Angels Do Exist (ON HOLD! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK)

Chapter Ten

        It's been days since I've seen the beautiful devil. Almost two weeks. I wonder how he's doing. It hadn't occurred to me at all before now that maybe I should've gotten Layden's phone number. I guess I never really thought that I'd need it. I mean, until now. 

        As much as I try to ease my nerves, I'm worried. He hasn't even been attending his community service and I can't even begin to think about how that's going to go over with his parol officer or whoever he has to deal with for that. 

        After that little exchange of words at his apartment, I could barely say goodbye to him because he just looked so angry and so .. unlike his usual self. Overwhelmed with my thoughts, I put them on pause and attempt to finish my math homework. Not that putting them on pause worked, but it did me well enough to get all of my homework done. 

        It's Saturday and my father is at church. I know he's noticed Layden's disappearance and although he hasn't been happy about it, he's been kind enough not to say a lot about it. He's allowed me to stay in seeing as I maybe, kinda, somewhat exaggerated about feeling super sick. I chuckle at the thought of how exciting my life is.

        Picking up the cordless next to my bed, I decide to call my friend, Andrea. 

        "C'mon, pick up, pick up, pick.."

        Just as I'm about to hang up, her cheerful voice enters my ears, "Ariana!"

        "Yes! I thought you weren't going to answer my call, figured you were ignoring me," I tease.

        A laugh escapes her mouth. "You're bananas! No, I just finished helping my mom out with something. What's up though? How have you been?" 

        "I'm okay. It sucks that Truman had switched the whole class up. It feels like I haven't spoken to you in forever! I kind of miss you."

        "Kind of? Girl, stop lying to yourself. I know you have, there's no need to hide your feelings, it's just me," she giggles.

        Speaking of hidden feelings..

        "Hey, I kinda wanted to talk about something. You know, since it's just you," I lean back unto my bed and chuckle, "I figured I needed to get this out before I lose my mind."

        The line goes silent before I hear a crazy outburst from Andrea that ended with a scream. "Oh! So you just thought you could call my phone and talk about your issues and use me! Huh?! I bet that's exactly what you thought! Well I'm just hear to let you know. That. You have come to. The. Right. Freaking. Girl." She continues to laugh. and I can't help myself as I begin to howl back and soon I'm wiping tears from my eyes. 

        Oh god, it feels so good to laugh. I've really missed Andrea. She's been the one girl I've been closer too than others, ever since my freshman year at Fareland. I silently make a pact to myself to stop allowing us to grow distant from time to time. 

        "You're crazy," I tell her before continuing. 

        "Um, you know Layden, right? The one in our history class?" I question.

        Andrea goes mad with laughter again and I can't help but to roll my eyes. She. Is. Crazy.

        "I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! Of course I know him. Who on this earth wouldn't notice him?" She emphasizes. 

        "Knew what?" I wanted to ignore that part of her response but my curiosity gets the better of me.

        "That you guys have God knows what going on," I hear from the opposing side of the line. My throat goes dry, simply because I have no clue on what to tell her or where to even begin. Sighing into the phone, I rub my fingers over my temples in an attempt to soothe my mind. 

        "Andrea, I don't even know what to tell you. He's just.. I just.. I don't know. I want to tell you we have something but in all honesty, I'm not so sure myself. I guess I just feel as though he wants to toy around with me, but in a way, he's really cool to be around, friend wise. I mean, once you get past his arrogance and cockiness and his-"

        "Whoa there cowgirl, slow downnnn!" Andrea groans and a laugh escapes me. " You sound very confused my friend. What's wrong? You don't sound like your usual self Ariana, you're not usually this .. flustered," and another laugh escapes me. She is absolutely right. "Just tell me what's wrong, what it is that's bothering you because I know you, and I don't have the time to be on the phone for the next three hours to hear you just beat around the bush," she chuckles. 

        "Ouch," I retaliate, in my best fake hurt voice I was able to conjure up. With a deep breath, I proceed, in hopes of not beating around the bush. "Well, the other day, Layden and I went over by him, you know, where he lives and then we were just hanging out, and his uncle just storms in, drunk. He basically tried to call me a whore and a nice piece of ass and Layden got upset and charged right at him but I stopped him and then he dropped me home and that was it. No communication with him what so ever since then. Almost two weeks ago. And even though I miss him Andrea, I'm also worried. He hasn't been in school, at the church or anything and I just.." I'm out of breath and my fingers navigate right back to my temple, gently rubbing, now trying to soothe my oncoming headache.

        "Whoa," is all my friend can say.

        "Yeah, I know."

        "How much do you like this kid Ariana? I can see he's got you .. may I say it again, flustered."

        This time, I make sure to ignore her question. "Yeah, I know," I reply.

        "Do you remember where the house is?" Andrea questions me.

        "Um yeah, it's not really that far from where-" My mouth drops open. Oh no. 

        "Ariana. Stop. Don't freak out on me, but I know you know where I'm getting at here.."

        She cannot be serious. Andrea is crazy. I'm talking super delusional crazy.

        "Go." Her voice urges me.

        I must be super delusional crazy along with her because before I know it, I'm thanking her for her advice, wishing her a good night, and soon I'm out the door.