Part 16: Angel vs. Devil

                                    

                                          
"What the hell do you mean I make you feel things that you've never felt before?" I yelled. 
                          
I felt him shrug. 
                          
"You get on my nerves and annoy me more than anyone ever has," he said, tightening his arm around my legs. 
                          
I waved my arms around screaming, "Does anyone see this ass manhandling me? Someone help me!" 
                          
Ryker growled deep in his throat at anyone who tried to get close enough to help me. They shied away, staring at the ground after shooting me an apologetic look. I rolled my eyes. I mean, I guess Ryker did look a little menacing sometimes, but really? Couldn't someone help me?
                          
"Put her down," a brave soul said firmly. I twisted around on Ryker's shoulder to see the defiant eyes of Finn standing with his arms crossed over his chest. His muscles tightened underneath his long sleeved shirt a shade darker than his eyes.
                          
Ryker stopped walking and stared at him for a moment. Without a word, he continued down the hallway, "accidentally" bumping into Finn as he walked past. Finn uncrossed his arms and was about to follow after Ryker when I shook my head. I wasn't going to let Finn risk getting beaten up for my sake. He frowned and I waved my hand, motioning that I was okay. I so wasn't. 
                          
Ryker walked out the school doors as other students also flowed into the parking lot to go home. He carried me all the way to his motorcycle where he plopped me down on it. A cellphone landed in my lap and I picked it up, raising my eyebrows at Ryker. His blue eyes threw daggers at me as he flicked his head at the phone. I looked down at the screen. 
                          
The picture I had drawn on Ms. Carson's board stared back at me. Dean Atwood had posted it on the internet. I swiped my finger across the screen to see the same image posted under someone else's name. I repeated the action again and again. My drawing was all over Twitter with the caption, "Angel vs. Devil. Will the devil seek revenge? Comment who you think will win!" There were already hundreds of comments from students who went to my school. 
                          
"Win? Pfft obviously me. Nothing can beat my artistic skills," I said.
                          
Ryker snatched the phone out of my hand, "I'm not the devil. And you certainly are no angel-"
                          
"But you always call-"
                          
"You gave me the image of being a devil, and I may not completely disagree with you on it, but now the whole school will regard me as such. Don't be surprised when your face is all over Twitter. I don't lose, Angel."
                          
His tongue glided over his lip piercing and he smirked knowing that I believed every word he had just said. He would get back at me. Not only that, but he would get me back good. 
                          
I jumped off the motorcycle as he took my spot. 
                          
"Game on," I said, saluting him with my favorite finger. I spun around and walked over to my car. I heard the engine of his bike rumble as he sped out of the parking lot.
                          
Xander's car was parked next to mine. I needed to talk to him about what had just happened ASAP. 
                          
I leaned against his car, looking at the front doors to see when he would come out of the school. I started to get very impatient when he didn't come out with the rest of the students. He was usually one of the first people out. 
                          
"Oh, Xander," I heard someone moan.
                          
I pressed my face against his tinted windows and almost barfed. Riley and Xander were making out in the back seat of his car. Her shirt was halfway up her skinny frame and Xander's fingers were tangled in her auburn hair. Any normal person would walk away and leave them be.
                          
As you know, I'm far from normal.
                          
So, I banged on the window. They both stopped being nasty to look up at me. Riley yanked her shirt back down and practically leaped off of Xander's lap onto the seat beside him. She blushed. On the other hand, we had Xander. If looks could kill, I'd be dead. 
                          
The window slowly rolled down. Xander stuck his head out and grabbed my wrist to stop it from hitting the car again.
                          
"Eve..." He warned, giving me a stern look. Jeez, who soured his mood? Oh right, me.
                          
"Sorry to interrupt, but my downfall is being plotted this very moment," I said dramatically.
                          
Xander let go of my wrist and sighed, "Who?"
                          
"Who do you think?" I snapped.
                          
The window rolled back up and I could no longer see Xander. Argh, I shouldn't have gotten angry at him. I didn't mean to. Ryker was the one who had put me in a bad mood. 
                          
"Eve?" Someone called out. 
                          
I turned away from Xander's car and squinted. Sandy hair and freckles waved at me from across the parking lot. I met Finn halfway.
                          
"Finn," I whined when I had reached him, "Have you seen my drawing?"
                          
He nodded, "Yeah, it's all over Twitter. And great artwork, by the way."
                          
"Nooo. Ugh. Ryker saw it and he's trying to strike back. I don't know how or when. Xander won't help me because I interrupted him with Riley," I grasped his forearms desperately, "You're my only hope."
                          
Finn chuckled and held both of my hands in his.
                          
"Don't worry, I won't let him anywhere near you."
                          
Then right in front of everyone who was still at school, he leaned down and kissed me. I just about melted right there. He pulled back and rested his forehead on mine. I smiled up at him. He cheered me up in one second. He walked me over to my car, holding on to my hand, and gave me one last kiss before he headed off to his own car. I had a stupid grin on my face the entire drive home.
                          
~*~*~*~
                          
My mom left a note in the kitchen that she would be working all night. She might not be home before I left for school in the morning. I crumpled the note. We had started talking to each other again, but I refused to talk about Christopher no matter how many times she tried. I wasn't ready. I wasn't sure I ever would be ready.
                          
I heated up leftovers from the fridge for dinner and ate alone. I stared at my father's empty seat. When I couldn't take it any longer, I went upstairs to my bedroom. I changed into my pajamas that happened to be the only clean ones in my closet. I threw on the short-short bunny shorts and blue tank top. Then I tied my hair in a messy bun at the top of my head. A nice breeze blew in through my open window, making me feel refreshed and energized. 
                          
For some reason, I had so much energy after everything that happened today, that I just had to let it out. No one was home so I would be free to do whatever I wanted. Which is why I went on YouTube and blasted the music.
                          
Two-Strings' rock music blared to life. I spun out of my computer chair and started dancing. I tossed my head back and forth, flailed my arms everywhere, jumped up and down, and sang along to the music. I must listen to it more than I thought because I was surprised when I actually knew the words. 
                          
Slow clapping made me stop. I paused the music and looked around my room. 
                          
"I would tell you that your performance was good, but I don't like to lie. That was the worst thing I have seen in my life. My ears were bleeding from what you call singing. That was such a disgrace to Two-Strings' music."
                          
My face turned bright red as Ryker freaking Avery climbed through my window from the tree branch he had been perched on. His phone was raised, focusing directly on me. The jerk had been recording me this whole home. 
                          
"Cute pajamas. Are you two?" He said with a smirk.
                          
"You-" I launched myself at him. He swiftly lifted the phone out of my reach. I jumped as high as I could. I couldn't get it. 
                          
Ryker snapped his case closed and pocketed his phone. His damn tongue snuck out of his mouth to run over the lip piercing. I wanted to yank it off.
                          
"I told you I don't lose. Game over," the cocky asshole said.
                          
*~*~*~*~
                          
Hey! Please be sure to check out my new story, "Stolen First Times" and leave a vote and comment. It has a similar aspect to this story, so if you enjoy this one, you'll like that one as well! Thanks!! :)