Angel in the Shadows, Book 1 by Lisa Grace (Angel Series) (9 page)

“Oh Seth, I love it! I love you,” I think of
what I can give him. The only thing I’m wearing is a gold necklace
with my initial on it that my parents gave me for my birthday.
“Here, hold my hair,” I reach up and unclasp it. “This is my heart,
to you. I promise to wait for you.” I fold it into his hands, “I
trust you with my heart.” We spend the rest of our time together
watching shooting stars and satellites cross the sky.

***

The next morning, I rush to the dining room
eager to see Seth again in the daylight. We hug again and take our
breakfast down to the fishing dock. Today everyone is leaving
within the hour. “Do you feel better now, knowing I’m serious?”

“Yes,” I smile.

“Good. Then we can both concentrate on getting
good grades so we can get into the same college together. And we
can see each other on school breaks. There is a ski trip during
Christmas break we can go on.”

“My, now that we have all the romance stuff out
of the way, you sound so practical,” I tease.

“Well, one of us has to be,” He says mocking me.
“I’ll call you as soon as I get home about the Busch Gardens
trip.”

“Are you sure your parents will be okay with
that?”

“Sure, they trust my judgment and they want to
meet you. They like your sense of humor from your texts.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot they read those things.”

“Well they want to meet my mystery woman.”

“I might need a drum roll for the big unveiling
or should I just stick to the red carpet and the ball gown?” I
joke.

“See they‘re going to love you,” Seth
smiles.

“Did I forget to mention my dad owns a rifle and
he might want to have you write an essay on why you are worthy to
date his daughter?”

“Hmm, maybe we can work out some kind of
deal.”

A fish jumps out on the lake. We sit silently
holding hands enjoying our last few minutes together.

The buses start pulling up to the main lodge
signaling it’s time to load up.

Seth and I hug a quick goodbye and he heads off
to make sure his kids have emptied their cabin. I run up to grab my
bag and check on my Venus girls one last time. We say goodbye to
the Timmons and all the kids we’ve made friends with over the last
eight days. I wave goodbye to Paige. I stash my duffle and help
Carrie load up the bays under the bus, then we get all the kids
back on.

Mr. Steve does a head count.

I hear someone yell my name and step out the
door.

It’s Seth and he is kissing my necklace that
he’s wearing around his neck. I kiss his ring and we wave
goodbye.

The drive back passes quickly. Carrie is all
excited to tell me about the fun she and Robby had. Nikki tells me
about the two or three boys she fell in love with during camp. She
can’t decide which one she likes better.

As we hit the main highway, I notice a few of
the cars seem to have a dark presence riding along with them and
once, going in the other direction, I see a car with a bright light
as a passenger and I smile.

My life has changed. For good or bad, I’m not
the same Megan I was eight days ago. I’m going home, but with what
I can see now, I don’t know how familiar home is going to be. I
wonder if Mom and Dad are going to notice a change in me, and what
about my little brother, Max? I wonder if I should tell anyone; and
if I don’t, how long am I going to be able to keep this a
secret?

My best friend at home is Mandy. I’ve never kept
a secret from her before. She knows all about Seth. How can I not
talk to her about seeing angels? She would believe me; but would it
put her in danger? Would it put her soul in danger? Am I just being
weak and selfish wanting to share this with her? I have so much to
think and pray about. I hope God is listening. Even more than that,
I hope He feels like answering.

CHAPTER 4 - BACK HOME

Mom and Max, my little brother, come to pick me
up. Mom asks, “Did you have fun?” Why do Moms always ask the
obvious questions?

“Of course,” I say. I give her a hug.

“Was that boy you like, Seth, there?”

“Yes, Mom,” Max starts making kissy noises so I
smack him and say, “Cut it out, grow up.”

Mom says, “Don’t hit your little brother.” She
pops the trunk for me to put my duffle bag in. So far, everything
feels normal. I say goodbye to Carrie and give hugs to some of the
kids before we head out of the parking lot to go home.

“Did you bring my cell phone?” I ask.

“No.”

“Aw. I wanted to call Mandy and see what she’s
up to.”

“You’ll just have to wait until you get home,
all of ten minutes.”

“No Mom, we gotta stop for milk,” Max says.

Mom talks without taking her eyes off the road,
“So tell me about camp.”

I try to think of something she might find
interesting that doesn’t involve my relationship with Seth or
Zadok.

“Oh yeah. Seth, Jackson, and I got to save this
girl from drowning. She went under and we towed her back
unconscious and Zad… I mean Mr. Z. and I had to give her CPR and
she’s okay now.”

“No way,” Max says, “You’re making it up.”

“No, I’m not,” I say. “I did the chest
compressions.”

Mom replies while driving, “I’m sure your
sister’s exaggerating a little bit.”

“No I’m not. Ask Mr. Steve.”

Why do parents always think kids aren’t telling
the truth? My feelings are hurt that my own Mom doesn’t believe me.
They wonder why we don’t come to them more often. This is exactly
why I can’t tell her about Seth. She’ll just think it’s some kind
of puppy love thing and try to diminish the way I feel. I for sure
can’t tell her I see angels. She’d have me in counseling tomorrow
and ground me for telling a lie.

Sometimes I hate being fifteen; it’s such an
in-between phase. Old enough to learn how to drive, but not old
enough to drive by yourself. Old enough to like boys, but not quite
old enough to go on a date. Old enough to do all the testing for
college, but not old enough to go. Old enough to have a period and
get pregnant, but not old enough to have a serious relationship. I
want to tell her about the Busch Garden’s trip, but I think I’ll
wait until Seth calls. Maybe if Mom speaks to his mom, she’ll let
me go. I try to think of something that will freak her out that
doesn’t include my seeing angels or demons.

“I put a snake in Robby’s cot. He’s a counselor,
too. He screamed like a girl. It was so funny,” Max starts laughing
and making girly screeching noises.

Mom says, “Now why would you do that? That
wasn’t very nice. I hope they made you apologize to him.”

I just shake my head. She just doesn’t get it. I
hope when I’m a mom I remember what it’s like to be my age. As soon
as I get home I text Mandy. We plan a call for after eight so we
can talk without her mom listening in. I can tell her everything
about Seth and me, and she can catch me up on what’s happened to
her while I was gone. During our phone call we make plans to go to
the mall tomorrow. We both need clothes for school and our moms
give us a budget to do some shopping on our own. They’re both busy
with work and don’t really have the time to take us anyway. The
rule at my house is I have to show my mom the receipts for the
things I buy. She can take back anything that doesn’t meet with her
approval.

Mandy says, “Wait till you see how I look.
You’re not going to believe it!”

I know she was getting her braces off so I say,
“I bet you look beautiful. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

***

At Mandy’s house the next day, I knock. I have a
smile on my face and I’m prepared to say how terrific she looks.
When the door opens my jaw just about hits the floor. “Mandy, you
are drop-dead gorgeous! What have you done?” Mandy gushes, “I know,
can you believe it?”

Mandy has her braces off all right, but it’s
more than that.

“My mom promised if I lost five pounds she
would get my teeth whitened and take me to her hairdresser,” Mandy
says proudly, “
and
she bought
me these new push up bras that make you a size bigger.”

Mandy has always been pretty. But Mandy’s mom is
really into the bar scene and looks have always been the main thing
in her life. Pretty just isn’t good enough in her book.

“I’ve had my hair lightened with highlights, a
new cut, my teeth whitened, lost the weight, and a new spray
tan!”

“You do look gorgeous Mandy, but you’ve always
been pretty,” I say.

“Not like this,” She smiles.

“You go girl! You enjoy it,” I say. I’m happy to
see her so happy. “Now let’s go shop.”

We get in the car. Mandy is a year older than me
so she can drive. She was held back a year when she was younger,
which is why we’re in the same grade. Mandy is still gushing, “I
feel like an ugly duckling who became a swan. I just know this is
going to be my best year ever. I can’t wait for school to start so
everyone can see me.”

“Mandy, you’ve always been pretty. You know
there’s more to life than how you look.”

“Well, all I know is I’ve had braces for
the last two years and no boy has been interested.
You
can say things like that because
you have a boyfriend and you didn‘t have to wear braces. Now it’s
my turn to be the attractive one and have some fun.”

Her remark stings a little bit, but she’s right.
I haven’t had braces and I do have a boyfriend. It will be fun to
see people’s reaction to how fabulous she looks.

“Well now that you’re going to be ‘Miss
Popular’, don’t forget I’ve been your friend in good times and
bad.”

She looks at me and smiles, “Of course not!
We’re M&Ms. Mandy and Megan, the M&Ms.”

“That’s right, M&Ms,” I say.

We pull into the mall parking lot and grab a
spot right in the middle. Even as we walk in, I see heads swiveling
to look at Mandy. She’s walking with her head held high and has a
natural sway to her hips when she walks. Mandy inherited that from
her mother. I hope she hasn’t inherited her mother’s alcoholism. If
she never takes that first drink, it won’t matter. We go into all
our favorite stores and try on all the new looks. Everything looks
great on Mandy. We are having so much fun.

We stop at the food court for lunch. Mandy has a
salad while I have Chinese and of course, a cup of Starbucks
coffee.

Mandy says without me even asking, “If I keep
the weight off, Mom will keep paying for my tan and my hair.”

I have no idea on how to answer that. My parents
have never tried to bribe me in that way. I know Mandy’s always
kind of felt her Mother’s love is conditional on her being the kind
of daughter Farrah wants her to be. We always have to call her
Farrah. Mandy’s never been allowed to call her “Mom”. Farrah
doesn’t want her boyfriends to know that she has a sixteen-year-old
daughter and sometimes she even calls Mandy her sister. Farrah had
Mandy when she was sixteen so she’s thirty-two, but she tells
everyone she’s only twenty-seven. It’s kind of pathetic. Oh well,
you can’t pick your parents.

After lunch, we head over to AE one of our
favorite stores. As we’re looking thru the racks Mandy practically
squeals, “Look who’s coming in!”

It’s Alex and his friends, Roger and Jason. Alex
is a senior this year and Mandy had a crush on him our whole
freshman year. Alex is on the varsity football team. He’s very tall
and handsome. He also has a reputation of being a “player.” Alex is
the kind of guy who only goes out with a girl he can sleep with.
Last year, one of the cheerleaders went out with him. According to
one rumor, he dropped her when she got too clingy. She was so
ashamed she ended up transferring out of our school to go somewhere
else. Or if you believe the other rumor, she was pregnant. As the
guys come in the store, I see Jason nudge Alex and point to
Mandy.

Mandy is busy pretending not to notice them.
They casually walk up to us.

Roger who was in my drama class last year,
speaks up, “Hi Megan, what’s up? Who’s your friend?”

“You know Mandy,” I say.

“Oh yeah. Mandy. Hi Mandy,” Roger motions to
Jason and Alex. “If you guys want to come, we’re gonna build a
bonfire out on the causeway tonight, it’ll be fun. A lot of kids
from school will be there.”

Alex looks right at Mandy and says, “If you need
a ride I could swing by and pick you up.”

Mandy smiles at him and says, “Maybe Megan and I
will meet you there.”

“Can I get your number?” Alex says.

“I don’t know—can you?” Mandy says, flirting as
she walks out of the store.

I say, “Bye guys,” But they’re not listening.
They’re too busy watching Mandy walk out. I follow her, hoping
they’re not watching me. I catch up to Mandy around the corner and
she bursts out laughing.

“Can you believe them?” Mandy says.

“Watch out for Alex. He’s definitely got his eye
on you.”

“This is so cool! Last year, I would have
done
anything
to go out with
him, and now he’s flirting with me!”

“You’re not seriously considering going out with
him are you? You know what he expects from his girlfriends,” I
say.

“Yeah, I know. But it’ll be fun to tease him if
he’s that attracted to me. It can’t hurt to flirt with him. Do you
want to meet them up at the causeway tonight? I’ll drive.” Mandy’s
eyes are sparkling with excitement.

“My curfew is ten o’clock. I might be able to
push it to ten-thirty since it’s still summer.”

“That would be so great!”

We start heading out to the main mall exit.

As we pass one of the stores there’s commotion
with yelling, “Stop!” A security guard tackles a teenage Goth right
in front of us. “Let me go man. I didn’t do nothing!”

“Yeah, then what’s this?” The guard pulls a
heavy gold chain out of the thief’s pocket.