This wasn’t the first time I’d found my mother’s jars full of secrets around the house. A few years ago, I found a shrine in her bathroom of a lady skeleton covered in a hood that scared the shit out of me. I never stepped foot inside her bedroom after that. She’d been practicing a form of Cuban witchcraft known as Santeria recently that required blood sacrifice. Sometimes I’ll find her in the backyard chanting in a strange language with a bird in her hand. I didn’t understand why my mother felt she had to go to such lengths to control her husband. I get Paul had PTSD from all of the times he deployed to Iraq, but still—I don’t think it’s working too well for her because Paul is still an asshole.
Every time I confronted her about it, she got defensive or tried to validate it as an old ritual in the bible. ‘People sacrificed animals before Jesus saved us,’ she’d say. For a church-going woman, my mother certainly wasn’t acting like a saint.
The loud honk coming from Jane’s Prius snapped me back to reality. I grabbed my backpack and bolted through the door.
I heard Jane’s cheerful voice coming from her car, “Good morning Mrs. Torrez!”
She waved to my mother, who awkwardly smiled and waved back. If there was anything my mother and I had in common, we both found Jane incredibly annoying. No one is so damn happy early in the morning. I was already in the passenger seat when Jane plopped a big white box on my lap.
“Happy birthday, Alexis!” She squealed. “Open it!”
“Jane, you shouldn’t have,” I said mortified. I could’ve sworn I told Jane no presents, but I guess she didn’t get the memo.
I opened the box then picked through the white paper stuffing until I found a jaw-dropping black and silver Venetian mask decorated with intricate spirals and jewels. I brushed my fingers along the black satin ties feeling like a jerk.
“Thank you,” I told her sincerely.
“You’re welcome. I figured you could wear it to the Halloween dance,” she said pleased with her herself. As the president of almost every club at Dixon High, Jane coordinated every social event, every year, to include all the awful dances.
“Oh right, I completely forgot about it.” I hadn’t forgotten. I wasn’t planning on going. “It looks expensive, Jane. You really shouldn’t have.”
“I bought it while I was in Venice, it wasn’t expensive at all,” she said waving a hand in the air like it wasn’t a big deal. Jane’s short raven hair was perfectly combed in a pink and gold jewel- encrusted headband that sparkled under the sun that made her almond-shaped eyes stand out.
Thankfully, the car ride to school was short. I somehow managed to block Jane’s endless babbling until we arrived at Dixon High: Home of the Nimrods. A name that perfectly described most of the kids who went to the school, and how religious Dixon is. There were more churches in town than there were grocery stores.
Jane neatly parked the tiny car in her designated parking spot close to the entrance of the school. I quickly grabbed my bag then rushed inside before she could catch up.
“I’ll see you later, Jane. Thanks for the ride!” I shouted as I navigated through the masses.
I found Dawn by my locker twirling a piece of her short platinum blonde hair around her finger and blowing a giant pink bubble with her gum. I popped it as I walked by.
“I was enjoying that,” she frowned.
“I’m sorry to burst your bubble.” I opened my locker and stuffed the white box inside.
“What’s that?” Dawn asked taking the mask. She took off her sunglasses and tried it on.
“A gift, compliments of Jane Hayle.”
“A gift from Jane the Virgin? How dull.” Dawn tossed the mask back into the box, then crossed her arms. “You said you didn’t want anything for your birthday. Clearly, Miss Goodie-Two-Shoes isn’t very good at following directions.”
“If you’re really that mad about not getting me a gift, I’ll be happy to take those Fake Bans off your hands.” I snatched Dawn’s sunglasses and tried them on. “They look better on me anyway.”
Dawn scoffed at my insult then took the glasses back.
“I don’t wear imposters.”
I felt a hand rub against the small of my back causing me to jump in surprise. I turned around and met Eddie Luna’s amused smoky brown eyes, his thick dark hair parted to one side. He was wearing a fitted blue letterman jacket that made him look taller than his actual height.
My eyes widened at the embarrassing display of balloons and roses he held on one hand. In the other, he had a small jewelry box.
He leaned in closer to me and whispered, “Happy Birthday,” into my ear.
“Thank you,” I said sarcastically, my cheeks turning bright red.
I took the small box and opened it. Inside was a stunning rose-gold necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. My current favorite color.
“It brings out the green in your eyes,” he said taking the necklace out of the box. Before I could say anything, he was behind me brushing my hair to one side and wrapping the chain around my neck. The necklace felt foreign against my skin like it didn’t belong there.
I looked at Dawn who held back laughter as she mouthed oh my God.
When he finished, I took a peek in the mirror inside my locker. He was right, it did bring out the green in my eyes. A trait I inherited from my paternal grandmother. She died before I was born, but from what my dad used to tell me, she had the greenest hazel eyes with golden flecks around the iris that illuminated in direct sunlight.
“You know how I feel about gifts,” I said annoyed.
“I know. But, when I saw it at the mall, I knew it would look good on you.” He smiled.
I snorted. “Is this your way of saying you want to get back together?”
I felt the curious glances around us, followed by giggles and whispers. I’m sure everyone was probably wondering if Eddie and I were back together. We weren’t. Ever.
“No,” he shot back defensively. “I just wanted to give you something for your birthday.” He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. “Why do you always have to be this way?”
“And what way am I being, Eddie?” I gave him a look daring him to call me a bitch because that’s exactly how I was acting.
“You know what? Never mind.” He took the flowers with him and flung them into the trash walking past Julian who shot us a confused glare.
“What’s wrong with him?” Julian said towering over us. He had a Starbucks coffee in his hand and wore a rainbow scarf hung loosely around his neck that perfectly complimented his smooth caramel skin.
“He’s pissed he can’t get back on the Alexis train.” Dawn informed him.
“Oh,” Julian said taking a sip from his coffee. “That boy still has it hard for you, girl.” Julian gave me a look that said, and you know it. I shrugged it off and went back into my state of denial.
“Anyway.” I turned to my locker.
“Oh God, don’t look now but Queen Beyotch is totally mad- dogging you right now,” Dawn said.
I glanced across the hallway landing on the daughter of the founding family of Dixon, cheerleader, Homecoming Queen, and a royal pain-in-my-ass Savannah Dixon. She was standing by her locker; her long peroxide blonde hair was up in a ponytail covered with pounds of glitter and dressed in her cheerleading uniform. Next to her stood her band of dolled up Dixon Chicks, Mallary-Rose and Ruth-Anne, staring into space. Both of Savannah’s little sidekicks were petite, sunbaked Barbie dolls dumber than rocks.
Savannah’s face twisted with envy and recognition. She saw us last night. I know she did. I rolled my eyes and tried my best not to make eye contact with her. But despite turning around, I could feel the heat of her stare on the back of my neck.
“Someone’s jealous,” Julian said.
“The infamous Alexis-Eddie-Savannah love triangle,” Dawn chimed in.
“It’s not a love triangle when you take me out of the equation.” From the moment I started dating Eddie sophomore year, Savannah held a grudge aga
inst me. It’s understandable, she dated him first, but after so many years you’d think she’d be over him. But then again, it didn’t help Eddie ran back to her every time we broke up. Over the summer when we got back together, I found out that Eddie was cheating on me with Savannah, so I ended things with him.
“Do you think Mayor Dixon knows her daughter is hooking up with an angel?” Julian asked.
“What?” Dawn perked up. She was so busy with her new boy-toy we forgot to tell her about Savannah.
“She was at Eve’s Paradise last night,” Julian told her.
“No way! Little Miss Sunshine with Mayor Dixon’s sworn enemies?” Dawn gasped. “That’s juicy gossip waiting to be spilled.”
“No,” I said in a commanding voice. “Let’s keep this to ourselves until Savannah provokes one of us. Then we spill the beans.”
Dawn groaned. “You always take the fun out of everything.”
“Someone has to be the voice of reason,” I sneered.
“So, what are we doing tonight for your birthday?” Julian changed the subject.
“I’ve got a hot date with my TV and pajamas,” I said jamming my book inside my locker.
“I say we go back to Eve’s Paradise,” Dawn suggested.
“For what?” Julian cocked his head to one side. “So you can ignore us all night while you play tongue twister with Dylan?”
“Yes!” Dawn clapped her hands in delight.
I didn’t want to go back to Eve’s Paradise. The nightclub was a haven for young girls who wanted to meet angels. It’s where my sister met the angel who impregnated her. And I wasn’t in the mood to party. I was so tired from last night; I didn’t know how I was getting through school today.
“Yeah, there’s no way I’m going,” I said.
“Quit being lame and live a little—on the dark side.” Dawn lowered her voice as she said the last words in an attempt to sound dark and mysterious.
“I live. I snuck out last night, didn’t I?” I argued.
“Dancing with the ripped body of an angel sounds like way more fun.” Dawn danced around Julian, shaking her behind on his.
“Oh girl, you’re barking up the wrong tree.” Julian shooed Dawn away as he took another sip of his coffee.
“You guys have fun getting groped.” I shut my locker and walked away. “You can tell me all about it tomorrow.” I waved a hand goodbye as I turned the corner to my first class.
CHAPTER
3
When I walked into my History class, almost every seat was taken. Fortunately, this was the only class I shared with Savannah, Eddie and his jock friends—future frat boys in training Mason Sutherland and Vance Segars. Both boys wore letterman jackets and smug grins. Vance was Dixon High’s wide receiver and Mason’s token Samoan. If this were a horror movie, Vance would likely be the first character to get killed off. He moved to Dixon from Hawaii freshman year. Mason, on the other hand, was your typical snot-nosed rich kid who loved to flaunt his parents’ money. Both of which were lawyers.
“Open your books to chapter ten!” Mr. Harris instructed the class. “We will be discussing Y2K: The Arrival of the Angels.”
The students groaned. While some refused to open their books, I began flipping through the chapter slowly, curiously reading and eyeing the images.
“Can we skip this chapter, Mr. Harris? I think we can all agree that this goes against everything this town stands for,” Mason argued.
Ignorance? I asked myself.
“No one in Dixon cares about the angels,” a kid in the back added.
“That’s because you listen to all the propaganda Mayor Dixon spews around town,” a girl with orange hair said shooting daggers at Savannah. “You’ve been brainwashed just like everyone in this town.”
“You’re a quill lover, ain’t ya?” Mason sneered at the girl.
“I’m not a—quill lover,” the girl said in defense.
“Then you’re an angel sympathizer.” Mason retorted.
“I’m an equal opportunist,” the girl replied with a humorless smile. “I think any creature—human or nonhuman—who steps on this planet has a right to live here.”
Mason scoffed then furrowed his eyebrows. “And let them take over? I don’t think so. We were here first. I ain’t about to let no spawn of Satan take over my home. We need to get rid of those monsters. Y’all know what I’m saying?”
The class broke out in applause and cheers as Mason stood up to take a bow.
“Mason’s right,” Vance added. “What’s next? Human-angel marriages?”
“The law for human-angel marriages passed a long time ago, nimrod,” the girl with orange hair said, but Vance didn’t catch the insult.
“I thought this chapter was banned?” Savannah’s grating voice pierced through my ears like nails on a chalkboard. “My momma said I can’t read any books about angels. She says anyone who refuses Jesus Christ as their lord and savior is a devil worshipper.”
I turned around and narrowed my eyes at Savannah who was sitting at the back of the room. She was such a hypocrite. She moved her body nervously when she caught me staring, then flicked her eyes away from mine.
“They’re aliens from outer space!” Vance exclaimed. “I saw it on Wake Up!”
“The conspiracy theory channel?” the orange-haired girl frowned.
“Yeah,” Vance replied. “The government is hiding their real identity. They’re working together with the Illuminati.”
As the conversation escalated, I focused my attention back to the book. When I was a kid, my grandmother used to tell me the story of how the angels arrived. She said, ‘The sky lit up like the 4th of July.’ Asteroids engulfed in flames hurtled toward the Earth and landed in different parts of the world—one right outside of Atlanta.
Flipping through the pages, there were many pictures of the asteroid before it was named Stone Mountain and an image from the Atlanta Newspaper with a headline that read ANGELS EXIST! Underneath it, there were various photographs of people watching the White House announcement at bars, churches, and schools confirming the beautiful black-winged creatures who arrived on Y2K were in fact angels.
Shortly after arrival day, the angels were integrated into our society. They were given jobs, social security cards, houses. When questioned about religion, the angels refused to acknowledge the existence of God or Lucifer. They argued the Bible was a self-help book Man created to control the human population. The angels and demons described in the book were supposed to serve as metaphors for the good and bad thoughts that floated inside the human mind. Adam and Eve represented the conscious and subconscious mind. And Lucifer our ego.
So, you could imagine the chaos, the protests. The hard-core religionists refused to take the angels’ word standing firm with their beliefs. They weren’t thrilled about a supernatural being moving in next door. Especially in the South. To this day, people’s reactions were mixed, and many of the religious theories were still up for debate.
I didn’t know what to believe. I was raised in a Godfearing Catholic home, I seriously thought I was damned to go to hell for every sin I committed. Talk about childhood trauma. My mother always told me the angels were liars and shouldn’t be trusted. But there were times when I questioned everything. What if the angels were telling the truth? What if everything I grew up believing was a lie?
“She’s a quill-lovin’ angel sympathizer. I’m tellin’ ya.” Mason exclaimed as he continued to attack the girl with the orange hair. “I vote to kick her out of class.”
“Mason, I think that’s enough lip from you today,” Mr. Harris warned.
“Cut it out,” Eddie told Mason. “Let’s pay attention and learn something for a change.”
I scoffed when Eddie said it.
Mason turned to me with hostility in his eyes. “You got something to say, Alexis?”
I looked up from my history book and narrowed my eyes at Mason. “No. I think we’ve heard enough stupidity for one day.”
The snorts and giggles from the class echoed throughout the room as they oohed at my comment. Mason shot me a murderous glare, I thought he was going to get up and punch me.
His lip curled into an evil smile. “Why don’t you kiss my ass?”
“I think that’s Vance’s job.” I smiled.
Eddie shot up from his seat so fast I didn’t have time to blink.
“Come on, man,” he told Mason. “That’s not cool.”
“What? You’re gonna fight me, bro?” Mason said peering up at Eddie. “Over this skank?”
Skank. That’s what Mason called any girl who’s refused him. Mason was the type of boy who was so good-looking, he could get any girl he wanted. He’s been with almost every girl in our class including Dawn.
Except me.
So, he’s made sure I felt his wrath on a daily basis.
“Everyone settle down!” Mr. Harris ordered. “You two”—Mr. Harris pointed at Eddie and Mason— “Principal’s office, now. And you too young lady.”
Mr. Harris looked at me with a no-nonsense glare.
“Wha—what did I do?” I protested.
“You interrupted my class. Now get!” He snapped his fingers.
Way to stay out of trouble, Alexis.
I grabbed my backpack and left the room dragging my feet down the hallway. On my walk to the principal’s office, I sensed a knot in my throat I couldn’t swallow. I’d never gotten in trouble before, not really. That was Priscilla’s job, she was the troubled child in the family, not me. What if I got detention? Or my mother was called into the school? Or worse, held me back a year? There was no way in hell I was getting stuck in this podunk town.
I slumped against the bench across from Mason and focused my attention on the bulletin board full of school club flyers. I realized Mason was staring at me.
Without looking at him, I asked, “What?”
“Just admit it, you want me,” he said with a Southern accent. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be so mean to me all the time.”
“Wow. So, you think I’m mean because I like you?” I scoffed. Where did Mason get the outdated information? A fifth grader off the elementary school playground?
THE TRAGIC + DIVINE, Book 1 Page 3