My Captive Heart

(XX) "You Gave Me Strength When I Wasn't Strong"

I'm devoted to you
Affection is risk
But do you have my heart?
That's a definite yes.

"You can find the deepest part of one's mind in these books. Sometimes, the most genuine."

Angel was sharing her songwriting and poetry with Isabella, both girls sitting on the floor, up against the bed.

After hours of begging, Isabella finally got to see Angel's journal full of haunting memories and cruel emotions.

"Don't judge me. I was in love," Angel said.

I hope you learn to fall in love again
I hope you find your love in your best friend
Just know my heart is yours until its end
I want you now, forever I'll repent

Isabella suddenly laughed, realizing what Angel said. "Wait, you were in what?"

"First and last time."

Isabella had only known Angel for about a year at that point, but it didn't take long for her to realize she was very much into females and they were very much into her. Isabella never judged her. Because she felt a closeness with Angel, one she hadn't felt since her best friend days with Janelle.

"What happened?" Isabella asked.

"Two fucked up individuals. I'm not very gifted on the notion of loving someone. So I may have failed at certain aspects. But then again, she made me feel ashamed to love her. She had never dated a girl before or even thought of females that way. So she was scared. Of herself more than me. When I realized she would never accept us and bring our relationship out from the shadows, I started to lash out."

"Well, that's not really your fault, then."

Angel shook her head, stuck in memories. "No. I should've consoled her better."

Isabella scanned over some more of Angel's heart wrenching lyrics.

We were made from the heat of the stars
I reached for a love, tucked too deep in your heart
I held u up to where birds never fly
You held me tight in the frame of your mind
I would suffer the nature of rain for you baby
This is nothing to hide

"So, you still love her?"

"I'll always love her. But I'm fine," Angel said, smiling at Isabella.

Oh, I hurt all over, it's the worst, baby
Thinking 'bout the magic in your skirt, baby
Sorry, you bruised your knees...
Running wild in the trees...
Will you remember me?

"The magic in your skirt?" Isabella questioned, giggling to herself.

"Can I ask you for a favor?" Angel said, failing to entertain Isabella's inquisition.

Isabella sensed pain in the simple question. "Yeah..."

"Can I have Michael's number?" Angel asked, with a crack in between her words. "I have to ask him something important." Angel looked at Isabella with eyes full of dread.

Isabella didn't understand the sudden change in Angel's aura, or her relation to Michael. "I can't just give his number away. What in the world would you have to ask him?"

"It's about Michella."

Isabella still couldn't reason why Angel would need to talk to Michael about Nya's daughter. "Huh?"