life by her side.
The garage really hadn't seen much use since Alvin passed away. So Nora sold the old car and decided to change the old garage into a teenager haven.
An old tv set, a new couch, a drum set and a dusty set of weights were added to the room, after the walls were filled with new windows for some light. Niki added some posters and Petra added a rug, and viola! A teenager haven!
Petra still couldn't quite believe tha Ziggy was real. She watched on as he revelled in every new experience and she felt a warm glow spread through her heart every time he looked at her with those bright blue eyes.
The happy pair loved spending time together in the garage. The friendship they had grown up with was as strong as ever. Only now a new undertone was evident.
Ziggy was so happy with everything he did and particularly enjoyed the weights.
Ziggy would work on his strength training while Niki would hit out a nice beat on the drums and Petra just enjoyed the company.
Ziggy was coming to terms with his new definition of self and he began thinking about what Petra meant to him. When he had told Nora all he wanted was to make Petra happy, he meant it. Now thinking about what that meant, he came to the relisation that what he felt for her was love.
Never having done this before, Ziggy ran on instinct trying to tell Petra just what she meant to him.
Luckily for Ziggy, Petra had already realised her love for him. Yes, they were young, and yes it was a little cliched, but Petra knew that this young blue eyed boy was hers.
Both a little shy, the pair didn't really talk about their feelings. Their relationship was such that they didn't need to. Ziggy just pulled her into his arms and she thanked her lucky stars that she had this wonderful young man.
Ziggy kissed her for the first time that afternoon. Petra thought she might explode with happiness as his lips touched hers. The pair had always been on the outskirts of the real world and now they'd discovered love, they found they didn't care to be on the outside, as long as they had eachother.
Niki had had a hard childhood with the loss of her family, but as it had in her early teen years, her music was helping her express the grief that had frozen in her heart.
Petra was always aware of her ghostly differences. She was a cooler temperature than her family, her voice had an echo-y and quiet feel to it and walls and furniture were no issue if she decided to go through them. As she grew up and began thinking about the future she wondered if her unsual situation would be passed on to her children. Was it genetic or just some freak effect of her mother's meddling with potions?
Ziggy joined his girlfriend at the local high school. For years he had been on the outskirts, watching his shy friend as she melted into the back drop of the school corridors. And now he could be there with her. The other kids envied this social outcast for her beautiful and devoted new boyfriend.
Petra loved Ziggy more than anything in the world. With every day she grew more and more in awe of her best friend. He was always there for her, with a kind word, a gentle kiss and his protecting arms held around her.
The weeks were flying past for the young lovers. Every moment of every day was spent together. Just as it was when Petra was a child and Ziggy was nothing more than a cuddly child's toy, and invisible to everyone but her.
Ziggy worried about his girl. She meant the world to him. If it wasn't for this ghostly girl in his arms then he would still be stuck inside the plush mind of the toy Petra had grown up with. He was eternally greatful to her.
Niki was quite proud of her little cousin. She used to worry about the ghostly little girl fitting in at school, but now that she knew Ziggy, she was sure that Petra would be ok.
Ziggy and Petra talked a lot about what they wanted their lives to be like. As they watched the sun set Ziggy would stoke her cheek and ask her how many children they'd have, what sort of renovations they'd do to the family house, how they'd spend their golden years.
Meanwhile Niki was still working away on all the musical instruments that she could. Her classmates loved to hear her music and she often talked about the day when she left the highschool corridors behind and went for the bright rock star spotlight.
Nora continued to work hard at her health. She worked in the afternoons at the bookstore and during the day she'd make sure she kept her shape.
The weeks were turning into months. Ziggy and Petra were still locked together in the wonders of new love. Nora could see the love these two shared and was instantly reminded of the carefree days she and Alvin spent together as teens.
The lot of them all understood and valued quality time with family, and so they never skimped on the time spent together.
Niki spent her time either locking lips with her on again off again boy toy Shelby or belting out some tune or beat on some instrument or another. As graduation got closer and closer Niki got to thinking about her life. She knew how much music had helped her through dark times so she promised the memory of her twin sister that she would share her music with the whole of Riverview and beyond.
Petra visited the graveyard often. And one afternoon she decided to take Ziggy. The graveyard was right by the house and so the young couple wandered on over. The graveyard was a calming place for Petra. Here lay her ancestors, from her family's founder Raven Moon to her father Alvin Diehl. The wind whistled softly through the trees, the fountain bubbled calmly and Petra felt totally calm and at peace in the graveyard.
Ziggy knew it was a big deal for Petra to bring him to the graveyard. As he held her in his arms and listened to her soft sobs into his shoulder he was so thankful he was there to comfort her.
Alvin would have been proud of his daughter. She had meant the world to him when she was born and he would have given everything to see her grow up.
Nora still missed her late husband. It had been years since that fateful afternoon when the worst had happened, but sometimes the grief overcame Nora again and she felt her heart break all over again. But she knew that Alvin would be proud of everything she and Petra had accomplished.
A couple of afternoons a week Petra had study club and Ziggy and Niki would take the bus home together. Niki used those times to get to know her cousin's boyfriend. His aspirations, his thoughts on Petra and his goals for their life together. Ziggy was a little intimidated by this hard rocker, but inside Niki was a sweet girl and the two developed a steady friendship.
Inspiration for Niki's music came from everywhere. One of the songs she wrote about Petra was liked so much by the local recording studio, that they offered her a low paying job for when she got out of school.
Ziggy continued to work hard on his body. He loved the feeling of being strong enough to protect Petra. The weights loved him too and he cut quite an intimidating figure in his pajamas.
Nora was proud of Petra. She had some small doubts about Petra's attachment to Ziggy, but then she thought back to how inseperable she and Alvin had been and let those doubts go. Petra and Ziggy were like Alvin and Nora in many ways and Nora hoped that this love story would end better than her own had.
The three teens in the house got along great and Petra counted her lucky stars every day that although she had lost a lot in her life she had some of the greatest people by her side.
Niki and Petra would trade secrets on their respective boys. For Petra it was only Ziggy that she talked about, obviously, but Niki would share information on a number of the boys from her class. Being tied down did not sit well with Niki. But every now and then she would wish just for a second that she had the kind of protective, loving relationship that Petra had.
Thanks for reading chapter 23! Here's a sneak peek from chapter 24:
Niki leaves behind her teenage years and embraces her young adulthood; in true rocker style.
The family celebrates Niki's graduation and enjoys the day out in the sun.
The family celebrate a few birthdays.
And is this happy ever after for Petra and Ziggy?
