When Angels Fall (Fallen Angels) (3 page)

“Yeah, I’m really sorry about that, too. I just hate starting over and I’ve been in a really bad mood since we got here,” he explained.

She liked watching him squirm. “Really, it’s okay, I understand. I’m kinda like the tour guide around here this year, so I’ll help you as best as I can. We can talk more after mass.”

 
Directly after Sister MM’s class they entered the church, it smelled of incense and candles. Chloe scanned the pews for her father. She wasn’t surprised when she didn’t see him. It was normal that he hadn’t shown, but she always held out hope that he would surprise her.

Slowly, they reached the assigned pew, both of them genuflected by kneeling on one knee, and then they rose to take their seats.

Tiffany Michaels was waiting for them, her blue eyes aglow and her perfect bleach-blond hair lying perfectly on her dark-blue sweeter. The twisted leer of her smile let them know the news she was about to share would be startling.

 
Next to her, was Tabitha Rogers, school slut and one of Tiffany’s closest friends. She sat playing with her cross and a vacant expression on her face while cracking her gum and waiting for mass to start.

“Have you seen the new administrator’s sons? Just so you know, the one in senior class is mine,” Tiffany informed them in her matter-of-fact-way.

Chloe rolled her eyes and knelt down to pray, as was the unspoken rule.

“Chloe got stuck with the other one. She has to play babysitter today,” Gabbie informed them, giggling while pointing out the new kid.

This got Tabitha’s attention.

“If he looks like his brother, I’ll watch him,” she purred as she sat up to look for him. Her polished red nail clenched between her teeth as she surveyed her new prey.

 
Chloe knew what she was thinking; she glanced over at Nick and felt bad for him. “Please Tab, let’s try and keep him pure for at least part of the school year,” she suggested, hoping this would defer the girl’s lust for fresh meat.

“With looks like that, I doubt very much that he’s pure. I know you, St. Chloe, protector of small children and new students. You think he can’t handle us. I have a feeling he‘s going to do just fine. Bring him to our table for lunch and let’s get to know him,” Tiffany commanded, using her voice of authority.

The disapproving glance of Sister George brought them all to attention and they returned to the quiet that was expected of them.

He has no clue what he’s in for at this school, especially with Tiffany or Tabitha, Chloe thought as she watched Nick now. He wasn’t bad looking with those sweet dark curls. He had kind of a baby face, and eyelashes that even Tiffany would kill for. He also looked kind of lost as he looked around the church.

As if he could feel her stare, his eyes met hers and he smiled nervously.

Quickly, Chloe turned away and hoped he hadn’t noticed. She caught Tabitha’s gaze and realized she was looking at him too. This meant she was already making plans for him. She hoped that for his sake, he was smart enough to turn her down.

The mass in general was pretty boring. It was mostly about Father Paul going on about how through God’s love and their persistence, the final years at the school should be memorable for them. It was hard for Chloe to keep her eyes open as he went on and on about it.

Gabbie nudged her as he approached the front of the altar with Father Gabe and waited for the students and their families to approach. The huge knot in her stomach seemed to get bigger as they got closer to her name. In general, you were to approach the altar, as your parents were to fall in behind you. In her case, Chloe knew there was no one there for her. She felt stupid that her father was a no-show again, and it just proved to everyone the rumors that went around about her.

 
Pushing the thoughts out of her mind, she continued moving up until she was next. She glanced to her side and noticed Nick with his parents behind him. She jumped suddenly as a hand fell on her shoulder. Chloe turned and found Sister Mary Margret’s smiling face.

“I’m sure they would be here if they could. But I know your mother is here with you, and if it is all right, I’ll stand in her place,” Sister Mary Margaret whispered to her.

Chloe nodded and smiled. Sister MM, for some reason, had always looked out for her. Even last year, when things fell apart, she was the one who called her father in and tried to reason with him.

“Chloe Cecilia Gardner,” Father Gabe said aloud.

She stepped forward.

“Nicholas Robert Allen.” Father Paul’s voiced echoed through the church.

Nick stood next to Chloe with his parents by his side.

 
Sister Mary Margaret took Chloe’s ring and put it on her finger.

 
Nick’s mom did his.

 
Chloe walked back to her seat while she watched Nick’s parents hug him. They looked like a tight-knit family, which was something she didn’t have or wouldn’t know about.

Walking back to class, Nick seemed to notice that Chloe was really quiet. “Is it always like this the first day of school?” he bravely asked her.

“Yeah. There is usually a mass at different times to sort of remind you of how things will be. Is this your first time in a Catholic school?”

“No, I’m just not used having to go to mass right away. The sister said we have pretty much the same classes. That’s why she put us together,” he continued nervously.

“I said it isn’t a problem. Mr. Green is our third period, and that is history. Word of advice, he’s pretty cool but don’t challenge him on any battles. He does historic war reenactments on the weekend. After that, we have family living, which is Sister George. She’s very old school. No gum chewing, pencil tapping, note swapping, or talking,” Chloe explained as she looked over the schedule.

“Okay, thanks for the warning. What’s after that?” he asked, while they entered into Mr. Green’s room.

“Lunch,” she replied and found a seat.

“Hello, Chloe.” A tall, blond-haired jock approached her.

She closed her eyes as if to wish he wasn’t there. “Hi, Josh. Wow, look at that, we have the same class.” She tried to hide her sarcasm.

“Isn’t that a stroke of luck for me? There’s a back-to-school dance next week. I was thinking we could go,” he suggested as he leaned on to her desk and started to play with a lock of her hair.

 
“I will really have to check. I might be volunteering at the hospital that day.” She hoped he didn’t catch on to her lie.

“So, check your schedule and get back to me. We could go to Tiff’s after for the party,” he added arrogantly.

“Yeah, sounds like fun. I’ll let you know.” Luckily, he was too self- involved to notice she’d rolled her eyes at his suggestion.

After Sister Gorge’s class, the bell rang and dismissed them to lunch, causing a frenzy in the hallway.

 
Nick fought his way to keep up with her, as Chloe stopped at her locker.

Josh was also in their family living class and kept winking at her the whole time. She would turn her head and go back to her book, trying to block him from her view.

“So, was that your boyfriend?” Nick dared to say. “I mean, you don’t have to answer me. I was just wondering.”

“Who, Josh? No, he thinks he is or he wants to be, but I’m not interested. But because it is the popular thing to do, I’m kinda getting pushed into it,” she answered, while taking out her books and sketch pad.

“Oh, so you’re one of those popular kids who everyone in the school looks up to. And he’s captain of the football team.” Nick laughed.

“You guessed it. And he’s kind of a big deal here and with my friends. Listen, you seem like a really nice guy and I can almost bet you’ll fit in with us, just watch what you say and do. Some of the people here will chew you up and spit you out,” she warned him, thinking about Tabitha’s gazing at him earlier.

“Thanks for the advice, but I can handle myself. I’ve moved around enough to know the deal at a new school. I know what crowds are and how to handle myself with them.” He seemed to take offense to her suggestion.

Chloe glared at him. “Okay, smart guy. You think you can handle them? Then, let’s go meet the gang.” She slammed her locker and headed out to lunch and the lions’ pit, a little put off by his cockiness.

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Nick followed Chloe over to the wall where all her friends seemed to be.

“So, you’re the administrator’s son,” Tiffany cooed as he walked up.

“Yeah, hi, I’m Nick. And you are?” He suddenly realized what Chloe had been trying to tell him.

“The Antichrist!” the guy sitting across from her coughed.

Tiffany’s smile turned ugly as she scowled at him. “Funny not, David!” she hissed and then turned her charm back on to continue, “I’m Tiffany Rogers. I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”

“Nope, should I have?” Nick asked.

Tiffany’s evil glare fell on Chloe.

“Hey, I haven’t had time to fill him in, so sorry! Nick, Tiffany is from the town founder’s line. She’s ninth generation,” Chloe rambled off what Tiffany obviously wanted everyone to know.

“She’s also one of the riches people in town and likes for everyone to know that. I’m Dave McPierson, of the lowlife McPieson’s,” the guy who coughed finally introduced himself. He was husky, with light-brown hair.

Nick could tell he was the fat kid who was always the class clown and somehow managed to be a part of this high-class group of girls.

“And this lovely lady, who is unlucky enough to be stuck with me in poverty, is Gabbie D’Angelo,” Dave continued as he put his arm around the girl standing next to him, who had jet-black hair. She was pretty, like most of the Italian girls he had met, but they all looked and acted the same to him.

Nick could tell she was an athlete of some kind by the way her body was so tight and the way she held herself and he now recognized them as the groping couple, he’d seen at the carnival. “We have homeroom together,” he reminded them.

 
“If you can’t tell, Dave is our class clown and also one of my oldest friends. And as for last but not least is Tabitha Michaels,” Chloe continued.

Nick knew her type as soon as he’d seen her in church. Kelly had been her type and he‘d already dealt with that kind of racy girl.

Tabitha had blond hair as well and piercing gray eyes. She was overdeveloped and was the girl who rolled her skirt to make it shorter, almost to the point that when she bent over, you could see her panties, or lack thereof. Her shirt was unbuttoned to reveal a peak of cleavage, and she leered at him with lustful eyes.

Her gaze embarrassed him a little, but he played things off really well.

“Chloe, you have to lock my ring.” Gabbie thrust her hand in Chloe’s face, almost to the point that she smacked her.

“We’ve only had two classes, when did you find time to get it turned?” She turned the ring counterclockwise.

“What can I say? I’m popular.” Gabbie giggled as she threw her hands in the air.

“You can do mine, too. Gabbie just did my last turn,” Tiffany added, showing off her expensive ring. Instead of a birthstone, she had a diamond.

“You guys suck,” Chloe exclaimed as she locked Tiffany’s, too.

“Mine’s locked. I had Tommy Alverez do it,” Tiffany bragged.

“I heard he did something else for you, too.” Dave laughed, knowing it’d gotten around school already.