Between (18 page)

“
Okay, what’s going on?” Patty asked. “You’ve been very quiet. I didn’t want to ask because I figured you would tell me before I asked. But since you didn’t, I’m beginning to think that you’re mad at me.”

“
Don’t be silly.”

“
I’m with Andrew practically all the spare time I have. I’m sorry. Let’s do something together,” Patty said sincerely.

“
I’m not mad at you. I’m happy you found someone really nice.”

“
I’m your best friend. I know when something’s up. So if it’s not spending most of my spare time with Andrew, then what is it?” she asked with a concerned tone.

How could I tell her? I wanted to, but I knew she would never understand. She would think I was crazy. Sometimes I thought I was going crazy. So I just played it off like nothing was wrong when deep inside, I wanted to burst with all the mixed emotions that were scrambling inside my heart. There were so many that I couldn’t pin point which one I was feeling.

“
I…I…” I rubbed my butterfly necklace. Maybe I could tell Patty without saying a word.

“
Michael. What did he do?”

“
Nothing. He didn’t do anything.” That was the problem. He was simply gone.

“
Okay. Since you are still wearing the necklace he gave you then that’s not it.” She paused. And I could tell her mind was wandering with thoughts. “It’s Austin, isn’t it?”

“
What?” I questioned, wondering why she would say his name. I turned on my heel and walked over to a rack of clothes and started to fuss over the ones that needed fixing.

“
I knew it. You like him too.”

“
No, I didn’t say I liked him. And Austin is not the problem,” I said calmly.

“
But you texted me and told me you went out with him. I waited for you to tell me, but since you didn’t bring it up, I thought I’d go first.” She gazed at me with a confused look on her face.

“
I did what?” I asked flabbergasted.

“
Yeah, didn’t you spend Thanksgiving weekend with him?”

“
I did?”

“
You texted me back and said you got the hots for him. You said his kisses drove you wild.” Patty giggled. “That’s okay. Austin is a hottie…I already told you that. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Andrew.”

Then it dawned on me. Austin had my cell phone during Thanksgiving weekend when I was trapped on his island. They were texting back and forth, only Patty had thought it was me! I remembered Austin giving me my cell phone back and telling me he’d texted everybody back, letting them know I was fine. Anger was fuming inside me. He had no right to do what he did! He was messing with Patty’s and my minds. Wait till I got my hands on him!

“
Did someone call my name?” Austin appeared, walking into the store. At that moment, I knew he was on watch. He looked at me with a heartfelt smile, but I gave him a cold stare to let him know I was mad. Patty trotted over to give him a tight squeeze. Austin gave her a peck on her check and I thought I saw her blush.

“
What brings you here?” Patty asked excitedly.

“
Claudia and I have a date,” he replied, matter-of-factly.

In shock from his words, I flicked my eyes at him and then at Patty. Patty’s smile gleamed brighter than the sun, if that was even possible.

“
Where are you guys going?” she asked.

“
It’s a surprise,” he winked at her. “Oh, by the way, Andrew said he’ll meet you at your house. I was just with him.”

“
Then I will wait for him. You kids run along now and don’t be too late. Let’s do a double date next time. Only if you guys want to,” she giggled.

It was close to closing time, so I insisted that we stay until we counted the money and Patty was safely in her car, heading home.

After Patty left, I got into my car and Austin got into his. We met at my house and both walked inside. Soon as we got to my bedroom, I turned to punch him, but decided not to. I didn’t want my hands to be sore like last time. I decided to use my words instead, but he spoke first before I got the chance.

“
Sorry. From the look you gave me, it looks like you would have preferred the alkins to watch over you.”

For some reason, my anger subsided. Maybe it was his apology, but still, I had to let him know. “Where’s Holly?”

“
I told her she didn’t need to be here.”

“
Oh,” I said. “By the way, next time, I’ll do my own texting…okay?”

He looked extremely confused.

“
Let me refresh your memory. We had a date. I think you are a hottie. And your kisses drive me wild. Sound familiar?” I raised my brows.

“
You’re finally admitting it? Good for you. Don’t forget, I’m toxic. I like the sound of that. Shall
I
refresh your memory of that night?” he asked, closing the gap between us.

Ahhhh
! I screamed inside my head. My body exploded with anger and I walked away towards the blind, irritated with him. I looked outside my window, thinking about the last time Michael had appeared, when Austin spoke, breaking into my thoughts. “I’m sorry. I’ll never do that again.”

I turned to find him just a breath away. I jerked back and banged my head against the window. Austin’s reflexes were fast, pulling me towards him into a hug, preventing me from what could have been worse. He massaged the area on my head that was sore. I stood there silent and still, unexpectedly comforted by his embrace, and lay my head against his chest. I took a deep breath, holding him tightly, and tears ran down. They were tears of missing Gamma, tears of not knowing where Michael was, tears of being afraid for the lives of myself, the alkins, and the venators. And now, tears of caring for Austin’s friendship, even though I didn’t want to. Strangely, I felt close to him, and somehow being around him made me feel close to Gamma. Then I felt his soft, velvety wings wrap around us.

“
I’m sorry, Claudia. I’ll never text for you again,” he said sincerely. “I never meant to hurt you.”

I backed away, wiped my tears, and gave him a quick smile.
He can be real sweet, sometimes
, I thought. “I’m really exhausted. I’d like to get ready for bed.”

“
Okay,” he said, and his wings closed to disappear.

After I brushed, washed, and changed, I walked out of my bathroom. Austin was sitting on my desk chair, hands behind his head, and feet plopped on the desk. He looked like an ordinary good looking guy, nothing like an angel. He sure didn’t act like one, but what did I know? Maybe it was because they lived on Earth. Patty was right; he was a hottie, but hottie or not, Michael was the one I loved.

“
Cute pajamas,” Austin stared, cocking his eyebrows, breaking my thoughts.

I was wearing a long sleeved, pink cotton pajama set that I had gotten from Gamma last Christmas. Feeling embarrassed, I quickly got into bed. “Are you going to sit there all night?”

“
That’s the plan.”

“
You’re not going to watch me sleep are you?”

“
If I could, I would watch you sleep every night,” he said, so seriously that it made me blush.

Regretting my question, I reached over to my night stand, turned out the lights and slid further under my blanket.

“
Good night,” Austin said.

I lowered my blanket a bit to see what Austin was doing, then pulled out Michael’s T-shirt from under my pillow and hugged it like a teddy bear. “Good night,” I replied, knowing angels didn’t sleep.

The moon light seeped through the half closed blinds, and I could see stars glistening. It was so peaceful and quiet. Austin was holding a book, flipping through the pages. It was nice to have him here, only because I was in danger, but Michael occupied my mind. Where was he? What was he doing? Michael was my last thought, as he always was before I slept. My eyes felt heavy. Slowly, uncontrollable, they closed. Then I felt serene, and I felt my body levitating off the ground.

Chapter Fifteen

I was walking aimlessly down a path, and I found myself surrounded by many different kinds of flowers everywhere I looked, full, vibrant and colorful. The ones I recognized were roses, birds of paradise, daffodil, daisy, iris, and hydrangea. Being surrounded by these flowers gave me happy goose bumps and a sense of peace. I bent lower to touch the soft, delicate petals and to inhale the fragrances. Each of them was heaven sent. As I brushed the petals once more, within the petals appeared countless butterflies, and just like the flowers, they were unique and vibrant. As they continued to appear, I followed their spiral path and looked up to see the most perfect cloudless, blue sky. The butterflies took a sudden turn, fluttering away toward someone. I got all choked up and tears ran down my face when I recognized her.

“
Gamma,” I whispered. My heart burst with happiness. She gave me the biggest smile.

I ran to her and jumped into her arms. “Claudia, my sweet Claudia,” she said, embracing me tightly.

“
Gamma, Gamma, Gamma,” I repeated, unable to believe she was there. Her hair was still the purest white that I remembered it to be. She wore a long white dress and she smelled like the flowers surrounding us. Suddenly, I realized I was dreaming. “I’m dreaming, aren’t I?”

She pulled me back to face me. “You look beautiful. You’re wearing the pink pajamas I got for you,” she said, smiling proudly, ignoring my question. Then she held my hand and we both sat on a white bench that hadn’t been there before. I guess in dreams, you can make anything appear.

“
Yes. I’m giving you this dream,” she answered finally.

“
Why?”

“
I’m giving you this dream for one purpose only. You need to let your heart heal. You need to let me go. I can feel your pain, and it’s preventing you from reaching your full potential.”

“
I won’t ever let you go. I can’t,” I said, sounding like a stubborn child. “I miss you so much. Every day I think of you and knowing that I can’t call or visit you hurts too much.” My lips trembled as the words came out of my mouth, and tears escaped me.

She rested her hand over mine. “I know, and I’m asking something of you too soon, but you must. I’m your past. You must embrace the present and the future. The world depends on it. Aliah needs your soul so he can leave the Betweens. He wants to enter Crossroads and regain his power to the fullest strength. What you must understand is that he must not take it. He is more fearsome than Aden. Aliah will open up the deepest abyss and make a legion of demon spirits. These spirits will enter through weakened souls. Your world will be a disaster and apocalypse will begin. You and only you have the power to stop him, but you must believe. You must will it and want it.”

“
What power do I have? You keep telling me I have this great power, but I can’t do anything. It’s too much. I feel hopeless. I don’t want this.” I squealed in irritation. I quickly calmed down knowing this was not how I wanted my dream with Gamma to end. Then I remembered the incident in my bathroom, with my T-shirt. I felt some kind of strangeness, something unfamiliar running through my veins. “Something happened and it only happened once. Why?”

“
Your powers are not like mine or any other angels. Your father was one of the Royal Council. Only they have the power to destroy someone as powerful as Aliah. Since Aliah was one of God’s first angels, just like your father, you and only you can destroy him. Having the soul like a Royal Council and half human, your power will come forth when it is needed the most.

“
There needs to be a balance in everything in life, as I have tried to teach you before. If you had all the powers that an angel has, yours would be ten times its strength, so I hid your power, deep inside you. Powers emerge when one is at a mature age, but with you, you are different, special. Your powers could have emerged anytime. I had to make sure you could never show them. I knew there would be many fallen after you, if they even suspected who you were. I could not take that chance. Now you must release it. Only you can do that. Since I was the one to suppress your power, you must let go of me.”

“
No! I can’t. I won’t let you go,” I pouted and tears swelled up in my eyes.

“
Your pain doesn’t keep me alive. It will only harm you and make you weaker. You’ll still have memories of me. You will still remember our times together. What you must do is release your pain from your heart. It must be at peace.”