Chapter Fifty-Nine: Lockers Don't Bite

~~~

It makes absolutely no sense!

Even after all the chaos has died down, I am left in the back seat of the car, Cherry by my side as I stare into oblivion, my brain trying and failing to wrap around the events of today and nothing adds up. It just makes no sense.

Cherry is sobbing softly beside me, her face buried in her palms and her curls scattered. I blink rapidly to snap myself back to reality so I can provide comfort to my best friend. After all, I'm not the only one who went through a terrible shock. In fact, I think the whole town did.

"Come here," I murmur as I throw my arm around her shoulder and pull her closer to me. She hides her face in the crook of my neck and I feel my fabric stain with her tears, but I don't offer a word of protest.

Mrs. Alex pulls the car into the garage and together, we help Cherry out of the car and into the house where Mrs. Blue is already waiting for us with a table full of food, though I'm sure she knows none of us have the appetite for dinner.

"Oh, my baby!" Mrs. Blue Swift rushes towards Cherry. In comparison to her wife, Blue has a very soft and tender demeanour and a weird sense of humour. Like her name, her hair has been recently dyed to a very bright shade of blue that compliments her pale skin.

She pulls Cherry close and Cherry wraps her arms around her mom while I just stand and shuffle nervously on my feet, wanting to be far away from them and seeking answers from the Devil and my father. It makes no sense! Audrey couldn't have.

We couldn't have been hanging out with a potential serial killer all the while without somehow sensing it, right?

"And you also." Mrs. Blue pulls me into the embrace and strokes my hair with one hand while she strokes Cherry's back with the other. "This must be so hard on you both. Audrey was after all your best friend. To think she actually murdered people..." Her voice falters and she shakes her head.

"I can't believe she has always been welcomed in our home for the longest time and we didn't notice anything. People really aren't always what they seem," Mrs. Alex adds as she walks over to the fridge which she opens and pulls out a bottle of water.

Already feeling awkward in the embrace, I pull away and offer a tight-lipped smile, though my heart is anything but happy. Audrey is sweet, Audrey is kind. She never even showed any hint of romantic interest to me. Come to think about it, I don't think I ever noticed her before Ben died.

Then again, that may have been because I never paid much interest to people around me as I kind of assumed them all to be as terrible as Ben and Trixie.

"I kinda had a crush on her," Cherry finally says something since I saw her at the police station. "She has always been super sweet and caring to me. Remember when I was sick and she came here every day and helped take care of me? She ended up sick herself." Cherry lets out a chuckle that sounds coarse and painful.

I roll my tongue in my mouth, not knowing how to process the information.

"I mean, I love Nat to the moon and back, but I felt Drey was just easier to connect with, you know? And now..." She breaks into another round of tears as she buries herself in Mrs. Blue's embrace.

"I can't begin to imagine what you're going through. Do you think we should phone our therapist?" Mrs. Alex offers, but I'm quick to shake my head.

"I don't – I mean, that's a wonderful offer, but I'm not really into therapy." I smile curtly at them.

Yes, I know therapy isn't a bad thing. It's just that I have a lot of things to hide and what happens if the therapist starts sticking their nose into my past and my personal life and then uncovers my relationship with the Supernatural?

I'm pretty sure Raphael is better than any therapist they could find. I'll just make do with talking to him.

"I know therapy sounds scary, but –"

"No!" I insist, then shake my head as I realize how rude I sounded. "I'm sorry. It's just... I have an idea! Cher, why don't we go out tomorrow? Just you and me? A chance to get our minds off the drama? After school, we could go shopping, or see a movie or anything you want."

Cherry lets go of her mom to peer at me, mascara smudged around her eyes. She looks at Mrs. Blue, then at Mrs. Alex, then me.

"I guess that sounds like a good idea, but I will still make appointment for you both to see a professional," Mrs. Alex promises and I shrug, already knowing I just won't cooperate with the idea. She isn't my legal guardian, so she cannot force me to do anything.

I hope!

~~*~~
School the next day is unbearable! Cherry walks in behind me, her hair a mess and her eyes hidden behind sunshades. Uncharacteristically, she put no effort into looking pretty today, and that is totally understandable.

People turn towards us as we walk down the hallway, causing Cherry to sneer in anger, her hand in mine as she seeks comfort. Asher runs up to me, Tony and Allen not to far behind and Cherry lets go of my hand so I can be embraced by my boyfriend.

"I'm so sorry," he murmurs in my ear, "and I'm here if you need anything."

"I'm just gonna go find Nat and Tiff. See you," Cherry gives a half-hearted wave, her voice coarse and cracked. Tony looks torn, but he shakes his head and follows after her, leaving me with Allen and Asher.

"I don't even know what to say!" Allen walks closer to us, his British accent soothing. He takes off his white hat and shakes his head. "Murder? That's bullocks! How're you holding up?"

I shrug in response, leaning against Asher for support as I don't think my legs can hold me up for much longer.

"I just want things to go back to normal," I answer, though I don't even know what normal is anymore.

A small part of me was wishing Sam was wrong and my stalker was simply a harmless secret admirer. I was comfortable with my new friends, having a boyfriend and hanging around with the Angels. Why did this have to happen? Why did my killer have to be in my very circle? Couldn't it have been a random kid I didn't know nor care about?

"The whole of Northview wants that, I'm sure. Everyone is shaken, but you, my friend –" Allen sighs deeply and Asher wraps an arm around my shoulder and squeezes reassuringly. I look up at him and spare him a small smile of gratitude.

"It's funny how life just goes on, you know," Asher notes as he looks around the whole school. Some students are gathered, talking in hushed tones, some are staring at us, no doubt talking about the latest event. Then, there are those who simply don't care enough. They are trying to catch up on assignments and test, or are talking about college applications.

Before the end of tomorrow, the whole discussion would probably die and everyone will go about like this didn't just happen. Everyone but me. I'll have to cope with losing yet another person close to me, though not to death... I don't even know which is worse. Death or this?

"Where's Sam? I want to thank him for saving your life," Asher stares at me, amber eyes glinting with care, worry, affection and a whole lot of emotions. "I don't like him, but I will always be appreciative to him for keeping you safe." He purses his lips and I shrug.

Where is Sam? That's a bloody brilliant question. He simply disappeared into thin air after Drey was apprehended and I haven't seen nor heard from him again. What is he up to? Why did he suddenly leave? When is he coming back? Those are questions I wish I have answers to.

"I don't know," I answer truthfully after contemplation. "Can we just... I don't know. Can we just laugh and pretend like everything is okay? I need some normalcy in my life."

"Pretending not to hurt isn't going to solve any-"

"Allen!" I snap at him and he stops talking and passes me an apologetic stare. "Just... Please?"

He and Asher nod and I smile at them before walking in the direction of my locker, both of them following behind me.

When I stop at the locker, I stare at it, fear gripping me. A part of me expects to find a note inside. Perhaps something that expresses her rage for me figuring her out and locking her in. I shake my head and take a deep breath before putting in my combination and it opens with a click.

Nothing is inside. I'm safe. For now!

"Lockers don't bite."

I jump and squeal at the voice, my heart practically leaps out of my chest. Breathing heavily, we all turn around to find him standing there like all is well with the world.

As usual, he stands out from the crowd in his white apparel. His gloved palms are hidden in his trouser pants which he matches with a turtleneck sweatshirt. Plastered on his annoyingly smooth and flawless face is a huge grin that never fails to make him look predatory.

"I have to say, I love that your fashion statement is daring, but you look like a walking snowman," Allen comments, causing Sam to turn a glare in his direction. "I'm just saying!" Allen raises both hands in surrender.

"You were searching for me," Sam decides to blatantly ignore Allen as he turns to Asher. "I heard you wanted to express your gratitude." A huge smug grin appears on Sam's face and Asher scoffs in response, before his brows narrow as though a thought just came to him.

"How could you have possibly heard that?"

"Oh, poor, naïve Asher Reid. I hear everything about everything that concerns me. Nothing is hidden from this sly Devil, but that's not important." Sam waves it off. "I'm waiting on your gratitude."

"Is he being serious?" Asher turns to me and I chuckle. Even in the midst of chaos, I can always trust Sam to be his usual annoying and cocky self.

It's refreshing.

"Yes, I am. Chop-chop, Asher. The bell is going to ring in the next thirty seconds."

Asher passes Sam an incredulous stare, but Sam refuses to back down, causing Ash to sigh in resignation. There just is no winning the Devil.

"Fine! Thank you for saving Bells' life. I'm glad you were there with her."

"I'm sure you're glad. However, I'll have to admit that I didn't do all the work. Michael was there too." Sam shrugs and I stare wide-eyed at him as to why he would say that.

"Who's Michael?" Allen sounds curious and I groan.

"He's nobody," I am quick to butt in, but my response causes Sam to laugh in amusement.

"Angel, I know all about hating fathers, but you cannot call Michael a nobody. Not especially after he saved your life."

"Wait! Back up!" Allen shakes his head while Ash shares between me and Sam in confusion. "Her father?"

"Yes. Also, my brother." Sam grins widely and I slap my palm against my forehead.

~~~

Sam just has a thing for popping out of nowhere, doesn't he?

How are you enjoying this book so far? Tell me your thoughts via comments.

Love you all. About six or five chapters to go so, stay tuned.