Hell's Love

Chapter 10

The next morning, Declan walked into his high school. He spent the whole night searching the internet for exorcism stories, possessions, and even mentions of possessions in the Bible. His head hurt from the amount of time he looked at a screen and not sleeping. As he walked to his locker, a voice called from behind him.
   "Hey Reese, where's your girlfriend?" Joel Garrett asked as he approached Declan. His short red hair was smoothed back. He wore a gray t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. Declan and Joel have never been friends. Joel hit on all the girls in school, including Kaiya and Ava. 
    "She's visiting her family in Minnesota," Declan replied and opened his locker. He started collecting his books as he waited for Joel to leave. 
     "Do you know when she'll be back? We're partnered for a project in English and I could use a good grade." 
     "Hopefully soon," Declan replied. As he closed his locker, he came face to face with Joel. "Do you need something else?"
     "Can I have her phone number or something?" Joel asked with his arms crossed.
     Declan shrugged. "She'll be back soon. Can't it wait until then?"
      "I'd prefer not to depend on a 'soon'. That could be another week."
      "She's not really in a place where she can text a lot," Declan stated. 
      "Fine," Joel said. His pale green eyes stared pointedly at him. "I'll just wait until she comes back. Then we can do it alone at my place. Lots of girls have studied at my place and have said great things about the treatment I give them."
      "Or you could wait until she gets back and work on it at the library," Declan said and glared at him. 
      "I've worked with girls there too," Joel replied with a smirk. "I just hope Ava isn't too loud." Declan lunged forward with his books falling out of his hands. He slammed Joel against the lockers and pressed his forearm into Joel's chest, pinning him to the metal doors. 
     "This is really not the time to bait me, Joel," Declan growled. Joel pushed him off and sprang towards him. He smacked into Declan. Both boys landed on the floor as a few students gathered around them. Someone ripped Joel off Declan and shoved him backward. Then, he pulled Declan off the ground with a surprising amount of force.
     "You need to calm down," Dominic told him. Declan let out a sharp breath and backed away from him. Dominic turned to Joel. 
      "Go to class." He snapped at Joel. "And next time you talk about Ava like that, I'll deal with you myself." 
      "You didn't need to do that," Declan said as Joel walked away from them and the hall cleared. He picked up his books and opened his locker again. 
      "We need to focus on Ava right now," Dominic replied as Natasha Burke approached them. Her dark brown hair was curled and she let it hang down her shoulders. She wore a red sweater dress with black legging and a pair of black boots. 
       "Natasha, you look nice today," Dominic said. "Is there someone you're trying to impress?"
       "Can't a girl dress up every now and then?" Natasha asked and winked at him. 
       "Not one that uses the phrase 'if looks could kill'," Dominic replied as Natasha eyes locked on Declan. 

       "Then maybe I'm a man-killer," Natasha said. 
       "Natasha," Dominic said and beckoned her closer to him. "No matter how hot you look and how many sexy words you use, he'll always be thinking about Ava. I'm sorry to be so blunt." 
       "Dominic," Natasha said in a mocking tone. "Declan may be thinking about Ava, but you are too. I've seen the way your eyes drape over her. You wouldn't mind 'studying' with her at your place, either."
       "Ava and I are just friends," Dominic stated. He glanced over at Declan to make sure he didn't hear. 

        "Because you don't want to break up the world's happiest teen couple, but I do," Natasha replied. "Get in my way and you'll be sorry." 
        Dominic rolled his eyes and turned to Declan. "I'm heading to class. See you later." 
        "See ya," Declan responded as Dominic left. Natasha smiled at him and moved towards him. 
        "That was an interesting fight. I've never seen you get mad like that." 
        "I wouldn't say it was interesting," Declan said and tried to walk to his class. 
        "I thought it was," Natasha said and put her hand on his shoulder. "I saw a whole different side to you today." 
         Declan took her hand off his shoulder. "I know people think I'm oblivious to this, but I know about your feelings for me. I just didn't want to hurt your feelings."
        "Declan-" 
        "Don't," Declan cut her off. "Ava could be in trouble and I would die to keep her safe. I need to focus on her. I'm sorry, Tasha." 
         "She's not as sweet as you think she is," Natasha stated and frowned at him. "She's already playing with the new kid. He looks at her in almost the same way you do."
         "There's nothing going on between Dominic and Ava."
         "Are you sure about that? Watch them more closely. See what you've really been oblivious to." Natasha said and left Declan standing in the hall.