Nevaeh
Shooting up from my bed, I glance groggily at my vibrating cell phone and close my eyes in hopes that the pounding in my head will subside. I lick my dry lips and grimace because my mouth tastes like garbage.
After Mikhail left last night, I became a little depressed and cried over a carton of ice cream. Not getting any positive results, I decided to go into my parents' drinking cabinet and drank nearly half a vodka bottle.
I’m really regretting it now. “Ughhh,” I groan out, trying to get up from the bed as my phone continues to vibrate. Reaching forward, I pick it up from the side table and clumsily place it against my ear. It’s Jez. “Yeah, Jez. What’s up?” I rasp out hoarsely.
“Hey, Nev. Where the hell are you? Did you oversleep again?”
I grunt in reply.
Jez sighs in exasperation before she continues. “Geez, Nev, did you forget about practice? I told the girls, you’re
MikhailMy whole night was spent replaying yesterday’s kiss. But after a great deal of thought, I came to a decision. I can’t be with Nevaeh. With the Council breathing down my neck and my training, I just can’t be with a human. There’s too much at stake, and I can’t risk my family getting hurt.I pull on my black Nirvana t-shirt, black jeans, and black all-stars before I grab my leather jacket and make my way out of the door. Rowan, Kell, and Carrick are waiting by the porch. Rowan remains quiet as we file into the car. Starting the car, I contemplate how I’m going to approach the situation between Nevaeh and me.I’m a couple of feet from my locker when I notice Nevaeh. My heart speeds up the closer I get. As if sensing my presence, she turns to me and gives me a shy smile. Her smile almost disarms me, but I remain stoic. Nodding my head in reply, I open my locker and search through it. &nb
Chapter 11 - A Constant AcheNevaehI’m so humiliated. I just want to run and hide. I wish I had never kissed him. I’m a mess. That’s the best way to describe how I feel right now. As I rush to the library, I find a quiet corner and make sure that no one else is around. After what happened with Travis, I’m wary of my favorite spot. Tears blur my vision as I slide down the wall and curl into myself. I’m such an idiot! I press my palms against my eyes, hoping to stifle that incoming tears and take a few deep, calming breaths. My vision blurs, but somehow, I manage to keep them from falling.How am I going to face him next period? Just as I feel myself breaking apart, Aaron Sanders, our golden boy quarterback, passes by. Noticing me, he moves closer.Aaron is boyishly handsome. He’s tall, muscular with golden-colored eyes. The girls at school love him. Unfortunately, he knows it. “Hey, Heav
Mikhail As we make our way to Lit class, Rowan rambles on about inconsequential things. My heartbeat picks up with excitement and dread at the thought of seeing Nevaeh after our conversation earlier. However, as soon as I get to class, I feel disappointed because she’s not there. As I’m about to take a seat, Rowan slaps me in the arm and says. “Hey Khail, Isn’t that your girlfriend?” I turn to where he is pointing and swallow hard when I see Nevaeh talking to Aaron. I observe as he stops her near the door and kisses her on the forehead. Everything inside of me grows cold, and my wings begin to strain against my back. What the
Chapter 13 - The best way to forgetNevaehJez and I are hanging out in my room, doing a couple of cheer jumps and getting ready for tonight’s game. Adjusting my hair, I pick up my cheer bag, tuck my phone into the front pocket, and turn to Jez. “You ready, Jez?” Jez ties her shoelace and smiles. “Yep, let’s go.”Walking out the door, I try not to look at the house across the street. I’m just glad that tomorrow’s Friday. I don’t think I can face Mikhail yet. Thankfully, we’ve managed to get most of the work done for Lit. We just need to finish the scene. I try to play it cool, but it’s hard to act out a romantic scene with someone who told you that kissing you was a mistake. I just hope we can get it done so we can go our separate ways.Jez is driving this time. She has a blue mini cooper with a black stripe in the middle. It’s so cute. I set up my music list as soon as she turns on t
Chapter 14 - RegretsMikhailWhat the hell! I think as I see Nevaeh and that douche bag, Aaron kiss outside the door. I know I shouldn’t feel this way, yet anger courses through my body like lava. My eyes narrow as she pulls back and says something to him. I don’t know what it is, but it was something good by the look on her face.My body stiffens further when she walks into class, and Jezelle whispers something that makes Nevaeh roll her eyes. Grimacing, I turn back to the board, determined not to look at her again.Unfortunately, the next period is the same. Thinking about her kissing the asshole, Aaron, the same way she kissed me, incites my ire further. I try not to look at her hurt expression when I sit down stiffly and ignore her. I’m too wound up, and my demon is raging to say something cruel.Halfway through class, Nevaeh raises her hand, asks Mrs. Christensen something before she rushes out of the r
Chapter 15 - Ready to fightNevaehI’m too agitated to return to lunch, so I text Jez, and she and the girls meet me in the gym. Jez being the best friend ever, smiles and places a cupcake on my lap. “Since you decided to skip out of lunch, I thought we’d bring you something sweet.”I can tell by the look on her face that she’s worried about me, but Jez knows not to ask when everyone is around.The opportunity comes up when our fifth period is canceled due to an emergency. We are told to go to the library by the school secretary Mrs. Chance. Filing into the library, Jez and I find a solitary spot.“Poor Mr. Palmer, I hope everything is all right at home. On the bright side, we don’t have to sit through a boring physics lecture.”I laugh as Jez places her hand on the side of her head, pretending to shoot herself. She’s such a goof sometimes.We both find a spot on the wall and
Chapter 16 - Waiting…wantingMikhailMy anger slowly builds as I listen to the conversation happening a bookshelf over. What the hell! I gulp loudly, feeling my throat constrict. Not wanting to hear any more of the conversation, I pick up my things and wordlessly walk out of the library. Rowan calls me, but I ignore him, and the rest of the day drags on. Every time I look over Nevaeh’s desk, I imagine her and Aaron together, and my anger resurfaces.When I get home, I rush into my room and retract my wings. I’m so distracted by thoughts of Nevaeh, and that douche, Aaron, that I don’t notice the other presence in my room.“Wow, look who’s a grown boy now.”I turn, startled. “Kara? What are you doing here?”Kara moves closer and inspects me from head to toe.Kara is a friend from way back when Rowan and I were in foster care. She’s probably the only angel that I know
Chapter 17 - Can’t thinkNevaehI release a relieved breath as soon as the final bell rings. Time to go home. Walking out with Jez, I wave as she walks to her car. Her lips are curled into a pout, and her shoulders are slumped. “Yuck, I have a late shift tonight. If I get a break, I’ll call you later, okay?”“Yeah, have fun,” I call out as I make my way to my jeep. At that moment, I resolve to not let Mikhail’s dismissal get to me. As Jez said, there are plenty of fish in the sea. I’ll get over Mikhail eventually.On my way home, I make the decision to reach out to my dad. Maybe it’s not that he’s avoiding me, maybe he’s as busy as he says, and I'm just oversensitive. When I was little, my mom would reprimand him for being so busy that he would forget to eat. Maybe that’s why he forgot my birthday.That’s why I decided that I would take lunch with my dad. I remember