Before the Angels Fall

Chapter 16~ Silences and Change

{A/N: Alright, alright, I get it. I need to update....and you guys need plot. Well, I suck at plot, but I was inspired to write some by some lovely fanfiction authors. Warning: an abundant amount of cursing and an unhealthy amount of dialogue. :D}

School passed by with an easy breeze. Sometimes homework tightened it's painful hold, yet other times it was fairly loose. Nothing eventful happened after the possession, and Stephanie remained sane. Well, as sane as she'll ever be.

What's going to happen now? Was the question they repeated in their heads like some terrible mantra. But it wasn't like the Angels would help them, now would they?

The demons have made their first move. What are the Angels-no, we-going to do next? Ariana was slumped over her desk, staring outside the window as the teacher ranted on and on about complex numbers and equations. When will we even use these pointless equations?

"Ariana."

Oh fuck. She raised her head, gazing at the plump woman at the front of the room. All the students' eyes were pointed towards her, but she could care less. "Yes?"

"Pay attention. I will not tolerate you sleeping in class any longer. Stop daydreaming."

Excuse me? Sleeping? Daydreaming? Ahaha, ridiculous. Stop accusing me of doing things I've obviously never done before. Shut the hell up.

"Answer me. Or else I will call your parents and give you a detention. Regretful, as you are one of the brightest students in the class, yet you don't participate. I suppose all your talent has gone to waste."

Ariana clenched her fists tightly until she was shaking. A waste of talent? You little bitch, don't threaten me with a lousy detention. I have better things to do than stay an hour with you afterschool.

"And your brother. I remember him. He has no talent at all, always failing his classes, especially math. I don't want you to end up the same as him."

She twitched. Pretending like you care, eh? A backhanded compliment. Don't waste my time with your bullshit.

"Are you planning on paying attention now?"

"Hell no." Her voice carried across the room in a low tone. "This is stupid. When are we ever going to use complex numbers in real life? What's the point in learning this if we are never going to use it again? Stop wasting my time. Why should you care if I end up like Louis?"

"Detention."

"Ahaha, piss off." She grabbed her bag and left the room, closing the door with a loud bang.

~.~

"Ah, fuck it all." Sliding down the tree, she let her head rest back against the comforting bark and gazed up at the blue sky, enjoying the light while it was still there.

"You came home really early."

"Smith was pissing me off."

"So you ditched school?"

"What do you want me to do?"

"You know your education is important to me, right?"

"Well, it's not important to me. If I could use complex numbers in real life, then I probably would pay attention and care more."

"You are smart, Ariana. I don't see why you are just wasting your talent."

"Talent? Psh. Don't be ridiculous. I have none." The girl just looked up at her brother standing next to her.

"Yes, you do," he insisted, staring at her deeply.

"Shut up." She mumbled those last words, glaring savagely at the ground.

"I guess you just needed a break from school?"

"Uhmm."

Louis slid down next to her. "What happens when Mom and Dad find out?"

"I really don't have anymore fucks to give." She brought her hand to her face and pretended to blow a kiss. "See? There goes my last fuck."

He smirked. "Of course. Did she give you detention?"

"No duh. But I left, so whatever."

They sat in silence for a few moments. But this silence was comfortable, unlike how some silences carry tension so strong, one would be afraid that it would break. Just like the silence back in the math classroom.

~.~

Now Ariana has done it. Oh my lord. Nanae mentally facepalmed and let out a soft sigh, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose. My god, that idiot.

The bell rang and all the students rushed out of the room, evidently to get away as fast as they could from the awkward tension. Nanae was carried out by the crowd and let it sweep her off to her next class.

"What happened?" Stephanie poked her with her pencil.

"Ariana ditched class."

"Wait, what? Like she literally walked out of the door?"

"Yep."

Both sighed, marveling at their friend's stupidity and perhaps bravery.

"How can a person be so stupid and stubborn and brave at the same time?"

"I really don't know. S'a bit strange. What made her snap?"

"Smith? She made a comment about her brother. But Ariana is normally so calm..."

"Is the thing about the Angels and saving the world bothering her?"

"Maybe."

Once again, the comfortable silence.

~.~

What is change?

Change is a puncture in the status quo. One that never really fades away.

Change is sometimes desired, other times despised.

Because going against age-old tradition and routine is difficult and looked down upon.

Revolutions are changes. Deaths are changes. New technologies are changes. Disasters are changes.

The Angels don't like change. They like the world to stay as it is. But with the demons in the way, that's not possible.

Luna sighed deeply. I never would have thought that the world would come to this...

~.~

{A/N: probably not enough plot but whatever... :D}