Chapter 7

~Zayne Beckett~

I never thought that I would have been trapped in this position. Stuck in the janitor's closet, dark and cramped, while being pinned against the only door in the room by a small girl, who was too nice for her own good. It was scary enough after I found out what she was, but being within close proximity with her was even more so.

Aurora stared up at me with an awkward smile while waiting for my response. Just by the look on her face, I could've tell that she was uneasy about telling me. Even so I had no idea what to say. How was I to respond to her? How could I assure her that it was okay telling me? More importantly, how could I assure myself it was okay?

"Um..." I faltered, "are- are you sure?"

Dumbass.

She laughed with a hint of awkwardness. "Um, I'm pretty sure I am."

I foolishly tried to move away from her but she already had me immobilized by the door. My heel bumped against it and the heat rose to my face. "Okay, um..." My hand unknowingly rubbed behind my neck. When I realized it, I pulled back and stared at it. "What did you do to my hand?"

"I healed it," she said. Her hands clasped in between us. "Zayne, I'll answer your questions, but you must promise me that you'll never tell anyone about this."

Her expression remained as strict as possible. The floaty feeling that enveloped me was gone, but a new sort of attraction stayed. "What about Carter? Or Nadia? They can't know?"

"They will eventually. Just please," she held up her pinkie finger, "promise me you won't tell a soul. It can be very dangerous for you and for anyone else if someone finds out."

"Dangerous?" I questioned. Her finger began to glow gold, bringing a little light to the room. I began panicking. "What's happening? Why is it glowing?"

"To put it short, you're making a promise to an angel. A supernatural being that serves under the command of God himself. You will be punished tremendously if you break it."

My eyes kept on her strange luminescent finger before I confidently locked it with mine. The golden colour fazed onto my finger and then dispersed into energy. I knew I wouldn't break that promise, even if the universe depended on it. I was already taking that secret to my grave.

Her smile that appeared when she removed her hand made my heart feel warmer. I had almost felt like I was falling into the void of something, just staring into her gorgeous violet eyes. "I still have more questions."

She showed her teeth a little. "I'm sure you do."

I waited patiently for her to signal me that it was okay to ask more questions. When she didn't speak, I opened my mouth to ask a question, only to have the door open behind me. I had all my weight on the door which resulted in me falling backwards to the ground. Surely I was pissed at the person who suddenly opened the door. Thankfully, it was just Carter.

"Dude, what the hell?" Carter asked as I groaned while rubbing the back of my head.

"Why am I getting beat up so much today," I muttered to myself as I got on my feet. "What are you doing?"

"My soda fell and I got yelled at to clean it up, so I came to the janitor's closet and surprise surprise! I see you and Aurora fall out of there." He crossed his arms, looking like he wanted a good explanation. "I hope this isn't one of your stupid games, Zayne. What the hell were you doing in there?"

With nothing in my mind, I looked him in the eye and said, "drugs."

Stupid.

"Zayne," he called strictly.

"Okay okay, hear me out," I said. "I heard something about Mason getting rejected by Aurora."

Carter almost immediately sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. I was grateful he understood Mason's problem. "Unbelievable. Why can't he just deal with it like a normal person?"

"Dude, I have no idea," I sighed as I ran my fingers through my hair. "But when I followed him, he was gonna do something and well, long story short, he shoved me in there with her."

He narrowed his eyes. "I don't believe you."

"What?" I whined.

"Why would he shove you in there with Aurora?"

"He didn't see her in front of me!"

Carter hummed. "And why didn't you just open the door?"

"He kept it closed! I couldn't open it!"

"Well, you don't save a damsel in distress for nothing," his eyes rolled. "Is Aurora officially gonna be a part of the group?"

He knows I'm the one who agrees with who's in our little friend group. Usually because I'm too picky. "Um," I looked back at Aurora to ask her, but she was gone. "...Aurora?" I looked in the janitor's closet, but she wasn't there. My eyes darted everywhere in the halls, not seeing her anywhere. "Where did she go?"

"She was just here," Carter answers, looking around as well. "We'll find her later, just go to class."

Carter slapped his hand on my back before I sped off to class, scouting the area for Aurora. She couldn't have gotten far, I thought. If she did, could that be one of her supernatural abilities? Unfortunately, I reached my class without seeing any sign of her.

After speaking with my teacher, I plopped down in my seat next to Nadia. She slid over my bag filled with the right books. As I saw it, I mentally punched myself. I was so distracted that I didn't think to pick up my bag on my way to class. At least she knew my code. "Thanks," I mumbled.

"What happened to your wrist?" she whispered to me.

"Just a sprain, I had to deal with Mason," I answered as I took out my stuff to take notes.

Nadia sighed. "Someone has to do something about that guy. He's terrible."

"Yeah, I agree," I gave a low chuckle," Unfortunately, I'm that someone."

"Why are you that someone?"

"It's a... long story..."

"Then find someone else to deal with him. It shouldn't be that hard, right?"

My mouth clamped shut. "It's harder than you think."

As I realized what I said, I turned to look at her and she did the same. A moment passed before we began giggling a little too loud at my involuntary childish joke.

"Beckett and Ward," the teacher called. "I assume your conversation is more entertaining than my lesson."

"No sir, apologies," I grinned.

He nodded firmly and went back to teaching. Thank God I'm ambidextrous, otherwise writing flawlessly with a 'sprained wrist' would've been weird.

◇◇◇

For the rest of the day, it was as if Aurora had disappeared from school. The question I had when we first met was partially solved, but that wasn't what bothered me now. When Aurora hadn't answered much of my questions, it annoyed me so much as if it was eating up my insides. Even though it had only happened twice, I was still anxious to know.

After all, she was an angel. She was bound to answer honestly sooner or later.

Once I finished my homework and career research, I felt exhausted. It was already late at night as I packed my stuff and dropped onto my bed. There was nothing I wanted more than to sleep on my bed and think about the void. My eyes almost immediately fell heavier and heavier as I stared at the ceiling and I soon submitted to the drowsiness.

What time is it? The park lights must be off right now, right? Aurora's probably studying her astronomy homework.

In an instant, my eyes shot open, I jumped off my bed, grabbed my coat, and rushed downstairs. My heart raced as the adrenaline rushed through my body. I was about to see her again. And without anyone around this time.

"Where are you off to, young man?"

I froze in my spot before I reached the handle of my front door. "Um... Walmart?"

"Zayne."

I groaned and turned around to see my mom, Lynnette, standing there in her robe while holding a cup of tea. The feeling of judgment completely enveloped me the longer I stood there.

"Where are you going?" she asked once again.

"I'm going to-" I thought of something, "-get chipotle."

My mom looked as if she was surprised, which she was. "At this hour?" Hesitantly, I nodded in response. "Buy some for me and I won't tell Meg."

I stared at her for a moment before smiling. "Okay. I'll be back soon," I said as I opened the door.

"Be safe," she called out before walking into the living room to sit on the couch.

I shook my head and answered, "I will," before rushing out of the house. Relief washed over me as I jogged to the park near my school, knowing I had escaped from that situation with ease. It was difficult predicting mom's next move. It was shocking enough for her to let me go out so late.

My eyes scanned the dark area for even a lock of pink hair. The lights were off as I had expected. "Aurora?" I called, sounding like a whisper. The unbearable darkness enclosed the park completely. Some owls hooted in the trees and crickets chirped obnoxiously in the grass. "Aurora," I called a little louder, having second thoughts about coming to the park.

As I heard the leaves rustling but with no wind, I instantly fished my phone out of my pocket to put on my light. It was too eerie for me, standing alone in the darkness with no source of light. Just as I was about to turn it on, something tapped on my shoulder and I jumped out of my skin.

"What are you doing here?" Aurora asked, keeping in her giggles as I shone my phone light on her.

"Gosh, you need a bell or something," I said as I hunched over, trying to calm myself down.

"Why?"

"You can easily give someone a heart attack."

She giggled. "I'll take it as a joke, but I'll keep it in mind."

I exhaled a little loud and stood upright, lowering the light so it wouldn't blind her. "I thought you'd be here."

"You were looking for me?"

For a second, I hesitated. "Yes. I hope you don't just walk out here when the lights are already off."

Aurora smiled. "So what if I did?"

"Well," my hand rubbed behind my neck, "I'd be more afraid of you. You know, angels who sneak up on humans at night is scarier than during the day."

"I think I got that from your reaction." She smiled worriedly at me. "If you're afraid of me, then why did you come to find me?"

I gazed down at her as the moon reflected in her eyes. I bit my bottom lip to restrict myself from saying the foolish words stuck on my tongue. "I have more questions."

Her smile remained as she stared at me curiously. "Is that the only reason?"

I struggled to control my thoughtless actions toward her. She seemed so majestic standing in nothing but the moonlight. I could've only imagined what her wings would've been like. Could they have been sparkling? Could they just have been visible but not sparkling? Would it not be noticeable in the dark at all?

"Yes," I answered as soon as I realized I hadn't responded.

Aurora smiled warmly at me and held out her hand. "Then, I'll try to answer as much as I can."

I flashed a nervous smile as I took her hand. As she lead me through the park, I took off my phone light so I would be able to see the beautiful stars again. I kept my eyes on her as she walked, her pink hair bouncing with ease as she moved.

My questions would finally be answered.