Chapter 4 - Angel

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I furrowed my brows when I realized that everything seemed dark. My eyes flew open and I realized that I'd dozed off. The sun had already set and it was dark outside. I quickly walked over to where the lamp was and turned it on, squinting in the direction was the modern navy blue clock that was hanging on the wall, above the plasma flat screen. It was at about 10:00 pm. I came back at around four and slept for six hours! My phone beeped. I picked it up, it was a text from Jessie. The forty-fifth text?! I'd told her about the note during class by pretending to talk to her about school during the last period. I flipped through the texts, every one of them were to ask me how the date went or why I wasn't answering. I sighed and jumped when the phone began vibrating in my hand. I fumbled and almost dropped it, then pressed the accept button.

“ANGEL! How was the date? Where did he take you? Was he nice or a player? Who am I kidding, with looks like that he's definitely a player! So what happened?” She half shouted half squeaked with excitement, through the phone.

I was holding it away from me the moment she said my name. I pressed the phone back to my ear when she finally calmed down.

“Well...” I said slowly.

“Well?!” She copied me except with a much more enthusiastic tone.

“I didn't go.” I shrugged.

“You didn't- Go to- You didn't go- What?!” She demanded furiously.

Geez, it was like I backstabbed her or something, she didn't need to be so upset that I didn't go on a date with a complete stranger that could have been an ax murderer for all I knew, highly unlikely, but still possible.

“What if he's still there waiting, huh? Then what would you do?” She asked.

“I-” I began, but then turned pale.

What she said wasn't possible, I shook it off, but before I up in my room and changing into a pair of sweats and a well-fitting long sleeve.

“I'll call you later.” I closed the phone before Jessie could protest and pocketed it.

I threw on my coat and grabbed my car keys, heading down into the driveway after locking the door. It was raining, well more like pouring, and I could hear the rumble of thunder in the distance. I gulped, I knew this was stupid, but I still wanted to check just in case. I turned on the engine and pulled out of the driveway.

After fifteen minutes with the windshield wipers working at a rapid speed trying to get rid of all the rain, I was finally at the park. I parked on the side of the sidewalk and turned off the engine, sitting there, staring at the completely blurred scenery in front of me, I could barely see a thing, there was no way he was still out there. I smacked my head, physically, when I realized I forgot an umbrella and the jacket I was wearing didn't have one. I groaned and unlocked the car, getting out and stepping onto the wet and slippery cement ground. I closed the door of the car and was immediately drenched, my wet hair soaked, and my bangs plastered to my forehead. I walked slowly onto the grass of the park, walking around, trying to see through the rain, and blinking my eyes rapidly to get rid of the drops of water collecting on my eyelashes.

“Seth?” I called into the empty park.

There was no answer. I knew it, but the rain felt nice so I decided to stay. I strolled over to the park bench, my shoes made squishing noises on the muddy mess on the ground. I sat down, the bench was cold and sent a shiver up my spine. My teeth began to chatter. I felt something being thrown overhead and was about to shake it off, but before that I felt a pair of strong arms going around me, holding onto me like it's life depended on it. I glanced up and realized it was a jacket, then through it at the mysterious stranger. I knew I should have screamed, but I didn't. Something about these arms felt right like I belonged in them. I knew who they belonged to.

“Seth?” I said quietly this time.

His head was buried into my neck. He looked up into my eyes. In his were hurt, disappointment, relief, anger, sadness, and something else that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

“Why are you so late? I thought something happened to you.” Seth whispered, his voice breaking.

I softened, looking at his expression. I was going to answer his question when one of my own popped into my head, demanding to be voiced. I debated on whether I should ask or not, but decided to in the end. What happened to that guy with a large ego I'd met only a few hours ago?

“W-Why are you still here?” I asked, trying to blink the rain out of my eyes.

I'd completely forgot it was pouring, as to how I forgot, I had no idea. He let out a quiet laugh but didn't answer me. After a moment, he sneezed, making me jump a meter high. I craned my neck to look at him. His black hair was plastered to his head, his bangs clinging to his face, covering most of his left eye. He looked pale and his lips were white.

“Never mind, let's just go...” I started to stand up, his arms fell away from me. “Did you come by car?”

I held out a hand and he took it, hoisting himself up, making me stumble. His staggered and fell to the ground. I swore, which is something I rarely do, actually, I'm probably cleaner than third graders. He landed on the ground, splashing mud everywhere, also on me. I sighed and stood there looking at him, waiting for him to get up, but he wasn't moving. My brows furrowed and I bent down, his eyes were closed and his breathing laboured. I put a hand on his forehead and pulling away quickly, realizing how hot it was. He had a fever, and it was my fault. I groaned, picking up his right arm and slinging it over my shoulder, my other arm around his waist. I gasped at his weight, he was really heavy, and I was not exactly body building material. I half carried, half dragged him to my Porsche. I unlocked the back seat door, ready to heave him in when I realized he was covered in mud. He's so going to clean my car for me after this. I threw him in and put him in a sitting position, buckling the seat belts, his head lolling from side to side. I was about to close the door when he something and I froze.

“Why aren't you there yet...” He mumbled.

Well at least I think that's what he said, I wasn't completely sure... I slammed the door shut and ran to the driver's side, ripping open the door and climbed in. I closed the door and started the engine, my hand immediately flew in the direction of the heater, cranking the dial up as far as it would go. I shivered as the cold air began to blow out, then turning into warm air a while later. I placed both my hands on the tiny vent, thawing out my frozen fingers.

Once I was warmed up I took off my jacket it through it over the unconscious guy with a high fever that was sprawled in the back seat. I started to drive down the street when I realized I didn't know where he lived. I groaned. I pulled over again and put the car on park and snapped off my seat belt. I reached into Seth's jean pocket, fishing out his cellphone. I guess I had no choice but to bring him back to my place. Christine wasn't going to be home for who knows how long, so it should be alright.

“Let's see here...” I mumbled as I flipped through his contacts.

He had one of those plans where you could message five specific people for free. I checked the group he stored them in. The first one was his mom, I stifled a giggle. The second was his brother, then his dad, then Brian, and the fifth slot of empty. I skimmed through some of the texts that he sent to her before so I wouldn't mess up and type something he wouldn't say, then opened a new message. “Staying at Brian's tonight, be back tomorrow at around 4:00 pm”. I sent the message, then opened another one. “Told mom I'm staying at your place, cover for me if anything comes up. Will explain everything tomorrow.”. I clicked Brian's number, and then send. I slid his phone back into his pocket and put the car on the drive.

I pulled into my driveway after fifteen minutes. The rain didn't seem to change, well actually now there were streaks of lightning flashing through the sky and the thunder seemed to sound like hungry tigers. I've never been afraid of the rain or thunder and lightning much to my friends' surprise, they'd be scared out of their minds and hide under covers whenever it pours. I hopped out of the car and opened the back seat door, unbuckling the seat belt that Seth somehow got himself tangled in, and dragged him out of it with much force. I slammed the door close after his body was completely out of the car.

Dragging him towards the house was the easy part, when I got him into the house, dragging him up the stairs to the guest room was the hard part. His knee thumped and knocked against the stairs every time I pull him up a step, he was definitely going to have some bruises. I slipped off his shoes and t-shirt, my eyes lingering over his well-defined abs. I looked away quickly, feeling myself flush, and threw the covers over him. I closed the door and walked down the hall, turning the heater up a bit more, thankfully I'd left it on after I left for school this morning. I got out a large baggy t-shirt and plaid pajama bottoms and headed into the bathroom. My clothes were stiff and cold, it took me a while to try and get them off, seeing how they clung to my skin and refused to slide off.

After what seemed like forever, I took a hot shower and climbed out, putting on my clothes and wrapped my hair up with my towel turban styled. I padded downstairs, looking in cupboards, trying to find Tylenol. I grabbed a glass, filling it with warm water. I took the glass and tiny medication bottle up to the guest room, easing the door open gently, then jumping up a mile when my phone began vibrating in my pocket, I took it out and placed it into my pajama bottoms after I showered.

“H-Hello?” I said uneasily into the phone.

“How was your first day?!” A familiar overly excited voice exclaimed through the phone.

“Not so great,” I muttered, rubbing my eyes.

I looked over at the clock in the room, it was almost midnight already, and I was extremely tired and surprised that it didn't knock me out yet.

“Aw... Why?” She said, concern tinting her tone.

“Someone found-” I was about to tell her about Seth, but thought better of it.

I really didn't need her freaking out then rushing back here.

“Found...” She prodded.

“My phone,” I said quickly. “I, uh, lost it this morning...”

“I called you this morning.” She said and I could see her frowning.

“At lunch,” I answered before she could finish.

“Oh,” Christine said, she seemed to buy it.

I mentally sighed in relief.

“So how's your hunt-” I began to ask, more to change the subject then anything else, but I was curious to know if she found Aaron yet.

“I got to go, bye!” She said quickly before hanging up on me.

I rolled my eyes and the disconnected call and shoved the phone back into my pocket, heading over to the bedside. I propped him up with great effort, opening his mouth and popping in two pills, then tipping the water into his mouth before closing it. He coughed a few times, but my hands kept his mouth closed. There was a gulping sound. I laid his head back down, getting ready to leave when he grabbed my hand. I found my head against his chest and my right hand tightly enveloped in his, his left hand holding me down. I sighed, knowing there was no way I could get up, and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

I was woken up by loud knocking coming from the door. My head snapped up and a heavy arm fell off me. I looked over at a sleeping angel and blinked a few times before I remembered last night's events. I groaned but clamped my mouth shut when I heard the sound of the door opening and someone taking off their shoes. I quickly got up and moved towards to door, but was stopped by Seth's hand still clinging onto mine. You'd think his grip gotten looser, but no. I began to panic. My sister was home, I'm in so much trouble. My breathing became short and ragged as I heard footsteps getting louder and louder. I hear door after door being opened and closed. The steps stopped in front of the guest room, the room I was in, and the door was thrown open. My eyes widened and my mouth dropped open at the person standing in the doorway.