Chapter 9

Good Girl Gone Bad

Angela emerged from her bedroom, and almost ducked back into it when she noticed Fareeha was in the kitchen. Ever since the whole misunderstanding with the dragons brothers, things had been awkward, to say the least, between the two of them. They'd always kind of been, at least from Angela's perspective. She knew an unrequired crush always made things more awkward then they needed to be, but for the last week or so it had been at a whole time high. Angela had mostly been confused by the desperate hug Fareeha had given her. Surely it was only the relieve of finding she, Angela, her good friend, was fine, but Angela couldn't help but read more behind it, only to shake her head and remind herself she was too subjective on the matter.

Finally deciding that she wasn't a coward, and not willing to wait until Fareeha was done with her breakfast, she strode into the kitchen, mustering as much confidence as possible.

Fareeha had been waiting for her toast to jump out of the toaster when she noticed Angela carefully sidling toward the coffee machine. She stepped away from the machine and smiled, but felt she couldn't bring the corner of her lips up without blushing as well. She still felt she shouldn't have hugged Angela, and all those things she'd told Emily while Angela was just standing right beside her...

"Hello, Fareeha," Angela said as she stood on her tiptoes to fetch a mug from the high shelf.

Fareeha tried to reply but the words got stuck in her throat, leaving her to mutter a small:

"Hi."

She quickly exited the kitchen as soon as her toasts were ready, not even glancing at the blond for fear to feel even more embarrassed than usual. Angela, however, didn't even seem to notice Fareeha's strange behavior, too caught up in her own. She knew Fareeha would notice that something was off. Her greeting hadn't been as cheerful as usual, she hadn't even bothered to do small talks.

Angela emerged from the kitchen just as Lena arrived in the dining room. She looked at both of her friends, seating as far away from each other as possible without being across from each other, and she laughed.

"Oh, I'm not taking breakfast with you two. I'll just go take a shower."

As she backtracked in the corridor, Angela and Fareeha exchanged a confused glance, before remembering how embarrassed they were and looking promptly away.


Angela was trying to start her car when Fareeha walked out the door. She didn't bother to lock behind her, seeing as Sombra was sleeping right now, and only a fool would try to break in when Sombra was there. Angela had been desperately turning the key of the ignition for what felt like five good minutes, yet her car wouldn't start at all. Despite her embarrassment, Fareeha wasn't about to let her friend in distress. She walked up to the driver's seat and knocked lightly on the window. Angela had been so much into her problem that she hadn't noticed the taller girl coming to her help, and jumped when knuckles came to rasp on her window.

"Oh Fareeha, it's you..." she said as her brain caught up with the situation.

"Your car has a problem?"

"I don't know."

"Can I look?"

Angela nodded and pulled the lever which opened the hood of her car. Fareeha quickly looked inside, but her limited knowledge on engines turned out to be useless. She closed the hood and said:

"I think your batteries' dead. I don't think we can do much right now."

Angela sighed and opened her door.

"Well, I guess I'll take the bus."

"I can drive you there." Fareeha declared before she could even think it.

She quickly looked away, averting Angela's eyes and scratching the back of her head.

"I mean... if you want to... it's just, we're going to the same place, so..."

Angela was sure she was blushing, and she replied:

"It doesn't bother you?"

"No No!"

"Well, thank you..."

Fareeha finally managed a smile and ran to fetch her motorbike out of the garage. Sombra had left a spot just large enough for her bike, trapping it between the door and a wall of cardboard boxes. She pushed the bike to the sidewalk and picked up two helmets out of the small trunk. She handed the white one to Angela, putting the blue on her own head.

"Ready?"


While Angela would never admit it, she loved riding behind Fareeha on her motorbike. While the helmet and the air passing them swiftly prevented her from seeing much, she relished in the feeling of Fareeha's hot body around her arms. She knew at one point she must have hugged her too tight, and she hoped Fareeha thought it was because she was afraid of falling off.

When they parked in front of the main building, Angela hopped off the bike, smiling so brightly Fareeha could even see it through the helmet's visor. She propped her vehicle up and climbed off. She instantly helped Angela take her helmet off, and their fingers brush. Angela quickly moved her hands as if she'd been electrocuted.

Fareeha took the helmet off the blond's head and Angela quickly straightened her hair while Fareeha wasn't looking. The taller girl took off her own helmet and Angela declared:

"Thank you Fareeha."

"Oh, it was nothing..."

Both girls stared at each other for a good minute before Angela realized that she should be going to the lab.

"I... I'll see you later..."

"Yeah..."

As Angela walked away, Fareeha couldn't help but feel stupid. She should have wished her a good day!

Just as Fareeha was about to roll her motorbike to an empty parking spot, a strong arm encircled her shoulders, preventing her from moving. Zarya chuckled strongly and shook her lightly.

"Have you finally asked her?"

"No..." Fareeha confessed, embarrassed.

"Well, what are you waiting for, my friend? You need to ask her!"

Zarya finally let go of her smaller friend, and they made their way to the parking lot, Fareeha pushing almost carelessly her bike.

"But what if she says no?" Fareeha asked.

"Believe me, she won't. How about you ask her during lunchtime? I'll come with you if you're afraid."

"Lunch time?" Fareeha's voice quivered at the thought alone.

"Come on! Are you a wolf or a mouse? I know you can do it!"

Fareeha nodded once, determined.

"You know what, you're right. It's time I do something."

Zarya clapped her on the back with a chuckle.

"Finally! She will say yes, do not worry! I know it."


Angela had been seating at her desk for less than five minutes when Mei arrived in turn. The shorter girl placed her backpack on her desk and turned to Angela with a bright smile.

"I saw you arriving with Fareeha this morning! Have you forgotten to tell me something?"

Angela's face turned red, and she glared at Mei.

"My car wouldn't turn on this morning so she drove me here. That's it."

Mei crossed her arms, her smile falling.

"Well, in this case, I'm disappointed."

"Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

As usual, Angela spent most of her morning testing her subjects. While the board had been happy with her results at the end of the first semester, they asked that she focused on regrowing the mice's legs before the end of the year. She'd found more three-legged mice and so far only two had died because she'd overdose them too much. She'd found regrowing bones was for more difficult then heal flesh and muscle.

By midday, she was typing the results on her computer when Zarya walked in to give Mei her lunch. She barely spared them a glance, too caught up in what her own researches. Suddenly, someone cleared their throat to get her attention, and she looked up. Fareeha was standing there, a plastic bag in hand. She'd come to deliver Angela her lunch at least once a week since December.

"Oh, Hello Fareeha."

"Sorry to bother you but can we talk? In private if possible."

Angela felt the determination in her voice and nodded. She feared for a second she'd done something wrong. She could feel her legs shaking when she stood up, and followed Fareeha in the corridor, just outside the wooden door.

Fareeha passed a hand in her hair as Angela waited, looking just as nerve-wracked as the taller girl.

"I never thought I would have to do this, but things have changed and I..."

Fareeha stopped herself when she realized that she was about to ramble. She took in a deep breath and declared:

"I like you a lot, Angela I always have, ever since that day you sat down on the lawn right next to the basketball field to work on your essay. So, hum, would you like, I don't know, to get a drink after class or something?"

Angela's brain was working so quickly that it went blank. Probably a power surge between her neurons. She remembered seating on the lawn, yes, but she wasn't working on her essay at all she'd been staring at Fareeha. And Fareeha... liked her? A lot? She had to remember to breathe before and swallow before she spoke or she would probably make a fool of herself.

"How about tonight?" she managed to let out.

Fareeha smile was so bright it rivaled with the neons on the ceiling.

"Sure, it's a date. I'll wait for you at home."

"A date."

"Yeah, I'll see you tonight."

Angela truly wanted to speak of details and plan something, only Fareeha pressed a kiss on her cheek.

"Bye Angela."

"Bye..."

Angela had no idea if Fareeha's curse gave her the ability to stop time, but that was what she felt after Fareeha kissed her. She stood in the hallway, frozen in place, with a stupid smile on her face, for what felt like an eternity, until the door beside her opened and almost hit her in the face.

"Angela?"

Mei stood in front of her and shook her lightly.

"Are you okay?"

"I don't know."

Mei let out an exasperated sigh. She took Angela's arm and dragged her back inside.


After that eventful noon, Angela spent the rest of the day working, focused on data, and models, and such, until Mei shook her out of her focus, to warn her that it was already six thirty and that she should go home to get ready for her date. Angela felt her heart beat twice as fast before missing a beat at the thought. She had a date with Fareeha tonight. Not a friendly dinner or a girl's night out, but a date. Suddenly she was almost tempted to stay in the lab and work all night. But she managed to convince herself it would be fine, and she made her way to the closest bus stop. She knew Fareeha had finished class earlier today and should probably be home by now.

While in the bus, Fareeha sent her a text. She said she'd found a nice bar for their date tonight unless Angela would prefer to go somewhere else. Angela found herself taking three good minutes to find the perfect reply.

Angela "Sure, no problem, sounds nice."

Fareeha replied quickly:

Fareeha "Cool. I'll come pick you at home by seven thirty?"

Angela frowned.

Angela "You're not home?"

Fareeha "No I had some things to do this afternoon."

Angela "Well I'll join you there, just send me the address."

Fareeha "How? Your car is still busted, remember?"

Angela pursed her lips. In truth she was so nervous she was afraid of spending more time than necessary with Fareeha.

Angela "I'll ask Sombra, don't worry."

Fareeha "Alright, well, see you later."

Angela "See you later."

After almost missing her stop, Angela made it home, her heart beating at a random rhythm, changing every few seconds. She stepped inside and rushed to her bedroom, so quickly Lena, who'd been watching TV, wasn't sure whether her blond friend was home, or a new ghost had moved in, one with a door fetish.

Angela locked her door, not sure what good it would do, and threw her bag and jacket on her desk chair. She stood still in the middle of her room and took a deep breath to calm herself. This would not do. She needed to be calm if she wanted to make this date successful. And she wanted to, right? She glanced at her phone. No new message from Fareeha, and still forty-five minutes to get ready. She moved with confidence to her full body mirror and looked at herself. There was something utterly wrong about her reflection, although she couldn't quite place it. Was it her messy ponytail, which she needed to redo before going out? Was it her size, always too small for her liking? Was it her usual blue eyes that her reflection showed blood red, like two burning coal? Yes, that had to be it. She frowned and moved closer to the mirror.

Her reflection, however, stood still, and as soon as Angela noticed it she took a few steps away from the reflective glass. She felt a ball of anxiety fall in her stomach as if she had swallowed liquid nitrogen. This was not good. Either she was going crazy or...

"Hey there, looking good!" her reflection suddenly declared, and Angela moved even farther from the mirror.

"Don't go, I'm here to help!"

She blinked a few times, utterly stupefied. Even long ungodly hours of work had never had that effect on her. Hallucinations.

"Oh come on, say something! I'm not gonna bite unless you want me to..."

"What..."

She sat on her bed, but still, her reflection didn't follow. It was her, no doubt. Same old clothes, same old face, but red burning eyes. She was still standing, and her eyes were on her. Angela averted her gaze and pressed the back of her hand on her forehead. She wasn't feverish, at least she didn't feel hot.

"Did I fall asleep in the lab?" she muttered to herself.

"Oh, you did not. You are not dreaming, you are not hallucinating. Now if you would please listen, I have other businesses to attend to."

Angela looked back at the mirror. Her reflection looked exasperated at best.

"Who are you?" she finally decided to ask.

"I'm what is commonly known as a Succubus."

"A demon?"

Angela couldn't believe it. There was a demon in her mirror. Why was there a demon in her mirror? She should probably get Sombra right now before the end of their conversation.

"Like I said, I'm here to help."

"I don't need your help..."

"That's not what I gathered. From where I'm standing, you got a date with a pretty girl, but you're going to blow it. Without my help anyway."

Angela was about to reply that it was not true when her heart constricted as if to tell her otherwise.

"Why would I want your help?"

"Like I need to answer that! Come on girl, do you know how often a demon is going to propose to help?! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Angela crossed her arms, mirroring her reflection's pose. Was it really a good idea, to ask for the help of a demon? She didn't know. Sombra would. Her brain was screaming at her to fetch the Latina, but still, she didn't make any move to do so. On principal demons were supposed to be bad, but this one seemed to genuinely want to help. Cautiously she asked:

"What would you do, if I let you help me?"

"Well, I'll help you kiss the girl, for one thing."

Angela blushed uncontrollably at the thought. That was a strange end goal, to say the least.

"How?" she stammered. She tried as much as she could to not think about Fareeha kissing her, with her strong arms around her waist and...

"I'll give you what you need. Confidence. You'll be able to speak easily with her. No awkward moments. I'll even make you smooth as silk, you'll charm her in a blink. So, what do you say, friend?"

"I don't know... how would this work?"

"What do you mean how? We make a deal and I'll make you awesome."

"Yeah, but, is it a charm or something I need to wear on me, or are you going to enchant me, or is it something else?"

She really should a second opinion on this, she knew, but who could help her? There was someone who knew that kind of things, right? But who was it again? The demon seemed rather bothered by her questions.

"How about: You'll found out once we've made a deal?"

She looked back at her reflection, and those coal eyes staring back at her.

"Alright, it's a deal."

"Good. Now place your hand on the mirror please, I need to seal our deal."

Angela obeyed, but as soon as she touched the surfaced she pulled her hand away. The mirror was burning, not cool like it was supposed to be. She looked at her hand and found that it was not burned.

"And we have a deal. I'll keep in touch."

It was as if a veil had been taken away from her mirror. The demon disappeared, and only her own reflection stared back at her, both confused and anxious. She truly hoped she had not made a mistake.

The next second she felt her head spinning, and thousands of dots, like grains of sands, appeared before her eyes. She tried to hold onto her bed but fell beside it instead. There was an awful beeping sound in her ears, and she felt her stomach had been tied in a knot. She closed her eyes, more by instinct than anything. She felt tired, so tired, and even her mind, screaming her to wake up, was not enough. She passed out on her bedroom floor, sweating from discomfort and not feeling what was breaking through her skin.


Fareeha came running back home by eight, after waiting for at least half an hour in front of the bar and calling worriedly and repeatedly Angela. In the end, she'd call Jesse, who had assured her Genji hadn't begun stealing girls away again. When that hadn't been the answer she'd been waiting for, she'd rushed home as quickly as she could, and barged through the door, scaring Lena who was still in front of the TV.

"Jesus Christ Fareeha! Why do you have to break the door for?!" The Brit shouted as she tried to calm her heart.

"Is Angela here?"

"Yeah. I mean she came home quickly and locked herself up in her room, but yeah, she's here."

Fareeha spared her shorter friend only a glance, noticing instantly the air shimmering beside her, meaning she was watching TV with Gabe. She ran in the hallway under the curious gaze of her friend, and knock strongly at Angela's door.

"Angela? Please open! We don't have to go on a date if you don't want to but just open. I just want to make sure you're here, and you're fine. Angela?!"

She knocked again, but still, the blond didn't answer. She sighed, ready to give up and wait for the next day to talk to the blond, when the air vibrated beside her, indicating her that Gabe had teleported by her side.

"I don't know what she's doing in there, but it's dark."

She frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I can feel it. You probably can too, if you focus. The air is heavy and cold. There's an evil entity inside her room."

Fareeha managed to calm herself just a second, but it was enough to confirm what Gabriel was telling her. And it was enough for Fareeha. She took a step back and kicked the door down as if it were nothing. The lock exploded in a bunch of metal pieces, taking a big chunk of the wood with it. Instantly Fareeha found Angela's form unconscious, on the ground. At first, though, she didn't think it was her. It was the right size and the right skin color. But it was ink black hair, like hers, that was attached in a familiar ponytail. It was a pair of fiery orange horns that pointed on either side of her skull. Hadn't Fareeha recognized her face she would have thought it was a completely different person.

She was about to shake her awake, but Gabriel stopped her.

"Wait! She's been possessed by a demon. As soon as she wakes up it will take possession of her, and probably teleport away."

"So what should I do?"

"Well, I would suggest Sombra, but she's on a date. So is Jesse... I guess I'll have to do, for once. Find some salt, and make a circle around her with it."

Fareeha nodded and ran to the kitchen, her combat boots clacking against the floor. She threw the cabinet door open and got a hold of a large bag of salt. She now understood why Sombra had bought such a large bag of it. She came back to Angela's room, and fortunately, the other girl hadn't move. She emptied the bag on the floor around her, taking a step back once she was done. It looked more like an elliptical shape rather than a circle, but it would have to do.

"Now what?"

"Now wake her up, but be ready to jump out of the circle. Also, don't let yourself be fooled. It isn't Angela in there, remember."

She nodded and took a careful step inside the circle. She kneeled and shook Angela lightly. She couldn't help but call her name as she did so:

"Angela? Angela wake up?"

The other girl frowned, then finally opened her eyes. Fareeha was once again struck by how blue they were, and she had to force herself to let the former blond go and step away from the circle. Angela quickly regained consciousness and looked around.

"Fareeha? What is going on?"

Fareeha pursed her lips and chose to stay silent. Gabriel had warned it wasn't her, yet it sounded so much like her.

"Did I miss our date? Oh no, I'm so sorry! I don't what happened, I must have fainted... I'm so sorry, you must have been so worried when I didn't show up."

Fareeha looked down, just about to cry. Was it really a demon speaking, or was it her friend, her crush. She wanted to rush up to her, take her in her arms and tell her it was okay, as long as she was fine, that they would fix this mess together.

Gabriel frowned. This wasn't what was suppose to happen, he knew for a fact. The demon was supposed to have completely taken over Angela, for once, meaning red eyes and small, spike-like horns on her forehead, and a tail. She didn't possess any of those. Plus, the demon would have been struggling to get out of the salt circle, crying about how painful it was and begging them to let them out. But Angela wasn't.

"Fareeha... I don't know what's up, but this is Angela."

Both girls looked at the ghost.

"What do you mean?" the taller girl asked, confused.

"Well, she isn't acting like she's been possessed. I think it failed."

"What are you talking about?" Angela asked, slightly annoyed by the situation.

For only answer, she felt Fareeha's arms wrapped protectively around her, as she hugged her as strongly as she could.

"It's okay, I'll explain later."

Angela froze for a good minute before she hugged Fareeha back. Gabriel continued to stare at the two of them before he decided to leave them alone, and return to the TV. He'll have to talk about it with Sombra once she got home.

When both girls separated, Angela instantly began to ramble:

"Again, I'm so sorry I missed our date. I mean I was a bit scared but I wouldn't blow it on purpose! And I just wanted to say, I like you a lot too. I wanted you to notice so I went to watch you play basketball. I wasn't actually working on anything because I couldn't focus when you were there."

Fareeha only smiled, a passed a thumb over Angela's cheek.

"So, how about another first date, tomorrow night?" Angela suggested.

"Sure, why not. I mean, we still need to fix you up, but..."

"Fix me up, what are you..."

Angela turned around and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was so stunned she fell back Fareeha's arms.

"What happened?! Why do I have horns?! And my hair..."

She tentatively touched the base of one of her horns. Fareeha shrugged, still smiling.

"I'm sure we can fix it. I mean I never thought I'd see you in another color than blond, but I have to say, you look beautiful either way."

Angela turned around, her blue eyes losing themselves in Fareeha's dark eyes. She knew her cheeks were flushed, but she didn't care. Where she ever found the courage to lean forward and stand on her tiptoes, she didn't know. But the next second, their lips met, delicately at first. Fareeha placed a hand on Angela's waist, the other still carefully combing through the silky hair.

Angela was sure she had died and gone to heaven, no matter what those horns on her head meant. Unless it was a sick jock and she would soon be in hell, but even then she didn't care. She could die happy, knowing she'd kiss Fareeha.

When both girls separated, Fareeha instantly noticed how everything had changed. Angela's horns were gone, and her blond hair was back to normal. She looked stunned, but before Angela could ask why, Fareeha turned her around, until they were both looking at their reflection in the mirror. While Angela was happy to see herself back to normal, she couldn't help but complain:

"True love's kiss, really? That was the answer?"

Fareeha smiled almost stupidly.

"True love?"

Angela only turned around and smiled.

"Why wouldn't it be?"

She leaned forward, and Fareeha was all too happy to reciprocate the kiss.


A/N: Hi guys! So I watched almost the entire first three matches last night, but I was so tired and it was so unbearable that I went to bed. I'm gonna watch the end of France/China and USA/South Korea right after posting this chapter! Thankfully today's matches are taking place earlier than yesterday's! Anyway, I wanted to thank Derrin Errow for the review! I'm glad you liked the end of the double chapter, it was one of my favorites. As I'm speaking the story still has 4 chapters left, meaning by Thrusday I'll post the last one. In the meantime, I'll see you all on monday!