Catching the Fallen

Chapter 2

Seven years later

“Senorita Veronique, Tu tienes la respuesta de mi pregunta?”

“Si, la respuesta es la chica come las verguras,” I said in a clear, confident voice without even looking up from my novel.

“Si.” Ms. Greens walked over to me from the blackboard and held out her hand expectantly, “This is the 5th time just this week. Remember my rule, ‘Unless it’s in Spanish, it stays in the bag!”

I looked up and with a heavy sigh handed my damaged copy of Romeo and Juliet over. Across the room, my best friend, Beth, rolled her bright, blue eyes with me, sharing in my annoyance of our strict Spanish teacher. As Ms. Greens turned her back on me and Beth mouthed, ‘tightass’. I burst into giggles, our teacher turned around and gives me the stink eye, I try to cover up with a cough.

Suddenly the bell wrings for the 3rd time that day at Jefferson High, and the class erupts with scraping chairs and rustling papers.

“Seems like the Green Grinch was a bit more hormonal than usual today, You should have just blasted her with a little water. You know not enough to hurt, just enough to make her sorry she messed with you.” Beth, the only person who knew about my powers, looked off into the distance, daydreaming about how Ms. Greens would react to my powers with water.

I grabbed my book off Ms. Greens’ desk, changing the subject with ease, “Speaking of the Green Grinch,” I say slyly, “Do you know if your going go out with Darren again?” I turned to look at Beth; she now had her back to me and was searching for some invisible microorganism in her bag.

“You didn’t dump another one did you? Beth, you really need to give a guy a chance! One date in the back of someone’s car is not getting to know a guy!”

She spun to me, flipping her honey blonde curls over her shoulder and giving me her best ‘SHUT UP!’ look. We make our ways to our lockers in silence. Beth was first to break the ice, “Well, we did talk a bit, about him, football, him, cars, him and…oh HIM! I cannot be with a guy who is so self centered!” She slumped against my locker as though talking exhausted her, but if you know Beth, that’s far from true.

“You sure know how to pick them, don’t you Beth?” With a laugh, I slam my locker shut and started to walk away. Beth runs to catch up with me and my long legs, her 36 D’s barely contained in her tank top, earning her a few catcalls from some seniors. Beth smiles at them and blows a little kiss in their general direction before continuing her chase. She catches up to me by the doors.

“Come on, V! At least I can pick! You need to get out more, meet some guys, go to some parties. Stop having your head in the clouds and you eyes glued to a book. All you have to do is pick your target, hook, line and sink him.” To demonstrate her technique she waved at one of the jocks passing by us. He looked a little surprised and then waved back, flashing a trademark smile.

I rolled my eyes at Beth. “What if I don’t want to date, or be with a guy in any way for that matter.” I added the last part after Beth gave me a mischievous smile.

Suddenly, Beth let out a groan of annoyance, she stopped short in front of me putting her hand up, “Don’t kill me but I think I left something in locker, I have to go back,” She starts to walk away in the opposite direction, “Sorry V! See you after school.”

Left alone in the deserted corridor I take out my love story and try to escape my boring life. I quickly immersed myself in one of the most tragic love stories ever. I drink in character, relishing in the emotion and poetry. I round a corner just as Romeo lifts his lips to Juliet’s waiting mouth and… I slammed into something solid.