When it was time for the test, I made sure that I was ready mentally and by that I didn't mean the studying part. I meant clearing out anything that would cause a distraction. It went by quickly and then as second period approached, I was positively sure that I'd passed.
I hurriedly went to my locker to grab my textbook when I noticed a bunch of guys around Heather. She looked totally uncomfortable and was blushing; I thought it was because one of the guys had asked her out.
"Hey love." I didn't want to turn around since I instantly recognized Ethan's voice.
"Don't call me love." I said irritably.
He moved closer. "Because you love Adrian?" he whispered in my ear.
I drew back and he laughed.
"Excuse us," Heather came over and said, more like demanded. She gave Ethan one of the most loathsome looks I'd ever seen and started dragging me away.
We appeared in the washroom, which was again empty, I think.
"Come on Laine. You should have recognized me by now," Heather said.
I stared at her bluish-grey eyes and then sapphire eyes were suddenly staring back at me.
"Mireille!" I almost yelled. Who else would cast Ethan that kind of hateful look? Still, it wasn't that obvious. I mean the familiar stranger looked nothing like Mireille. Even Adrian could have been fooled by her, well... if they didn't have their whole mind-reading thing.
"I'm so glad that you're okay," I cried and hugged her.
"I'm sorry to have worried you," she said calmly, but then her voice turned grave.
"Now, listen to me," she said sternly. "You have to avoid Ethan at all times. Even if he says something offensive, you have to resist the urge to retaliate."
I was about to protest, but then kept quiet. She had obviously overheard my little conversation with him. It hadn't even been a conversation- more like a two-second thing. On the other hand, she was right. If I just ignored Ethan overall, he probably wouldn't bother talking to me after sometime.
"Okay," I said sheepishly and then realized how late I was for second period.
"Don't worry about that," Mireille said when she noticed my panicked expression.
I was about to ask what she meant by that, but she was already at the door.
Mireille had enrolled in all my classes and during the entire day, she stuck by me like she had just been assigned as my new guardian. I didn't really mind and Bailey and Jayme seemed to be cool with it after I told them that Heather was an old friend. They actually got along really well with her, talking about the latest in the world of fashion. I didn't really listen or share my opinion. I was too distracted by Ethan, who kept staring at me. I didn't bother to look at him, but I felt his eyes on me the whole time. He was adjacent to where I was seated and up until then, he hadn't bothered to stare or talk to me (I owed that to Mireille's excellent guarding skills). But at that moment, I felt as if he was examining me.
"What's wrong?" Mireille then asked. Bailey and Jayme both turned their attention to me.
"Nothing," I quickly covered. Mireille looked like she was going to question me. At last, she decided not to and launched into her love for cute, frilly dresses. It made me want to tell her to go shop at Glittermax.
I couldn't help but laugh as I recalled one girl's stare (I remembered her from Jayme's prior entourage) while Mireille and I drove away in a black Lamborghini. Her mouth literally fell open and I guessed it was because she wasn't as rich (as I'd thought) to afford one. Mireille said she had bought the car and I believed her... somewhat. I knew I shouldn't be laughing because that had sort of been my reaction when I first saw the car.
I sat-uncomfortable at first and stared at Mireille completely astonished. This was something new-apart from the whole teleportation thing-and I couldn't believe that Mireille was going to drive it.
"How old do you think I am?" she asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
I didn't answer, unsure of how to reply.
"Do you think Ethan recognized you?" I asked as we drove. I recalled the moments when he didn't bother to talk to me and although Mireille had accomplished her duty, I couldn't help but wonder why.
"No, he couldn't have. That's the reason why I wore this disguise. But geez, do those guys always hover around a new girl like that?"
I giggled as I thought back to her uncomfortable display.
"I guess."
"Where are we going?" I asked Mireille awhile after when I noticed that we were headed in a completely different direction and away from home.
"You know that football field?" Mireille said and I realized what was happening, which made me glad that I had no homework.
"Ethan has finally agreed to settle things."
I gulped. This was going to be a fight to the death and hopefully this time, Ethan wouldn't try anything devious.
"In fact, could you call your mom and tell her that you've gone over to your friend's house? Just make up something and I'll tell Eileen to set it up. Here's a phone."
She handed me an iPhone and I quickly dialed mom's cell phone number. Even though I was grounded, I told her I had to go over to a friend's house to work on a project. She surprisingly approved and since she was home today, she said she would go and get Katy after school. I hated to lie to mom, but once again it was completely unnecessary to get her involved and she sounded delighted to be going over to Diana's to have a chat with Mrs. Marrs.
Mireille picked up every bit of our conversation and I assumed she told Eileen telepathically.
It was very chilly out and I started shivering. Today of all days, I didn't bring a sweater.
"Here," Mireille said and handed me Adrian's jacket.
"Adrian told me to give it to you in case you started to get cold."
I took the jacket from her and quickly put it on.
"You're just saying that," I muttered before my brain processed that I'd actually meant to keep that to myself.
And of course Mireille heard it because she abruptly started driving at a much slower pace. Either that or we had already reached our destination. Honestly, I couldn't tell where in our small town the football field was located.
"Sorry," I quickly added.
Mireille did not say anything.
"Don't be mad at Adrian," she finally said.
I hadn't really thought that I gave that impression. I was hurt, but not angry.
"I'm not mad at him," I told her.
She looked at me for a second and somehow I felt that she thought I was lying.
"Well he feels really bad about what happened between the two of you," she said.
I felt that I could really trust Mireille and tell her that I just wanted to know how Adrian felt and that I was the one who had screwed things up. However, Adrian would most likely hear her and feel even worse. So I decided not to say anything. Though, as if reading my mind Mireille said, "Don't worry. I understand."
"We're here," she said shortly after. She had pulled up in front of a cluster of trees. I got out of the car and looked at my surroundings. There were lots of trees, like maybe a hundred circling the field. In fact, I couldn't even see anything else beyond the field. Besides the trees, there were also bleachers on the far left side. Hidden in a corner, I estimated that it could only have seated about twenty people.
"It's just Adrian and Ethan, so we're pretty sure there are no other fallens and anyways Cornelius and I will protect you if anything happens."
I nodded and within a second Cornelius appeared.
"Hello Laine," he said.
"Hello," I said, my voice quivering a little. I felt so belittled; it was like a sixth grader speaking to a university professor.
"I have to get out of this disguise. Be right back,"
Mireille said and tossed me my bag pack. I caught it and shifted away from the car.
"Come with me," Cornelius said and I followed him towards the bleachers.
Once I was seated, I tried to spot Adrian, but he was nowhere in sight. Neither was Ethan. Though, within a second, the two simultaneously showed up on the field gripping their swords. I guess we had arrived just in time for the brawl. Adrian flashed me a quick smile which showed no sign of nervousness what so ever and then I felt stupid for thinking that. Why would he of all people be afraid? I returned his smile.
"That's better." I glanced at Mireille who was herself again.
"There was no need to get Laine involved," Adrian said shortly.
"Ethan demanded your presence before he would agree to settle things," Cornelius said. I was a little startled by that. I mean I just thought I needed to witness the fight for the sake of seeing Adrian and making sure that he was okay. I didn't think Ethan would be so conceited enough to make that sort of deal.
"Hey, you were the one who got her involved in the first place and anyways I've grown quite fond of her," he said accusingly and turned to glance at me.
In an instant Adrian was pointing his sword at his throat. Instead of cowering, (which I assumed) Ethan just laughed.
"Why Adrian, would you really kill your own brother?"
I wanted to laugh. He couldn't be serious! Those two had nothing in common, not to mention their totally different light and dark attributes.
"Ethan implied to Adrian that they are half-brothers," Mireille whispered. I looked at her, then at Adrian and Ethan baffled at what I'd just heard. No way was I going to believe that no matter how Ethan explained it.
"You're not my brother," Adrian said in a low voice. Apart from the whole turning into a fallen incident, I didn't think his voice could sound so menacing. I felt a chill run down my spine as he said that.
Adrian was about to finish the fight when Ethan used his sword to throw his off. Fortunately, Adrian caught it before it fell to the ground. Ethan then flew up in the air, his dark wings now visible. Adrian followed, showing his perfect, wide, glowing wings.
Ethan's hair started changing color and that's when it happened.