Teachers are out in the halls greeting their favorites and warning the troublemakers. Nobody has picked which tables or benches are theirs, which restrooms are off limits to your social strata, almost every unspoken club has openings for the chosen few. Some of these will be decided by the end of the first day, the rest by the end of the first week, after all the official clubs have had their tryouts and picked their leadership.
Broken hopes and dreams won’t surface until next week, but everyone can enjoy this first hour filled with the promise of a good year to come.
I make my way to my homeroom. Mrs. Grey will be handing out our class schedule. I hope I don’t get her for IB English. I had her last year and for some reason she doesn’t like me. All the other teachers I had, do. I work hard in their classes and I love to learn.
I’m pretty, but I’m definitely part of the egghead club. Usually kids in my regular classes wait till I sit, then they sit around me so they can try to cheat off my paper. I think it’s funny. In a way, I’m happy people know I’m smart.
Mandy’s smart, but her mother has made it clear that looks are more important. I’m sure Farrah is thrilled that her daughter is entering the ranks of the cheerleading social club. I just wish she would be as happy when Mandy gets good grades. A lot of the cheerleaders are smart and pretty, and some are very nice to everyone. I know Mandy will be one of those.
Mrs. Grey has assigned us all seats on a chart at the front of the room. She has left the last seat in each row empty in case we get new transfers in the middle of the year. I’m in a middle row next to the last seat so the chair behind me is empty. The bell rings and she hands us our schedules. Thankfully, I get all the classes I wanted, with the teachers I like. The year is starting off pretty good.
As we switch to go to our first class, in my case drama, I notice a flash of bright light ahead of me turning to go into the band room.
Excitedly, I realize there is a good angel at our school. I stick my head in to see who it is. It’s a boy I don’t recognize. He looks Hispanic, tanned skin, dark hair. He catches my eye and smiles at me. I wave hi and smile back. The bell rings and I run for the auditorium. I know Mr. Shasta isn’t going to be happy I’m late. He certainly won’t believe I got lost since I live half my life in this class or the TV production classroom. After class, I have to run to get to IB microbiology at the other end of the school.
Next, I have IB chemistry right next door. Most of the kids in my science class were in it last year. We get along since we’re all eggheads except for one cheerleader, Dawn. Dawn is one of the nice ones. She talks to everybody.
After chemistry is lunch. I look for Carrie, Mandy, and the angel. I see Carrie at one table and the angel going through the food line. Carrie waves to me and I hold up two fingers asking her to save two seats. She nods yes. I go through the line grabbing a chicken Caesar salad and a coffee. I notice the angel looking around for a place to sit. I walk up to him and say, “Hi, I’m Megan, but I guess you already know that.”
He smiles at me and says, “Hi, you can call me—Johnny.”
“Would you like to sit with me and my friend Carrie or are you waiting for someone else?”
“No, I’m not meeting anyone else today. I’d love to sit with you and your friends,” Johnny answers. He follows me to where Carrie is sitting. I make introductions.
Carrie says, “So how do you two know each other?” I just look at Johnny. I don’t know what to say.
He pipes up, “I’m in band, next to the drama classroom,” Johnny says. He takes a bite out of his sandwich.
The answer seems to satisfy Carrie’s curiosity. I ask Carrie, “How are your classes?”
“Fine,” she says, “Only one teacher I don’t like. Mr. B. I’m going to try and transfer out of his class into an easier one.”
I turn to Johnny and say, “You must be new here this year. If you need help with anything just let me know,” I realize that must sound somewhat ridiculous to an angel since he can probably pretty much help himself.
“Thanks Megan and Carrie. It’s nice to know I have a couple of friends I can talk to,” we all keep stuffing our faces.
“So where did you transfer from? Out of state?” Carrie asks.
Johnny barely looks up from his food, “Yes.”
It’s obvious he doesn’t want to answer any more questions about his past.
Carrie takes the hint. Too bad. I was kind of interested in how he was going to answer.
I ask Carrie, “Have you seen Mandy or Alex?”
“They probably left campus to get burgers at McDonalds or something,” Carrie suggests.
“Yeah, you’re right,” I guess Mandy forgot she’d said she’d meet up with me at lunch. I’ll have to wait for her to text or call me later. I saw on a poster board when I came into the school that the cheerleading tryouts are later this week so Mandy might be tied up until then. It looks like we won’t be spending much time together this year after all.
Before lunch ends I tell Johnny, “If you need anything, I hang out in the auditorium or the TV production classroom. Also, here’s my cell number.” I write it down for him. “Here write down your cell,” I say.
He looks at me funny, “I don’t need one.”
“Oh, yeah,” I say. I’m still getting used to this whole angel thing. Besides, except for the glowing, he seems so normal. I know I can’t really talk to him in front of Carrie. Also, you never know who might be listening here in the lunchroom. The bell rings and we each head off to our next class. My next three classes are IB English, Algebra, and TV Production/ Social Studies. The rest of the day flies by with no surprises.
***
I see Mandy briefly as I’m switching to my last class. She has TV production the class before me. “Hi Mandy.”
“Oh Megan!” She meets me in the hall, both of us carrying new textbooks from previous classes. “I’m sorry I missed you at lunch. It’s kind of been a whirlwind. Alex has so many new people he wants me to meet. I’ll call you later.” She half skips and waltzes down the hall.
I try to not let it get to me. She is busy.
As I leave my last class, my cell vibrates. The window just says private so I have no idea who’s calling. I answer my cell. It’s Johnny. Later, when I take it off vibrate and he calls it rings to the tune of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” I guess he has a sense of humor since that’s not even a ring tone available from my carrier.
“Hi, meet me over by the auditorium front doors. We can wait for your dad there and talk. He’s running a half-hour late,” Johnny hangs up before I can even answer.
After class, I walk over to the benches and sit down next to him. Kids are still getting on the buses. The ones who drive are milling about planning what they’re going to do next. “Hi, Johnny. I’m glad you’re here even if I’m not the reason you are here.”
He looks at me and says, “you’re not.”
My face must of registered a hint of hurt because he quickly adds, “You are right. You’re not the reason I’ve been sent. I’m sorry I was so blunt. I’m not used to this human form yet. It’s been a long time for me—since I was called to serve on Earth. I’m used to warring—elsewhere. Many battles are about to happen and this is ground zero for one of them. I can use your help. No—I need your help.”
“What do you mean?” I’m beginning to lose that happy feeling that Johnny’s around. Maybe it would be better if he weren’t.
“I have experience on the front lines with this evil. I’ve followed it here. I don’t have much experience with humans. This evil I’ve managed to keep out of the earthly realm of what humans can see, for ages.” Johnny continues, “Then I lost track of him before you were even born. It’s taken me awhile to track him down. Let me explain better. It’s like a killer who’s been trapped by the police. Except he’s been trapped in a crowded place. Pretend he has a machine gun and he’s in a tower where the police can’t reach him for a little while. He knows he has lost. It is just a matter
of time before he is handcuffed. Not much time is left before they reach him and stop him. But the gunman is mad. He is going to unload that gun and shoot and kill as many people as he can before they get to him,” Johnny turns to look me in the eye. “That is what is about to happen here. I’ve trapped him. I can’t take him out yet. It is so hard to put spiritual things into this world, having to use words that can’t quite get the right, true meaning across. We angels exist outside time. Time is part of your creation. What is happening here is really happening outside ‘time’. Time is like an iceberg, you can only see what is above the surface, but there is so much more below. Megan, you can help by keeping people out of harms way. Steer them to what is right, if you can. Keep them out of his line of fire. The devil is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Keep them away from the lion, Megan.”
My dad pulls up front to pick me up, “Who’s that?” he nods towards Johnny.
“Oh, that’s Johnny. He’s new,” I say.
“Should Seth be worried?” My dad winks at me.
“Dad, no. Johnny has someone like I do. We’re just friends.”
“Where’s Mandy?” My dad is used to the two of us hanging together so he notices when she’s not with me.
“She’s driving now. And she has a boyfriend named Alex. He’s one of the most popular boys in school. She’s trying out for the cheerleading team. I probably won’t get to see her as much this year,” I say. I try not to sound too sad. I’m happy for her. I’m just blue that our interests are pulling us apart. The rest of the ride home I pull out my phone and text Seth about my day. I ask how his day went. We spend the hours before dinner talking the whole time. All in all, it was a good first day of school.
***
The next few days go fast as I get into a routine. Carrie, Johnny, and I continue to meet for lunch everyday. I get a role in a play and have after school rehearsals for that and our weekly TV production show.
At first, I keep looking around for the evil Johnny was talking about, but I can’t see where it’s coming from yet. I have no idea what I can do to protect others. I pray about it too, but nothing seems to be happening. That’s what makes what happened next so surprising.
***
The next week Mandy makes the cheering squad. I give her a big hug and congratulate her. A few days later, Mandy runs up to me in the hall on the way to math class and says, “Guess what?”
“What?”
“Remember that Goth that got arrested for shoplifting?”
I look at her dumbly for a minute. Not expecting that kind of a question.
“The one arrested right in front of us at the mall the week before school? Remember?”
“Oh yeah,” I say. Remembering the glimpse I had of the dark angel.
“He committed suicide last night!”
“No!” I say. My stomach sinks to my shoes.
“Yeah, he left a note and everything. He posted it online. He blames some guy named Judas for ruining his life. How wild is that?”
I knew about the dark angel. I had glimpsed him. I had even heard the Goth kid blame him, but I had done nothing. I should have tried to find out who the dark angel was. I could have talked to the Goth kid, tried to help him. Instead, I hadn’t even given him a second thought. I’m sure this is what Johnny was talking about. Keep them away from the lion.
I feel sick to my stomach. I’ve already failed. I’ll have to keep my eyes open so I don’t fail again.
***
Two days later, there is a memorial service for Jordan, the Goth kid. Johnny picks me up first, then Carrie. When I get in the car I can’t resist asking Johnny, “How long have you been driving?”
Johnny just looks at me. Johnny’s personality is so different from Zadok’s.
Zadok had a sense of humor and gave off warm fuzzies. I don’t know if Johnny is more serious or if being human is so alien to him he hasn’t had a chance to learn how to interact. I decide to keep up the repartee to amuse myself since it’s not in my nature to be serious all the time.
“Couldn’t you have asked God for a nicer car to drive?” I ask to tease him. It’s an older blue model. I don’t know enough about cars to even know what kind it is.
He answers, “Yes.” He waits a minute then explains, “I don’t think it’s important what kind of car I drive.”
“I know. I was just teasing you. You really haven’t picked up on the humor thing yet, have you? Knowing about sarcasm is kind of important if you’re going to be dealing with teens.”
He keeps his eyes on the road as he answers, “Not really. I can see the truth behind the words. The words themselves aren’t very important. Most teens lie to themselves about what they’re feeling. That I have noticed.”
We pull up at Carrie’s house and she gets in, “I’m not even sure I should be going. I didn’t know Jordan well or any of the Goths.”
I say, “We’re going to show our respect. He was a classmate.”
Of course, the other reason Johnny and I are going is to see if we can catch the dark angel before he does anymore damage.
***
When we get to the memorial service there must be around five hundred kids milling about. Some of the Goth girls are crying and hugging each other. I go up to them and tell them how sorry I am and just listen. “I told Jordan to stay away from Judas, but he was just so fascinated by him. I could tell Judas was bad, really bad, not just pretending, and he could do some really creepy things.”
I ask, “What kind of creepy things?”
She just stares at me then her face crumples, “Scary things, like hold his hand in a flame for a long time and not even get burned. Sometimes he would talk in more than one voice, like he was possessed. Judas could drink a whole bottle of whiskey and not even get drunk. And move fast, like on the dance floor. I mean the strobes were going, but still to move that fast—I don’t even want to think about it. I’m glad he’s not here today. Maybe the cops will arrest him. I’m sure he killed Jordan somehow.” She starts crying again.
Johnny and I look for this mysterious Judas. He’s not here today.
Johnny looks at me and says, “The battle has begun.”
I know one thing for sure. Evil is here in Clearwater, Florida.
CHAPTER 6 - THE BATTLE HAS BEGUN
Mandy and Alex have been dating now for almost a month. She’s been so busy with practice and him that we haven’t had a chance to hang out. This coming week starts football season so I’ll get to see even less of her. So when she calls and suggests we spend the day together, and asks if she can spend the night, I jump at the chance. When she comes over I say, “So tell me all about Alex.”
“I can’t wait to tell you! I know I’ve been all wrapped up in cheerleading and spending time with Alex. I’ve never been in love before. Now I know how you and Seth feel about each other.”
“So where is Alex this weekend?” I ask.
“Alex and his parents went to visit his grandparents. He’ll be back on Monday,” Mandy says.
I can tell she wants to say something so I just keep quiet.
“Megan, you and Seth have liked each other a long time, right?”
“Well, we only made it official at camp, that’s when he asked me to be his girlfriend and not date others. Why?”
“What do you guys do? I mean—do you let him touch you? How far would you guys go? You know what I mean.”
I show Mandy the ring Seth gave me. “I don’t know if you know what this means.”
“That’s the ring Seth gave you, it means he loves you. It’s a promise ring.”
“Well, yeah, but it’s more than that. It’s a purity ring. The most Seth and I will ever do before we get married is kiss and hug, or hold hands, that’s it. Seth took a vow last year that he would save himself for marriage as a sign of respect to his bride. I get dizzy when I kiss him and I want to do a lot more than kiss him. We have to stop ourselves from you know—it’s not easy.”
“Did you give him a ring?”
Mandy asks.
“My church doesn’t give rings or do a ceremony, but I feel the same way. The great thing is, Seth and I can have so much fun together and not worry about our future. I know it’ll be great when we finally do ‘do it’. We don’t have to rush. I look Mandy in the eye, “Is Alex asking you to have sex?” I ask.
Mandy blushes, “We’re waiting too. He wants to hold off until homecoming so it’s special. He’s asked me to get on the pill. He says he has needs. And if I love him, I will”
I’m not sure what to say. To me it sounds like a come-on line and not romantic at all.
“It sounds like he wants to use you,” I say.
Mandy’s eyes widen in shock. I guess she just wanted me to say okay or ooh and ah at how great it was that Alex wants her in that way.
“Alex loves me! I’m sure he wasn’t thinking through what he said.”
“I know how you can tell if he really loves you,” I say.
Mandy looks at me eagerly, “How?”
“Just say, ‘no sex’ till we’re married. If he’s willing to wait, then you’ll know he really loves you. Mandy–you’re worth waiting for. Don’t sell yourself short.”
“Look Megan, not everybody feels the way you do. My mom offered to take me to get on the pill and Alex’s dad gave him condoms. We’d be careful. We’re not stupid! Our parents are okay with it. Even the school gives out free condoms. They’re okay with it too. They’re not prudes. They think we’re fine. It’s natural,” Mandy says.
“Yeah, well, what if you get pregnant? Or an STD then what? What’s so wrong with saying no and waiting?” I ask. “If Alex really loves you, he’ll wait. If he’s so mature he should be able to control his urges. You’re not animals,” I say heatedly. I don’t know why I’m getting so upset. Mandy’s my best friend, I don’t want her to get hurt by this guy. “Remember, this is how Alex got his reputation last year. He had sex with that girl, let everybody know, then dropped her like a hot potato. Don’t let it happen to you.”
“Now you’re just getting mean! I told you what happened. That girl’s father split them apart, not Alex,” Mandy answers. Her face is getting red.