Angel's Wings

Chapter Ten: The Fight

"I know you well enough to know you never loved me"- Taking Back Sunday

"Vaelyumme, just talk to me!"

"Go. Away, Joesephe!" Joesephe chased after me in the hallway frantically, hair a wreck and brown eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. In fairness, I probably looked the same way; Tyrone had been too distracted this morning to help me get ready. He had hardly even had time to be disappointed in me. But I had bigger problems than my best friend crushing on my evil step-brother. I had a mistake to fix. Joesephe reached for my arm and grabbed it, yanking me to face him, not-gently. He stared down at me darkly, desperately, despairingly. I gulped and avoided his gaze. You can't remember that kiss, Vael. Not here, not just because he's touching you...you hate him! You. Hate. Him. I tried to jerk my arm out of his grip but he held tight.

"Vael-Vaelyumme, you have to hear me out," He pleaded softly. I rolled my eyes.

"No," I snapped. I looked around to make sure no one was near enough to hear what I said next. "Look, we kissed," I hissed into his ear. "That-that doesn't mean-"

"Like Lucifer it doesn't mean anything!" He yelled, getting into my face. I felt tears rise to my eyes and I looked away, terrified of him seeing how weak he made me feel. I placed a hand delicately over my mouth and let out a soft sob. Joesephe slid his arm methodically down my arm and into my hand, pulling me back as I tried to walk away. I sniffled flimsily.

"How dare you?!" I shot back. I still wouldn't look at him. "It didn't, you-"

"Hey, get your hands off her!" Wait. I know that voice! Sure enough, I glanced up to see that Alfredo Despacito Jones had suddenly appeared beside Joesephe and I in the hallway. He glared at Joesephe, his smooth, perfect face emblazoned with fury. Delylah stood behind him with wide eyes, but her beau seemed to have forgotten all about her. Joesephe scoffed. He let go of my hand, finally, and took a step towards the popstar.

"I don't think you want to do this," he said.

"Oh yeah? How come?"

"I've had a very bad day, boy wonder, and you do not want to mess with me when I've had a bad day."

Alfredo circled around Joesephe with a taunting eyebrow raised. "Sorry, did you just realize that Vael has enough dignity to actually reject you? You're right, that's tragic. And you know what's more tragic?" Joesephe punched Alfredo before he could finish his thought, so quickly I hardly saw his fist fly out. But next thing I knew a crowd of people had gathered around the singer, who had gone flying so far that he landed against the lockers with a thud. He groaned and leapt to his feet.

"I don't care," Joesephe said in his deadly voice. He rolled back his neck. "Come on, pretty boy, show me what you've got." Alfredo chuckled and then came running at Joesephe, surprising aggression in his movements. As he extended his own fist towards Joesephe's finely cut jaw, I found myself pondering one very unbelievable thought. They're fighting over me. Two boys, actually fighting over me!

It needs to stop. Alfredo hit Joesephe hard enough to snap his head back. Blood erupted from his nose. I suppressed the urge to vomit. "STOP!" I screamed, but neither listened as Joesephe reared himself up to throw another fist. But just as it came within an inch of the popstar's throat, a strong, solid body inserted itself in between the two.

Mr. Stephens took one quick look at the two boys, then one at me, and then looked down at the ground for a moment, thinking. Joesephe and Alfredo stumbled back, panting with exertion. Finally our teacher looked up at me with a frown. "Vael," he said in his deep, rumbling voice. "Please come with me. Boys, try not to kill each other."

I looked behind me and shot a terrified look at Delylah, but she just shrugged and looked at Alfredo with a glare. I gulped and followed Mr. Stephens into his classroom. Ugh. Why do I have to be the one in trouble? Mr. Stephens gave me one of his very long stares as he closed the door quietly behind him. "Vael," he began hesitantly. "What just happened out there?"
"I- I don't know," I stuttered. "I don't know why they're acting like that. I mean, Joesephe and I kissed, but I don't know what him and Alfredo were fighting about, I really don't!" Embarrassingly enough, I felt tears well up in my eyes again. This was chalking up to be a very stressful week.

Mr. Stephens was quiet again and he walked closer to me, settling in on the desk beside me like he had when we'd had our conversation a few days ago. "You and Joesephe...kissed?" He asked slowly. "Vael, I believe it's obvious as to why he would behave in such a way, then."

I knit my eyebrows together. "Why?"

"Because you're you, Vael. You're a beautiful, wonderful, fantastically intriguing girl." He searched me expression, almost longingly. "It's no wonder as to why him or Mr. Jones would fall in love with you." I gasped. Love? Falling in love? No, they wouldn't- they couldn't...could they? I shook my head.

"They don't-"

"Don't they?" Mr. Stephens leaned in a little closer. "Is it so impossible to believe that someone could develop feelings for you? Even if the circumstances aren't exactly... convenient?" Wait, what? My teacher cleared his throat. "Vael-"

The door suddenly creaked open and Mr. Stephens jerked back. A familiar and refreshingly welcome face poked itself through the opening. "Hi," Blake said softly. "Vael, sorry. I heard you were in here. Can I talk to you for a second?"

Hi! Wow, that was something.  Let us know your thoughts on this? What are y'all thinking of Mr. Stephens, Joesephe, and Alfredo?  Leaning towards anyone?