Cheating Death

Party

Azrail POV

Weeks have passed and while I try to avoid Ava the best I can, I seem to find myself always running into her. Almost like a moth attracted to a flame. I've caught her blushing at me a couple of times, so I don't know if she is embarrassed to be seen with me in the hallway or whether she keeps running into me. I know she had to have heard my dad that day. A part of me wants to comfort her and pull her close, but I don't want her to know that I like her. This is so aggravating and I have never found myself at a loss for words with a girl like I do with her.

The big talk of the school is this bon fire party that seems to be happening tonight in the woods far from prying eyes. It's weird because it's my birthday, but I know that it's not a party for me. I was thinking of blowing it off and just moping around the house when I absentmindedly ran into her again. This time I reach my arms out to catch her before she falls. She looks up at me with a shocked look on her face at our close proximity. I chuckled and pulled her a little closer, causing her cheeks to become blood red.

"We've got to stop meeting like this Ava or people are going to start talking." I smirked at her, seeing her wiggle around trying to break my hold on her. Normally, I would just let her go, but I feel like this is right. Like my sole purpose is to hold her for the remainder of time and keep her safe. Slowly shock sets in on her beautiful features as she swats my chest trying to recover her composure.

"Azrail, no one is going to be talking about anything because there is nothing there to talk about." she snapped at me almost like she was trying to assert dominance.

My smile widened when I realized what she was trying to do, but I never once let her go. I want to hold her like this forever. I'm beginning to think the admiration I had for her pure soul all these years was actually feelings I had acquired for her. She would never return the feelings or would she?

"Everyone has something to talk about when it comes to the most amazing girl in school." I lean down, letting my breath fan her ear lobe. She shivers, then looks me in the eyes and says, "Excuse me Azrail, but I really do have work to get to."

I release my hold on her and let her scurry down the hallway. My arms feel more numb and empty than usual when she leaves them. I'm lost in thought when I hear whispering from nearby. I turned to face a seriously pissed off Lily. If looks could kill, then trust me when I say I would be dead.

"What in the hell do you think you are doing?" Lily grits out while poking me in the chest with each word.

"Whatever do you mean?" I replied coolly. That was obviously the worst thing to say, because she was even madder than before as soon as the words left my mouth.

"It's not a good look for you to prey on the defenseless naive girls, Azrail."

"Oh, would you rather me talk to a girl more like yourself?"

It took her only about three seconds to register what I had just said to her, earning me a slap in the face and more hushed whispers followed. Lily stomped off towards the bathroom and I just shrugged my shoulders and headed for the courtyard door. There were a couple of kids that were making out in the open but I just ignored them and walked towards my little oasis. This has become my home away from home and I have no intentions of sharing it with anyone. The serenity of this magical place is one of the things I look forward to seeing every day. The one place I can be at one with my thoughts without wondering who is going to talk about me next. I slowly sat down and slipped my shoes off. The ground is cold but this lush grass feels good beneath my feet. I'll just hang out here until lunch, I think to myself and I just stare into the water letting my thoughts consume me.

Ava's POV

I don't know if Azrail is starting to make this a game out of this or not, but he seems to have found lots of pleasure from running into me literally all day. I'm getting flustered with myself from coming into contact with someone I'm supposed to avoid so many time all of a sudden. I was having an inner argument with myself when I ran into a wall. Only this isn't a wall, it has arms and has reached out and pulled me close to keep me from falling. I instantly recognized his touch, causing my face to turn beet red. I looked up at him from under my lashes to see him standing there with a devilish grin on his face.

I started to pull away from him only to feel him grip me a little firmer, causing me to turn an even darker shade of crimson. He chuckles softly and I tense up at the sound. It's beautiful, unlike anything I have ever heard. Thinking back, I honestly don't think I have ever heard him talk, let alone laugh. He catches me staring at him and it makes him smirk at me with his perfect white teeth.

"We've got to stop meeting like this, Ava, or people are going to start talking." He stares at me more intensely, but that smirk only grows wider as I try to wiggle my way out of his arms.

"Azrail, no one is going to be talking about anything because there is nothing there to talk about." I snapped at him trying to assert dominance, thinking he would just let me go. But do I want him to really let me go though?

"Everyone has something to talk about when it comes to the most amazing girl in school." He whispered to me while his breath fanned my ear lobe. The heat that was pooling at my core was intensified. How can someone make me feel this way when I have barely had any interactions with them my whole life? I need to escape from him. I tried wiggling away again, earning another smirk. His eyes have a mischievous glint in them telling me that he knows exactly what he is doing to me. I'm almost ready to give up the fight against him and see what my body is yearning for from him when I spot Lily and she looks absolutely pissed. I've got to diffuse this situation and quick. A crowd is starting to form.

"Excuse me Azrail, but I really do have work to get to," I tried to say confidently, but it came out as a mere whisper. To my surprise and dismay, he lets me go. I hurriedly disappeared into the bathroom to try to get my composure. I have never had a boy interested in me before and, in turn, have never been so drawn to anyone either. I slip out of the bathroom and call home to tell mom I'm not feeling well so I can go home. She agrees but has her normal stipulations that I clean the house and start dinner.

I could have caught a ride from someone but chose to walk. I need this fresh air to clear my head. Today has been very abnormal. I can't put my finger on what would cause things to be turned upside down all of a sudden. The only thing I can come up with is my birthday is today, but that's nothing special. People have birthdays all the time. Maybe it's because I'm considered an adult now? I haven't changed what I know of.

I slowly climbed the stairs to the front porch and let myself in with the spare key that was hidden under the hand railing. Mom really needs a better hiding spot for that thing. There are just a handful of dishes and a few loads of laundry to be done. The last load is finished in the dryer when Lily descends from the school bus and walks up our walkway to the front door. She barges right in like she owns the place and I secretly wonder if that is why mom doesn't really care for Lily. She spots me and comes over to plop down the kitchen table while picking up some clothing and starting to fold it.

"Well.... is there something you want to tell me?" her eyebrows raised quizzically.

"No, nothing that I can think of."

"Umm, well how about all that s**t with Azrail in the hallway? Like what the hell was all of that about?" she says, sounding hurt a little like I'm keeping secrets from her.

"I'm not really sure. He has been trying to shoot his shot the last few days, it seems. But you have nothing to worry about because I'm pretty sure he is just messing with me and not really interested." I offered back to her hoping she would drop it.

"I should have hit him harder." She muttered to herself and I just let it go. The less I know, the better off I am with her.

"Alright boys aside, what do I need to wear tonight to the bonfire? I want something sophisticated yet totally attention-grabbing. I mean you only turn eighteen once."

I knew right then that I had said the right thing by how her eyes lit up. Lily goes to my closet and starts digging around putting outfits together until she comes up with the perfect outfit that matches my requirements. She lays out a pair of black skinny jeans, a cute white crop top sweater with a sweetheart neckline, and a pair of white ankle boots. I stared at her in awe for a moment, appreciating her gift for finding the perfect attire, no matter the circumstances.

"Well, get ready, ho. We have a party to get to!" She waltzes into my bathroom and starts setting everything up that we are gonna need. I should have just said no when she asked but I couldn't after seeing how excited she was. It was going to take hours to get ready to her standards but I started doing as she instructed. Let's get this party over with.