Safe

3

'I want to meet today. After church, you can come back to my place with me and my grandma if you don't mind.'

His eyes were on the back of her head. Her hair was fixed as if never out of place. He was sure she'd stripped away as much evidence as possible of her little outing. He dragged his gaze back down to the message he'd typed out seconds ago, then hit send.

Angels gaze went back up to Violet, watching as she looked down at her phone when the vibration had to have hit her palm.

The girls face held no emotion. She turned the phone back over and clicked it off. She didn't even open the message, when she saw the unknown number she knew who it was and she knew she didn't want to talk.

"Violet?"

If Violet hadn't heard her name she would've thought she wasn't even being spoken to. She turned her gaze to her mother, knowing she was the one calling her. The woman still had her eyes on her husband preaching ahead. Her back was up perfectly and her face was in the calmest expression. All of it was fake if you asked Violet, and the way she spoke to her daughter without a look her way was proof.

"Don't you pick that phone up again during service or I'll have it turned off. Now face forward." Each word was a spat in the face to Violet. Many her age would've asked what she'd done, many would've stood up for themselves. But when you've had this way of life beaten into your mind for years, it was hard to go against it.

"Yes ma'am."

Angel could see the movement of lips but he knew no words. He watched as Violet placed something at her side, her hands were now on her lap and her eyes were focused on her father ahead.

She remained that way for the rest of service, frozen like a statue just waiting to be broken through and let free.

As service came to an end after hours of dragging on, Angel was first out the doors, making sure to stand close so he could watch each and everyone exiting.

As Violet made her way out, her mother by her side, he found now was the time to speak to her.

"Violet" He called, a smooth smile on his lips. Nothing like the one he only pointed at her with the fullness of his silver teeth. This new smile was directed at both her and her mother.

"It's good to see you Ms. Rivers."

"Oh Angel. I'm glad you've blessed the church with your presence." the women had a soft smile on her lips, she even placed a hand on the boys arm and gave it a squeeze.

"What'd you need with my daughter darling?" Her head was tilted slightly now. The fake softness still running through her body. But Angel could feel the lies rolling of her touch like a firey torch.

"Well we have a very important project for school. We'll be spending lot of time together and I was hoping we could get a start today."

"Well Violet never told me anything about this project.." she was now looking back her daughter, her hands coming back to her sides. The look Violet was given said enough, her mother hated not knowing especially not knowing this.

Violets lips fell open as if she was going to say something. Both parties watched on as if she was but the looks, the expectation of her to speak only made her shut her mouth once again.

"Well Violet has a pretty early curfew, especially since it's a school night."

"And what time would that be Ms. Rivers?"

Angel wasn't giving up. He still remained the opposite of what he actually was. But could Violets mom sniff that out of him? Even if she could, she couldn't go against him. She'd need a lot more than herself to beat him.