Lovely

Chapter 3

|Chapter 3|

"You're sweating," Paul touched my forehead and showed me his now wet finger. I swat his hand down and he chuckled. "It's just Ross. Why are you so nervous?"

"Have you met him?" I blurted without meaning to. That seemed to hit a nerve and he lifted a brow. 

"I've known him all my life," he replied, twisting his lips into a frown. "And I'm right here next to you. What's the worse that's going to happen?"

"He's very intimidating," I mumbled insecurely. "And tall."

"I'm tall," Paul shrugged like it was no big deal. I pursed my lips and wrinkled my nose. He doesn't get it. 

I simply tapped my bouncing knee and looked out the car window. 

"And why'd you wear that skirt?" 

"I was underdressed last time," I shuddered at remembering wearing jeans in that fancy restaurant while he was wearing a suit. 

"Well he's wearing jeans right now," Paul pointed out the window and I paled. Ross was walking down the sidewalk outside of our school like he owned the block. Of course, he probably could. He saw the car and made a beeline for it. Though it was too much of a fast advance and I gasped at the sudden lack of air in my lungs.

"Hey," Paul touched my arm. "It's going to be okay."

His hazel eyes calmed me down enough that I was able to turn and face Ross' sky blue eyes staring at me on the other side of the window glass. I looked at his black Northface and dark jeans paired with nice leather boots. I gulped and turned to hug Paul. He caught me easily and laughed once. 

He stroked my hair as I pulled away and gripped me tight. "Don't be afraid."

"You can't come with me," I whispered, as if it were a secret. 

"I could be anywhere you wanted in two seconds," he tapped my head reminding me of our connection. "Don't forget that."

I nodded and without any more hesitation I hopped out of the car. 

"Took you long enough," Ross smirked down at me. I pulled on my black hat and he noticed my outfit.  I blushed under his gaze. "Did you forget to make out with Paul before I came and you had to get a quick session in?"

As if I wasn't already red as a tomato. 

"Where are we going?" I mustered up the courage to say. His eyes narrowed in on me and I squirmed.

"I think we're in need of a shopping trip," he took my hand and pulled me in the opposite direction of Paul. I forced myself to not look back. I didn't want to seem to dependent on him. I knew how Ross viewed us, and while it would be nice if Paul and I were an item that was simply not the case. I felt that I needed to make this known. 

"Paul is dating Holly," I stated. Ross looked down at me with furrowed brows. 

"I'm aware."

"We weren't making out," I clarified. He only smiled brightly as if I'd told him the happiness news in the world. 

"I know you're smitten with him, Nova, no need to hide it," he assured. Smitten? 

"I don't," I argued. He squeezed my hand and that's when I realized he'd intertwined our fingers. Too afraid to say anything I let him hold my hand until he let go to get into a sleek white car. I didn't question why he held it, or why he held it that way, but I thought it to be very odd. He mentioned it after I buckled up. 

"First thing you need to know," he held up a finger. I turned to him fully, preparing to take mental notes. "Don't' show that you're uncomfortable. As an archangel you'll be thrust into many situations where you are not going to feel okay with the people surrounding you asking you a bunch of questions. Learn to control that."