Dark Angel (Anak Trilogy) (8 page)

“Oh no,” I groaned.

“What’s wrong,” Zell asked following where my eyes were fixated. “Oh,” he said when he saw the object of my distress. He uttered a low, guttural laugh when he saw Jon’s face grow a deadly crimson as he saw us.

“I don’t need this drama,” I said angrily throwing open the door and hopping out before Zell came to a complete stop. Jon came around to my side of the vehicle and propped his
right arm against the top of my car blocking my way.

“I’m in a hurry.” I murmured trying to push past him.

“Why is that guy driving your car?” questioned Jon furiously.

“Someone ran into his car, and I offered him a ride to school,” I explained leaving out the fact that
I
was the one who backed into Zell’s car in
my
driveway. I thought that fact was best overlooked at present.

“Why is that guy driving your car,” Jon asked a second time just as angrily.

“He thought if he drove, he could get us to school on time, and he did,” I tried to explain. “You know what a slow poke I am behind the wheel.”

“Annie, we need to get to biology,” Zell interrupted from behind me. He had come around the
back of my car and was now standing behind me facing Johnny.

“Annie’s not going anywhere with you,” Jon popped off.

“He’s right Jon. I missed a biology test this week. I can’t be late today. I have to make up that test.”

“Come on,” Jon growled, “I’ll walk you to class.” He grabbed my elbow and jerked me forward. Instantly, Zell was in his face.

“If Annie wants you to walk her to class, that’s fine, but don’t ever grab her like that again,” Zell warned his voice menacing.

“You don’t tell me what I can do with my girl,” Jon growled. They were nose to nose. The whole scene was interrupted by the ringing of the tardy bell.

“That’s just great. Thanks a lot Jon,” I yelled to him as I took off running toward the science wing as fast as sandals and a skirt would allow. I looked back once, and Zell and Jon were still nose to nose in a standoff—so much for male testosterone.

Dr. Patty was just getting around to roll
call when I burst in the room. Every head in the room turned looking at me. Dr. Patty paused in calling the roll. For the second time this week, every student in class was looking at me in amazement mouths open in surprise. For many long seconds, no one moved; they just stared. I realized then that I was a bit more overdressed that normal. Dr. Patty called my name next on the roll. It appears that I made a grand entrance just in the nick of time.

“Anna Hayes, nice outfit,” Dr. Patty said good-naturedly.

“Thank you,” I murmured hurrying to my seat.

I
had no more than slithered into my seat when Zell entered the room.  There was an audible gasp from some of the girls in class when he entered the room. He strode to a seat available at my lab table. Every head in class turned watching him. He was gorgeous as he glided toward my table. His hair was loose and moving around his incredible face as he walked in my direction. He had on a white tunic-like shirt that set off his deeply tanned face. Silver stars studded the hem of the untucked shirt that flowed bellowing out just below the silver belt of his gray jeans. I had never seen jeans of that color before. They looked incredibly expensive, and they fit like a glove. A pair of deep gray sandals adorned his feet today instead of the Italian leather shoes he wore yesterday. He was so masculine and sexy you could audibly hear the girls in the class sigh as he drifted past them. For someone that large, he was wonderfully graceful. I could not tear my eyes from him as he quickly covered the space between Dr. Patty and my lab table.

“Are you well?” he said quietly as he sat down across from me.

“Yes, I made it in time before Dr. Patty called my name on the roll,” I whispered back. “What happened between you and Jon?”

“Nothing happened. As soon as his audience, namely you, left, so did his courage. He just walked off.”

“I’m relieved,” I sighed.

“I don’t like him, Annie.”

“Jon’s a good guy, really. He just feels a bit threatened by
you; I think.”

“He should feel a lot threatened,” Zell retorted.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked in a rather loud whisper causing several people at our lab table to look in our direction.

“Just this. I intend to take you away from him,” Zell said seriously leaning over the table until he was only inches from my face.

“Jon and I have been friends for a long time,” I argued.

“Fine, he can stay your
friend. I want you as my girl.”

In sho
ck, I recoiled from him a bit. “Shhh, someone will hear you,” I whispered.

“I don’t care who hears.”

“Well, I do. Jon will be furious. He’ll kill me.”

“No, he will not. In fact, he will never lay a hand on you again,” Zell hissed.

“I was speaking figuratively, not literally. Calm down,” I urged.  “Why me? There are plenty of girls in school that are more attractive than I am. The lovely Leeann for one . . . “

“
I have loved you for thousands of years,” Zell cut me off hissing back at me. “I could never be interested in anyone else.”

“I know it’s been a few months since last summer when you
said
you met me, but thousands of years is hyperbole at its finest.”

Dr. Patty arrived at our table as if on cue cutting off any further discussion to pass out our lab assignments. Thankfully, Zell was paired to work with Matthew since they were together on the other side of the table, and I was paired with Lauren, the smartest girl in class. I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew Lauren would take charge, and all I had to do was mindlessly follow her lead. I turned my back to Zell.

“Lauren, Jon and I can’t wait until this weekend for your party.” I chattered brightly looking out of the corner of my eye to see if Zell had heard my remark. If he did, there was no reaction. Lauren and I chattered continuously about boys and her party while we worked on our assignment. Take that Zell. At the end of class, Zell stood waiting on me as I gathered my books and papers.

“Stop waiting on me. I can’t be seen with you between every class. The word will get back to Jon,” I said nervously.

“Good,” Zell stated flatly, “the sooner the better.”

I looked at him letting out a moan
of exasperation and huffed off around him. Zell followed behind, and when a gap in the crowd emerged, he quickly moved to my side.

“You can follow me around if you like,
but I’m Jon’s girlfriend. Please get that through your thick skull. I am his girl not yours!” I added with much more emphasis than I really felt.

“Not for long. You are my destiny,” Zell remarked moving in front of me and stopping my forward movement.

When he said that, time seemed to stand still. People froze in their movement through the hall. I looked furtively up and down the hall in which everyone seemed to be moving in ultra-slow motion. The only two people that did not appear comatose seemed to be the two of us. Destiny—he echoed the sentiments that I had been feeling for a long time. Was this incredible young man my destiny? No, I refused to believe that. My destiny did not revolve around
any
guy, but yet when he said that it was as though pieces of my great puzzle were falling into place.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t even know you,” I growled.

“Yes, you do Annie. Please remember,” Zell begged.

“Remember what? Even though you say we met in Europe, I have never seen you before yesterday. I would remember meeting someone like you.”

“What do you mean someone like me?”       

“I
mean that I would remember meeting someone who looks as strange as you do?”

“
I’m strange looking?”

“Yeah, total
freak show material,” I grumbled.

Zell narrowed his eyes and stared at me.

“Yeah, I bet you have a tin foil hat that you wear around at home, and you order Happy Meals with extra Happy.” I huffed back at him.

Zell looked confused for a few moments, and then he began to smile. His smile turned into a laugh,
and it became infectious. I began to laugh too.

“See I told you, extra Happy.
“

“Seriously Annie,
we have known each other for a long time.”

“
I don’t know you,” I ceased to laugh and crossed my arms staring him dead in the face.

“Yes, you do,” Zell said his laughter dying also.

“You’re very badly mistaken!” I said louder than I meant to say it. People were slowing down in the hall to watch our altercation. “Oh, come on then. Walk with me.” Letting him walk me to class was better than drawing attention to us. Besides, I knew Jon was on the other side of the campus this period.

“Jon
and I have been dating for almost two years, and I can’t just walk down the hall with you between every class and sit with you in every class.”

“Is it serious between you two?” Zell’s face suddenly turned ominous as we walked. I was sure that he was trying to read the emotions on my face.

I gave a short laugh. “If he had his way, it would be a serious relationship.”

“I know,” Zell answered deep in thought.

“What do you mean you know? This is your third day on campus,” I retorted irritated that he was getting into my personal life.

“I just mean that I know if I was him, I would want a serious relationship with you too.” Zell answered. Contrary to what he said, I had the feeling that was not at all what Zell meant. I was spooked all over again with the feeling that Zell knew more about me than was humanly possible.

Coach Hatcher was on the computer when we entered the classroom. Zell took my arm and guided me to a couple of desks in the back corner.

“How do you even fit in those things?” I asked him as he struggled to sit in the too small desk.

“I much prefer the tables in biology and art,” Zell joked standing with the desk attached dangling from around his waist. Matthew sat to the right of me and laughed loudly.  He tried to cover the laugh with a coughing fit when I turned to glare at him.

“Please don’t encourage him,” I remarked dryly to Matthew.

Zell impressed everyone as he answered question after question that Coach Hatcher asked in Calculus.

“Who are you?” Coach Hatcher called to him
wrinkling his brow.

“That is exactly the same question I have been asking, and he refuses to tell me which planet he comes from,” I said aloud shocked at my bold statement.
The class broke out in laughter, and Coach Hatcher gave me a stern look. I wilted.

“Zell
Starr, new student.”

“Oh yeah, new student,” Coach Hatcher mumbled.
“Welcome to Mill Creek High.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Matthew leaned across the aisle and muttered to me, “What’s with all the manners?”

“I told you he was from outer space,” I sighed and raised my hands as if resting my case. Confident that I had been vindicated, I pulled out a nail file and began filing a nail.

“What kind of name is Zell Starr anyway? Mongolian or something?” I asked tartly. Why was I behaving this way? I spent an hour planning what to wear the next time I saw him, and here I was insulting him.

“Zell, short for Zazel, and Starr, from whence I came, the stars. You did call me an alien, correct?” he laugh
ed at his own joke throwing my previous comment back in my face.

Glad that he was not taking offense at my insults,
I began to smile back at him, but at the mention of his name, Zazel, something tugged at my memory. I
had
heard that name before. A look of panic crossed my face, and I caught his eyes as I abruptly looked up. I didn’t know where or when, but I knew at that moment that he was telling the truth. We had met before. My brow wrinkled as I tried to recall where I had met him. It was no use. I couldn’t remember. All I knew was that he had spoken truthfully when he said he knew me. I looked at the profile of his face as he turned and gazed ahead listening to Coach Hatcher.

Jeez, he was handsome. I had never believed in reincarnation, but I was beginning to think maybe we had been a couple in a previous life. I could not stop staring at him. He must have felt my stare and turned
his perfect head to smile at me. Stop it. You have a boyfriend. I repeated again to myself; I have a boyfriend. Stop smiling at him. Stop. But, I couldn’t. I was losing the battle. That must be the reason for my sharp tongue. I was too attracted to him. Maybe, I was subconsciously trying to make him hate me. If he hated me, I was safe. My dull, drab life was safe. Everything would return to normal.

When the bell rang, Zell laid his books on top of mine and picked them all up as if it were nothing. Those books must weigh fifty pounds, and he picked them up with one hand easily. He guided me
through the door and hall to the big art classroom at the end of the corridor. Placing our books on an art table, he pulled a chair out for me.