Fallen

Chapter 24. Tina and 'The Boyfriend' [Caleb]

I know Tina all the way back to when we were wearing diapers.

Since we could barely talk properly or formulate entire sentences. We bonded over other things. Like the fact that our parents were good friends and would do stuff together. Which is the whole reason we were brought together in the first place. And the reason we're friends today.

I guess I can thank my parents for one thing, and one thing only. Tina.

The girl who took on my bullies back in elementary school. The girl who will always be there for me no matter what. From this day today, I can still trust her with anything. Well, almost everything.

It's not like I don't trust her to keep a secret. Maybe she will turn out to be extremely helpful. Although I highly doubt that. All of this angel business is very new. An unknown territory. But still, if it's anything but this, I would have run to her right away.

The thing is, I don't want her to get involved. I'm already taking a leap with Lucy knowing. I don't even know what trouble I've brought her into. But it can't be good.

I'm already in deep. Whatever it is, and there's no way out. I'm obviously not going to skip out on M. Something I've told him and myself five million times already.

I just can't afford to watch over Lucy and Tina at the same time. I can't afford her knowing and getting her into trouble because of me. Even though I fully believe Tina is capable of protecting herself. Considering she's like the protective older sister my parents never got.

But with the way she is plastered up against M right now, she might just find out. It's a miracle the cover is still draped over M, hiding the one thing that will make her question it all. His wings.

Hell, if I'm not confident that Tina is already in love with Kyle, I could almost believe that she's trying to go for M. Trying to steal him from right under my nose. Not that there is anything to steal. I don't have him, we're not together, and there's nothing there.

"Tell me more about the party," M presses. I can see the way his curiosity is slowly peeling away his layers. Piquing in interest.

Tina blushes a little.

"It's not like I'm that familiar with parties. Not that Caleb is either," She eyes me lazily and with a quirky smirk.

I can't help but roll my eyes at her. Putting all the blame on me, I see. It's not my fault that my lameness is taking her with me to the grave of 'partyless' people.

"Kyle, the guy who invited me, is like the popular guy. He's notoriously famous for holding these crazy wild parties. He's got a big house a bit further from the park. With free alcohol, games, loud music, and a pool too," She replies excitedly.

"That sounds very exciting," M says. "I've never been to one of those parties before."

"Guess we'll have to pop the cherry for that one then," Tina winks, stroking M's bicep lightly.

"I'd love to do that," M gives her a nervous smile in reply. I'm not sure he really gets her innuendo. Not that there's anything behind it, anyway. Probably?

Suddenly her phone rings. She hurriedly pulls it out of her jacket pocket. Unlocking the screen and answering the call. I can't see the caller-id from over here. But the loud shrill voice on the other side of the line is obviously her mother's.

"I'll be home soon, bye," Tina winces as she disconnects the call. "My mom wants me home to help with dinner."

That confirms it.

She stands up from my bed. Where she made herself well at ease beside M. The bed squeaks as she stands up. Many of the papers that have fallen to the floor crumble under her boots.

"It was nice to meet you, M," She salutes him. "But I have to go now, so see you at the party."

"It was delightful to meet you too, Tina," M waves her goodbye. A charming smile on his face.

She blows him a kiss before I push her out the door to my room. I follow her down the stairs and over to the front door.

She stops at the door and looks at me.

"See you at the party, and M better be there too. I would love to get to know him better. The boyfriend of my best friend is like a brother to me," She makes a face, probably regretting her words as much as I do too.

I nod my head, urging her to move along.

I know how impatient her mother can be when she has to wait for help with her food. How she wants to make it herself but isn't allowed to. Her mother isn't really the best cook. Actually, she usually ruins the food if Tina is not there to help.

I shiver at the thought of her infamous chicken curry.

The last time Lucy and I had been over to eat dinner. Tina's mother had made chicken curry. A surprise for Tina, Lucy and me. She had somehow thought it was a good idea to not only add egg salad to it. But also tuna.

I had to hide in the bathroom, using half a bottle of mouthwash to get the god-awful taste off of my tongue. Lucy somehow liked it. The unusual chicken curry must have destroyed her taste buds.

Tina waves goodbye. Dragging her bike down the dirt trail.

I close the door. And all but run up the stairs, again. When I come back, my lamp is back in its rightful place, and M's picking up all the papers that have fallen off of the bed.

I sit down beside him. Taking one of the pictures out of his hands. It's the same that we fought over before.

"So, what was so special about it?" I ask him.

"There's nothing about it," He laughs. "I just wanted to tease you."

I slap him on the arm.

"Oh, so you're teasing me now, so rude," I add. "I seriously thought that all my time printing these things out wouldn't be for nothing."

"Well, it's not completely for nothing," He shrugs.

"Thank you so much," I reply sarcastically.

"Your help. It means a lot to me," M is serious. I can see it in his eyes. And the way his voice deepens, just slightly.

He sits up in bed. Close enough so that our shoulders are touching. His hand reaches for my face.

I can see the way he takes a loose strand of hair out of my eyes. I can feel how he tugs it behind my ear.

"Are you sure you want to go to the party?" I ask him, changing the subject.

"With you, I would love to. To see the way you have fun. How you interact with other people. I don't want to hold you back from living your life. And I don't want to hold you back from helping me either anymore," He says. "I guess I want to try it for myself too, because of selfish reasons."

"M, I would love to take you with me. And you might be the only person I will speak to the entire night, except for Tina," I shrug. "But it's not really something you've seen before. There's going to be drunk people, doing stupid stuff, and loud music."

"I guess I just have to go and see for myself," M says.

"And what about the thing that is after you?" I ask. "Should we really just push it aside for a night? Put down our guards? Maybe that's what it wants us to do?"

"I guess it has to face me then," M says bravely.

"I really can't change your mind, can I?" I ask him.

He shakes his head.

"I'm going to my first real human party," M states excitedly. "It's going to be so lit."

"Lit?" I frown. "Where the hell did you learn that from?"

"Lucy taught me," M shrugs. "She says it's what cool people say for things that are going to be awesome."

I take M's hands in mine. Staring him deep in his warm chocolaty brown eyes.

"M promise me you won't say that at the party," I beg him sincerely.

"Why?" He asks.

"It'll make you look very uncool."