When Angels Fall (Fallen Angels)

by Jo Cattell

  “If I’m not busy, then maybe,” Chloe replied and shut her book, as she looked annoyed.

  “Oh, Chloe, are you still going to do youth group this year?” Dave asked her.

  “Yeah, why?”

  “You didn’t hear what happened to Miss Van Day?” Gabbie looked shocked by the scandal that was rocking the school.

  “What happened?”

  “She committed the cardinal sin! She got knocked up!” Dave laughed.

  Chloe looked stunned.

  “God, you preach about the importance of purity and talk us all into the promise and the rings but don’t follow it yourself? What a loser,” Gabbie added about the teacher as she spun her ring. The bell rang and everyone started heading to class.

  “Nice meeting you, Nick. Chloe, your house after school?” Gabbie called as she and Dave headed off to the next class.

  “Maybe, I have to see. I’ll text you,” Chloe called back and went back into the building.

  Nick watched her go, and then he went onto his next class, which happened to be one he had without her.

  * * * *

  After lunch was her art class. This was the only class where Chloe was free from her friends and could escape. She was also free of Nick for a period, because he had French in the classroom next door.

  The news of Miss Van Day was really a shock to her. She was such a positive role model when it came to the whole ‘true love waits’ thing. Had it been true love that led to this baby? Maybe it was, but then again, what gave anyone the right to judge what she did? Chloe looked at her purity ring.

  The silver band was supposed to remind her of waiting for marriage. She remembered the day her father put it on her finger. It was right before he told her he was going to marry Shelly. The purple amethyst stone matched the one in her class ring. It was her mother’s birthstone. She held back tears and tried to focus back on the canvas in front of her.

  Why was it so hard still to think about her mother? It had been almost six years now. There had to be an end of the tears somewhere. It was just another open wound that didn’t heal. In the three years that her father had been remarried, her life had gotten lonely. He threw himself into work and Shelly was too busy with her own business to notice her half the time. That was why after school her house was the hang out. They could get into all the trouble they wanted and there were no parents around to stop them or even care what was going on.

  It hadn’t always been like that though. When her mother was alive, Chloe remembered coming home from school and the smell of cookies that had been baking all day. Her mother would sit at the table with her and help with homework. Chloe always helped with dinner. She had learned how to cook from her mother. Now she was lucky if someone remembered to leave money for her to order dinner with.

  The bell had rang and Chloe still sat looking at the blank canvas.

  Sister Rose had touched her shoulder to bring her back to earth and send her on the way.

  When Chloe found Nick waiting for her like a lost puppy, she felt really bad. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t forget you. I just blanked out.”

  “I really thought you ditched me for a minute there. Do you have gym next?”

  “Yeah, we don’t have to get changed today, so it’s okay if we’re a little late,” she pointed out, glad to not have to change into shorts and a tee. She hated the smell of the locker room, so at least until the next day, she was safe.

  Suddenly, something smacked Nick in the head.

  “Look out, little Bro, you’re gonna get run over if you just stand there like that!” a guy who looked a lot like Nick called as he walked backwards down the hall.

  “And you’re gonna fall on your ass if you keep walking like that! Where are you going?” Nick called to him.

  “Gym!” the guy yelled and kept going.

  She watched as Nick cringed.

  “Great," he said. “I have a class with my brother. This is going to be fun.”

  “So, that’s the guy Tiff likes. I can see why. He’s kinda cute.” Chloe smiled, seeing if it got a rise out of him. She wasn’t sure why, but he seemed like someone she could relate to.

  “Yeah, Kevin is a real ladies’ man. I have one more at home you haven’t met yet, if things don’t work out with you two,” he joked.

  “Four boys? Your poor mom.” Chloe laughed and really felt bad for the woman.

  “Yeah, Mark is the oldest. He’s in his second year in college, and you’ve already met Max. Kevin and I are a year apart. What about you, any crazy siblings at home?”

  “No. I’m an only child.” The truth was that she felt like it was a curse sometimes.

  “Lucky you! You have no idea what it’s like to deal with older brothers and an annoying little kid who likes to embarrass you any chance he gets.” He laughed as they entered the gym.

  Kevin threw a basketball at Nick and it hit him in the arm.

  “I think I have an idea. Come on, we’re over here.” Chloe took Nick’s arm and led him over to the bleachers where he would be safe from anymore oncoming basketballs.

  * * * *

  When the school day finally came to an end and they sat in their last class, Nick looked at her. She’d been sketching as the study hall teacher talked and hadn’t noticed he‘d been staring at her. There was something about Chloe Gardner that intrigued him. She seemed different from the girls back in Michigan.

  Her strawberry-blond hair was pulled back with a metal butterfly clip.

  Nick could see the intensity of her expression for the sketch she was doing.

  Unlike her friends, she wore the crisp white blouse with the tie tucked into the dark-blue vest. On either wrist was a tone of silver bracelets, which jingled as she worked. She wore her pleated blue-and-gray checkered skirt at the required length, which showed off her shapely legs.

  Most of the girls wore stockings, but not Chloe. Her navy penny loafers housed her bare feet. He knew this because she’d slipped them off and on again as she worked.

  Suddenly, her phone vibrated and she jumped with a start. Taking it out, she quickly read the message, and bit her nervously at bottom lip.

  “Problem?” Nick asked, seeing the frustrated look on her face.

  “No,” she answered as she typed out a message. “Just Gabbie wanting to know if we’re hanging out at my house after school.”

  “I wanted to thank you for today,” Nick told her. “I know we kinda got off on a rocky start, but I really appreciate you showing me around and all. I guess tomorrow, I’m on my own.” Why did he feel so nervous talking to her suddenly? She was just a girl who had incredible green eyes.

  Chloe put her phone down and gave him a playful smile. “You weren’t too bad. Since there is this strange notion I’m in charge of our little gang, so to speak, I guess you can hang out with us if you want. Only problem, you have to deal with Tiff on your own, but you seemed to do okay with that today. Oh, a word of advice with Tab, don’t fall for her dumb act. To be honest, and I can say this,” Chloe paused as she leaned in closer to him. “She’s a slut. If you want to keep that promise to stay pure, stay away from her.” She pointed to the ring on his finger.

  “Got it, and what about Gabbie and Dave?” Nick acted like he was taking notes. The truth was, he liked the way she was talking to him, like she was giving him secret information on her friends.

  “They’re harmless. Dave is pretty cool. We’ve been friends for like forever. Gabbie, well, she’s just Gabbie. There’s no way to explain her. She’s my best friend. Oh, and she thinks there’s someone for everyone.”

  Nick thought about it for a minute, but he had to know what this guy Josh meant to her. It didn’t matter, he told himself. He wasn’t interested in her. He just wanted to know what the deal with him and her was. “And Josh?”

  She was quiet when it came to him. “He’s my problem. As long as you don’t mess with me, you’ll be fine.”

  “Why can’t I mess with you? Are you some sort of possession to be owned? I
f I’m asking too many questions, just let me know,” he dared to press, and then realized that it might’ve been a bit out of line.

  Chloe gave a sarcastic laugh. “Others have tried and given up as they got close to the truth. I really wish Josh would, but he’s persistent. There’s lot to me, and trust me, you’re going to hear things. Just ask me, and if I’m ready for you to know, I’ll tell you.” She seemed to get a little nervous having said that.

  “Yeah, see, I don’t give up so easy, either. You seem like a mystery to me, and I want to find out more. I do, however, have one more question.” He leaned closer to her, almost until they were face-to-face.

  “And what, pray tell, is that?”

  “I kinda got a little spooked by that thing Gabbie told me about my class ring. I need all the luck I can get in this new town. Since you’re really the only one I know, can you lock it for me?” He laughed and put his hand out to show his silver class ring with the sapphire stone.

  Chloe laughed, too. Biting her fingernail, she seemed to ponder on her answer. “I’ll tell you what, since you’re new here and don’t know anyone, and I kinda feel sorry for you, I will lock your ring. And if you promise not to tell anyone, you can lock mine.” Nervously, she put her hand out.

  Nick smiled and grasped her hand. He wondered at the warm jolt of tingles that ran up along his neck when he touched her. He turned the ring, locking it and dropped her hand.

  Chloe looked startled and got up.

  He followed her out. What just happened, he wondered as they made their way toward the parking lot. Nick stopped at Kevin’s car. They d just kept talking after class and found themselves there. He actually enjoyed talking to her. She wasn’t like the other girls he’d known. She wasn’t flirting with him and it was a welcome change for once. He noticed her friends walking up and wished they would just disappear for a few more minutes. “Here comes your crew.”

  “And there’s your brother. We’re just gonna hang at my house if you wanna come.”

  “Can I get a rain check? First day at a new school, my mom is going to want to grill me.” He really wanted to go, but knew that his mother would be waiting. There was still so much he wanted to know about her.

  “It’s pretty much an open invitation. Just ask.”Chloe started to walk towards her friend.

  Suddenly, Nick found himself calling to her, “Hey, Chloe, can I have your number?” Then, he wondered why he did that. There was just something about her eyes that held him prisoner.

  She turned and paused for a minute. “You’re not worthy yet, Nicky! I’ll let you know when you are!” she called back while laughing, and joined her friends.

  Kevin heard the whole thing and laughed at him as he unlocked the car. “Wow, Nick, shot down in the school parking lot. Not a good thing.”

  Nick groaned that he‘d heard the whole thing. “She said ‘yet,’” Nick gloated and smiled while turning it around on his brother.

  Kevin checked the girl out in the rearview mirror. “She’s cute. What’s her deal?”

  “That was the girl from the carnival, and before you even start, she’s just a friend, I think. Sister Mary Margret had her show me around today. Don’t give me that look.” He knew if he said anything more than that, he would fall into Kevin’s trap. He wanted to hold onto the high of having been at her mercy all day.

  “Wow, she is pretty cute. Listen, baby Bro, I know you have this new rule for yourself which again, is really stupid and from the look on your face? It will not last. But we just moved here. Don’t fall for the first girl you meet. Mark can tell you how that all works out. Especially, with the way dad is and how we keep moving.”

  Nick knew his older brother was looking out for him, and the sad part was that he was right. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” That sinking feeling had come over him again. The one he got when they were told about this move. But looking back at her, as she talked with her friends, he noticed how her hair glowed in the sunlight. “Still, she’s pretty nice. It just wouldn’t be worth being anything more than just friends because of dad and the empty promises we always get about moving.” Nick kept watching her until they were out of sight.

  Their mother met them in the kitchen when they got home. She'd been cooking dinner and the air was filled with the tantalizing scent of fried chicken. It was the meal she always made for the first day of school, along with the chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. “So how was it? As bad as you both made it out to be?” Gina Allen questioned her two sons. They had complained all morning and now came the moment of truth.

  “Gee, Mom, it’s the first day. Give us a chance to get in the door before you start with I told you so.” Kevin handed her papers to fill out.

  She watched him go straight to the fridge and grab a bottle of water.

  Throwing his hair out of his face, he drank it down like he hadn’t any for days.

  “Yeah, it was just like any other school we have been to. It is just a question of what crowd you want to hang with.” Nick cocked his brow and thought of the answer.

  “And I’m thinking you’re gunning for the crowd that girl was in. The pretty one from the carnival,” Kevin leaned against the refrigerator and teased Nick. He knew too much now to let Nick out of it quietly.

  “I told you, I’m not interested. She was just nice.” Nick slammed the counter, annoyed that Kevin had brought her up again. He had to hear about Chloe all the way home. Just when he thought Kevin had finally dropped it, he started at it again.

  “Oh, my God, you two look adorable in your matching uniforms.” Mark put his hands to his face like their grandmother would do when he saw them. “Nicky in your blazer and Kevin in your vest? Oh, how sweet.” He laughed.

  Kevin hit him in the arm. “Dude, there was a time all three of us matched.”

  “Yeah, but you two just look so cute. Mommy, did you get lots of pictures?” Mark continued, pretending he was crying and hugged his mother.

  “Mark, leave them alone,” she scolded him. She had to put a stop to it now or it would get out of hand, as it often did. On the whole, her three oldest were pretty well behaved, but when they started with the tormenting, it could get ugly.

  Kevin gave Mark an annoyed look, then turned back to Nick. “So, if you’re not interested in that girl, why did you ask for her number?”

  “Wait, Mr. I’m Not Interested in Any Girls, asked for a girl’s number? This I’ve got to hear.” Mark looked at Nick now, intent on finding out how this rule of his was just broken.

  “She invited me to hang out at her house after school one day. I was going to call her about it.” They were both going to start on him now; he had to find a way out of it.

  “Sure, you were, little Bro. Keep telling yourself that.” Giving him the okay sign, Kevin leaned on the counter with a sarcastic grin.

  “So, is she cute?” Mark questioned Nick.

  “She’s okay,” he answered

  Kevin just laughed at him. “She’s pretty cute. Green eyes and strawberry-blond hair. I saw them walking down the hall together. What did she smell like, Nick?” He tried to set a trap.

  “I have no clue. I didn’t get close enough. Besides, there’s this jock who likes her, and even if I wanted to, there is no chance.” Nick knew by the way she talked that Josh was the guy she would end up with.

  “You mean Josh Tanner? Mark, you should see this guy play. He’s pretty good,” Kevin informed him.

  Mark looked closely at Nick. “Do you think you have a shot with her? I mean maybe she isn’t into jocks?”

  “Whatever. There’s no way I’m going down that road again. I have learned my lesson with the way we move around. I’m not even going to try.” He was sick of hearing about this from those two. He wasn’t interested in Chloe. Yeah, she was really pretty, and she had a great smile. And she smelled really good. But he was done with all this stuff. The move had changed that in him.

  * * * *

  Two days later, as Nick closed his locker, he spied Chloe wa
lking up. She was carrying her books close to her chest with her hair was loose around her shoulders. She wore navy knee socks, along with her skirt, and it only showed so much of her legs.

  “I haven’t had the chance to talk to you the past few days,” Chloe said. “How are you making out?” She leaned on the locker and gave him that warm, inviting smile.

  He melted the minute he heard her voice, though he tried hard to hide it. “Do you know some girl named Robyn?” Nick asked. “She keeps putting notes in my locker.” He handed her the love note he just found.

  Chloe read it and laughed. “Robyn Carter. She’s in our homeroom and I think family living. She’s pretty harmless, although she has it pretty bad for you. Are you going to sit with us at lunch today?”

  “If you want me to,” Nick answered. Oh, of course she wanted you to, Dummy. She just asked you to. “I was just trying to get used to things around here a little. Let me ask you, does Sister George ever smile?” He had to change the subject or he knew he would say something stupid again.

  “No, she pretty much hates everyone and everything. I think if she tried to smile, her face would crack, then the earth would open up and swallow her.”

  Nick realized how funny this girl was, as well as cute, and he got nervous suddenly. He had wanted to take her up on her offer and was wondering how he was going to do it. He decided to just go for it. “So, I was wondering if you were all hanging out after school again. I was going to see if your offer was still good.” Okay, so far he was fine. His voice didn’t crack and he hadn’t stumbled over his words yet.

  “Yeah, it’s still out there. Just so you know, we don’t really do much, just hang and listen to music. Sometimes, we work on homework. But you’re welcome to join us.”

  “I don’t know why, but I am going to ask you this. Are you going to the dance with Josh? He seemed like he really wanted you to.” He had to keep telling himself he wasn’t interested, but he hoped she wasn’t going with Josh.