Dark Angel ⎪ m.c

Prologue

The early September air feels cold on my bare arms as I sit on the balcony and watch the smoke make its way toward the sky. I take one last drag of the joint before throwing it away. Blowing out smoke I smile lightly; my aching head is already feeling better.

I step back inside and close the door behind me. Falling on my bed I grab my phone and check my messages. No new messages, but instead a medicine reminder. I grunt as I get up again, walk toward the dresser and pull my band tee over my head. On the way I glance at my reflection in the mirror and see my long, messy lavender hair framing my face, my makeup barely covering my dark under-eye circles. I sigh as I take off the rest of my clothes and throw on a huge t-shirt to sleep in. I grab a few red pills from the drawer and chase them down with some water, tie my hair in a quick bun and go to bed.

2:34 AM. I lay in my bed, wide awake. I huff, giving up after hours of tossing and turning under the covers, and make my way to the balcony again. I shiver from the cold night breeze as I step outside, sit down on the floor and wrap my arms around myself. I take a cigarette and light it up. Exhaling I close my eyes and listen to the silence. Suddenly the door to the balcony opposite me opens and a guy with messy red hair and a big white SUM 41 shirt comes out. I stare at him, waiting for him to notice my presence. "Couldn't sleep?" I ask him when he notices me, smirking as he jumps lightly. "Not really, no. New house and stuff", he says, shrugging. Oh, I think as I put two and two together. I had seen a new family moving into the house next door. However, I don't know how to continue so I take another drag of the cigarette. "You know that's really bad for you", he points the cigarette and says, earning a chuckle from me. "Oh I know", I say, blowing out smoke in some really bad rings. "Then why do you do it?" he asks, taking a step closer to the railing of their balcony. "Because I can?" I tell him, shrugging. "Life is too short to not do things you enjoy", I say and look him in the eyes. His face is dimly lit by the moonlight and I can only see his greenish eyes, glistening. "I don't get it", the boy answers, breaking the eye contact awkwardly. "I'm Michael, by the way", he continues as I stay silent. "Raven", I mumble.