The Devil's Son ✔

Finding Love

The rest of the day was quiet, quiet and safe because of the absence of Lucian Black. Although he wasn't there, the whole school was buzzing, talking about his bike.

'First that Maybach, now a Harley?'

'That guy must be loaded!'

'You think he'd invite us to a house party?'

I listened to all of this with faint disappointment in my classmates. Wasn't it super obvious that Lucian Black was really... sick? Couldn't people feel the creepy crawlies when he came near? How could that possibly be translated into something mysteriously positive?

The sick, twisted things that he must have-

'Ellen'

really bad-

'Ellen!' I turned at the sudden shout and nearly jumped.

Jack Isle.

He was wearing his varsity jacket, the red and gold making his brown hair and light hazel eyes stand out more.He was the kind of guy who was lean and broad shouldered, the perfect amount of muscle - I'd seen it once during play offs in the Summer when he took off his shirt and half the football court swooned.

'Ellen... hey,' he grinned, flashing a row of perfectly white toothpaste teeth, 'I wanted to ask you something'.

By now, my heart was soaring. All the coldness that had seeped in from my previous encounter with Lucian had been erased, I felt warm again.

I felt so saved I didn't even correct him when he called me Ellen.

'Y-Yes?' I cleared my throat, stopping the stuttering before repeating in a more serious tone, 'Yes?'

A slight crease appeared between Jack's eyes before he grinned again, that boyish grin that made me feel like my legs had gone all pudding, 'Well, we have a bash this Friday, you know, for the varsity team and some cheerleaders'.

'Yes?' by now, my voice was sounding hopeful.

'We don't really know where it's going to be at yet but...'

'Mhm?' was this happening? Was this a sign? Was he going to ask me out? I pushed the niggling thought out of my head that he didn't even know my name. He could remember, at the party, on Friday.

'Could we maybe borrow some speakers?'

My heart fell with so much gravity I nearly face smacked the floor.

'I heard your dad works with some really dope sound company,' he nodded his head, making him look even better, 'I heard you have some great speakers just lying around so I thought, hey, Ellen could help us out'.

I just stared at him, gobsmacked by the entire situation. I felt angry, but more than anything - stupid for-

'So... could we borrow it?' Jack interrupted my thoughts and gave me that sheepish smile, the awkward I-don't-know-what-to-do smile. Maybe it was because I hadn't said much else and my face probably looked like a smacked arse.

Just before I popped a vein I magically wished out a smile, 'Of course'.

Jack's awkward face immediately vanished and that same old grin came out again, 'Wow, that's really cool of you Elle, thanks. Can you bring'em to school tomorrow? I'll pick them up by your locker,' he chuckled, gave me a wink before turning around, 'Ciao'.

I watched him walk down the hallway and into the cafeteria. Counted another ten seconds before facepalming my face with the nearest locker.

So much for our first talk.