Saving Angel (A Divisa Novel, Book 1)

by Weil, J. L.

  Their bodies flashed in and out of my view, my human eyes unable to keep up with their lightning movements. In some bizarre way, I was getting used to their rowdiness, however more intense it was than normal. I just sat back, hoping I wasn’t going to get trampled, and waited for them to finish one upping each other.

  I’d seen Chase fight before, and it was evident that he was holding back. Travis didn’t have his speed or strength.

  When Lexi came sauntering out, her hands on her hips, she didn’t even bat an eye. “Why are these two idiots doing rolling around in this muck? And what happened to you?” she asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

  Travis beat me to it. “I caught the two of them making out in the leaves.” He was somehow able to rush before Chase had him in a headlock.

  Lexi pursed her lips trying to hide a grin. “Well…All I have to say is, it’s about damn time.”

  My mouth fell open. “Lexi!” I yelled.

  “What? I was getting tired of being in the crossfires of all that sexual tension. It was suffocating.”

  Groaning, I just laid back down. She joined me on my bed of leaves, gazing up through the dark outlined tree. Her dainty fingers clasped mine. I couldn’t stay mad at her if I wanted to. She just made it so difficult.

  “I’m happy. So happy actually.” I could hear it in her gleeful voice. Grinning from ear-to-ear she looked at me. “You have no idea how much you have changed all of our lives. For the first time in a long time there is laughter again. Listen.”

  And I did. There were crickets chirping in the woods, a breeze rustled the leaves, and Chase and Travis behind us were chuckling between grunts, loving the horseplay, which wasn’t normal. They took roughhousing to a whole new level. My chest filled with affection and warmth.

  Home. This was my home now.

  We smiled at each other, her bright turquoise eyes and my dark twilight, shining in a great bond of friendship.

  Just as we were having a girl moment, the guys had to go and ruin it. Piles and piles of oak and maple leaves just appeared, raining down upon us. They fell in our mouths, in our hair, and in our eyes. Damn demon levitation. Lexi beside me was shrieking, and I was laughing my ass off. You don’t want to mess with that girl’s nails or hair, but I have to say it was the funniest thing ever to see Miss Perfect riled. Chase and Travis were in for some hardcore payback.

  Bitch style.

  Chapter 25

  “Lexi. Your hair looks outstanding. Stop messing with it,” I scolded.

  She sat in front of her vanity fussing with her hair for like the thousandth time. It was homecoming night, and I was suckered into helping Lexi get ready. Who knew why, since she knew way more about fashion than I did. I think she just wanted moral support from a friend. She was still pouting that I refused to go to homecoming. I think she thought I had been holding out for her cousin to ask me.

  They weren’t speaking.

  She couldn’t understand us. One moment he had his tongue down my throat, and the next we were at each other’s throats. I think she was just about ready to give up on us.

  It was better that way. No disappointment. And Lexi’s heart was just too big for her to not get caught in the fireworks.

  Her hair was piled on top of her head with blond curls cascading over her bare shoulders and neck. Sprinkles of sparkles were dusted in the silky strands. The strapless dress she stepped into was the same color of her turquoise eyes. Those eyes were emphasized with smoky eye shadow, thick lines of eyeliner, and forever long dark eyelashes. She looked like she had just stepped out of a fantasy book. Everything about her was more angel than demon.

  “So what do you think?” she asked, turning in circles.

  “Wow Lexi. You look fantastic.”

  “You think?” She turned back to the full length mirror and tucked a strand of loose hair.

  “Don’t touch anything. You just need one last thing.” I pulled her necklace from the box and secured it around her porcelain neck. “There.”

  Her reflection grinned at me in the mirror. “Thanks Angel. I really wish you were coming with me. It just won’t be the same without you.”

  “You are going to have such a fabulous time that you won’t even have time to miss me,” I assured.

  Her painted lips turned down slightly. “What are you going to do tonight?”

  I shrugged. “Nothing really. Maybe hang out with Travis and play Xbox.”

  “Angel, really? My brother? It is our last homecoming and you want to hang out with my brother? If we hurry, I know that I have something you can wear. You can come with Hayden and me. It will be so much fun, I swear–”

  “Lexi. Lexi!” I yelled, cutting off her bubbling rant before it got completely out of my control. “I appreciate you wanting me there, but I just don’t have the heart to go. I’m sorry.”

  “I know,” she conceded.

  The doorbell rang saving me from having to fend off anymore of Lexi’s pouty pleads. As we walked down the stairs, we heard Chase and Travis razzing Hayden on his tie. Silence erupted as we entered the room. All eyes were on Lexi, as they should be, except Chase’s. I met his gaze, and my heart pattered.

  Tearing my eyes from his, I focused back on Lexi.

  Hayden stood in front of her grinning like a kid caught in the cookie jar. “You look amazing,” he complimented, taking her hand.

  They were just so cute together, even if it was BS they were sort of pushed.

  “Thanks,” she replied from cloud nine. You could see the magic shining in her eyes and her dimples winking on her cheeks. I hoped tonight was perfect for her, she deserved it.

  Travis swung an arm over Hayden’s shoulders. “Do we need to have the talk? This is my sister and I expect a, hands off policy.”

  “Travis!” Lexi yelled outraged. “If I recall your homecoming I walked in on you with your tongued down–”

  Travis quickly cut her off. “Lex I swear. I don’t even want you to think in that direction,” he cringed at the idea.

  “What, it’s okay for you, but not me?” she asked sweetly.

  “Yes!” Chase and Travis chorused.

  She folded her arms over her chest. “Hayden lets go before they go mental over the room I got us for the night.”

  Hayden’s eyes widened. Chase’s narrowed. Travis darkened a deadly sea-green haloed in gold. And I smirked.

  That’s my girl.

  “Angel…I still don’t know how you can rather spend your night with these baboons than with me.” She turned on her heels. “They’re your problem now.”

  Hayden sheepishly closed the door behind him totally unsure what in Hades just happened.

  Oookay, I didn’t see that coming. Poor Hayden.

  I plopped down on the couch next to a stunned and riled Travis. “Can you believe her?” he asked.

  Yeah, I could. They could be so overbearing at times.

  He looked ready to beat on something. “She was joking about the room, right?”

  God I hoped so. For Hayden’s sake.

  And mine.

  I watched him clench and unclench his fist as he was fighting with his control. Chase sauntered over taking a seat between us, and I knew it was deliberate. He was putting himself in direct line of Travis in case things went sour.

  “She was joking,” Chase assured. “You okay?”

  Travis ran a hand through his blonde hair, messing it up and looked over at us. His expression noticed Chase’s protective stance. It didn’t go unnoticed by any of us. “Yeah.” And he looked it. “Angel, some team death match?” he asked me with clear eyes.

  Now he was talking.

  “I didn’t think you were ever going to ask.” I grabbed a controller off the consul and waited for him to start up the match.

  “You two are pathetic,” Chase huffed irritated. “It’s Saturday night, Homecoming for God’s sake, and the two of you are going to play Xbox all night.”

  “You got a better idea?” Travis asked.

  His eyes
looked at me, my cheeks flushed as I could all too easily read his thoughts.

  Travis chuckled beside me. “Would you prefer if I left you two alone?”

  “No!” We both yelled hastily. It only made Travis laugh harder.

  “Just start the game,” I grumbled.

  “Whatever,” Chase snapped. “I’ll leave you two to wallow in your utter lameness.” He got off the couch like a spoiled two-year-old and went upstairs.

  “He can be such a diva,” Travis commented when he was out of earshot.

  I reclined into the couch feeling a little sad that he was leaving, which I wasn’t about to admit. It was just the last few days I thought that we had gotten past all the crap and maybe even liked each other a little.

  Okay a lot. He had just recently played tongue tag with me.

  Travis and I started playing a round of MW3, but my heart just wasn’t in the game. My mind kept wandering upstairs, wondering what he was doing. Was he in his room, lying on the bed we spent that night in? I briefly shut my eyes and in the process my player got his head blown off.

  I didn’t know what was wrong with me. He invaded more and more of my thoughts.

  Travis noticed my lack of interest. “So, I know you are probably sick of the question, but how come you didn’t go to Homecoming?” There was no ridicule in his tone, just curiosity.

  I tried to keep my concentration on the game and answer his question. “Umm. Dances really aren’t my thing. I am pretty sure I was born with two left feet.”

  “I am totally going to step out of line, but does it have anything to do with Chase?”

  No longer in the game, I set the remote down. “No matter who asked, my answer was always going to be no. Did you go to homecoming?”

  His eyes twinkled. “I took Emma to the winter formal, and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything in the world.”

  I wondered if Emma had known how lucky she had been. “That’s because you are one in a million. I don’t think there is any girl that could say no to you.”

  “Even you?” he asked teasingly, those charming dimples on either side of his cheeks.

  It should have been illegal to have a house full of drop-dead gorgeous teenagers. I nodded my head. “Even me. But I warn you, I would be the worst date ever.”

  “Somehow I find that hard to believe. Chase seems to constantly find reasons to see you,” he said, grinning slyly.

  “I think all that blonde hair is going to your head.”

  He laughed, and it was nice to hear the lightness in it and in his eyes.

  Maybe an hour later I felt Chase’s gaze on the back of my neck. Little hairs spiked and my spine tingled. Glancing over my shoulder, he leaned against the banister looking dark, moody, and lethal.

  I swallowed the large lump that formed in my throat.

  “What are you still doing here?” he asked rudely. It caught me off guard.

  “Chase,” Travis hissed. “Don’t be a dick.”

  I slammed down my controller. “What is your problem?” I said, raising my voice.

  “Every time I turn, you are right there,” he shouted, making little sense to me. It didn’t matter. If he wanted a fight, I was going to give him a fight.

  “If you want me to leave, fine!” I screamed, getting to my feet. “You don’t have to be a bastard about it.”

  “I don’t just want you to leave. I don’t need or want you in my life. I didn’t ask for this. For you,” he yelled.

  Travis sucked in a sharp breath.

  I felt like I had just been kicked in the chest. His cruel words punctured a gap in my lung, and I couldn’t breathe. Swaying unsteady on my feet, Travis put a stable hand on my arm. Black dots swirled in my eyes, and then quickly turned to a red haze. My eyes must have given away the pain that radiated within. Chase took a step toward me.

  “Don’t!” I threatened, stopping him. “You think I wanted this.” I threw my hands in the air. “You think I want to turn every corner worrying if there is a demon waiting to torture me or kill me? Do you honestly think that I wanted this? I don’t want anything to hurt Lexi.” Or you, I added silently.

  “I warned you,” he cautioned low.

  “You warned, but hardly took your own advice,” I threw in his face.

  The vein in his neck ticked wildly, and I knew his blood pressured skyrocketed. I was playing with fire and probably tempting fate. “You are nothing but trouble,” he spat.

  Travis was caught in the middle of our gunfire, looking bewildered. He put his hand on Chase’s chest, though we all knew he wouldn’t be able to stop Chase. “Will the two of you cut the lover spat crap,” he hollered above the blood roaring in my ears. He turned to Chase. “What crawled up your ass?”

  “We aren’t lovers. We aren’t anything,” Chase said, his face like stone.

  It was like having a knife shoved in my back. Shock and unbelievable pain splashed across my face. I never thought we were dating, but I at least thought he was my friend. How wrong could I have been?

  “I hate you Chase Winters. Don’t. Ever. Come near me again.” My voice hitched at the end, full of emotions I couldn’t control.

  Travis’s eyes burned. “What the hell is your problem man?” And he shoved him up against the wall. Plaster cracked under the impact. Chase’s eyes closed, and he didn’t fight back.

  I had to get out of there. Now.

  Tears streamed down my cheeks in a flood of pent up hurt and anger. I was a hot mess. Running, I was out the front door and I didn’t stop, not even when I heard them both shout my name, not until I was safely locked behind my front door. I hated that I let him see me cry.

  Slamming my bedroom door behind me, I tossed myself on the bed and buried my face into the pillow, soaking it with waterworks. My shoulders heaved from the gut-wrenching sobs. I was blubbering on like an idiot over an asshole like Chase. He didn’t deserve my tears, my compassion, my friendship, or my bleeding heart.

  I was so pissed off at myself. My heart felt shattered like broken glass. More than ever I wanted to be a million miles from here. I wanted to be anywhere, but here.

  There might have been a knock on my front door, but I ignored it. As far as I was concerned, they could all piss off.

  Rubbing my salt streaked cheeks, I decided enough was enough. I refused to waste another ounce of thought or feeling on Chase Winters. He could roast in the fiery pits of hell for all I cared. If I could, I would send him there myself. Hand his daddy his head on a freaking platter.

  After I had cried myself senseless, all that raw emotion turned to blistering anger. I hated him with as much passion as I had when he kissed me. Beating the pillow with my fist, I took out all my aggression on the down feathers.

  I couldn’t believe that I had let such a spawn from hell touch me. Never again, I vowed. I didn’t want to even be within five feet of him. That was totally unrealistic, but in the heat of the moment, it sounded fabulous. Well I’ll just delete his number.

  Grabbing my phone, I was startled when it started to ring. I glanced down at the screen. It was Brandy. The display of her name pulled me out of my mental hissy fit.

  Weird.

  She was supposed to be at Homecoming with Tommy. My heart dropped. All I could think was that something had happened to Lexi. Whatever it was, I hoped it wasn’t as bad as my imagination. Right then it was pretty ugly.

  I quickly fumbled with the answer button. “Hello.”

  Chapter 26

  Her hysterical voice sent me into high alert. Something was wrong.

  Very wrong.

  She was rambling like a sloppy drunk, and I couldn’t make out a single word.

  Sitting up, I tried to coax her. “Brandy, slow down. What’s wrong?” I asked as calmly as I could.

  “Tommy,” she sobbed.

  Okay, very helpful.

  “Did Tommy and you get into a fight?” It seemed the most logical to deduce. At this rate, it was going to be worse than pulling teeth trying to get information from
her.

  She broke out crying again.

  I’ll just take that as a yes then.

  Pushing tangled strands of hair from my face, I sat on the edge of my bed.

  “He. Broke. Up with me,” she managed to get out between her crying jags. She made it sound like it was unfathomable.

  “Are you okay?”

  She sniffled into the phone “I don’t think so. Can you come get me?”

  I pinched the bridge of my nose. There was the beginning of a headache working its way into the front of my skull, and I just didn’t have any energy. But how could I say no?

  “Of course. I’ll be right there,” I agreed. “Where are you?”

  I heard her sniffle into the phone like she was rubbing the snot from her nose.

  Lovely.

  “I’m at school,” she said, weeping. “By the football bleachers.”

  “Okay, I’m on my way.” Searching my bedroom floor, I pulled on a hoodie. The second it was on, I noticed my mistake. It was the one Chase let me borrow. I had yet to return it. The dull ache started to spread through my chest again. His sinful scent was like a disease, eating through my organs. I clenched the hem preparing to rip it off.

  “Hurry,” Brandy’s shaking voice rang through the other end of the phone.

  Screw it.

  “Five minutes,” I said and disconnected.

  Running down the stairs two at a time, I scooped my keys off the counter and got in my little Fusion. The engine purred to life. Shifting into gear, I pointed the car into the direction of Hall High. The road was deserted, as usual, and lit only by the shining moon and tiny starlight. Even then it was dark.

  Eerily dark.

  I tried not to think about the darkness, and focused on getting to Brandy.

  Man. She was going to owe me huge for this. Like colossal.

  When I pulled into the school parking lot, I could hear the music blaring from the gym. The school had been decorated in a gaudy amount of red and black. Stepping out of the car, I was glad for the warmth of the hoodie.

  Even if it was douchebag’s. I made a mental note to burn it when I got back.