The Devil’s Angel

Chapter 11

Other than during lunch break, the day before, I did not run into Emily or Hades or one of their merry little bunch, till I left school during the day. I drove straight home, changed into loose pants and a plain top and drove to the gym about fifteen minutes away.

Short and quiet drive except for the rendition of Katty Perry’s ‘Last Friday night’ was playing softly through the speakers.

Checking the rearview mirror and the side mirror, the view from behind catches my eyes. The sun is setting, the orange-yellow-hued glow is a slashing contrast to the powder blue skies, but there is also something strangely perfect about their joining.

I sigh deeply.

I love my town in the heart of the country. The neighborhood is a good one. My mother did her research on the safest streets to live in and the most secluded. One might be thinking ‘It is in the heart of the country, how is it secluded?’ it just is, take my word for it.

Not to gloat, but it is mostly the rich and affluent that bring their kids to Hale high school. There is normies and regular people that make up forty percent of the population, but for the most part we live by a set of unspoken rules and codes.

Of course, there is social hierarchy; we have the royals, the athletes, the art kids, drama kids, geeks, nerds, and cretins. The cretins are the runts of the school, the outcasts that no group wants. They just loiter around and hang out in the courtyard alone.

There are exceptions though. The geek is popular because he invented a texting app that is purely anonymous and untraceable. Most of the gooner athletes use the app to link their suppliers for performance pills. So, you see, it did something good there, I think. And I heard some seniors use the app to hookup without getting caught or hide secrets from their parents. So, he gained popularity from that, did that ungeek him? Absolutely not. But people are nicer to him now and he even gets high fives from the football players in the school hallways.

Also, the drama kid that played a child role in a recent blockbuster movie over the summer break, at school I found out she is already signing autographs for so many people, including teachers. Can you believe that? she fancies herself a mini Emma Watson with her short brunette bob.

So, yes the more money your parents have the more popular you are in the school but sometimes even the lowly commoners rise to the top.

The real problem is staying up there for long not just grabbing people’s attention.

Real popularity comes from being liked or being rich. There are also the ones people either do not talk about or they simply do not know about. The silent power, the hushed whispers of anxious teachers, the nervous smile of Principal Morgan when he comes to our school and the arrogant tilt of Hades King’s head as he saunters outside.

It used to be his brother, Noah. That would have Mr King riding into school, but then he transferred schools abroad, and we have not seen him for two years now. He was always getting into trouble, so sometimes I hope the change of environment did him some good, and he found peace. He always had a troubled look in his stormy gray eyes.

He always gave me the vibe of someone not quite inside his own body. He is just different from all the king brothers. I wonder what he is up to these days. He literally ignored my entire existence whenever I went over to hang out with Hades and our friends. The few times he said words to my face it was to mumble a quick apology after I scrapped by knee-riding the roller-skater and faceplanting on the floor like a loser. Other little moments here and there that made him seem more like his brother, not the tough jock that rode the curtails of his father's wealth.

The trip to the gym is a fast one. The trainer is brutal with the sets today and the crowd is lesser than yesterday, which is fine. It is a week day anyway.

I grab my mat, bottle of water, phone and headsets and head back inside.

I really need this workout. Discovering the gym as an outlet last year was a silver lining or blessing from God, it became a way for me to let out steam and stress. Mother thinks it is long overdue that I join her in the ‘field’ as she likes to call it. She is a health freak.

For a slim-build woman, she does yoga, swims on weekends, runs around the neighborhood and hits the gym on and off. I know if her busy work schedule will allow it she will add more hours to the ones she already has.

The session goes on for two hours of grueling exercise. At the end, I am panting and out of breath. It is mostly women and a few men in the gym. Once myself and the two other girls are done with our trainer, I start to pack up my stuff to leave.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I spot Gerald barreling towards me. Snatching my earpods from the table, I spin so fast and practically sprint all the way to my car.

Well, more like fast walk and ignore his bellowing calls of my name.

My quick hands click the doors close and start the ignition, carefully peeling out of the gym’s driveway.

Grimacing in mild annoyance at Gerald’s constant pestering, I might have to check around for a new gym to get away from him. He does not look like he is taking no for an answer and that might be a bigger problem sooner or later.

I have enough drama going on, I do not have time for that. Rolling down the windows of the car, the cool evening air against my sweaty damp neck is pure bliss. i enjoy the ride back home is comfortable silence.

Pulling into the driveway, I spot my mother’s car already packed.

I brace myself for the bombarding questions she is going to ask about my first day. Opening my car door and climbing down, I click on the keys to lock the car and walk to the front door ready to face my mother.