Dark Angel (Anak Trilogy) (6 page)

He leaned even
nearer in the darkness, and his hand enveloped mine in the dark. I jumped like I had been shocked. I lifted my head and turned it sharply. I bumped into his face, hard.

“Zell is that you?”

“Yes,” he answered.

I breathed heavily, and I felt his lips travel
a short distance as he sought my mouth. He kissed me gently. Just wait until I tell Jon, Zell would be dead. Even as the thought flickered through my mind, I knew I could not tell Jon. I didn’t want Zell to stop, and that thought terrified me. He kissed me again passionately. I began to shake and slip from my seat, but he caught me and pulled me to him. I felt as though we moved in that embrace. I was sure now that we had because I felt the wall pressed behind me. Zell pressed against the front of me as I melted into a corner of the wall which was on either side of me. We must have been in a corner in the back of the room. My breath became ragged. I felt dizzy and unable to stand, but Zell held me. He kissed me softly and tenderly. I wound my hands against his neck and began to return his kiss. I pressed against him, and he held me in an embrace so desperate that I didn’t know if he would ever let me go. I met and matched his passion. I knew I shouldn’t, but I was unable to stop myself. It was as if all else had ceased to exist except the two of us. Quivering, I felt as though I would lose consciousness.

“I’m sorry Annie. I shouldn’t kiss you like this, but I have waited so long for you that I can’t help myself,” Zell whispered his sweet breath hitting my face like a heater causing my own breath to catch in my throat. “Just being able to touch
you after all this time  .  . . ” his voice trailed off.

I awoke as bright fluorescent lights flooded the room.  I lifted my head from my arms that lay folded across my books on the table.

“Have I been asleep?” I asked Zell.

“It appears that you have. As soon as the lights went off, you laid your head down,” Zell answered.

“I had the strangest dream,” I croaked.

“What was it about?” Zell asked cocking a finely shaped eyebrow.

“You, so it must have been a nightmare not a dream,” I responded curtly, stretching. Even as I said it, I cringed. I scolded myself. I shouldn’t encourage him by telling him that. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Now, my dreams and nightmares were invading my daytime too.

“Really? Why would you dream about me?” Zell replied looking at me strangely.

“I don’t know. It was the strangest experience. I could swear it actually happened.” I looked at Zell, and there on his face was what appeared to be pink lipstick. The color seemed to be the same as my hot pink shade of lipstick. There were two smudges. One was just above his lip and the other on his right cheek.

“What?” he asked as a response to my dumbfounded expression. I took my index finger and wiped the smudge of color from his face and lip.

“Where did this come from?” I asked him point blank waving my pink fingertip in his face. “It looks like my pink lipstick is on your face?”

Zell pulled a cherry Tootsie
Roll Pop from his shirt pocket.

“I’m addicted to these,” he said smiling and picked up his books
popping the freshly unwrapped Tootsie Roll Pop in his mouth.  “See you tomorrow Annie,” Zell whispered leaning close. Without looking back, he strode out the door with half the girls in class at his heels.

  
     3.   FRIEND OR FOE

I WORKED EXTRA HARD IN BASKETBALL

practice
that afternoon. I wanted to forget about Zell Starr even though his name was on the lips of every girl on the basketball team and indeed the school. I wanted to be exhausted when I went home.

Kate came in late for practice. I had not seen her since this morning.

“Where have you been all day?”

“Well, you know I had lunch detention for Coach Coldheart, right? We were sitting in detention having a stare-off, and he told me to get that ugly look off my face. Of course, you know me. I couldn’t let that pass. I told him at least I could get ugly off my face, but if ugly were bricks, he’d be the Great Wall of China. Needless to say, he doesn’t appreciate my humor and gave me work detail. I’ve been picking up trash from the hall
s and campus all afternoon.”

As if on cue, Coach Coldheart walked into the gym blowing his whistle for
the scrimmage to begin. Kate looked over at Coach and blew him a kiss.

“Kate
, stop before you get suspended.”

“Ah
h, deep down, that old goat likes me.”

Somehow, I believed her. I believed spar
ring with Kate was the most interesting part of Coach Neely’s day. 

Practice ended early, and I headed straight home. I wanted to fix a quick dinner for my father, do my homework, fall into b
ed, and have a dreamless night, but Dad called on my way home.  He told me that he had ordered pizza. I was relieved because I was really tired. I just wished I could sleep well at night. I was becoming exhausted because of my restless nights. I had nightmares just about every night.

Jon called
while I was sprawled out on my bed eating pizza and doing my homework. I spent a few minutes talking to him before I began to yawn. My pizza slice was half-eaten and my homework half done, but I could not hold my heavy lids open.  Despite my best effort, I fell asleep talking to Jon.

I awoke confused
the next morning. I was under the covers, and my phone was on the night stand plugged in. I sat up in bed and looked about. I didn’t even remember going to bed last night. The last thing I remembered was talking on the phone with Jon.

I threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. After a shower, I dressed quickly and walked over to the dresser to finish my homework that I had left undone last night when I fell asleep.  My books were closed and neatly stacked next to my book bag. I opened my notebook to my homework assignment. I knew I had enough time to finish it before I had to leave for school. I pulled back the chair at my desk and sat down opening my book to the appropriate page. I found where I had left off, and I ran my finger
down my homework page to where I stopped last night.

Confused, I opened my notebook and took out my homework paper. It was finished. I was sure that I had left half of it incomplete when I fell asleep. I sat there in a daze for several minutes trying to remember finishing my homework.  I couldn’t remember finishing it at all. I sighed putting my homework back in my notebook and
began packing my book bag.

“Good morning, dear,” my dad called as I walked into the kitchen.

“Morning, Dad,” I answered walking over to him and giving him a quick hug.

“What can I fix you for breakfast,” he asked me.

“I’ll just have some toast. I’m not very hungry.”

“Annie, you’re getting thin. You need to try to eat more.”

“I’ll try, Dad, just not this morning ok?”

“Alright dear, I just worry about you. You look so tired.”

“Ah, I’m just not sleeping very well. I’ll take that toast to go. I want to get to school early.”

Dad put three pieces of buttered and jellied toast in some plastic wrap and handed it to me along with a coffee mug filled with juice.

“Thanks, Dad,” I kissed his cheek, and suddenly, I became emotional. “I love you, Dad.” I whispered throwing my arms around him and giving him a quick hug before I turned and left the room.

“Love you Annie,” Dad whispered back.

I climbed into the Tahoe with a feeling of dread, and I didn’t know why. I reached for the wrapped up toast and took out a piece. I put it in my mouth and put my car into reverse. Slowly, I drove to school munching on my breakfast. I pulled into a parking spot and turned off the motor. I finished a second piece and put the third in my book bag. Maybe I would have it for lunch.

As I opened my door and climbed out a sleek, convertible sports car pulled in
the place next to mine. Great! It was the stalker, Zell.

“Good morning, Annie,” Zell said smiling.

“Hey,” I answered unenthusiastically.

I headed for class, and Zell quickly caught up with me.

We walked for a couple of minutes in silence.

“You had toast and jelly for breakfast this morning didn’t you?”

“Like it’s any of your business. Are you stalking me at home now?”

“No,” he laughed. “It just looks like grape jelly on your chin.”

“Seriously?” I groaned.

“Seriously,” Zell replied. “Look at me.”

I stopped and turned facing him. He bent and peered into my face. He wiped a finger across my chin and held it up for my inspection.

“There love. You’re as good as new.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled returning to my trudge toward class.

“Is everything ok Annie?”

“Yeah, everything is just swell,” I grunted.

“Can I do anything for you?” Zell asked.

“Yeah, leave me alone,” I replied sourly.

“Really?”

“Yeah, really,” I answered walking off and leaving him staring at my back.

I thought first period would never end. Every time I looked up, Zell was watching me. It began to unnerve me. When class was over, I jumped up and stomped to his chair before he got up.

“Stop watching me,” I demanded.

“Why?” Zell asked.

“Because you’re giving me the creeps.”

“I apologize love. I never meant to upset you.”

“I’m not your love.” I stalked off leaving Zell still sitting in his seat. I’m not sure why I was in such a rotten mood today, but I was.

I could feel Zell watching me
at lunch and in every class for the rest of the day, but I could not catch him in the act. He did as I asked and left me alone. Every time I felt his gaze, I would turn to him, and he would just be looking down at his paper, his hands, or a book. Even so, I knew he had been watching me just before I turned.

Finally, the day was winding down, and it was time for basketball practice. Kate and I walked together toward the gym.

“Boy, did you notice Zell today?” Kate asked.

“No, not really, why?”

“He looks so hot today,” Kate purred.

“I’m not interested in Zell.”

“He sure looks interested in you. At lunch, he couldn’t take his eyes off you even though he was sitting at a table with five girls.”

“Good. Maybe they will keep him busy, and he will leave me alone.”

“Do you wanna go get a burger after practice?” Kate asked changing the subject.

“Yeah, that sounds good. I’ll call Dad as soon as practice is over and let him know.  I don’t want to
stay out long though. I want to go home, take a hot shower, and go to bed. I’ve been in a rotten mood today, and I’m not sure why. I think I’m tired, and I just want the day to be over.”

“Tomorrow will be
a better day,” my loyal friend replied.

“I sure hope so,” I sighed.

My evening went just as planned except I stayed up later than expected fussing over what I would wear to school tomorrow. I hoped that breaking from my dull dressing routine would cheer me up. I was the ultimate tomboy. I rarely wore anything but jeans and a tee-shirt, and here I was contemplating wearing a dress to school tomorrow. Why was I doing this?  Even though I didn’t want to admit it, I knew it was because of Zell. Even though he was impossibly attractive and stylish, I sensed an old-fashioned way about him. He spoke so properly and treated everyone so respectfully. He just seemed to be from another era. Of course between his impeccable manners and his impossible good looks, he had every girl and female staff member in school eating out of his hand. I was in a conundrum. Even though I wanted Zell to leave me alone, I still wanted him to notice me and think me attractive. I was being ridiculous, and I knew it.

I finally decided on a pretty, flowing spring skirt, a soft tank top, and lightweight cashmere sweater of the same pastel shade as the top. I picked a pair of sandals that would pick up an accent color in the skirt from the dozens of pairs in the closet. When
at last I lay down, I was too troubled to sleep. I felt bad for being so rude to Zell today. It was uncharacteristic for me to be impolite to anyone.  I needed to apologize to Zell tomorrow. I had barely looked at Zell today, but all I had heard all day was how hot he looked. I couldn’t wait to get to school the next day to see if he was as unbelievably handsome as everyone was saying, or if we all just had an overactive reaction to the new guy in school. Then, there was art class. What happened there? Was it all a dream? It seemed real to me, too real. I was not entirely convinced what had happened during the video in art class had been a dream.