Between Heaven And Hell

Chapter 2

Shar walked into her apartment. "Welcome home girls." Taylor ran in and jumped into her favorite spot. She curled up and started to play with her tail. Esme stood there. "Something wrong Esme?" Shar's voice took a worried tone as she looked over at the dark angel.

Esme shook her head as she pulled herself out of her daydream. "Nothing, it's very nice. When will your parents be home?" She asked brightly as she sat down on the couch that sat across from the T.V. Taylor shifted in her armchair, and glanced at Shar. The demon wrapped her wings around herself.

Taylor shifted and quickly bounded from the room. She knew all too well that this was a sensitive topic. The dramatic energy shift made Esme look at Sharlotte for an explanation.

Shar lowered her head. "Never." She took a deep breath. "They left years ago...and they won't be back." She heard Taylor shuffling around and used it as a distraction. "Taylor, you better be getting snacks!" Shar went into the kitchen to find Taylor holding a bowl of chips. The demon walked over and whispered something to Taylor, who nodded. Shar quickly went onto the back balcony off of the kitchen and was left to her thoughts.

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Esme looked at Taylor with tears welling up in her eyes, "I'm so sorry...I didn't know..." Esme continued as Taylor sat there eating chips. "I think I should go now...Thank Shar for her kindness." Tears rolled down her cheek as she got up to leave.

Taylor finally moved and wrapped her arms around Esme as she got up to leave. For a small Neko, she was strong. Taylor threw the angel back onto the couch. "No, stay. Besides you didn't know. She knows that. She just needs a few moments. After they left she was shattered. A few weeks before that her brother took her girlfriend home. They got in a bad crash. They both died. Her parents blamed her for her brother's death. They said they couldn't handle looking at her... So her drunk of a father took him and her mom and just drove off. Her mom left her some money, she didn't think Shar would live too long..." Taylor's voice trailed off. Esme sat there with tears in her eyes.

"I lived...Somedays I think I did it just to piss them off." Sharlotte strode into the room with her head held high. She sat down next to Esme and pulled her close by wrapping her wing around the angel. "So no tears. Besides...that started something more. Kind of how I got my wings."

Shar's eyes got dark with regret for some things that reared up from her past. Wings and power, maybe it wasn't worth the death... no theirs was. But it wasn't worth it when it came to the girl next to her. 'No chance' was all she thought. "So girls, how about a pizza and a movie?"

"SURE!" Both girls shouted at the same time.

Taylor jumped up and ran over to the movie case. "I get to pick the movie!" She started rummaging through the movies.

"Anything on your pizza?" Shar looked at Esme. Esme shook her head no. Shar shrugged and went off to order the pizza.

Esme went over to where Taylor had the movies sprawled all over the floor. "So what do you have picked out?" She smiled sweetly at the kitty girl.

Taylor smiled back and blushed slightly, the tips of her ears twitched. "Well here!" She threw about five movies in front of Esme. "Pick your fav." She winked and her tail twitched back and forth as she watched Esme. "You know, I haven't seen Sharlotte smile like that like that. I mean ya sure she can put on a good show...but I can see through it, so thanks." Taylor beamed at the pleasure of knowing her friend so well. She knew she was the only one who Shar really trusted and considered a friend.

Esme looked at Taylor with a confused look on her face. "You're welcome, I guess." She went back to the movies. "Oh god! I haven't seen this in like forever!" She blushed when she said that. Holding up Beauty and the Beast she asked, "Does this work for everyone?"

"Sure. Pizza will be here soon." Shar walked over and sat down with a grin on her face. Taylor lept from the floor right into her lap. "Well hi there kitten." Shar smiled softly as all the girls giggled. "Silly girl." She softly pushed Taylor out of her lap. She never was one to cuddle or show affection....not after what happened. There was a voice in the back of her mind that made her always think that it would happen again if she got too close. "Now we don't want to scare Esme off too soon." Shar flashed a smile at Esme.

"No worries there sweetie." Esme playfully winked and giggled. "Besides I feel safe with you two." She wiggled her way between Shar and Taylor.

The doorbell rang as they settled in. Shar walked over and opened it. She tried to sound surprised. "Well hey there Blaze." Shar smiled as she looked at the tiger.

"Hey there gurl!" His frame was lean but he had some muscle under his striped fur, he was a swimmer that was for sure. His green eyes looked past her to Taylor. "Well, here ya go." He handed Shar the pizza and ran his fingers through his hair. She noticed that he flexed his muscles and Shar couldn't help but giggle at the tiger's attempt to show off.

"Hey, Blaze!" Taylor blushed as she raced over to take the pizzas away from Shar, and to get a good look at Blaze.

"Oh, hey there gurl." His striped tail flicked back and forth. Shar paid him. "See you gurls at school!" He waved over his shoulder as he trotted back to his car.

"GOD IS HE HOT!" Taylor screamed as the door shut. She slid down to the floor in a love daze.

Shar took the food from the dramatic Neko and placed it on the coffee table, so they could all reach it. "Well, ask him out." Esme smiled as she handed Taylor a slice.

Shar giggled at Esme's comment, and then added, "Ya, ask him out before I do for ya!" Shar gave her friend a devilish grin.

Taylor took a bite, stalling for time. "Like hell, you will Batty! I will...sometime."

Esme noticed the smirk on Shar's face and played into it more. "Why not on Monday, at school?" Her voice was soft with an innocent tone.

"Fine, to make you both happy I will." Taylor smirked as she thought of a way around it.

"Oh, by the way, Taylor, if you chicken out, by the end of the day, I will tell him everything." Shar always seemed to know what Taylor was up to. Taylor lunged at Shar and shoved a slice of pizza into her mouth to shut her up, giggling the entire time.

"Ok! Movie time!" Esme quickly hit the play button and jumped back onto the couch between the girls.

Taylor pulled a blanket over all of them and snuggled into it. The demon was in the middle of her best friend and the angel who made her heart patter. She allowed herself to indulge. Esme found herself leaning into Shar. Under the blanket, Shar's arm snaked around Esme. Esme just cuddled closer. By the end of the movie, Taylor was fast asleep. Esme was halfway in Shar's lap.

"Taylor?" Shar whispered. Her answer was a soft snore. Shar smiled and wrapped her arms around Esme, pulling her close. Esme smiled softly and laid her head on Shar's chest. Shar looked at her, and couldn't help but relax. She softly brought her lips to Esme's hair.

"I'm sorry..." Esme's voice was quiet.

"For what lov? Shar's mind was in a haze from her long week. She looked down at the angel in her lap and smiled, as her eyes softened to a tone that no one had seen in years.

"For everything that has happened to you. Taylor told me about how you lost your girlfriend and brother. Then how your parents left you..." Esme's hand brushed Shar's cheek. Sharlotte closed her eyes enjoying the touch of another. She hugged Esme close. "I hope I can help ease your pain." Esme's voice was so soft Shar almost didn't hear that last part.

"And what did you mean by that?" Shar snuggled against Esme.

Esme blushed a bright red. "Well...I guess...I mean...I...really like you." She smiled up at Shar.

Shar couldn't help but smile. She put her hand on Esme's chin and lifted it slightly. Shar kissed her, very softly, their lips almost didn't even touch. The girls snuggled close together. They fell asleep in a loving embrace.