Fallen (Undergoing editing)

Chapter thirty-five

It was night, and the stars were absent in the moonless black sky. Things could've been worse.

I sat outside on the bench with my knees drawn up into my chest, enjoying the cool brisk wind and the goose bumps it brought with it. The pain was back, and I felt every prickle, every stab, but I let it burn. It was the least I deserved for believing what I thought would last—what I thought would be like family.

You're afraid of me.

Demetrius's words replayed in my head like violent echo. The worst part about it though, was that it was true. I still felt that aching fear that ate away at me like acid whenever he looked at me with those cold dark heartless eyes. I knew he could smell it, feeling wafting off me like a bad odor.

Was anything real anymore?

I heard the French doors behind me open and silent footsteps came padding out to the patio. I watched without a word as a dark silhouette came down and sat on the bench beside me.

"Lilith," a dark voice said.

"Go away, I don't want to talk—" my voice trailed off as I turned to glare at a pair of bright curious tangerine colored eyes. "Oh—it's you—I didn't—I'm sorry."

It was the flightless boy from the kitchen that had an odd, preoccupied look about him. He blinked at me. "Lilith, are you alright?"

I quickly dried my damp cheeks with the back of my sleeve, trying to compose my pathetic self.

"Yeah," I hiccupped falsely. "I'm peachy."

The boy ran his fingers through his long, collarbone length dark hair. Half of it was pinned up in a pony, the rest just hung straight down over his shoulders.

"You don't sound like it," he said flatly, his eyes boring awkwardly into mine. I shifted and looked away, but I still felt his gaze poking into the side of my neck.

I sighed. "Yeah, I guess I don't." I ran my fingers through my hair that fell into my eyes. "Why are you out here?" I said nonchalantly giving him an exit and wanting to return to my solemn silence.

He shrugged and glanced down at his hand that had an absurd amount of rings and bracelets. For a fleeting second I found it attractive.

"Everyone's at the Fall. I didn't really have much interest in going especially alone, so I decided to go somewhere quiet." The corner of his mouth twitched. "It turns out I wasn't the only one who enjoys the sound of silence."

I smirked. "Nice oxymoron."

We both sat there, gazing out into the open blackness, not a word shared between us. It felt it oddly relaxing.

"Hey, I never caught your name," I said shuddering at another chilly gust.

"Noel," his said blandly, his eyes drifting off lazily through the dark sky.

I felt the faintest smile wiggle on to my face, "Nice to meet you."

The corner of his mouth twitched as if he were fighting a tempting grin.

"Hey Noel?"

He eyes his obediently turned back to me with interest.

"Wanna go to the Fall?" I bit the inside of my cheek scornfully. What was I saying?

Noel frowned. "Why?"

I shrugged. "I'm kinda getting bored sitting here feeling sorry for myself. I just wanna—drop it, you know?"

He looked at me.

I offered a little smile. "I promise I won't get drunk."

Humor flashed behind his eyes as he watched me jump to my feet. "I'm not a very good dancer."