White Wings

by Aimee Jessica Russ

  “It hasn’t come up yet,” Millie said, acting like she had been excited about prom.

  “You guys are totally going to win Prom King and Queen,” Isabel said.

  “I don’t know about that,” Millie said, a little bit embarrassed.

  “You and Savannah . . .” Isabel started to say, but she stopped with a gasp.

  “You can talk about her, Isabel. It’s fine.” Millie gave her a small smile. She was finally letting the past stay in the past. She was finally moving on with her life.

  “Okay, I wasn’t sure,” Isabel said with a kind smile. “Anyway, as I was saying, you and Savannah were the hottest girls in this school. One of you guys was bound to win.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Michelle said with a frown.

  “Ignore her,” Sasha said fiercely.

  “Anyhow,” Isabel said, completely ignoring what just happened, “now that you’re dating the hottest guy in school, you guys are totally gonna win. You guys are like hotness overload.”

  Millie flushed with embarrassment. “Thanks,” she managed to spit out.

  “You should come shopping with us when we go,” Sasha offered.

  “Yeah, I would love to,” Millie said with a smile.

  “That’s a great idea,” Isabel agreed.

  All of a sudden, all of their mouths dropped and their eyes enlarged. Millie looked behind her and saw Benjamin standing right there, his smile beaming and irresistible, his cheekbones charming. His white shirt was even more see-through than it had been that morning. It tugged on his muscles, making all the girls sigh. His hair was slicked back.

  “May I join you?” he asked in a sweet voice.

  The girls all said nothing. He sat down when Michelle finally nodded her head.

  “Sorry I’m late. I just had gym class and the boys just decided to get out the fire hose,” he said, kissing Millie on the cheek. “That’s why I’m a tad wet.” Michelle literally couldn’t drag her eyes from his chest.

  “I-it’s okay. We were taking good care of her,” Isabel said in a daze. “We were just talking about the prom.”

  “Talking about that already?” Benjamin said with an adorable half-smile that sent butterflies into Millie’s stomach.

  “Well, we are girls,” Sasha pointed out.

  “Yeah, you’re right. You girls plan months in advance, unlike us guys,” Benjamin said. “But you girls would look beautiful, no matter what.” He sent them all a lovable half-smile again that sent butterflies into all the girls’ stomachs.

  He then turned to Millie and whispered softly in her ear, “You are more beautiful than any other girl I have ever seen.” Millie’s cheeks went pink as her ear and neck tingled. Benjamin pulled away, gently placing his hand on Millie’s knee.

  “You girls got dates yet?” Benjamin asked kindly.

  “Not yet,” Michelle said, finally looking at his face.

  “Well, any guy would be lucky to have you,” he said as the girls smiled shyly.

  The bell rang. As the girls left with flirty smiles and a wave, Benjamin planted a delicate kiss on Millie’s neck.

  “Could you stop being so charming?” Millie asked with a laugh.

  “Hey, it’s not my fault I’m an Angel,” he said with a grin.

  “I just have to get used to the fact that every girl in this school is madly in love with you,” Millie said with a huff.

  “But I only have my eyes on one.” Benjamin planted a sweet kiss on Millie’s lips.

  When they realised that they were the last ones in the cafeteria, they made their way to history class a little bit late. They excused themselves and sat down. Mr Sterland was not impressed. His moustache frowned like his forehead did. He was wearing brown pants with a grey-and-brown old-style suit jacket over a white collared shirt.

  Millie and Benjamin interrupted the class many times as they giggled and whispered to each other. They hardly paid any attention to what Mr Sterland was saying. Millie was so happy that she had Benjamin. Someone to talk to. Someone to count on. Someone to hold. Someone to love.

  Benjamin felt so happy. He finally understood why humans always searched for love. How a human longed for their soul mate. He finally understood. However, deep down inside, he was waiting for the moment when Heaven would find out his deceit. They would find out that he had broken the rules to be with a human, and he would be ordered to stay away from Millie forever. He dreaded that day, the day he would never be able to touch or kiss Millie ever again. He didn’t want that to happen. He had to stop it.

  * * * * *

  That night, Benjamin stayed over again as Millie slept in his arms. He stroked her hair softly until he heard wings flapping. He gently pulled his body away from Millie’s and walked over to the window.

  “What are you doing?” Teal said as he stood on the ledge of the window. Benjamin opened up the window and Teal jumped into Millie’s bedroom.

  “Someone could have seen you,” Benjamin whispered.

  “Somebody could have seen you when you took Millie on a joy ride,” Teal said with a raised voice.

  “Shhh!” Benjamin looked at Millie. “Let’s take this downstairs.”

  They made their way to the kitchen.

  “What do you think you are doing?” Teal demanded.

  “How’d you find out?” Benjamin inquired.

  “I think you know how I found out.”

  “I'm in love with her,” he said seriously. A smile appeared on his face.

  “What have you done?” Teal asked sincerely. “You have broken a rule.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” Benjamin said harshly. “I know I have defied Heaven and I feel guilty for that, but every time I look at Millie, I fall more and more in love with her.” He calmed down at the thought of Millie.

  “We are only supposed to love humans, not fall in love with them,” Teal pointed out.

  “I know,” Benjamin replied. “But the weird thing is, I get warned for talking to her, but they haven’t punished me yet for actually getting into a relationship with her.”

  “That is really odd,” Teal said, narrowing his eyes.

  “Maybe they haven’t found out yet?” Benjamin said carefully.

  “This is Heaven you’re talking about, remember? But maybe the Angel in charge of you hasn’t noticed yet.”

  “It just baffles me,” Benjamin said, rubbing his neck.

  “Your punishment will come soon enough, I fear,” Teal said gravely.

  “Can we not talk about this? It depresses me.”

  “You are really in love with her, aren’t you?”

  “I am,” Benjamin said with a hint of a smile.

  “Well, as a friend, I’m actually glad you found Millie. You seem happier now that you have her. But as a fellow Angel, it’s wrong.”

  “As an Angel, I know it’s wrong. As a friend, I thank you.”

  “You’re not so gloomy all the time,” Teal joked.

  “Oh, ha-ha,” Benjamin said sarcastically. “And how do you know that I am happier?”

  “I am a Guardian Angel; I am allowed to spy,” he said with a laugh.

  * * * * *

  The next morning, Benjamin drove Millie to school again. As they held hands, Benjamin thought of the conversation he had with Teal the night before. Teal’s words “your punishment will come soon enough” rang in his ears until Millie interrupted his thoughts.

  “It’s so good to have someone drive me to school,” she said with a heart-warming smile. “It totally sucked walking to school there and back. I had to get up extra early."

  “So you’re using me for my car?” Benjamin joked.

  “That’s one of the many things I am using you for,” she giggled.

  “Well, it was a long way to walk,” he said, pulling up into the school parking lot.

  * * * * *

  “I forgot to say, great party on Saturday,” Isabel said at lunch in the cafeteria.

  “Oh yeah, I forgot all about it. It was awesome,” M
ichelle agreed.

  “Thanks, guys,” Millie said.

  “It was nice of Benjamin to take control at the end,” Sasha said.

  “More like ruining the end of the party by kicking us all out,” Michelle added. “But I forgive him because of his hotness.”

  “Where were you at the end?” Isabel asked, concerned again, ignoring Michelle’s little comments.

  “I was upstairs in my bedroom. Had a little bit too much to drink.”

  “Oh, we all did,” Michelle said loudly.

  Millie looked around and saw Benjamin sitting at a table with a group of guys. They met each other’s gaze and smiled. He was sitting with Timothy, a kid with long, blond hair that was tied back in a ponytail. Timothy had a long face that was completed with a couple of freckles on his nose. Next to him was Scotty, who had light brown hair that fell in his face. His blue eyes could be seen from across the room. Also there were Jack, who had short brown hair and was the tallest person in the school, and Jake, who had orange hair and a killer jaw, and always wore black. Benjamin blew Millie a kiss that made her cheeks flush pink. She smiled, waved, and then joined back in the conversation with the girls.

  “I know your boyfriend is new to Phoenix, but why hasn’t he got a tan yet?” Michelle asked randomly. “Does he stay indoors too much?”

  “I can’t believe you just asked that,” Sasha said. “You can be so rude.”

  “I’m just making conversation,” Michelle huffed.

  “I think his skin is very nice, Millie. It seems to nearly glow,” Sasha continued with a chuckle, “Anyway, let’s get off the topic of your boyfriend’s skin, can we? Let’s talk about dresses.”

  “I want a short dress,” Michelle announced. “Maybe black or red or purple.”

  “I want a long one,” Sasha said. “A classy one.”

  “Hmm, I haven’t really thought about it. Just one that catches my eye,” Millie said.

  “I like your attitude.” Isabel smiled.

  “That’s so lame,” Michelle said with attitude.

  “How did we ever become friends with her?” Sasha sighed.

  * * * * *

  Millie was waiting outside the school underneath a tree for Benjamin, listening to her iPod. She hid in the shade, trying to escape from the rays of the sun. She closed her eyes, until she heard footsteps coming towards her. She smiled at the thought of Benjamin’s charming face smiling at her. Her eyes opened to find David standing in front of her instead.

  “Hi,” he said with a smile.

  “Hello,” Millie jumped in surprise.

  “How are you doing?” he asked.

  “I’m all right. You?” she replied politely.

  “I’m okay.” He leant on the tree right next to Millie. She felt uncomfortable.

  “I thought we were having a good time on Saturday, but you never came back.”

  “Sorry. I was really drunk,” Millie said, edging away from his arm, but his arm followed her.

  “So that’s going to be your excuse. Being drunk?” David said with a smirk.

  “I was really drunk. I didn’t know what I was doing.”

  “Don’t tell me that you weren’t enjoying yourself,” he said with a grin.

  “I’m sorry, but like I said, I was really drunk and I was lonely. I wasn’t thinking straight,” Millie said in a worried voice.

  “Tell me right now that my kisses didn’t make you feel good. That you longed for my kiss on your lips.”

  “Yes, it did feel good that night, but in the end, I was actually glad your friend interrupted us. It would have been a mistake. I’m sorry,” Millie said, looking around, trying to get someone’s attention. She sensed that something bad was going to happen.

  “Don’t say that, Millie. I know for a fact that you were enjoying my touch,” he said, rubbing a finger over her cheek.

  “Don’t touch me,” she said as his deep brown eyes stared at her.

  “I know you love my touch. Don’t fight it,” he said, putting his other hand against the tree.

  Millie stepped back right up against the tree. There was nowhere else to go. David was blocking her in. Her breathing became heavier, and her hands started to sweat with nerves.

  “I have to go,” Millie said, making up an excuse to get out of the situation.

  “You don’t have to go anywhere. Don’t fight the temptation, Millie,” David said as he stepped closer. She could feel his breath on her neck and face. His face was so close to hers. She wanted to run away. It was so painful to see his face so close.

  “You know you want this,” David said, cupping his hands around her cheeks.

  He pulled her face closer to him and kissed her forcefully. Millie tried to pull away, but his grasp was too strong for her. Every kiss was harder and uncomfortable. She wanted to scream out.

  All of a sudden, Millie couldn’t feel David’s lips on her. She looked to her right and saw David lying on the ground beside her. She looked to her left and saw Benjamin standing next to her in a rage. His face was scrunched up and his teeth were clenched together. He looked at Millie in fury. Millie stood frozen. She had never seen Benjamin like this before. He scared her.

  Benjamin walked over to David. David was struggling to stand up, winded from the unexpected blow. Benjamin threw him against a tree nearby. A small audience started to gather, of students who were either getting out late from class or still waiting for their lift home. Some gasped as others cheered. David tried to fight back, but Benjamin’s strength was overwhelming. Millie still stood frozen; Benjamin’s face had terrified her. She touched her lips with disgust, feeling so bad that Benjamin had to witness her kissing another person.

  Millie looked at Benjamin kicking and punching David. David was bloody and his face was already starting to swell. Finally, she snapped out of it and ran over.

  “Stop!” she yelled. “Stop it!”

  Benjamin ignored her. Some of the spectators were backing away in fear. Benjamin looked strong and fierce. Millie feared that if she couldn’t stop him, no one could.

  Mr Fox, the gym teacher, came running from the school, his brown hair falling over his face and neck. He went over to them and tried to pry them apart. Benjamin was so strong. Jack came from the crowd and grabbed one of Benjamin’s hands, and Mr Fox grabbed the free hand and pulled him away. It took all of their strength to get him away from David, who was now lying on the grass.

  “Just calm down,” Mr Fox ordered.

  Jack held his arm, still in fear that he was going to have another go at David. Mr Fox went over to David.

  “Someone call an ambulance,” he announced. A small girl with short, blonde hair grabbed her phone from her pocket and dialled the number. She told them what had happened and where to go.

  A few more teachers came running from the school as Jack slowly let go of Benjamin. Millie walked up to Benjamin and put a hand on his shoulder. He turned quickly and lifted his hand as if to hit whoever was behind him. Millie flinched in shock. Benjamin looked into her eyes and put his hand down. Millie’s eyes began to fill with tears. Benjamin looked up at Millie and went to put a hand on her cheek, but she stepped back.

  Benjamin’s eyes went from fury to sorrow. He realised that he had scared Millie. He saw that his hands had blood on them, and he was shocked at the sight. He was a Protector of humans, not a hurter of them. He looked at David as the school nurse and Mr Fox tended to him. The tears streamed down Millie’s face as he looked back at her once more.

  Millie wanted to hug him and tell him that everything was going to be okay, but he had petrified her. She was scared to touch him in case he hurt her. He was enraged from what he had seen. Benjamin stared at Millie and started to turn around.

  “Don’t you dare go anywhere,” Mr Fox pointed at him.

  Benjamin stopped and stood still.

  Miss Sutherland put her slender hand on Millie’s shoulder. Millie looked around to see her comforting smile. She handed Millie a tissue. She wiped away her tears
as the ambulance came and tended to David. Benjamin stood there frozen. He was like a statue. Millie was starting to become worried about him and began to walk over to him carefully, until Miss Sutherland firmly put her hand on Millie’s shoulder.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Miss Sutherland said. “I’ll drive you home.”

  “I want to be with him,” Millie pleaded.

  “I think the best thing you can do is leave him alone for a while,” Miss Sutherland advised, eyeing Benjamin. “He is angry at the moment and he could do anything. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  Millie looked at Miss Sutherland, then at Benjamin. She was right. He had seen her kissing another guy; he must be furious at her. She nodded to Miss Sutherland, who then guided her out to the parking lot. Millie looked back at Benjamin, who still stood there frozen. He didn’t look back at her. Millie hopped into Miss Sutherland’s car, wanting to help Benjamin, but there was nothing to do. They drove out of the school lot just as they saw a police car arriving.

  Millie gave directions to her house, where Miss Sutherland dropped her off with a peaceful smile. Millie walked inside, slamming the door behind her. She prowled around the kitchen in a panic. She didn’t know what to do. It killed her how she couldn’t help Benjamin. What were the police going to say to him? She felt bad that she had led David on and now he was hurt badly.

  “Everything’s my fault!” she yelled at the top of her voice whilst throwing her bag on the ground.

  She couldn’t eat that night. She watched TV, switching channels every couple of minutes in frustration. When it was midnight, she turned off the TV and lay in bed. Her eyes stared at the ceiling, wide awake. She tossed and turned but couldn’t get to sleep.

  Suddenly, there was a noise at her window. She sat up and saw Benjamin climbing in. They stared at each other.

  “Are you okay?” Millie asked hesitantly.

  “No, I’m not, Millie,” he said, still standing at the window.