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Zoe
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The events of the past twenty-four hours flashed through my mind, and I still wasn’t sure how to feel.
Sam, the devil himself, was after me.
I might be an angel—oh, and I left out the best part. I could be the babe in a prophecy. And if so, I was fated to save the world.
We drove the entire way home in silence, though Shay often glanced in my direction. Every so often he squeezed my hand, but I wasn’t sure if it was for my comfort or his.
Now that the party and date were over, I just wanted to crawl into bed, and sleep. My parents would be happy to see me at this hour, since it was a little after eleven by the time Shay dropped me off. He pulled into the cul-de-sac, stopped the car in front of my house, and twisted the keys out of the ignition. We both undid our seat belts and stared at each other.
He broke the silence. “Say something.”
My wet clothes squished out more water onto the cloth upholstery when I turned toward him. “What do you want me to say?”
“Anything. What you’re feeling. What you’re thinking.”
I put my hands over my face and rubbed, so frustrated I was tempted to scream. “I’m not sure what I think,” I admitted instead, feeling my throat growing thick. “It’s all ... too much. I’ve been hunted by demons and rescued by a fairy. I find out my best friend is an angel—and that he might not be my best friend anymore. And you ... you’re ...” I couldn’t help myself. I sagged and let the tears come.
“Hey, come here. Don’t cry.” He pulled me toward him and wrapped his arm around me. “It’ll be okay. I’ll protect you.”
I cried harder when I heard that last part. My head rested against his chest, and he rubbed small circles in my back, trying unsuccessfully to get me to stop crying.
“I’m right here,” he soothed.
“I know you are. And that’s another thing that has me confused. I just ...” I hiccupped and pulled back so I could look him in the eye. “I feel ... extremely close to you for some reason, and I don’t understand why or how that is. I’ve only known you a few days, but it feels like a lifetime. I’m so drawn to you it scares me.” Another hiccup, followed by a noisy sniffle. “You think I’m someone special, and you think I’m going to save the world from the devil. Oh my God, Shay, that’s like ... a ton of responsibility! What if you’re wrong about me, or what if I can’t do whatever it is I’m expected to do? What if—”
“Shhh,” he said. “Don’t worry about all that right now. Let’s just get through one day at a time, and we’ll find the answers together, okay? And listen.” He put his hands on my cheeks, holding my gaze. “You are someone special. You are to me, anyway.”
“Why?”
“Because ... I love you, Zoe. I’ve watched you grow into a beautiful and amazing woman with a kind soul.” He pointed from me to him a couple of times. “I don’t know what this is, or why I feel the way I do toward you either, but I believe events happen for a reason. I’ve learned to go with it and question God later. The thing is, I think He brought you and me together.”
He looked so calm, so together. I, on the other hand, was a mess. I should just go with it, too.
Shay squeezed my hand. “He has a plan. Who am I to tamper with that? I told you I was never far away, and that’s true. Physically, Kieran protected you, but I was always there, in your heart and mind. You just didn’t know it.” He smiled. “I watched over you when you slept or if you were at school and Kieran wasn’t in the class. You didn’t have all the same classes over the years, and I might not have been able to sit next to you, but I was always there.”
It was a little disturbing to hear him speak so openly about his thoughts and feelings. Shay was not a typical guy. Refreshing, but scary, because deep down, I knew what he said was true. It might be possible I was experiencing these intense feelings for him because my soul recognized his. Maybe I had been waiting for him. And perhaps I loved him, too. I didn’t say anything about that, though. I couldn’t.
“I should go inside,” I said. “It’s been a very long day.”
If he was disappointed by my reaction, he didn’t show it. “Okay, I’ll walk you to the door.”
But we didn’t move.
I had absolutely no experience with any of this. I needed to talk with someone about relationships, and a female perspective would help. Sidelle immediately came to mind. She’d dated a few guys in high school, and since she and Shay were connected through the Enlightens, maybe she knew more about him, too. Then again, he was so open about himself, I could ask him and he’d answer.
This was a lot for one person to deal with. Maybe it wasn’t just because of the angel, demon, fairy, and Sam thing. It could have to do with the first boy I’d kissed.
I started to pull away, but Shay wouldn’t let go. “Just a few more minutes, then I’ll walk you to the door.”
His fingers reached toward the stereo and turned it on, skipping to I’m Glad You Came. We listened to the lyrics again, and I closed my eyes, picturing him serenading me, telling me the words, and feeling them pouring from his heart. When the song ended he whispered, “I’m glad you came,” then he exited and opened my door.
After unlatching the decorative gate that led into the front yard, we walked up the pathway, hand in hand. I climbed the first step to the porch while digging around in my purse for the house key, then looked up. Our faces were inches apart.
“Thank you for going to Cali’s party with me. Even though ... you know,” I said, then grinned. “I have to admit, it was a very interesting date.” I didn’t want to tell him it had been my first date, but then again, he probably already knew that.
“You can’t say it wasn’t memorable,” he agreed.
I gave him a warm smile. After all, it wasn’t his fault that all those things had happened. “Will I see you tomorrow?”
He cocked his head. “Would you like to?”
“Yes.”
The smile on his face grew, and we stood still a long time, gazing into each other’s eyes. I didn’t think he was going to kiss me, but he placed his hands on the sides of my face again and slowly closed the distance between us. Our lips touched, and the same intense electrical current flared. My face warmed under his palms, and my body’s heat kicked into high gear.
The kiss started out soft and warm, almost tentative. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and his hands moved, settling around my waist. He pulled me toward him and off the step so our bodies bumped. I ran my fingers through his soft hair, relishing the feel of his muscled body pressed against mine. That moment was pure heaven—or at least what I imagined heaven to be: safe and warm.
We pulled apart, and he leaned his forehead against mine. “Good night, Zoe.”
“Night, Shay.”
He walked away and I watched him get into his car, then drive off. In a daze, I moved to the front door and walked over the threshold, quietly closing it behind me. Still breathless and tingling from the kiss, I leaned back against the steel door and closed my eyes.
“Honey, is that you?” Dad called from the living room.
My eyes fluttered open, and I walked toward his voice. “Yeah, it’s me.”
“Did you have a good time at Cali’s tonight?” He sat on the couch watching a late night television show.
I smiled. “It was interesting.”
“Whose car was that?” He turned his head toward me and thumbed over his shoulder.
“Oh, you saw that?” I asked, wincing. Of course he had.
He shrugged. “You didn’t think I wouldn’t notice a 1957 Chevy Bel Air drive up? It’s such a classic. I’d love to see it in the daylight.”
Only my dad would be more interested in the car than in the boy who drove it.
“Um, he’s a friend of Kieran’s.” Enough questions, I thought. “Well, goodnight, Dad. I’m going to bed.”
I sprinted upstairs to my bedroom, then dumped my purse on the desk and dug out my cell phone to text Shay.
Me: Thanks for ending our date on a high note after such a scary night
He must have known I was going to text him since his reply was instant.
Shay: NP. My favorite part 2
Me: Where do you stay at night?
Shay: Kieran’s
Me: Always?
Shay: Recently
Me: You and K buddies now?
Shay: No
Me: You going to tell him what happened tonight? About the Ds?’
Shay: Yes, but only that part’
Me: What do you want to do tomorrow?
Shay: Anything as long as it’s with U
Me: I’m going to ask Sidelle to come over
Shay: Why?
Me: Girl talk
Shay: Oh
Me: Maybe after U can come over? Dad wants to see your car
Shay: Sure
Me: Told him you’re Kieran’s friend from school
Shay: OK. I thought you were going to bed
Me: I am
Shay: Night
Me: Night
After changing into my jammies, I climbed into bed and tried to sleep, but I couldn’t get comfortable. Images of the night’s events rushed through my mind, and I couldn’t help think how lucky we’d been. At least no one had died, thanks to Sidelle. I felt stronger now that Shay was in my life. Knowing Sidelle was on my side helped, too. But the one thing that kept coming up in my thoughts was how much I missed Kieran and his smile. I didn’t feel like I’d be able to do this without him.
I decided to ask him to come over tomorrow, too, so we could hash things out. Maybe if Sidelle was there at the same time it wouldn’t be as awkward.
It was only one in the morning, so I figured Sidelle was still up.
Me: You awake?
Ping.
Sidelle: Yep
Me: Thanks for saving my life
Sidelle: NP!
Me: Wanna hang out tomorrow?
Sidelle: Sí
Me: My house?
Sidelle: Okey dokey. Time?
Me: Noon?
Sidelle: OK. CU L8r
Knowing Sidelle was coming over made me feel better. I needed her help on both my boy and demon problems.
Now, I needed to figure out how I was going to save the world.