Chapter Fifty-Seven: Wontons Sound Great

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On Wednesday afternoon, I find myself with Raphael who was nice enough to pop in and check up on me. Together, we stroll in the direction of Cherry's home.

Raphael is unseen to the crowd, and that is a good thing as he is sure to draw attention in his flowing garment that is so not from this century and his long hair that seems to fly behind him even without the aid of the wind.

I follow beside him, palms tucked in the pockets of my grey pants, my thoughts racing. I haven't had time to talk with Tony alone and Sam hasn't showed up. Somehow, despite all the work piling up on my schedule, I find that my days have been somewhat bleak without Sam's presence.

There's just something about the Devil that is so comforting and now, he's gone.

On the plus side, my stalker is yet to make an appearance. It's just as though whoever he is, he has decided to lay low and while I should find comfort in this, the mere thought of it sends my heart racing.

It feels like the calm before a huge storm.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Raphael speaks up and I look up at him to find him staring down at me.

Suddenly, without even taking his eyes off of me, Raphael reaches over and pulls me closer to him and in confusion, I stare around, only to notice he just saved me from walking face-first into a pole.

I am about to ask him how he did that, considering he wasn't even paying attention to the road either, but I shake my head as I recall he's an Angel.

"Uhm... Thanks," I manage and he lets go of me and returns his attention to the road. "I'm just scared and have a lot on my mind. I wish Sam was here."

"Well, I'm not Lu, but I am just as smart and comforting." Raphael looks down at me and spares me the biggest and brightest disarming grin and I cannot help but chuckle in response.

"I just..." I blow out deeply through my mouth in order to gather my nerves. "Why isn't my stalker doing anything? Was my almost death enough to make him back down? How is aunt Natasha doing? I know this is really random but I just started thinking about her this morning. What is going to be her fate? And am I barely going to see Sam anymore? That sounds rather unfair. Michael is being a big and annoying baby right now. My grades are slipping. I got a B plus and I'm supposed to be a straight A student. I'm going to fail, then I'm going to live under the bridge somewhere in –"

"Breathe!" Raphael suddenly interrupts me; his tone commanding and I obey him as I realize I have started to become a little out of breath.

"You have a lot on your plate, but you're strong. You can handle it. Angels have a whole lot more work to carry out and we do without breaking down, and you're half-Angel so I know you have strength in you. I believe in you. Also, I think what Michael and Lu need is a mediator. They have been at war for centuries, it's exhausting. They clearly miss each other but are too stubborn to adm – don't look at me like that!" Raphael suddenly pouts at someone above me. Someone I cannot see.

Of course! Michael is here and he won't even talk to me. Does he think he can avoid a conversation with me forever?

"Ignore him. They need a mediator and you're the only one I know of who can – hey! Maybe that was God's intention all along. I mean, why else would he call off your Guardian Angel knowing the Devil was lurking in the corner? I can't get through to Lu, but he has a soft spot for you."

I hum and roll my tongue in my mouth as I try to digest the new information. Was this God's plan for me all along? Was everything planned out? Did people really have to die just because God wanted the Angels to reconcile? I don't think so. In fact, since hanging with Sam, I have since started to doubt whether or not God is really getting involved in our lives.

Perhaps he set things in motion eons ago and has since settled back and is now watching how everything plays out. Maybe there's no greater picture, no purpose for humans, nothing. I don't know. Nothing really makes sense anymore.

"And about your aunt... You really shouldn't be bothering yourself about her. She's safe in a correction facility. Just focus on your grades and your social circle like typical teens should."

I smile at the Angel, finding ease in his presence. There's just something that is so peaceful about Raphael, a great part of me suddenly believes that truly, everything is going to be okay.

I want to offer gratitude to him for showing up, but I suddenly hear my name and I turn around to find Tony waving at me as he tries to weave through pedestrians to get to me.

"I take this as my cue to leave. See you later, Bells. I'll try to find Lu." Without waiting for a response, Raphael walks away until he completely fades out of sight.

Tony catches up with me, a weird expression on his face as he stares at me, causing me to raise a brow at him.

"Why were you talking to yourself?" He enquires as he narrows his eyes at me in suspicion and I let out an awkward chuckle as it dawns on me just how crazy I must have looked, having a conversation with someone only me can see.

What if all the people we lock away for being crazy aren't actually crazy but are just on a different plane as us?

Bells, now is not the time for random thoughts. You have midnight when you're trying to fall asleep for that. Now is the time to think of an excuse to give your friend who probably thinks you're slowly losing your marbles.

"I was uhm... I was reciting the lines to a play we're planning. Yes. I'm thinking of auditioning. I mean, it'll be great to stand before the crowd and perform." My voice breaks at the end, but thankfully, Tony doesn't notice.

His eyes are wide and bright with excitement as he stares at me with a huge smile on his face. Before I can react, he has wrapped his arms around me and he pulls me into a tight embrace, pulling me off my feet.

"I'm so proud of you! Also, Allen was telling me that he wanted to convince you to act in the play. He's going to be so happy when he hears this." Tony lets go of me and smiles proudly before taking my palm in his and walking forward. "So, where are you headed?"

"I was on my way to Cherry's actually."

He suddenly stops in his tracks and shakes his head.

"I have a better idea. We can head down to that new Chinese restaurant everyone's been talking about and get some amazing noodles. I'm in the mood for noodles. Or wontons. Yes. Wontons sound great." He quickly turns in the opposite direction, pulling me along and I chuckle.

"Really? Are you going to avoid her forever? I think you both need to talk because nothing makes sense. She says you stole her boyfriend; you say she's the one who left Allen. This issue cannot be left unresolved."

I love Allen and Tony and I also love Cherry and the girls. It would be awesome if we could all be one big happy clique.

"I love you, baby girl and I mean no disrespect, but your best friend is clearly deluded. She has her head in a pink cloud and I hold no interest in getting wrapped up in that. Let's just stick to wontons for now." Anthony offers me a smile and gets a pout in return.

I guess the dream to become a clique is completely off the table then.

"I didn't know there was a new restaurant though," I note and he passes me an incredulous stare that makes me smile sheepishly at him.

What can I say? I'm not one to follow trend so I don't know of the new anything in town.

"Aren't you following Northview Feed?"

"I lost my phone," I tell him and his stare becomes apologetic as he continues to lead to towards the restaurant.

We walk in silence until we arrive at the place which is packed full with people who are mostly taking selfies than are ordering.

Confidently, Tony walks in and is greeted by a waiter who waves at him. He leads me to a booth by the window close to the door and we both settle in.

"The manager loves me. Says I helped her gain recognition so most of my meals here are totally free. It's good to be popular."

Soon, we have plates of wontons before us and I stare at the chopsticks, wondering how to use them. Tony who was just taking a picture of the meal sets his phone down and raises a brow at me.

"There's a reason they served you with forks too." He gestures to the cutlery before me and I nod.

"I know, I know. I just thought it would be cool to use the chopsticks." I sigh in defeat as the chopsticks slip from my grip and fall into my plate. "Can you show me how?"

Tony laughs and shakes his head, his blond hair swaying across his forehead.

"I'll be damned if I know how to use this." He shoves the chopsticks aside and picks up a fork. "Anyway, you wanted to spend some time with me, right? What's on your mind?"

"What if I just wanted to spend time with you?" I query as I take a bite of the food and let out a moan of pure delight as I take another huge bite. "Jesus! What do they put in these? It's amazing!" I take yet another bite, not caring that I'm not giving myself enough time to swallow.

"Slow down there." Tony looks worried. "Calm down, swallow and tell me what the matter is. I just know there's something bothering you. Is this about the stalker? It's definitely about the stalker."

Reluctantly, I set my fork down and swallow the food in my mouth before nodding. I reach for the glass of water and down half its content.

"Indeed. I just figured... You always have your camera on, so it's possible that you may have seen something. Maybe you caught someone lurking in your locker."

Tony hums and picks up his phone again and moves closer to me so we can both peer into the screen.

"My camera isn't here with me, but most of the pics are here anyway. Oh look, that's me and Allen being cute... Oh, that's us again... And that's Ash. He's training so hard these days. A video. Let's play this one," he mutters as he taps play and I note for the first time that he has white nail polish coating his nails.

Nothing much is happening in the video. It seems as though Tony is holding the camera and waiting for it to catch something. It is in the hallway which is deserted.

"It was during a class. Can't recall which. I was totally hoping to catch people making out in the hallway. I also wanted solid proof that our hall monitor is a total slack. Just keep watching."

He is grinning excitedly and I hum and stare into the screen. It is silent for a while, but the camera suddenly turns at the sound of footsteps.

"Tony?" A soft feminine voice calls in uncertainty and the camera suddenly lands on Audrey's face. Her brunette hair is falling all around her shoulders and strands stick to her sweaty face. Her green eyes dart behind the camera and back to it.

"Drey. What are you doing out here?" Tony's voice sounds, but Drey waves him off.

"Take that thing off my face, will you. I left something in my locker. Bye." The camera moves suddenly and Tony can be heard making a grunting sound.

"Bye!" He calls out and the camera moves again as Tony walks away.

"This is where I caught the hall monitor making out with Brit-"

"Go back," I interrupt Tony, not at all excited to see a make-out session. He lets out a disappointed sigh, but he backtracks the video so Audrey's face is in the camera again.

I watch it play all over and just when she reaches out to move the camera from her face, I reach over and tap the screen, causing the video to pause.

"Can you zoom in?" I question and he nods and does just that. "Towards her other hand. Yes! Stop."

"What exactly are we looking at here?" Tony raises a brow at me and I point at his screen. Although the picture is blurred, the pattern on the red wrap is one that I can recognize even in my sleep.

"It's not very visible, but look! That looks like a present and it's covered with a red gift-wrap which means..." I trail off as realization dawns on me. "No! No, this can't be."

I shake my head, my heart pounding in my chest and my pulse ringing in my ears. It makes no sense. I refuse for it to make sense. My eyes have to be deceiving me.

I squint harder, trying to make sense of it all, but the proof is before me and it is undeniable.

"Yes, that is a present. What's your point?" Tony looks oblivious to my inner turmoil.

"I received a chocolate and a –" I trail off, words failing me and my breath coming up short.

I still remember the wordings of the note. I can still smell the fragrance of the box, as though it was thoughtfully and delicately sprayed; perhaps a romantic gesture.

"A chocolate bar for my favourite dear," the note had read. How could I forget?

"Audrey is my stalker!"

~~~

I managed to get a little writing done this morning. Yay!

Okay, time to travel. See you all in a couple of days. I'll try to drop an update before Thursday.

Remember to vote and comment. I love y'all