He laughs. “You mean, you don’t know? I thought angels were supposed to be all knowing. Why don’t you just ask her?” Even as he says this, I can tell he’s holding something back. Something he doesn’t want to tell me.
“I intend to.” He doesn’t need to know how vulnerable she may very well be by not knowing the truth about our world. “But the way you were focusing on her earlier, nothing good can come from that. You were trying to possess her.” The look of anger on his face tells me I’m right. It also tells me he was unsuccessful. “Why weren’t you successful? Is it hard for you?”
He scoffs at that. “Hard for me to possess people?” He laughs. “Never. I’ve been possessing people since I was four years old.” He gives me a look of pure hatred. “Your little girlfriend is just a freak, but don’t worry, I will figure out how to destroy her. All in good time,” he sneers.
I can tell this conversation isn’t going to get us anywhere. He’s too pissed off that he can’t possess her so he’s not going to just let it go.
It’s not in his blood to back away from a challenge, and it’s clear that’s how he sees her.
“This was pointless. I should have known you wouldn’t listen. See you around, Colten.” I stand and leave before he can stop me.
Every step I take away from his room makes breathing a little easier. It’s definitely time to get control of this power because he isn’t going anywhere, and he’s not the only demon here.
I refuse to be on edge and put Harleigh in danger because I’m not focused.
Harleigh
Once the room is unpacked, I finally take the time to look at my phone and see a couple texts from Mom. She wants to know how my first day went and if I’m settling in ok. I shoot her off a quick reply and make a mental note to call her and Dad tomorrow.
I get comfortable on my bed before dialling Adeline.
“Harleigh! You’re alive! I miss your face!” Did I mention she has a flare for the dramatic?
“Obviously, Adds.” I chuckle. “I miss you too, but you know my rules. I only use my phone outside of school hours. I’m not going to miss the education if I’m staying put in Blossom for another four years.” I swear we went over this no less than a million times before I left.
“Seriously? I figured you were just fucking with me and would ignore your stupid rules. I mean, what human actually follows a stupid rule like that?” she whines through the phone.
I miss everything about her, even her whiny pouts. Hell, I miss everything about my old life. This new normal is going to take some getting used to.
“The kind that enjoys having a solid 4.0 GPA?” She lets out this gasp like that would be the end of the world.
“Ugh, you’re so boring sometimes. No one our age is that insane,” she mocks me with love.
It’s been a running joke in my family that I am too old and boring to possibly be eighteen. Apparently, I take life too seriously and always have.
“Anyway, how was your first day?! Oh my God, the stories I have to tell you…” The conversation goes on like this for a while before I finally get the nerve to tell her about Brian, and I’m a nervous wreck.
It’s not that I’m trying to hide him from her, but for all intents and purposes, he’s the first guy I’m actually interested in possibly being more than friends with.
For me, that’s a big deal.
“Addy, I met a guy. One I actually like.” I hold my breath as I wait for her reaction.
“WHAT?!?! Holy shit! Tell me EVERYTHING! Is he cute? What’s his name? What does he look like? You have to send me a picture!!”
“Whoa, slow down, turbo! Can you even breathe?” I laugh at her eagerness to know every single detail. “I ran into him this morning, like I physically ran right into his back. I was lost in my thoughts and wasn’t really paying attention.”
“And?”
“And…he’s sweet. His name is Brian. We have almost every class together, too.”
“That’s all you’re going to give me? Is he hot?! What does he look like? I mean you never pay attention to guys. This is a big deal! Don’t hold out on me, Harls.”
I can just picture her standing there glaring at the space in front of her while she talks into the phone.
“I’m not trying to be evasive. He’s definitely hot. He has longer black hair with an emo look. He’s covered in tattoos, and he has piercings. He also wears glasses like no one’s business. He’s gorgeous, Addy,” I say on a sigh, and flop onto my back.
“Ho…ly…shit!” she squeals the last word out from excitement. “Bitch, I need to see what he looks like! Get me a picture.”
Yeah, like that’s going to happen. I’ll just walk up to him and be like ‘Hey, my friend wants to see how hot you are. Selfie?’ Nope, not going to happen.
“Stalker much?” I laugh at her. “Maybe eventually.”
She seems more excited about the idea of me liking a guy than I am. Then again, she’s always been guy crazy.
“Ugh, fine! We will table that for now, but seriously, I am so happy for you! I was beginning to think you were going to die alone with like, a hundred cats or something. What else happened today?”
I spend the next hour telling her about my day from meeting Brian, to the courses I’m taking. I even mention Colten and his overzealous douche attitude. She has some choice words for him, not that I expected anything less. Adeline Montgomery is beyond loyal to the people she loves.
Eventually we hang up after I promise to text her tomorrow, and I lay in bed just staring at the ceiling while I run back through the day’s events.
As far as first days go, it wasn’t as bad as I imagined. I actually managed to make a friend and that’s something I hadn’t planned on happening.
Maybe being the real me won’t be as hard as I thought it would be.
2
