4 What a Night

I was groggy as heck the next morning. I felt like a zombie and Miguel kept staring at me, not like he was worried, but with suspicious eyes. I wanted to ask him about what happened but couldn't muster the nerve.

"So... d-do you have any friends?" I asked on the way to school while taking a bite out of my banana nut muffin.

"When I was alive... I had 2. I was popular and a lot of people liked me but I still only had 2 real friends." My heart trembled slightly, that suicide idea was looking more unlikely. "I had known them since elementary school and even our parents were friends with each other." His voice deepened suddenly as he continued "Even in the afterlife I only made two friends." I gasped. One of them must have been that voice I heard last night.

"Can you tell me about them?" I asked, with a bit too much energy. Miguel smiled and replied,

"Yes, I'll tell you when we have more time." His answer made me happy. I think that's the first time he agreed so easily. "Lemon...you look beautiful." I was startled by his compliment and goosebumps rose up on my arms.

"Are you setting me up for a prank?" I asked, feeling very afraid for my well-being.

"It's just... when we first began staying together; you rarely even looked at yourself in the mirror before going out. You didn't care about your appearance at all..." Miguel commented. "I'm glad you're doing better." His words sounded genuine, which scared me even more.

"...Thank you."This is a little awkward. I reflexively brushed my hair back with my fingers. Today, when we arrived at school, coincidentally, Amber and my other two old friends arrived at the same time.

"What are you wearing?" Amber stated, making a disgusted face.

"It's like putting glitter on a pile of shit," Kim added frowning at me. I shrunk away. It's hard to believe I once called these girls my friends.

"What did you even wash your face for? And are you wearing makeup? Are you trying to impress some guy? Because it's too late they've all seen how you really look by now." Star added. I wasn't wearing makeup today but I didn't care to correct her and I had no need to talk to her so I just kept walking into school. I preferred being invisible to them.

"Don't ignore me! if you have a problem with me just say it!" Amber shouted at my back. I took a deep breath and successfully avoided her.

"Who was that?" Miguel questioned suddenly, I jumped forgetting he was there.

"Just... some people I know," I explained. He seemed discontent with my answer.

"Want me to cause a little chaos in their lives?" The lights began flickering madly as he asked and I grabbed his wrists and shook my head "No".

"I'm fine, really... so don't bother them." I pleaded with him. Miguel sighed.

"It's just so annoying... because it's interfering with your progress... I don't like it." Is he ... worrying about me? Suddenly a light formed in-between us, shining blindingly bright. I closed my eyes and looked away.

"What the hell is that?" I mumbled and when I turned back, hoping the light was gone. It was but so was Miguel... but I heard his voice float into my head to say,

"Tzadqiel is calling me, I'll see you later." I rubbed my ears then finally realizing I was being stared at, I rushed to the bathroom and screamed,

"I'm just practicing for a play!" To make myself look less crazy. In the bathroom, I splashed water on my face to ease my embarrassment... then stared in the mirror thinking and wondering who Tzadqiel was... the person last night's name was Demi... Dami? Or maybe he was just calling them darling... I can't really remember... I was more distracted by his affectionate tone and... telling her he cares for her...

I went to class; it was quiet and lonesome without Miguel sitting at my feet, mocking the teachers. I could barely pay attention to it. Each time my mind returned to reality I made sure to take notes and skim through the chapter. Statistics and Analytics class was boring as always but I had an A on the last test and that managed to cheer me up a little. As I was heading to lunch I was once again confronted by Amber, this time she was alone.

"Lemon... you're not thinking of getting back together with Jack right?" My stomach churned at the sound of her using my nickname but I felt pain when she said Jack's name.

"I'm not that stupid," I remarked coldly. She sighed then smiled looking relieved.

"That's good." Without saying more she began walking away.

"Why does it matter?!" I shouted I was once again making a scene but at the moment I didn't care. "You're not dating him, so why do you have a problem with me getting with him?" Amber frowned.

"That's my business." She remarked, obviously not intending to say more, and then she walked away. I was panting from shouting and once I regained my composure I brushed my hair back with my fingers and went ahead to lunch. As soon as I was sitting down at a table, Miguel appeared. It startled and was about to shout but I covered my mouth to suppress it.

"W-welcome back," I whispered once I relaxed and I slowly removed my hands from my lips.

"That was a strange welcome," Miguel stated, seeming amused. "Can I have your biscuit?" He asked, pointing to it on my plate.

"What? Why?" I was hesitant to give it up.

"Because it's no good for your diet." I wanted to throw the biscuit at him rather than let him eat it.

"Do you think I'm fat?" I whispered, Miguel, snorted then began full-out laughing. "I'm being serious!" I yelled, feeling a little embarrassed because of his reaction.

"Of course not... but you said you wanted to lose weight, so I want to help you." He answered back. I picked up the biscuit and threw it to him; he caught it easily and began taking bites.

"So... who's Tzadqiel?" I asked, then realizing I might be overstepping boundaries quickly added, "If it's okay... that I know." I cleared my throat and waited for his response.

"He's my best friend from heaven." My eyes widened...

"You've been to heaven?... What's it like?" I investigated.

"It's nothing like the pictures suggest... It's an advanced and prosperous society where everyone supports each other. No one wants what you have, and no one hates anyone else. Everyone is friendly but I could only seem to truly get along with Kiel." Miguel stated softly.

"How did it look?" I asked, growing more intrigued.

"It's lovely... with plants and animals that you'll never see on Earth. The people there look mystical, although they can take on a humanoid form at will..." He answered smiling at me. I felt super excited just imagining it. "I've also seen hell," Miguel mumbled. That caught me off guard... how could he have seen both places? "There are no people there, only demons... All the human spirits are burned slowly for the entertainment of the King of hell...Every time someone arrives, they throw a small party to watch the person get tortured. The demons have a lot of sex during the event and drink a strong elixir, much like alcohol but they can't get completely intoxicated, just buzzed. The only light in hell comes from the fire... I have a friend there too." He added... "Damien." My heart shuddered.

"How did... you make a friend in hell?" My question made him smile.

"It's a long story so I'll tell you after we get home." ...Damien... that name sounds more like the one from yesterday, but that's a man, right? I kept making mistakes in my Acting elective because of how anxious I was to go home and hear more. When all my classes were over I tried to pry answers from Miguel but he didn't talk until we got inside my apartment. "I guess you're ready to hear the story now?"

"Yes! I've been saying that for the last hour!" He smirked and went quiet. I shook Miguel by the shoulders "Please tell me!" He brushed my hands away and then laid back on my couch.

"Alright... I'll tell you... but first come here." He stated pointing to the space in front of him on the couch; I came and sat down with my back against his stomach, I was feeling very, very tense. "Perfect, now I can tell you." Why was this necessary? "Are you sure you're ready?" He asked, in a mocking tone, brushing my hair back behind my ear with his fingertips.

"Stop stalling and start telling me!" Miguel laughed at my reply.

"Fine... well... Damien is the prince and princess of hell... Demons aren't born with a set gender and can change forms at will. He became interested in me because... when I was thrown from heaven my soul couldn't burn. I was immune to the flames...so I was special. Since I was special he adopted me like a pet. He liked talking to me, so I got promoted from pet to friend. He didn't want me to go... but I had to see that girl again... I needed to talk to her so when the opportunity to do that arrived I couldn't refuse." His story was growing exceedingly interesting but I didn't want to hear any more for some reason.

"Why ..." I thought about which question I wanted to answer the most, it felt almost unrelated. "Why were you on the bridge that day?"

"Ah... that day... I was feeling very stressed out about a lot of things... but I wasn't going commit suicide... sorry if that disappoints you." I looked down, feeling guilty. "I went to that bridge a lot, to think, it started raining suddenly, so I began heading back to the dorms... and that's when you hit me." I began whimpering from the wave of emotions battling inside my chest.

"I'm... sorry." Miguel laughed hysterically but he stopped just as suddenly as he had started.

"This is one of those things sorry can't fix." I knew that... but I didn't know what more to say.

"I'm so sorry," I repeated, my tears thickening.

"Lemon... stop," Miguel warned, but I couldn't stop the tears. I was now wailing so loudly, that I'm sure it was annoying him. A short while later his arms were around me and he was stroking the back of my head. "Fine... You can cry all you want..." I was sniffling and crying for more than half an hour but Miguel stayed and held me, petting my head the whole time. I could feel myself getting warmer, despite the freezing cold that came from being near him. So I clung to him tightly.

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