Cheating Death

Unanswered Questions

Ava

The teacher starts her lesson and Lily turns to look at me with a silly smile on her face. I instantly shook my head no, knowing exactly what she was thinking. She has been trying too hard to hook me up with someone. I'm not going to lie, it would be nice to feel the love of a man since I've never known my father, but I don't want it to be just anyone.

"You're such a prude," Lily whispered.

"No, I just don't want to have one-night stands," I whispered back.

"Seriously, just give it a try. It will help lighten you up!" She whispered back.

Before I could say something, the teacher smacked the desk with a ruler.

"I would appreciate it if you would all pay attention to my lessons or is there something you want to share with the class?" Ms. Green asked.

"No ma'am," we said in unison. Lily turned back around and went back to her phone under her desk. I have always found this class interesting and she never understood why. I think it's partly because I want to leave this small town. Like I have bigger plans laid out for me than staying here. It doesn't matter because all of a sudden I feel this odd voice calling to me. I looked around but I didn't see anyone talking to me.

I start panicking, the room starts to get fuzzy, and I feel hot suddenly. I quickly raised my hand and asked to be excused. As I leave the room, I bump into someone and fall backwards. My head still feels fun but I'm calm. I reached up to grab the hand extended to me.Lightening shot through my body and I looked up curiously. It's Azrail who was helping me.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, barely able to muster the words out of my mouth.

I felt this longing to be near him. His hands were cool like the breeze outside and soft as the first snow of the year. He is staring at me and it's almost like I can look into his soul. It's like I have known him longer than time itself, but we never spoke at school. We can't seem to stop looking at each other. A silent conversation between ourselves from just this small contact.

I blink and see the man behind him absolutely fuming at me. I'm assuming it is his dad, but I have never met the man to know for sure. Why is he angry with me? What have I possibly done to him with us never meeting one another? I looked back at Azrail and ducked my head. Muttering my apologies, I hurriedly escaped down the hall but stopped right behind the corner trying to catch my breath.

"Don't you go around that girl ever again! You understand me?" I heard the man say. Azrail says nothing in return, but now I'm so unsure of myself and what I could have possibly done to this man I have never seen before in my life. I need to go back to class but I am on the verge of a panic attack. I have never been around anyone that has had that much disdain for me in my life. I stay lost in my thoughts as I just keep walking. I don't really have a destination in mind, I just need to get some fresh air.

I let my feet lead the way until I hear crickets chirping, frogs croaking, and the sound of water splashing. I look up to realize that I am in the woods at a place I have never seen before. This is like an oasis of some sort. I get an overwhelming rush of total calm as I sit cross-legged at the water's edge. Everything seems so untouched that I'm sure this place has never been found. I am immediately relieved to have my own little personal hiding spot. A place I can come to clear my head without fear of being found.

I need to ask my mom some questions about the man who loathes me. I'm not even sure if she knows who he is. There was one person who would probably be able to tell me everything I needed to know, but I didn't know how to approach him. Azrail is a bad boy of sorts and has a bad reputation at school. I'm sure most of them are rumors, but I'm not sure which stories they are. I need to find a way to confront him without him getting snippy with me. I've seen the way he talks to Lily. Granted, she can be overbearing at times, but that doesn't warrant her being talked to like that.

I lie there thinking until the sounds of the atmosphere puts me to sleep. I need to get up but nature's lullaby ultimately wins. I don't know how long I have been out here, but I hear the bell signaling the end of the school day and I take off back to the building. I'll try to find my own answers before I talk to Azrail.