7 Another Day Begins..

The next morning I got up a little early for personal grooming. Miguel had breakfast ready for me and because of that, he felt the need to complain about how little ingredients I had. I guess I'll go buy groceries after school.

"Did you study to make up for skipping class?" He inquired.

"No," I answered, with my head down.

"What? Why not?" I didn't answer. "You don't learn as well from instruction as you would reading it yourself... so I wish you'd be more serious about this." I laughed.

"It's nice that someone is worried about my grades," Miguel smirked.

"Most of them are fine... but you're pretty absent-minded...and someone needs to look after you." I smiled but stayed quiet to not attract too much attention to myself.

"Hey, Lemon... can we talk?" It was Jack, waiting for me at the front gate. I was at a loss for words but the temperature that was 96 degrees Fahrenheit seconds ago was rapidly falling to 60 and Miguel's face which was so sweet moments ago now looked furious.

"I'd rather not," I said as I started making my way around him. He reached for my hand and held it gently for a moment before I snatched it away and headed inside.

"Who was that?" Miguel asked, staring at the door behind us, as I pressed my face against the wall.

"My ex..." I whispered.

"I... don't understand..." Miguel mumbled.

"We broke up... 3 years ago," I explained quietly.

"Yeah, so why does he think he has the right to touch you?!" My eyes widened in shock and I turned to Miguel. He was floating just above the other students entering the building, with a cold expression. Our eyes slowly met and he smiled at me. "You should hurry, so Mr. Aberman won't lock you out." His words returned me to reality and I rushed ahead to Geology. Miguel was stretched out on the floor next to me. There is an exam today so he didn't speak... I wish he would because the test was annoyingly difficult. Miguel put his arms over my shoulders, hunched over, and walked with his head lying on the back of mine after class.

"I'm bored. " He complained.

"Then leave," I stated without hesitation, through chattering teeth. He laughed as he replied,

"Wow, you're so cold." I wonder if he knows how little I mean what I said... or how uneasy all this close contact is making me.

"I am actually getting very cold," I whispered. He moved from me and I could feel the boiling heat inside my chest cooling down.

"I'm sorry." He didn't sound as if he meant it, but we were both saying things we didn't mean so I let it go. "So how do you feel about your ex?" I coughed because of the suddenness of his question.

"Why do you ask?" I stated, putting my Bluetooth earbuds in, to look less conspicuous.

"Why are you avoiding the question?" He retorted, moving in front of me and causing me to pause in my steps to History class.

"I'm not." I thought for a while about how to answer his question. "Um... I just don't know..."

"Do you hate him?" Miguel's eyes pierced through me. "Or do you perhaps still love him?"

"N-neither..." I answered nervously.

"Explain," Miguel demanded. "You're skipping history today; I'll help you study later." I gasped then began to protest but couldn't form the words as Miguel dragged me into the library and then into a vacant study room. He locked the door behind us.

"I don't think this talk will last a full hour," I stated while fidgeting.

"If we have time left we'll talk about other things." He replied, and then he casually sat on the table. "So... tell me."

"W-well... when he cheated on me... I thought I hated him... but then I met you. I had a reality check and realized I have no right to hate anyone, no one does. I still don't like him and don't want to be near him but I can't fully hate him..." Miguel seemed unsatisfied with my answer.

"If he wanted to get back together, what would you do?" He inquired.

"That's already happened. I turned him down." Miguel's face darkened, to that same furious expression from earlier.

"When? Why didn't you tell me?" I was beginning to feel a little frightened.

"It slipped my mind, I'm sorry," I replied. Miguel scoffed but I felt my answer was true. I had taken Jack's proposal so lightly that it wasn't in my thoughts at all. With how angry Miguel seemed though, I'm now scared to speak.

"Why did it slip your mind?" I opened my mouth to say it was because it didn't matter to me, but when he asked, I realized that wasn't the whole truth.

"There were many things that were more important at the time, so I forgot," I explained. Miguel sighed heavily and I kept my distance, to avoid aggravating him. Then he opened his arms and looked at me.

"Come here, so we can talk about something else." My heart trembled at his gesture. I know I'm a little airheaded but even I knew he wanted a hug. Very cautiously I shuffled towards him and he pulled me into his lap and held me. My body was filled with confusing temperatures, cold from him and burning hot from my rapid heartbeat.

"How... did you and the girl I'm looking for, first meet?" I asked. It hurt to ask this question.

"She...never really noticed me. All my life I've been noticed because of either my looks or status but she ignored me stubbornly. That forced me to notice her... how committed she was; how honest she was... and how beautiful she was... but there were complications so I never confessed to her. One day something happened, which made me worry about her safety so I warned her about it... she yelled at me and called me a liar...that's the only time we spoke." My heart ached as Miguel told me this, I cuddled closer to him, hoping he didn't catch on, but at the same time, I wanted to comfort him.

"She...must have been stupid not to notice how you were just worried for her," I mumbled. Miguel didn't look amused.

"Yeah she is stupid, but she's still the girl I love." He lifted me and placed me gently onto my feet thus creating a gap between us. Does he only get close to me to make me feel the pain that comes with the sudden distance? He's dead and it's my fault. So I guess my feelings about this aren't justified anyway. I'm the stupid one for falling for a dead guy.

"I'm sorry if I offended you." As I spoke, my eyes started stinging. I don't know why I want to cry... Miguel didn't respond to what I said and instead simply mumbled,

"You're so amazing; it's no wonder that he wants you back." I felt very conflicted by what he said but was too embarrassed to even say thank you. "What's your favorite dish?" He asked suddenly.

"...Probably grilled salmon... is that weird?" He broke out of his serious expression and smiled.

"What do you like to eat with it?"

"...Spring lettuce salad... with apple balsamic dressing or Italian vinaigrette dressing ... with slices of red onion and red crushed pepper." I wondered if my statement was too exact but he looked as though he was pondering it.

"Lemon..." I was surprised when he said my name.

"Y-yes?" I stuttered a little in my reply.

"...Your ex... was an idiot for cheating on you." All the sudden topic changes had my mind spinning; I didn't know what to think.

"Can you please stop...?" I whispered. "Please, you're making me misunderstand... so I beg you to stop."

"Alright... my bad..." He didn't say any more, so we sat in silence, and before I knew it, it was time for me to head to lunch, at least, if I wanted to eat before my Acting elective started. Miguel hovered behind me quietly, the air around us felt incredibly heavy.

Miguel is an expert at staying quiet. He might have become an even better mime than he ever would have been a chef; even though he's an awesome cook. Later that day I was sitting at my desk in my apartment, thinking. For my sanity's sake, I need to hurry and find the girl... it would help if he'd give me a hint or at least look at a girl but every time I see him he's either ignoring everything or looking at me, so I have no way of knowing who it is at all... He said he spoke to her, even if it was only once Miguel stands out so much that I don't think any girl could forget that conversation... so maybe if I had a picture of him and used the school website...

"What are you thinking about?" Miguel asked, with his chin on my shoulder, suddenly very close to me.

"I'm thinking about what I should be doing right now," I replied. Miguel grinned widely in response.

"I know the answer to that." He whispered, turning his face towards mine. I panicked and almost fell from my chair but Miguel caught me by the waist and laughed. "What's wrong? Are you alright?" As I was about to answer the room filled with light and the white-haired man from before, appeared. He smiled a pure smile, I could see the joy in his golden eyes.

"Am I interrupting?" He asked covering his mouth and shivering from laughter.

"Shut up!" Miguel shouted. I've never seen him react so strongly. He moved from me and folded his arms, pouting. "What do you want?" Miguel inquired rudely. Tzadqiel smiled.

"I wanted to see how you were doing. Seems like...you're really doing well! I'm glad!" He couldn't hold back his laughter after finishing his sentence and turned away from us laughing loudly.

"What the hell is so funny?!" Miguel shouted. I was wondering the same thing.

"Nothing... it's just nice to see you so happy, I've never seen it." He still had a bit of laughter in his voice but he was controlling it well now. I might have been imagining it but Miguel's cheeks seemed to redden slightly then he cut his eyes towards me. I looked away from him so he wouldn't think I was staring.

"Please don't talk about that..." He didn't deny it so does that mean, he's happier now than he was when he was with Tzadqiel in heaven? That doesn't make sense... "I'm doing what I'm supposed to... I'm just taking your advice now." Miguel mumbled.

"I'm glad to hear that... You seem happier as well Miss Lemiette." I was shocked that he spoke to me.

"Th-thank you," I replied bowing.

"Don't talk to her," Miguel stated aggressively. I pouted at his words. Tzaqqiel smirked and said,

"Why not? Are you maybe..." but before he could continue Miguel shouted,

"Shut your stupid fucking mouth!" To which Tzadqiel seemed incredibly amused. "If you still want to talk we'll have to do it somewhere else," Miguel demanded.

"What? Anything I have to say to you, I can say in front of our princess..." Kiel replied looking at me, I blushed and Miguel moved in front of me.

"I've read a lot of books so I know a human isn't outside your tastes. So please, watch what you say."

"You think I'm that willingly fall from grace? It's like you don't know me at all." Stated Kiel wiping a fake tear from his eye. "Actually, I do need to speak to her... is that fine with you?"

"Not at all," Miguel replied without hesitation.

"When have I ever broken your trust?" Kiel asked him pouting a little. Miguel didn't answer. "I promise your friend will be fine." He added, leaning over to look at me standing behind Miguel.

"Fine, do what you want." Miguel vanished from the room and Tzadqiel stood smiling at me with slightly squinted happy eyes.

"How are you?" He asked. I felt nervous without Miguel around.

"I'm fine," I answered, looking at my feet.

"What do you think of my little boy?" It took me a while to realize he was talking about Miguel so my answer was delayed.

"Oh... I... um..." I could feel myself blushing. "I'm very grateful to have him around... but... I'm so grateful that my regrets have increased. I wish... he could have lived and continued being happy... He's always helping so much and even he pulled me out of the depths of depression but I don't think I deserve it..." Tzadqiel laughed a little then stated,

"You're right you don't, but there are not many people who deserve the good things in their life. So there's no need to feel guilty for enjoying yourself." His words made me start crying a little and Kiel wiped my eyes. "Now, now none of that; I hate crying." I struggled to stop my tears at his request. "Have you given up on killing yourself?" I gasped and stared at this man in shock. How did he know?

"H-how...?" I was afraid to ask more... how much does he know exactly...

"You wanted to finish college because your father paid for your tuition...After you graduated you planned on secretly ending it..."He stated blandly. I bit my lip and fidgeted.

"Can you read my mind?" I inquired.

"Yeah, something like that... but I wanted to ask you if those plans have changed?" Kiel investigated. I stood quietly then took a deep breath before stating my answer.

"I'm not sure... to be honest, I still want to, but after being with Miguel I feel like I should value life more... so I'm confused." He laughed at my answer.

"That's fine." A bright light entered the room once again and this time I was alone. I wonder when Miguel will be back...