The House of Angels

Alone

Daniel felt a little better now, despite what happened that afternoon: he still felt like s**t for almost hurting Moon. Now he would just respect her and stay away, he should have locked his damn door, but he was too angry and didn't even think about it.

Thank god Josh was there to save the situation, as always, and as always he helped him subside his anger too. He was an angel.

Now Daniel was in the car with him, Lucas and Charlie, driving lazily around town.

"What's wrong with you, Josh? You keep frowning and haven't said a word all night." Charlie said from the backseat, looking at Josh who was squeezing tightly the steering wheel.

"I'm worried about Moon." He answered curtly.

"What do you mean?" Charlie asked hesitantly, noticing Daniel had stiffened on the passenger seat.

"She was going to this party and I asked her to text me her location, just in case. And I don't like the address she sent me. Well, I told her to call me in case she needed help, but I'm still worried and that's the reason I keep driving around this area. I want to be as close as possible." He said.

"I thought she was going to sleep at her friend's house..." Lucas said, frowning.

"That's what she told Sister M." He answered.

"What's the address?" Daniel asked lighting a cigarette before opening the car window.

Josh pulled out his phone from his pocket and handed it to Daniel.

"Josh, it looks like you got attached to that girl." Charlie remarked, with a little smile.

Daniel stiffened again. Josh glanced at him for a moment.

"We have to take care of the family." He finally said, dryly, changing the subject. "So, Dan, what do you think? I don't like that neighborhood, personally." Josh stated.

"Let me make some calls. Pull over." Daniel said, taking a sip from the beer he was drinking.

Josh parked on the roadside, and all of them got off the car. Charlie reached for his back pocket, and started making a joint while Lucas and Josh opened the trunk and pulled two bottles of rum from a cooler bag and, alter closing the car, they sat on a bench hidden from the street by the trees.

It was a cool evening and after the summer storm the air smelled of wet soil.

"I see. Alright see you later." Daniel said before hanging up his phone.

"So?" Josh asked, impatiently.

"That's Angelo Di Salvo's house. His family owns a lot of restaurants, two in this town. He's clean, but I can't help but wonder what two teens are doing in the house of a thirty years old man." Daniel said, confused.

"Moon said she didn't know who was hosting the party. Her friend Malika invited her." Josh frowned, now really worried about Moon.

"That doesen't matter. She should know better, for f**k's sake." Daniel said, taking a long sip from the bottle and heading toward the car.

"Where are you going now?" Lucas asked, puzzled.

"We're not going to spend the whole night on that bench, are we?" Daniel said, lifting an eyebrow.

"What did you have in mind?" Lucas asked.

"I want to get laid." He shrugged.

"What about Moon?" Charlie asked, puzzled by the sudden change of subject.

"She's not our problem. She can do whatever she wants with her life." Daniel answered getting on the car.

"What the f**k happened between you two? Why are you being like this?" Josh snapped, getting on the car as well.

"What are you talking about?" Daniel c****d an eyebrow.

"f**k you, Daniel! She's lost just like we were and you can't help but be mean to her. What did she ever do to you?"

"Did you f**k her...?" Daniel asked after a few seconds of silence.

"What? Of course not, D! Why would you think something like that?" Josh asked, frowning in confusion.

"Oh, come on Josh. I know you better than anyone else, you can't lie to me." He snapped.

"Well, you're wrong this time. She isn't even the kind of girl who would f**k a random guy. Trust me." Josh pointed out while Charlie and Lucas got in the car.

"Ok, it's none of my business, anyway." Daniel sneered, falling silent.

Before Josh could think about anything to say, his phone started ringing and the screen showed Moon's name.

"Hello?" He immediately answered, but he could hear nothing on the other side of the phone.

"Moon?! What's wrong???" He asked, starting to panick. Daniel, Lucas and Charlie looked at each others, worriedly.

"Josh! I want to go home! Please!" She said with trembling voice.

"Moon I'm on my way but you need to tell me what happened! Are you in danger?" Josh said, starting the car and darting quickly to the address she had given him.

"Malika is angry with me and left me alone and I don't want to stay here. I'll wait for you in front of the house." She said, in one breath.

"No, Moon. Lock yourself inside an empty room and wait for us. We're coming for you!" He said, resolutely.

Moon stayed inside the bathroom where Malika had left her.

She was so confused by her friend's behaviour that she thought she had done something to upset her. She was only trying to take care of her.

Then, the confusion turned into anger.

Malika had been her best friend for years but even knowing her situation, she didn't think twice about spitting those harsh words at her. She was supposed to be on her side, damn it!

Then, the anger turned into sadness.

She realized once more she was completely alone, no one cared about her. Bitter tears flowed down her cheeks, her chest ached sharply and her knees gave out and she found herself sitting on the floor of that spacious and luxurious bathroom, hopeless.

Well, f**k it. f**k everyone. She was going to do whatever she wanted from now on. Since no one cared about her, she would compensate by putting herself first, being selfish for the first time in her life.

Her phone started ringing and Josh's name appeared on the screen.

"Josh?" She said, trying not to have a shaky voice.

"We're here, at the party. Tell me where you are."

"I'm in the bathroom on the second floor, last door on the left." She said getting up from the floor, approaching the mirror.

"Coming." He said, ending the call.

Moon fixed the smudges of makeup caused by the tears and smoothed her hair and dress, when she heard a knock on the door.

"Moon, you can come out, it's me, Josh."

Hearing his voice, she sighed in relief. Then, she took a deep breath, feigned a smile and opened the door and Josh, Daniel, Charlie and Lucas were all standing there, staring at her with worried faces.

"Hello, sorry for the trouble." She said.

"What happened?" Josh asked, approaching her cautiously.

"I was trying to prevent Malika from sleeping with an older man and she snapped at me. She left me here alone, that bitch." She muttered.

"Why did you come here in the first place? Why would you risk your safety for a party?" Daniel intervened, coldly.

"I knew nothing about the party and its host. I thought it was just another party. That girl is out of control! But if she thinks I'll stay here and let her insult me she is wrong. She can end up pregnant or r***d for all I care. It's not my f*****g business anymore." She snapped, angry.

"It's ok, fortunately we're here. Let's go, now." Josh intervened, before Daniel could make the situation worse.

The five of them made their way through the crowd, heading to the exit. The guys were relieved that Moon was with them, unharmed.

"Moon! Where have you been? I've been looking for you for half an hour, I was so worried!" Tony said, appearing beside her.

"Stay back!" Daniel snapped, pushing Tony away from her. "Who the f**k are you?!"

"Daniel, he's a friend, it's ok!" Moon said hurriedly, stepping between the two of them, noticing Tony was about to shove Daniel back.

"What the f**k is your problem, kid?" Tony sneered.

"I'll show you, old pervert!" Daniel tried to reach for him but Josh and Lucas held him back.

"What the f**k are you talking about?" Tony asked, confused.

"Daniel, he works with Malika, he kept me company all night long! Leave him alone!" Moon snapped, angrily.

"He's f*****g thirty, for f**k's sake! Why do you even spend time with him?!" Daniel retorted.

"Let's calm down, Daniel! What the f**k is wrong with you today?!" Josh shoved Daniel back, turning around to face Moon and that guy, Tony. He felt jealous and toyed for a moment with the idea of letting Daniel charge him. But then his common sense kicked in and he took a deep breath.

"Let's go, Moon." He said, trying to sound calm and unaffected.

"Yes, Josh. Tony, they're my friends, I had fun tonight but Malika left me here just because I asked her not to f**k Angelo. So I'm out. See you soon, and thank you for looking out for me." She said, hugging him.

"My pleasure. I'm sorry about Malika. Anyway Angelo didn't f**k her. He didn't want to. Correction: he wanted to but didn't do it." He said, hugging her back with a kind smile.

"She can f**k even your grandpa if she wants. I don't care anymore. Bye, Tony." She smiled one last time before joining Josh and the others.

"Che cazzo di problemi hai, Daniel? Pensi di avere il diritto di aggredire i miei amici?! (What the f**k is wrong with you, Daniel? You think you have any right to assault my friends?!)" She snapped as they reached the car.

"Didn't I tell you to speak english?! What the f**k did you say?!" He said angrily.

"You know what? f**k you, Daniel!"

"Can you two please stop arguing? What the f**k is the problem?" Josh intervened.

They all got in the car and Josh started driving away from Angelo's house.