“Chay, please call me back,” I said into the phone. It was the fifth message I’d left him. So far, I’d gotten nothing, not even a measly text message. Even though I must have sent a hundred texts telling him things weren’t what they looked like. That my dad had invited Xavier over because he knew his ‘family,’ which was sort of true.
After Xavier told me he came to earth for me, I bolted. I ran up the stairs, into my bedroom, and locked the door. I didn’t know what he meant by the comment, but all the stories I’d heard about angels coming to earth was because they were in love. My dad fell in love with my mom. Grams fell in love with my grandpa. If that was the only reason they came to earth, then that meant… Xavier was in love with me. But surely he knew about Chay. I was in love with Chay. Xavier wasted a trip. Too bad it was nonrefundable.
By my sixth message to Chay, I was getting desperate. So I blurted it out. “Chay! Call me back. Xavier came over because he’s an angel and knows my father. Ask your dad, they probably know each other, too. You’re acting like an ass, by the way. I really needed you tonight.” I clicked off the line and threw my phone on my bed, flopping down after it. My feet dangled off the end, and my arms were above my head. I lay on my bed and waited, staring at the posters pasted to my ceiling. In the middle of them was a poster-sized photo of Chay and me we had taken one day at the Waterway downtown. We were both laughing and happy. For some reason, that poster spurred my anger.
When my phone finally rang a few minutes later, I grabbed it, looked at the caller ID, and jammed the answer button. “It’s about damn time,” I said through clenched teeth. “You didn’t even give me time to explain before you hung up on me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re an idiot. You’re not sorry. You’re only calling now because I told you about Xavier. You didn’t listen when I told you I had no idea he was coming over or that I didn’t want to see him and was hiding in my room. You didn’t believe any of that. You jumped to conclusions and didn’t give me the chance to explain. Now that you know he’s here because he’s an angel, you call—”
“He’s an angel?”
“Well, yeah. Didn’t you listen to my message?”
“No.”
“How could you not listen to my message? Did you listen to any of them?”
“No.”
“Why?” I asked quietly. It stung that he didn’t believe me, that he distrusted me so much that he wouldn’t even listen to a flippin’ voice mail message.
“I don’t know. I was mad.”
“But it wasn’t me.” I could feel the sting of tears behind my eyes and a lump constricted my throat.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
I didn’t answer.
“You’re mad at me.”
“Nope.” I sniffed, fighting off stupid tears.
“Are you crying? “ Chay asked, horrified. What was it about tears that got guys all stupid acting? So a little water leaked from someone’s eyes. Big deal. Unless you were the cause… and Chay knew he was.
“Nope. I gotta go, Chay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’ll pick you up.” He always drove me to school. His car was in better shape than mine. Everyone’s car was in better shape than mine.
“That’s okay. I’ll drive.”
***
“Why aren’t you riding with Chay?” Muriel pinned me with a look as soon as I got in her car Monday morning.
I twisted my hair into a knot at the base of my neck. “We aren’t on the best terms right now.”
“Don’t want to talk about it?”
I smiled. Muriel knew me too well. “No, I don’t want to talk about it.”
“‘Kay. I’m here if you change your mind.”
When we got to school, Muriel and I made a quick stop at our locker where Drew met us. They walked me to chemistry, because of that whole ‘not being alone’ crap. I was beginning to think the hobgoblins were high on sulfur fumes. Nothing had happened. No one had tried to kill me lately. Maybe it was all just empty threats. But no one was taking that chance. Not yet anyway.
When I walked into chemistry, I froze. Chay sat at our table, book open to the day’s lab assignment. Xavier sat on the corner of the table… on the side next to my chair.
“Hi,” I said to whichever one of them would answer me.
“Hey.” Xavier smiled and reached to pull out my chair. Chay’s hand snaked out and grabbed his wrist. He gave Xavier a dirty glare. Letting go of Xavier, Chay stood and pulled out my chair for me. I sat down, trying not to meet either of their eyes. Pulling my book from my bag, I skimmed through the pages until I found the day’s assignment. I pretended to be engrossed in what I was reading.
Xavier tapped my book with his finger. “I’ll see you at lunch.” He slid off the table and walked to his seat.
Chay looked at me, and I reached for his hand. He moved it away.
What the crap did I do? This is gonna be so flippin’ fun!
I spent my lunch hour in the library and spent the rest of the day trying to avoid both of them.
***
“Why is he here?” I asked my dad when he got home from work that afternoon. “Is he… is it like you and mom?” My heart beat double time waiting for his answer. I was sure I’d gag if he said yes.