Fall From Grace (6 page)

Heading into Alessa Heights was a real treat, blink once and you'd miss the amazingness of it. Yes, I mock. You've seen one small town, you've seen 'em all and Alessa is no different. Great to visit in the full swing of winter tourism due to the abundance of ski hills nearby, but living here all year round could become a little like a prison sentence. I prefer the big smoke, but I do get why people live in places like this. Typically, it gives them a false sense of security and they delude themselves into thinking it's the perfect place to raise their kids, get away from the big city lights and live the dream. Bull Shit. In reality, small towns breed serial killers and crazy Mother Fuckers who will shoot you as soon as look at you if you mess with their prized rose bushes, believe me I KNOW. Don't even get me started on the teen sex games either. I'm all for a good party, and I've gone back to high school now and then out of boredom, and these girls and the 'games' they play are sick and twisted - and I'm a DEMON! I can still pass for a high school student as we age so much slower than humans but it isn't as appealing as it once was.

There are some demons who get off on human killing sprees and believe me they LOVE tearing a small town apart with fear and hysteria. Chaos feeds us a high that is inexplicable, sort of like a super charged adrenaline rush. You have to know your limits otherwise it will consume you. A human on crack is like a demon strung out on chaos. There are a lot of us out there with no regret or conscience and believe me it isn't pretty. I have friends in high places and I know what goes on in these 'wholesome' towns. That is why I live in a big city. There's safety in numbers and as much as they normally don't bother with the likes of me (humans are way more fun to manipulate), I prefer to stay at arm's length and let them do their own thing, we all have our vices and who am I to judge.

I can see a bunch of humans congregating in the town square, maybe I could finally find a decent coffee shop. Getting out of my car I make my way under the cobblestone archway towards the incredible coffee shoppe scent. Perhaps all won't be lost today; I haven't had a decent espresso in days. Walking into this warm and inviting spot is a pleasant surprise. I take in the rich furnishings, the typical yuppie humans (who think that hanging around all day plunking on their laptops make them super cool - it doesn't), an oils landscape exhibit by a local old guy (which is surprisingly good) and a beautiful woman behind the front counter who has flashed me the most incredible smile. Man would I have loved to have met her about 20 years ago. The smell is here is Heavenly, or perhaps Hellish if you want to get technical.
 

"What can I get for you, Monsieur?" she asks. Parisian for sure.

"Well, quite frankly, I've been driving for days and would basically kill for a decent espresso. Any chance you would help a poor guy out? Avoid a murderous rampage?" I say, leaning against the counter.

"Murderous rampage? Dare I say that this quiet little town
could
do with some excitement," she says with a wink, placing her hand on her hip. "But you know, I AM quite fond of preserving my customer base, it just wouldn't be a smart business move and frankly the mess would be too much to clean up. How about a lovely Brazilian roast to curb your impulse?" she smiles, her french accent making the word 'Brazilian' sound really sexy.

"I would LOVE one Miss."

"Miss? My my, you
do
know I could quite rightly be your mother young man?" she says while penning my order on a receipt pad. "Perhaps you should save that spectacular smile for someone who can truly appreciate it. I'm pretty sure Francine would greatly enjoy you; I'll send her out with your order." She looks up from her paper and motions for me to lean in closer for a bit of privy information. "But please be gentle on her," she whispers. "Her father is quite the marksman and has an impressive display of various mounted heads in his study, some of them even animals." She ends with another wink.
 

I like her instantly.
 

Francine was your typical beautiful but vapid young human girl. All legs, but nary a brain to be found. I found out quite a bit about my mystery supernatural though. Mom ran off, Dad never remarried, typical broken home suburban saga. My curiosity has been grabbed with this new demon, I want to know more. Need to know more. Lovely Francine has given me way too much info about her beloved AlessaU, and if my senses are bang on, she is scoping me for prom material. Kill me now.
 

I haven't felt like this is a long time though. This newbie is drawing me in - maybe that's her power? Who knows, might be a fun distraction to hang out here for a bit, see what secrets this little town holds.

I can't believe I'm voluntarily going back to high school though. Hunter would have a field day with this one. Maybe a little harmless corruption to get the blood flowing and chaos vibes brewing is what the doctor ordered. I downed the coffee in a few gulps and head out to find a hotel that isn't a Shithole. Heading west towards my car, a pretty girl in a flimsy mini walks by and smiles. I smile back just as a very convenient breeze comes up and lifts the hem on her dress a little too high. Don't say I never use my 'gifts' for the greater good.

STELLA

"Ugh, what IS that? Chicken? I don't think so. Is that really what they expect us to eat? I am revolted and I think I just threw up a little in my mouth, did that slimy thing just move? Ham sandwich please, no cheese." Gabs like to pitch a fit in the caf line. She has done it every day since I've known her, and always ends up with a ham sandwich, no cheese. I don't think she realizes that the lunch lady doesn't give a rat's ass what we eat, she's making minimum wage serving a bunch of ingrates. I'm sure at this point she spits in the ham sandwiches. I order the chicken.

"So mademoiselle Stells, have you
seen
him yet?" Gabs slides into the orange plastic chair opposite me and takes a swig of her cherry soda. We're sitting in the same spots we've staked claimed on for the last two years. I like the close proximity of the vending machines in case I can't stomach the main. Shit. I think the chicken really did just move.

"Seen who?" I peel back some layers and examine it a little further.

"You're telling me you haven't heard the whispers and sighs of every girl in this school today? I mean I can't go into the ladies without bumping into ten chicks pancaking their makeup and hiking their skirts a wee bit higher than their underpants. New blood Stells, BIG news at AlessaU."

"I've been in an extended English class all morning. An exam prep credit. I'm pretty sure I hate Shakespeare and all he doth stand for. Quit the cryptic, who are you talking about?"

"Well, well mon petit bijou," Gabs leans in to spill the beans. She's such a gossip whore. "I haven't seen him first hand but from what I hear, he is hot, hot, hot, with an extra topping of, you guessed it, HOT." She sticks her finger on her tongue to extinguish the sizzle sound.

"Really? New blood? Well I had better get to the ladies and pad my bra up real nice. Should I un-do a few buttons? Offer him a Hummer in the science lab?" Gabs waves me off clearly irritated by my lack of interest in this juicy gossip game. High school dramas bore me. I can't eat this, I need some quarters.

"Suck it Stells, aren't you at least a little curious? I mean new blood could mean big things for you and your lonely panties." She's getting a lot better at retorts, I have to admit I'm proud.

"Let me ask you something Gabs. Even if I was curious, what do you want me to do about it? Wear short skirts and pretend I'm a big bimbo with an IQ of negative 4 just to get his attention?" she huffs and rolls her eyes.

"Well, I'M extremely curious - and you would be too if you would just turn around and Check. Him. Out. New guy, 2 o'clock. Hmmm, they weren't lying. Nice ass, not my type but definitely a nice ass." She lifts her eyebrows and motions her head to look behind me.

I slop down my fork and glance over my left shoulder. Let's see this bad boy. I scan the crowd, but it isn't hard once I locate him. Those bitches don't lie. Holy mother he is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. He's chatting up Francine near the door. Figures. The way she's grabbing his arm and giggling like a school girl makes me gag a little. I mean I know we are ALL 'school girls' here technically, but you get my cynical undertone.

He's smiling at her, but not overly, only 'half paying attention smiles', checking out the crowd and scanning his fellow inmates. He's tallish, messy dirty blond hair. Nice build, very lean but you can tell there are some really great abs under that grey t-shirt. He's also sporting some very pricey Rock & Republic jeans and black boots - huh, good taste too.

"Lift your chin up off the floor Stells, I thought this was not worth your precious time?" She got me, I can't stop staring. God you are so pathetic Stella. Shit, he just looked over at us, caught being stalker girl. I need some chocolate. I turn around and fish for change in my 'black hole' bag.

"Goin' to the machine, want anything?"
 

"Nope, watching my figure, prom diet in effect!" she smiles as she takes a big haul on her extra fatty ham sandwich. Diet my ass; I will never understand the starving yourself notion either. If you are skinny and miserable, how is that a good thing?

I turn and make my way over to the machines, better to focus on chocolate anyways. Coffee Crisp or Kit Kat? Both delicious but which would be better at filling me up today? I fear my poor chicken has died a brutal death and I can't let him suffer anymore. Hmmm, If only I liked Oh Henry, now THAT would be a nice hearty option - all those crunchy peanuts were sure to satisfy, or is that Snickers? As I stare into the window unable to make up my mind, I catch a reflection behind me in the glass.

"Definitely go for Coffee Crisp. It's a better bar to begin with and you might feel obligated to share with a Kit Kat." I half turn around and actually gasp. To be fair he DID just scare the shit out of me, but if I'm being honest, that wasn't the real reason.
 

It's Mr. New Blood and he looks even more incredible up close. His skin is flawless with just the hint of a 5 o'clock shadow like he rolled out of bed and into a GQ spread. I could never get that messy hair thing just right. I think it takes a whole lot of work to appear that low maintenance, but perhaps it's easier for guys. His hair has these flecks of white blond pieces that seem to shimmer in the sunlight coming from the side picture windows and his green eyes are just so green. I mean I wish I could describe it better, but 'just so green' is about all I can come up with. A shiver runs down my back to my toes making my stomach do a flip on the way. His lips curve up into a half smirk, crap am I supposed to answer something? What was the question? I clench my fists as they start to do this nervous vibrating thing.

"Um, Hi. You, ah, you're new here right?" I couldn't think of anything better than THAT? And Gabs wonders why I'm still single.

"Yup, my first day. How could you tell? Was it all the stares and pointing? The whispers in the hallway? Or maybe it was the fact that most of the football team wants to pound the crap out of me. I just love being the new guy," he states, his face beaming into a full smile. I swear he's glowing. He's just spectacular.

"News travels fast in a small town I guess. Try living here your whole life, it sucks." I turn back to the candy bars, panic welling up.

"I guess high school sucks in general right? Have you made your decision?"
 

Decision? Decision on what? Who am I? Where am I?
 

"Um, still thinking; I'm bad with commitment." I can feel his breath tickle my neck. Yup, I'm starting to actually sweat. I don't dare look back at him.

"Me too." He takes a breath as I steal a look in the glass. He runs his hands through his hair, it messes it up even more, but in such a good way. He glances around the room trying not to rush me. My attempt at not staring fails miserably. I can't seem to tear my eyes away. I'm sure I'm imagining it too but it looks as though his green eyes that are 'just so green', just got darker, more intense. Crap, I've got to get out of here, I'm hallucinating.
 

He looks back towards me, the darkness gone and he's smiling fully again (definitely hallucinating). "Well, like I said, if you got a Kit Kat, you might be lured into sharing with someone." Definite pause on the word
someone
. "Coffee Crisp is a much sounder choice."

"Thanks for the tip Charlie," I start to push coins into the slot and I can feel my hands trembling.
 

I swiftly punch in E7, I have no idea what food it corresponds to. What did I buy? The metal circles rotate and a Big Turk falls to the tray. Great, I don't take his advice AND I buy the sickest bar in the machine.

I lean forward, grab the bar, and swiftly turn to make my exit, eager to escape but he's looking at me, clearly puzzled.
 

"Charlie? Am I not getting some kind of 'initiation new guy' joke?" he says.

"Well, umm, you seemed to know a lot about chocolate.You know, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Johnny Depp, Umpa Lumpas, golden tickets..." I trail off. "Sorry not an inside joke, just me making a lame attempt to prove we aren't all, well, lame." I smile at him to prove I'm really not insane and turn to walk away as fast as I can manage without a jog.
 

As I leave I hear him chuckle to himself and mumble something but I'm gone before I can register it.