"Ghost Town" was the first interactive text novella from Virgin Mobile and YouthNoise, presented originally in text message format, with each message as a separate chapter and scene. It's the gripping story of a teenage football player named Ghost who is hiding a dark secret--he's homeless. This secret will shock his classmates as he tries to manage the ins and outs of high school, an uncertain future, and just trying to stay alive.

Mike "Ghost" Owen leaped into the air and hit the runner out of bounds five yards from a touchdown, unaware of the two pairs of eyes staring at him and following his moves.

"You always come out of nowhere!" Brad, the quarterback, laughed. Brad was clueless how right he was as Ghost eyed the pizza and the backdoor of the house party.

At the squat, the pizza was gone in seconds. The crew of Ace, Kat, & Bear slept inside a box after eating. Ghost lay on a plastic sheet, but couldn't sleep… His homeboy Roach woke him: "Ghost, ya gonna be late for class." Ghost asked, "You comin'?" Roach laughed, "Yeah right! For what? I got better things to do."

Ghost closed his locker as Jen hugged him. "You were great out there. What happened? You disappeared." Ghost kind of smiled. "You know me, always on the move."

"Whattya think?" Roach asked. "She'll be your girlfriend? Get real. We need to find something to eat. Screw ‘em. You got the whole crew to think about!"

Mr. Hill caught Ghost walking out of the locker room. "I'm a recruiter from State U. I've been watching you, son. I'd like to talk about your future."

"I'm friggin' jealous," moaned Brad. "I'm the quarterback and I haven't gotten a scholarship offer. Tuition, meals, room and board. You're hooked for life."

"A scholarship? What are you going to do at college?" Roach yelled beneath the bleachers. "G'head and leave us, like everyone else does. You're just the same!"

Ghost's faced burned as he stuffed the food down into his sweatpants. "Hey, kid!" He mumbled an apology to the clerk as he ran out the convenience store.

Ghost was unfocused at practice. He frowned as Coach stressed team trust. "Trust," he thought, "is a big word to use." Ghost's mind was in a fog.

Jen was looking for Ghost, but Mr. Lowe found him first. "Mike!" Ghost was heated. "Damn counselor, always in my business. And don't call me Mike," he thought.

Ghost saw a man walk out of the bleachers and drive off as he watched Ace button his jeans and Kat hide her face. "Got enough money for dinner," Ace said.

Mr. Lowe said, "Mike, I can help you with that scholarship offer." But Ghost remembers the last time someone "helped" him. "No thanks," was the curt reply.

Brad tossed the football. "Y'all seen those homeless freaks around the school? If I ever run into one of those bums…!" Ghost cringed as the team cheered.

Jen asked, "How come we never go to your place or meet your folks? We always go to the park." Ghost shrugged, lamely saying, "You wouldn't like where I stay."

Ghost and Roach hitched to the mall. Ghost got as many free samples of stuff as he could as Roach boosted merchandise. Ghost said, "We gotta quit doing this."

The team won and Ghost played OK. He swore he saw the recruiter talking to someone familiar but wasn't sure if it was him. Torn, he just took off.

After the rain, Ghost was cold and sick. Lowe nagged him again about the college application. "What are you going to do with your life?" he asked.

"Shut up, Mary," Jen said, blotting lipstick. "All I'm saying is he's creepy," her best friend said. "Something freaky weird about that kid."

"I can't do this," Ghost said. "Clothes is one thing, but this crosses the line, man." Roach replied, "Like you have a choice? We're alone in this. Come on."

Ghost showered in the locker room and swiped a cologne sample down his shirt before he met Jen at her house. Maybe Roach was right. This was crazy.

Jen got accepted to the University. "You and me, Ghost!" she squealed. "Wouldn't it be nice!" Just then, Ghost swore he saw Roach lurking. "Yeah, nice." Ghost stepped n the classroom and saw Lowe—with Ghost's father. Ghost hadn't seen his father since the 7th grade. "What the hell are you doing here?" Lowe stepped in between as Ghost rushed his father. All three slammed up against the blackboard fighting. Mr. Owen's booze stench choked the room. "Can I cash in that scholarship? What does a college want a punk like you for? Freakin' bum. Like your ma," yelled Mr. Owen. Ghost held back his tears.

"I'm sorry," Lowe said. So was Ghost. "How long has your father…" Ghost replied, "Since my mom died." He swallowed hard and turned away.

Jen put ice on his eye. "If we're talking about our future, You need to open up to me. I don't even know who you are." He replied, "I'm homeless."

Ghost was walking when he saw Mr. Hill waiting. "Kid, you're not excited about a scholarship? I'd like to come by, meet your folks." Ghost's head dropped.

A pile of food was at the squat. "Where'd all this come from?" Ghost asked. Roach grinned. "Found a way into the school cafeteria. Never go hungry again." Roach stared off into space. "Wassup?" Ghost asked between bites. Roach shook his head. "Freakin' world, freakin' people… I gotta get out of here. I'm done."

Mr. Hill found Ghost. "Where are you staying? Not with your father." Silence. "Mike. Ghost. Let me help. You can't do this alone. You have a future."

Ghost rang the bell. His father answered, reeking of whiskey. He slurred, "Want me to black your other eye?" Ghost said, "Why did I bother?" and just left.

Roach yelled, "Why go back there? So he can do you like he did your mom? You can't trust any of them. Even that counselor. And forget that scholarship." Ghost couldn't leave the squat—the only family he'd ever known. College meant leaving what he knew as home. He cursed and stared at the blank application.

The squat huddled up in an alley near school. A car screeched by, stopped; the door opened up and Kat screamed as a beaten Ace fell out. The car roared away.

The EMT took off with Ace inside. Students and teachers gawked. Ghost saw Mr. Hill looking for him and ducked in the shadows next to Roach. "We got to get that bastard back. I know where he's at," yelled Roach. "We'll teach him to f with us!" Ghost felt the circle being drawn & shook his head.

Ghost held the application and brochure and reread "PERM. ADDRESS." He looked at the picture of the campus and thought of Ace, the squat and family.

Jen held Ghost's hand. "I heard about your dad. I want you to know I'll always be there for you regardless. You always have somebody there for you."

Ghost held a pen in his hand. The college application was all filled out except the address. He looked Mr. Hill square in the eye. "I need your help."

The squat was in shambles. Ghost found Roach and crew hiding. Roach said, "The cops came, broke up the place. But I think I have a new place for us to stay."

Roach stared at him. "You think life is sweet in college while we're stuck on the street. You're just as fake as all of them. F-ing traitor. That's what you are." Ghost showed Roach a picture of his dorm. It had two beds. "My home is your home. I would never abandon you guys. You're my family. I'm there for you."

Ghost closed the trunk as Jen sat behind the wheel and said, "All set!" He looked for Roach, wanting to tell him about the future. Things would be better. Roach was watching in the alley. A hand came on his shoulder. "Roach, I'm Mr. Hill, a friend of Ghost. Hungry? I know a place we can get something to eat."