her would break the rules. “I’ve seen your pictures at your dad’s house. You’re better than this. Those clothes…that makeup? It isn’t the real you.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. You just met me.”
“I know you’re so much more beautiful without all that crap on.”
My comment took her aback. “You think I’m beautiful?”
“I know the real Etta is beautiful.”
“Root beer.” With a loud sigh, she sat in the sand next to me.
“What?”
“I was drinking root beer.”
“You mean?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“You didn’t give me that chance, did you?”
“No. I guess I didn’t. I’m sorry about that and for you getting hit. Let me take a look at your lip.” Tilting her chin toward the full moon light, I inspected the gash. Our eyes locked for a brief moment. Her milk chocolate eyes peered deep into my soul, igniting a spark within me. Taking off my over shirt, I wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, causing Etta to wince.
“I’m sorry. Did that hurt?”
“It’s okay. Doesn’t hurt as bad as trying to explain it to my dad will. That’s going to be fun.” Etta placed her hand over the shirt, grazing mine as I pulled away.
“You’re not going to tell him I….”
“Relax. We can’t tell him. We were supposed to be at the movies, remember?
“Dang it, what time is it?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“We have to get going. C’mon.” Etta stood, reaching her hand down to help me up. The feel of her skin against mine was heaven. Reverently, I prayed that tonight I had been enough Demon and Angel to help accomplish my goal of winning her love.
Chapter Seven
“Where are we going?” I asked as I followed her off the riverbank and onto the dim streets of Quantico Town.
“My house. I have to change and get you guys back to my dad’s before eleven-thirty.”
“Why eleven-thirty?”
“Mall closes at eleven. Figure it takes fifteen minutes to drive home. That puts you guys at my dad’s by eleven-thirty, or he’ll start blowing up my cell phone, wondering where we’re at.”
“Why didn’t you just tell him about the concert?”
“And listen to him and Rene preach about alcohol and personal safety? No thank you. I get enough preaching.”
“I was beginning to worry.” Gabriel greeted us at the house. Etta walked down the hall and disappeared behind one of the doors. Without a word to me, Amy followed her.
“Well?” an impatient Gabriel asked as I sat on the couch.
“Well what?”
“You know what.”
“She’s talking to me, but that won’t get us home.”
“It’s a step in the right direction.”
“What about you and Amy?”
My question brought a sudden redness to his cheeks. “She’s a great girl, but nothing will come of us.”
“And why not, Brother? I had Abihail and now Etta. Michael has Epinoia. Even Saraqael has been courting Liwet. Don’t you think it’s time you settled down?”
“I’m married to my sword, Brother.”
Before I could tease him about his choice of relationships, Amy returned to the living room and took the seat next to Gabriel. “Okay, so here’s how we’re gonna spin this. Instead of going to the movies, we went to the skate park inside the mall, where Mr. Top Ramen here collided with Etta, splitting her lip.”
“That won’t work. If I collided into her hard enough to do that, wouldn’t I have been hurt as well?”
“I don’t know. You could limp or something. We can’t tell him you started a fight at Tristan house or that Etta got slugged.”
“Are we ready?” Etta asked as she joined us on the couch. Thankfully, she returned to her usual fashion of blue jeans and a loose fitting sweater. She had washed away the war paint, revealing her natural beauty. My heart skipped multiple beats as she took the cushion next to me. So close, I could smell the kiwi and honey of her soap. With all my strength, I resisted the urge to nuzzle
Learning to Kill: Stories