Apocalypse Love

Boy Next door

I waited outside the school and saw the creme-colored Volkswagen pull up to the curb. I quickly rush over to it, open the passenger door, and climb inside. "Alright, why am I picking you up from school?" Ms.Meads asked me as I closed the door. "You look great today" I complimented her, trying to change the subject. She let out a sigh "Alright, I don't have time for this. But you will tell me when we get back" Ms.Meads ordered as she put the car out of park. "Now put on your seatbelt, child" she then ordered. I reach over my shoulder and put the seat over my body before clicking it into place. The entire car ride back neither of us said a word. We pulled into her driveway and she shut off the car. I took my seat belt off and opened the door. "Are you hungry? I can make you lunch" she offered. "Thank you..." I quietly spoke as I followed her up to the porch. She unlocked the front door after opening the screen door. She opened the door and I followed her inside the house. It's just like I remembered when I was little, nothing had changed. The same brown wallpaper covered the entrance. "Michael! Boy! I'm back!" Miriam called out from the bottom step. Thump! Thump! Thump! Just like that, a guy with ocean blue eyes and golden blonde hair halted at the bottom step, taking notice of me standing just behind Meads. His eyes widened and I felt the tug in my chest, a tingling behind my ear where my scar had been since I could remember. He's wearing a black cut-off and blue jeans shorts with white socks. "Athena, this is Michael, Michael met Athena from across the street" Meads introduced us. Michael looks nervous as he stares at me. "Hello," I politely greet him. His gaze adverted from me and over to Meads. "Did you get what I asked for?" Michael asked her. "Yes, but not until after lunch," she tells him. His voice sounds boyish, almost childlike. "Why don't you go wash your hands and Athena and I will get lunch prepared?" Meads suggested. That second Michael runs back up the stairs. I then follow Meads through the hallway and into the kitchen where we begin making sandwiches. When we're finished Michael is sitting down at the table. "May I sit next to you?" I asked Michael. He slowly turned his head to me "S-sure..." He stuttered out cutely. I gave him a warm smile and something in my chest pulled again and it caused me to hiccup as I sat down next to him. Meads set the plates in front of us and then walked over to the other side of the table. My eyes noticed the pentagram behind her and I gulp down the lump that formed in my throat. Michael bowed his head and placed his hands together. Meads lowered her head and closed her eyes and I followed. "Oh, bless us dark lord" Michael began speaking. "For these, the gifts we are about to receive from thy eternal bounty through the power Lucifer eternal, nema" he spoke. "Nema" Meads muttered back. "Nema" I whispered. Meads raises her head and Michael is quick to dig into his sandwich. "So, Why did you bring back the strange lady?" Michael suddenly asked. "Strange?" I knit my brows together. "Mhm," he nodded. I couldn't help but giggle as mustard hit his bottom lip. "Right..." I pick at my bread. "Athena, as strange as she may be she's a friend," Meads tells Michael. "Really?" Michael asked. I nodded "I am." "So, why did I have to come get you again?" Meads asked me. It was the question I was avoiding. "Uh...just..." I didn't know what to say. "School sucks" I shrug my shoulders, obviously not telling the whole truth. "School always has been that way, come on the truth" Meads pressed. I let out a sigh "Okay..." "You remember when I was little and I started to do weird things and my mother and father tried to bring me to church and it burnt down?" I reminded her. Meads nodded "Yeah, I remember telling you that you have a special gift" she smiled. "Well, then you must remember Bethany?" I asked. She scoffed "You mean that rich brat that used to pull your hair?" She questioned. I nodded "When we were freshmen she told everyone that her family ran you out of town when they found out you worshipped the devil, that you used to babysit me and that's why I dream of the devil" I explained to her. "You still having nightmares?" Meads tells me. I wanted to change the subject "Uh...no" I lied, scratching my neck nervously. "Anyway since then Bethany and her friend Jennifer have been bullying me. Normally I'm able to control myself but today..." I shake my head. "I lost control..." I confessed. "Did you kill them?" Michael suddenly asked. "No..." I shake my head. "I ran off, into a bathroom and called my mom but when she told me no I got so angry and the lights began to flicker then exploded and by then I called you" I gestured to Miriam who was taking everything in. "You should've killed them bitches" she shakes her head. I leaned forward, resting my head on my hands as I couldn't help my laugh that escaped, which made Michael and Meads laugh with me. "What is she then?" Michael asked Meads. Miriam smiled as she reached across the table and grabbed his hand. "She's something special," She tells him. "Like me?" Michael asked her. "Not quite" she shakes her head. "Have you dug into your past? Learn about where you came from?" Meads asked me. "Um, I have but only a little. I didn't get much information" I shrug my shoulders. "I stopped though," I tell her. "Why?" She asked me. "What was the point? They obviously didn't want me, that would be the reason to abandoned me" I tell Meads. "There are so many reasons, some you may not even think of my dear," she tells me. "Your parents abandoned you?" Michael asked me. "Yeah..." My voice was weak, barely even there. I looked into his ocean-blue eyes and something flickered in my stomach, causing me to quickly look away. "You know what I miss?" I asked Miriam. "What's that?" She smiled. "Your cookies, every Halloween that's what I always hoped for" I confessed. "I think I still know how to make them" she hinted. I gasped "Can we?" I asked. "Soon as you finish your lunch" she stated. I pick up my sandwich and begin to actually eat it. The rest of the day, I got to know the boy next door.