Angels of Moirai (Book One) (20 page)

I watched on as all the boys started ripping their shirts off, buttons flying everywhere. I caught eye contact with James and I raised one eyebrow, wondering if he was going to do the same.

The corner of his mouth turned up into a cheeky smile as he shrugged his shoulders, then proceeded to rip the buttons off his shirt as well.

With his chest bare, I smiled in amusement. He was so perfectly built it wasn’t surprising to find that I wasn’t the only one looking at his sculptured abs. His performance had caught the attention of many of the other girls, and I shook my head laughing.

Some of the other girls began ripping their shirts as well, although a much harder task for some without the strength. I held the top of my blouse, looking at James. I began to open it slowly, teasing that I would follow suit, ripping my top off.

I wasn’t being as daring as the others. After all, I had swimmers on underneath, but it definitely wasn’t something I’d normally do.

James’s face turned serious and he shook his head. The other boy’s attention had turned on the girls now, including myself.

Just as I began to tease a little bit more, I was splashed in the face with water. I opened my eyes in shock, and then saw out of nowhere water come up and hit my face again. This time, I looked at James and saw a huge grin on his face with his hand held over the water. He’d used his power of manipulation of the elements on me.

“You,” I mouthed.

He shrugged one shoulder and just as he did it again, I dodged it, the water spraying Maddison behind me.

Her eyes widened, and instead of going off at me in anger, as I expected, she smiled wickedly at me and splashed me.

“Oh, it’s on!” I said flinging water back at her, and before long, everyone was in a huge water fight with each other. For once, everyone was getting along with everyone. Graduations really did bring people together.

***

Jackie and I eventually made our way to get some lunch after our swim and headed back to my place. We sat around the pool talking for a few hours before night fell, then we went upstairs to have showers and get ready for the bonfire party tonight back on the lake where we’d just been. A few of the seniors had already organised everything and were setting up when we left the lake.

“What are you taking tonight to throw in the fire?” Jackie asked as she straightened out her hair.

Each year seniors graduated, they would throw in the fire something that they no longer wanted. It symbolised saying goodbye to it and never thinking of it again.

“My math textbook.”

“What? Didn’t you return that?”

“Nope,” I said, shaking my head. “I was going to, but then remembered the bonfire and thought that would be a much better place for it.”

Jackie laughed, “You really do hate math.”

“I sure do. What are you putting in?”

“My school ID.”

I shook my head in confusion. “Why?”

“Because it was taken earlier this year when I still had braces, and every time I look at it, all I remember is pain.”

“Fair enough,” I said laughing.

We both dressed in shorts and t-shirts, knowing there was a good chance we’d all end up back in the lake anyway. That didn’t stop us, Jackie straightening her hair, and curling my hair, go figure.

We took a cab to the party, knowing we were going to have a couple of drinks and not wanting to drive afterwards. Although I wasn’t a huge drinker, I was going to have a couple of celebratory drinks.

I was nervous when we arrived. The little interactions with James made me want to see him even more, and I wasn’t even sure if he was coming to the party or not.

There were already heaps of people there when we arrived. We both scanned the area. There were lots of tree hanging lights, and lights around. There was a drinks area and over on the sandy shore to the lake, was the bonfire. We both headed towards the bonfire, already noticing that people had begun throwing their belongings into it. There were pieces of our uniform, school shoes, books, notes, etc.

“Ready?”

Jackie nodded, and we both threw our things we no longer wanted to keep into the bonfire.

“Let’s never speak of them again,” Jackie said jokingly.

“Deal.”

Jackie spotted Jacob and gave him a big kiss and hug.

I smiled at them, “Crashing the party, Jacob?”

“It wouldn’t be a party without me,” he replied winking.

Jackie laughed and kissed his cheek. “That’s for sure.”

“You guys want a drink?” I said, giving myself a reason to let them have some time together.

“Sure,” they both replied and giggled at their unison.

I nodded, “I’ll be right back.”

I made my way to the drinks and started pouring out some beer, not my choice in drink, but apparently, the only choice I had. As I tried to fill up the third cup, the hose stopped working.

“Here, let me try,” Dale said cutting in and giving the hose a tap. Beer began to pour again and he filled up the remainder of my cup and handed it back to me.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied.

I nodded my head slowly; not knowing what else to say.

“Well”

Dale interjected, “Is Hayley here yet?”

“No… What’s the deal with you two anyway? Are you together?”

“No… I mean… Maybe… Um,” he stuttered. Clearing his voice he continued, “Not right now, but maybe, soon.”

I sighed. “Look, Dale, I’m the best thing Hayley has to a parent, so I’m going to come right out and say it. If you and Hayley really want to be together then okay, but if anything, and I mean anything, happens to her and you upset her in any way, I swear I will…”

Dales put his hands up in surrender. “I get it, Lila.”

“Good.”

“She’s different, you know. There’s something about her…”

“I know,” I replied sincerely. There was no one like Hayley. She was so beautiful and unique in her own way.

“Okay, cool,” Dale said. “I’ll see you around then.”

“Yeah.”

Dale ran away,
okay, he didn’t run away
, he walked briskly away, and I was somewhat pleased with myself that I may have made him think twice before playing Hayley like all the other girls he’d played.

When I went to pick up the other beers, the leaves at my feet began to move in circles. I watched carefully as they moved around my feet and then away from me. There wasn’t any wind though. The only breeze was on the leaves.

I placed the cup I was holding down on the table and began to follow the leaves as they moved further and further away, until they reached the edge of the forest. Had I not seen the brief glimpse of a large black angel wing move behind trees, there would have been no way I would have gone into that forest alone.

I took the path the leaves led, watching my step as the forest got darker and darker. Then suddenly, the leaves just stopped. I looked up. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of James, and his wings spread out in full view.

I turned quickly behind me in fear someone would see him, but I had ventured further into the woods than I thought, and I could only just see the fire in the far distance.

“Using your powers on me again, I see.”

James smirked, “Never.”

He took two strides towards me and within a second, he had me pinned against a tree.

“I’ve missed you,” he said deeply.

I closed my eyes as his lips brushed against mine, but ever so lightly, a tease that made me want to beg for more.

I hadn’t even noticed at the time, the pressure of the tree against my back as we pressed our bodies against each other.

His hand traced the curves of my waist; my body screaming for more. My heart was in overdrive as my legs became like jelly, but our trance was broken when my phone rang in my pocket. Even though I let it ring out, James took a step back from me. It was distance I didn’t want or need.

“You better go back to your party. Jackie’s looking for you.”

My shoulders slumped. “I only want to be with you right now. I only want to be with you tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that.”

He smiled, and taking a step forward in reaching distance, he kissed my forehead. “I know.”

I walked back to the party as if nothing happened,
yeah right!
I nearly laughed aloud when I realised I was practically sulking when I met Jackie and Jacob back at the bonfire.

“Hey you,” Jackie said as I approached.

I quickly turned my frown upside down, sulking like a kid I was, and met Jackie with a smile.

Jackie frowned, “Where’s the drinks? I mean, I don’t care, but I thought that’s where you went.”

“Uh…” I replied dumbfounded, “Yeah, I um, got side-tracked talking to some of the random people here.”

She nodded her head slowly. Jackie could see past my lies any day of the week, I swear.

“It’s so weird, though. There are heaps of juniors from other schools here.”

“Yeah, I noticed that,” Jackie said a little bit more relaxed. “Guess we are just super cool, they want to party with us.”

“That’s totally it,” I laughed.

Jacob spoke up, “You both realise I’m standing right here don’t you?”

Jackie and I looked at each other and burst into laughter.

“Sorry, babe,” Jackie said to Jacob, touching his arm in sympathy. “You’re not like the rest. You’re cool like us, you can stay.”

He laughed at her and pulled her under his arm. “What would I do without you?”

“Sit at home all day and play X-Box?”

Jacob rolled his eyes at Jackie and I smiled. Not just because how silly in love they were, but because it was nice to feel at ease, and to feel happy.

We stayed around the bonfire talking together and mingling with the other seniors. Jacob insisted on getting the drinks this time, joking that I might not return for hours if it was left up to me.

There was nothing better than the natural high we were on; the pure joy of finishing school and knowing that it was a chapter in our lives behind us, and we now had the rest of our lives to make it whatever we wanted.

Jackie talked about going off the University and visiting Jacob on the weekends. I tried not to delve too much into what I was going to be doing. I knew I wanted to go to Uni now, but what about James? I had no idea what my future was going to be. I wanted there to be a way we could be together. I wanted to follow him wherever he went, but I knew deep down that wasn’t a possibility.

Maybe the demons would lose interest in us? Maybe the creator would accept our relationship.

Then what?
The other voice in my head said.
You’ll ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.

Maybe?

No, doubtful.
The world was against us, heck, the bloody universe was against us.

In the end, it didn’t matter. I would fight for us. James would fight for us. Somehow, we had to find a way. I wasn’t ever going to give up on us or lose hope. I really do believe that some people were meant to be, and I don’t care what The Creator or the Moirai think, our relationship is meant to happen.

“You’re frowning, what’s up?” Jackie questioned.

I pulled my trance from the bonfire and looked at her. Jackie was alone next to me. Jacob was deep into conversation with someone he must have known, judging by his body language.

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

“I haven’t seen him,” Jackie said softly, “James.”

I shook my head. “Neither have I.”

“You miss him don’t you?”

I nodded my head.

“You never know,” she said brightly. “Things always have a way of working out. If it’s meant to be, it will be.”

I secretly chuckled inside.
If only she knew.

Noticing our drinks were low, I offered to go get some more.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, I can handle it.”

“Sure… See you in an hour’s time then, hey?” she joked.

“So much confidence in me!”

I smiled and started to walk away when Jackie called out, “Hey, Lila.”

I turned back to her. “Yeah?”

“I was going to say this earlier, but you’ve changed in the past few weeks,” she said watching me closely. “Not a bad change or anything. Just more confident about yourself.”

It was true. Although I had always thought of myself as a strong person, there were still things that rattled me, but I guess everyone has their own weaknesses that they could improve on.

Being with James had brought a confidence within in me, not just the body confidence I had now found, but in myself. I felt like I knew who I was around him. I was less concerned about what people thought and more what I wanted, and who I wanted to be. It was rather awesome, actually.

“Thanks,” I replied, “I feel good.”