*** A/N - Hey again. :) Computer's finally fixed! Please, keep reading. Yes, Treble Charger is a real group, check out http://www.treblecharger.com for more info. (They're a completely kick ass Canadian group, if you didn't know, whom I've seen, proudly, twice. :)) If anyone objects to me using them, please email me, and I'll make something up. Also, please note the reference to Of Mice and Men, by Jim Steinbeck. Those characters are (C) him, and the publishers of that book! -FF ***
-- Chapter 4 --
Angel leaned over the sink, glaring at her own reflection. "Pull yourself together. How are you going to make an impression on people looking like this?" She didn't even realize she was talking to herself until a younger girl came out of one of the stalls, eyeing her cautiously. "Sorry. Didn't realize any one was in here." The girl washed her hands quickly, and disappeared, shaking her head slightly. Angel bit one of her nails gently, not enough to break it off, but enough to leave faint white scratchmarks on the surface. "It's just you and me now, baby. And maybe Ephram." She placed a hand on her belly, hoping to feel any type of movement, but it was still far too early. "Well. Guess we should get back out there then?" She glanced absently at her watch. 8:40. 15 minutes and counting til her 'appearance'. She ran her hand under cold water, and rubbed her eyes, hoping to get rid of the redness.
Ephram was leaning against the wall just outside the door, taking her into his arms when Angel came out. "I saw what happened. I'm sorry."
Angel clung tightly to him, but briefly, pulling away before you could really call it a hug. "It's not your fault. I've been the new kid before. I'll get over it. I have my secret weapon." She pulled her discman out of her purse, and laughed softly. It sounded more than a little forced, and she gave up. "Treble Charger."
"Eww, Canadian music." They laughed, the bell ringing loudly. "Do you wanna meet for lunch, or no?"
"Sure. Just for the first little while, until I can ditch you." Angel smiled playfully. "Eph?" He raised his eyebrows, his blue eyes snapping to attention. "Nevermind."
"Alright..." They seperated, heading off to their classes. Lunch came and went faster than the two expected. It was peaceful, and quiet for once in both their lives, and for the most part they ate in silence, sharing endless story with their eyes. Ephram told her about Nina, and the baby, Angel groaning the whole time. "Gross." was the only thing she could managed afterwards.
"Hey, it's you next."
Angel stuck out her tongue, and shook her head. "I would so much rather not." She laughed, then sighed softly. "I didn't plan this, you know. 16, pregnant, and so far from home."
"Neither did I." Ephram said softly. Before either of them said anything else, the bell rang.
*** ***
The week passed almost uneventfully. Angel managed to keep her secret from the general school population, and she was glad Ephram was here, rather than anyone else. She argued on and off with her father and his new girlfriend, and made the school choir, as lead solo. It caused a few tensions among older members, but eventually calmed. Slowly, her jeans began to fit less, and less well, until finally, the top button wouldn't do up, and she traded them in for track pants more often.
"I don't give a damn about your little Ephram friend. If you come in late one more time, you're out. I'll send you back to New York fast enough to make your head spin." Her father yelled.
"You know what? Enough shit. You don't want me, I don't want to be here. Why don't you just let me get my own place? Or move in with someone?" Angel didn't want to yell anymore, and she didn't. Pleadingly, she searched her father's face for any kind of reaction from across the table.
"You make the arrangments, and I don't really care what the hell you do." Angel raced up the stairs, packing a few clothes into a bag, and ran out the door, not even bothering the close the inside one. She tugged her coat on as she raced down the street, heading for Ephram's, since the two had planned on walking together today anyways. The two had regained their closeness in the past few days, and she'd made friends with Andy as well.
"You're early." Andy met Angel at the door with a hug, letting her in. "Delia's eatting in the kitchen, and Ephram's in the shower."
"He promised he wouldn't start without me though." She smiled sweetly, and slipped into the kitchen before he could say anything. "Morning." She rustled Delia's hair, and perched beside her. Ephram wandered in, wearing only his boxers, hair still dripping slowly, tracing a line between his shoulder blades. He ducked into the fridge before noticing anyone. "How many ribs do you think you can count on his side?" Angel whispered.
Delia giggled, and tilted her head slightly, counting to herself. "I see... eight!" Delia wasn't nearly as quiet as Angel was. Ephram jumped, spraying milk everywhere. The jug hit the floor with a hollow thud, a neat, white puddle collecting in front of it. The two died, nearly falling out of their chairs with laughter.
"That was talented!" Angel finally whispered, between gales of laughter. She wiped a tear from her face, still giggling rather loudly. "Good morning, Ephram."
"Hi, Angel. You're early." He set the nearly empty jug on the counter, and searched through a cupboard for a towel to clean it up with. "Eight what?"
"Ribs." Delia said simply, going back to her bowl of cereal. "Do you plan on getting dressed, or are you going to stand around in your underwear all day?" A horn beeped outside, Delia's bus. She disappeared quickly, leaving her half-empty bowl on the island.
Angel took it over to the sink, dumping, rising, and quickly wiping it. She set it back in the cupboard, the motion almost second nature to her. She paused in front of the window, arms crossed in front of her. Ephram left, and reappeared after dressing quickly. "It's almost like we were back in New York." she said after a moment.
Ephram didn't respond. "We should get going." He finally managed to force out, his voice barely above a whisper.
*** ***
"What do you think Mr. Steinbeck was trying to symbolize with the act of shoot Lennie like he did?" Mr. Klein was seated behind his desk, holding up his own little copy of the novella. "Angel?"
"He was compairing Lennie to the dog. He was showing how the two are alike in their misery, how everyone thought they needed to be put down." Angel muttered, doodling absently on her notebook.
"An excellent theory. Your such a bright young girl, Angel, you should speak up much more in class." There were a few snickers around her, and one soft comment that Angel couldn't hear, but knew it was better that she didn't. Instead, she just sent a glare of poison in the general direction of the voice.
The teacher went on talking, lecturing, and letting off his own theories. Suddenly, from muffled deep in her bag, a cellphone rang. She quickly dug it out, eyes pausing on the caller ID briefly. Unknown Name, Long Distance. "Corey." She whispered, and flew from her seat into the hall. "Hello?" She didn't even breath, her voice just occured.
"Hey, Angel baby. How goes?" She knew the voice only too well.
"Corey."
"You called?"
"Your damn right I called. Ten or twelve times I called. Where have you been?" Angel was nearly shouting, and she struggled to keep her voice down.
"I've been out. Partying. Trying to forget about our, 'little problem.'" There were soft voiced in the background. It sounded more like a TV then any company he may have.
"Forget?! And your leaving me to live with it? It's not just my baby, Corey. You were involved in the process too. Are you stoned?"
"Maybe just a little bit." Angel heart sank to the pit of her gut. She knew there was no one he'd get off it this time, and she couldn't stomach the thought of him dying.
"I found Ephram. He lives here, in Everwood."
"No shit."
"Well, I'm sorry, I forgot. My dad kicked me out this morning. I got no where else to go." Angel whispered finally, sinking back against a locker.
"So come home." Corey's voice was surprisingly sincere. "I don't like no having you here anymore. I forgot how well you took care of me."
"That's because I love you." Angel felt a tear fall from her eye, and down her cheek. "Why don't you come here? We could find an apartment together. I could drop out of school and get a job..."
"No. Your going to finish high school. Give me a week or so, to loose the apartment, and get some cash."
Angel was silent for a moment, sliding down a locker, crossing her legs underneath her. "Really?" she whispered after a moment, glancing around. The teacher hadn't even followed her out. "No more weed. No more coke. Nothing. Promise me."
"I promise. I love you." He hung up before she could say anything. Angel dropped her phone back into her purse, and sat back against the locker, eyes closed. Then, softly at first, she began to cry.
-- Chapter 4 --
Angel leaned over the sink, glaring at her own reflection. "Pull yourself together. How are you going to make an impression on people looking like this?" She didn't even realize she was talking to herself until a younger girl came out of one of the stalls, eyeing her cautiously. "Sorry. Didn't realize any one was in here." The girl washed her hands quickly, and disappeared, shaking her head slightly. Angel bit one of her nails gently, not enough to break it off, but enough to leave faint white scratchmarks on the surface. "It's just you and me now, baby. And maybe Ephram." She placed a hand on her belly, hoping to feel any type of movement, but it was still far too early. "Well. Guess we should get back out there then?" She glanced absently at her watch. 8:40. 15 minutes and counting til her 'appearance'. She ran her hand under cold water, and rubbed her eyes, hoping to get rid of the redness.
Ephram was leaning against the wall just outside the door, taking her into his arms when Angel came out. "I saw what happened. I'm sorry."
Angel clung tightly to him, but briefly, pulling away before you could really call it a hug. "It's not your fault. I've been the new kid before. I'll get over it. I have my secret weapon." She pulled her discman out of her purse, and laughed softly. It sounded more than a little forced, and she gave up. "Treble Charger."
"Eww, Canadian music." They laughed, the bell ringing loudly. "Do you wanna meet for lunch, or no?"
"Sure. Just for the first little while, until I can ditch you." Angel smiled playfully. "Eph?" He raised his eyebrows, his blue eyes snapping to attention. "Nevermind."
"Alright..." They seperated, heading off to their classes. Lunch came and went faster than the two expected. It was peaceful, and quiet for once in both their lives, and for the most part they ate in silence, sharing endless story with their eyes. Ephram told her about Nina, and the baby, Angel groaning the whole time. "Gross." was the only thing she could managed afterwards.
"Hey, it's you next."
Angel stuck out her tongue, and shook her head. "I would so much rather not." She laughed, then sighed softly. "I didn't plan this, you know. 16, pregnant, and so far from home."
"Neither did I." Ephram said softly. Before either of them said anything else, the bell rang.
*** ***
The week passed almost uneventfully. Angel managed to keep her secret from the general school population, and she was glad Ephram was here, rather than anyone else. She argued on and off with her father and his new girlfriend, and made the school choir, as lead solo. It caused a few tensions among older members, but eventually calmed. Slowly, her jeans began to fit less, and less well, until finally, the top button wouldn't do up, and she traded them in for track pants more often.
"I don't give a damn about your little Ephram friend. If you come in late one more time, you're out. I'll send you back to New York fast enough to make your head spin." Her father yelled.
"You know what? Enough shit. You don't want me, I don't want to be here. Why don't you just let me get my own place? Or move in with someone?" Angel didn't want to yell anymore, and she didn't. Pleadingly, she searched her father's face for any kind of reaction from across the table.
"You make the arrangments, and I don't really care what the hell you do." Angel raced up the stairs, packing a few clothes into a bag, and ran out the door, not even bothering the close the inside one. She tugged her coat on as she raced down the street, heading for Ephram's, since the two had planned on walking together today anyways. The two had regained their closeness in the past few days, and she'd made friends with Andy as well.
"You're early." Andy met Angel at the door with a hug, letting her in. "Delia's eatting in the kitchen, and Ephram's in the shower."
"He promised he wouldn't start without me though." She smiled sweetly, and slipped into the kitchen before he could say anything. "Morning." She rustled Delia's hair, and perched beside her. Ephram wandered in, wearing only his boxers, hair still dripping slowly, tracing a line between his shoulder blades. He ducked into the fridge before noticing anyone. "How many ribs do you think you can count on his side?" Angel whispered.
Delia giggled, and tilted her head slightly, counting to herself. "I see... eight!" Delia wasn't nearly as quiet as Angel was. Ephram jumped, spraying milk everywhere. The jug hit the floor with a hollow thud, a neat, white puddle collecting in front of it. The two died, nearly falling out of their chairs with laughter.
"That was talented!" Angel finally whispered, between gales of laughter. She wiped a tear from her face, still giggling rather loudly. "Good morning, Ephram."
"Hi, Angel. You're early." He set the nearly empty jug on the counter, and searched through a cupboard for a towel to clean it up with. "Eight what?"
"Ribs." Delia said simply, going back to her bowl of cereal. "Do you plan on getting dressed, or are you going to stand around in your underwear all day?" A horn beeped outside, Delia's bus. She disappeared quickly, leaving her half-empty bowl on the island.
Angel took it over to the sink, dumping, rising, and quickly wiping it. She set it back in the cupboard, the motion almost second nature to her. She paused in front of the window, arms crossed in front of her. Ephram left, and reappeared after dressing quickly. "It's almost like we were back in New York." she said after a moment.
Ephram didn't respond. "We should get going." He finally managed to force out, his voice barely above a whisper.
*** ***
"What do you think Mr. Steinbeck was trying to symbolize with the act of shoot Lennie like he did?" Mr. Klein was seated behind his desk, holding up his own little copy of the novella. "Angel?"
"He was compairing Lennie to the dog. He was showing how the two are alike in their misery, how everyone thought they needed to be put down." Angel muttered, doodling absently on her notebook.
"An excellent theory. Your such a bright young girl, Angel, you should speak up much more in class." There were a few snickers around her, and one soft comment that Angel couldn't hear, but knew it was better that she didn't. Instead, she just sent a glare of poison in the general direction of the voice.
The teacher went on talking, lecturing, and letting off his own theories. Suddenly, from muffled deep in her bag, a cellphone rang. She quickly dug it out, eyes pausing on the caller ID briefly. Unknown Name, Long Distance. "Corey." She whispered, and flew from her seat into the hall. "Hello?" She didn't even breath, her voice just occured.
"Hey, Angel baby. How goes?" She knew the voice only too well.
"Corey."
"You called?"
"Your damn right I called. Ten or twelve times I called. Where have you been?" Angel was nearly shouting, and she struggled to keep her voice down.
"I've been out. Partying. Trying to forget about our, 'little problem.'" There were soft voiced in the background. It sounded more like a TV then any company he may have.
"Forget?! And your leaving me to live with it? It's not just my baby, Corey. You were involved in the process too. Are you stoned?"
"Maybe just a little bit." Angel heart sank to the pit of her gut. She knew there was no one he'd get off it this time, and she couldn't stomach the thought of him dying.
"I found Ephram. He lives here, in Everwood."
"No shit."
"Well, I'm sorry, I forgot. My dad kicked me out this morning. I got no where else to go." Angel whispered finally, sinking back against a locker.
"So come home." Corey's voice was surprisingly sincere. "I don't like no having you here anymore. I forgot how well you took care of me."
"That's because I love you." Angel felt a tear fall from her eye, and down her cheek. "Why don't you come here? We could find an apartment together. I could drop out of school and get a job..."
"No. Your going to finish high school. Give me a week or so, to loose the apartment, and get some cash."
Angel was silent for a moment, sliding down a locker, crossing her legs underneath her. "Really?" she whispered after a moment, glancing around. The teacher hadn't even followed her out. "No more weed. No more coke. Nothing. Promise me."
"I promise. I love you." He hung up before she could say anything. Angel dropped her phone back into her purse, and sat back against the locker, eyes closed. Then, softly at first, she began to cry.