The Devil Goes To Heaven

A Favor

I spend the rest of my Delilah-less days getting as much information on Lucy as possible. Here's what I've found out about her:

She was born in Los Angeles and moved to Colorado a couple of years ago. Her full name is Lucy Star. (And I thought my name was crazy.) She has no classes with me so it's hard to keep track of her, but the times I have seen her, I have observed her nature. Even though she was soaking wet and smelled like a dirty river on her first day at Hawkings, she was making friends left and right. It would go like this: she would approach a crowd of students, join the conversation effortlessly, and get their social media tags and phone numbers; then she'd rinse and repeat with the next group.

Most of us have social anxiety, but it's safe to assume Lucy has none. She even brings a smile to the shy students when she talks to them. She knows her way around the art of speaking; that's for sure.

Delilah might have a rival for the most popular girl at Hawkings High.

Tomorrow is Saturday, and that's when Delilah returns from her trip. I'm excited, but I've been trying to hold back from texting her all day. I don't want to come across as desperate.

The last bell of the day rings, and we all get up from our desks. Like blood flowing from a vein, we exit the classroom and pour into the halls. I'm thinking about Delilah's blue hair shining in the sunlight when someone in the crowd grabs my left wrist. I turn to whoever it is to see Lucy holding onto me.

"Just the disciple I was looking for," she says. "We need to talk."

"About?"

"Prefer not to say it here. Let's go somewhere a little more private. How's my house sound?"

Going to Lucy's house doesn't sound like a good idea.

"Or I could just tell everyone about how you've been stalking me the past four days."

She knows about that? And here I thought I was good at stalking people.

"What choice do I have," I tell her.

"Believe me, you won't regret this one, Judy. Shall we?"

She passes me in her black suit, which was clearly made for her. I follow her out of the school, and we begin to walk the same path I did four days ago.

The school day just ended, so there are plenty of students around us when Lucy says, "I've learned a lot about the characters of this school these past four days."

"Yeah? Whatcha learn?"

"Tiffany Belcher gave a blow job to a boy last year at a party. Her braces got caught on his foreskin, and he bled. He promised not to tell—"

"But you know."

She smiles. "Stacy Flannigon is insufferable, but everyone wants to be on her good side because of her endless amounts of money. Which I'll need for my plan."

"A plan?"

"Mrs. Durnumn is having an affair with Mr. Cunudeson. They meet in an abandoned mining cave connected to the school, near the far end of the school. Did you know this school used to be a mining facility? Daniel Martinez isn't the smartest, but he'll work for what I want. And Delilah. I see why she's dating you. Do you see why?"

"I honestly couldn't tell you. It's a mystery to me why she likes me so much. Though I think she's already getting bored with me."

"I could never be bored with you. Because you, Judas, are the key to it all. Or should I say, Jesus Freak?"

"I'd prefer Judas, actually."

"Is he here? Right now? What's he doing?"

"Yes, he is here, and he's just walking with us. What? Did you want me to walk with you so you could make fun of me?"