The Guardian Angel

Chapter-8: James

Hey guys! Yes, I updated again! I like how the story's going so far and I have a LOT planned for the future! Keep reading and lemme know how it is! Hope you enjoy!

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I pressed my lips to hers softly, forgetting how to breathe as I pulled back. I'd made my decision. I couldn't go around hurting both of them. Afraid of losing one and fooling around with both would just make me a spineless coward and have me lose both of them.

Besides, I felt Rachel had changed. She wasn't the girl I'd known. Something didn't sit right and I needed to find out what that is. I couldn't trust this with anyone as of now. Neither Jessica nor Leah would be able to do anything. Stephen was a ticking time bomb with me and Leah around. The mounting pressure that built up, started to make me panic. I hit a dead end everywhere I went.

As of now, we were doing as Rachel said and that didn't strike me as a good idea. Just because she was a childhood friend of mine didn't mean I could trust her. But something inside me drove me to do just that.

It was irrational. Stupid. And so not me.

I made decisions and acted on them rationally or emotionally. Not on impulse. And both of those didn't make me support the idea of trusting Rachel.

I made decisions as a team leader in the army rationally. I wouldn't let anything get the best of me. Even though it wasn't rational for me to run off and protect Leah, emotionally it had seemed right. The rational thing to do would've been to walk away.

Leah and I headed downstairs where everyone was waiting for us. Rachel was glowering at Leah and Stephen was glowering at me. Well, it wasn't unexpected.

The valet took one glance at Stephen and handed the keys to me. With everyone inside the car, I drove out of the hotel and towards Albuquerque. I had never been there before, so we depended completely on Leah.

Oh right, Jessica had studied with her there. I'll still take my chances with Leah.

No one spoke and I could feel the tension weigh the air. Stephen was out cold, his heavy snores feeling like they rattled the car.

It was frustrating. I couldn't have a happy life. It irritated me that my afterlife was also stressful. I had half a mind to ditch everyone in the middle of the road and drive off somewhere with Leah. But we'd never truly be safe anywhere. I had no idea how they kept finding us. Or even who was finding us. Something told me Leah's dad wasn't half as resourceful as we thought he was. There was someone else at play here. And that someone else was most likely Rachel's assailant. She was tight-lipped about it.

I didn't think she'd now confide in me about what happened with her. I still didn't regret making my decision.

I was afraid this will all blow up in some time. A lot was going on that no one liked. Leah and I were the reason for most of those bombs if not all.

I yelped lightly as something dug into my skin. I glanced down at Leah's hand rightly holding my thigh, her nails digging into the fabric. Those were some beautiful hands.

My gaze moved upward to her face and my eyebrows pulled together. Her face was scrunched up and her eyes were shut. She was dreaming. I wondered what it was and found myself thinking it could be me. Not thinking. Hoping. I was vain like that.

Though, there was a high chance of that.

A hand swatted hers away from me and I immediately knew it was Rachel. Irritation sparked inside, but I kept my mouth shut, repeating calm, calm, calm, over and over again in my head.