Chapter 3:

Chas led Alex into the large bowling alley. They walked past the many people who were there for pleasure, and those who weren't, until they reached an empty alley.

While Alex typed their names into the little computer thing, Chas searched for his favorite bowling ball. When he returned, he set it down and walked behind Alex.

"So, you don't really play very good?" Chas asked her.

"Yeah, I haven't played in a while."

"No matter! I'll teach you! Why don't you go grab a bowling ball, and we'll get started."

Alex smiled and grabbed a fluorescent green ball. She walked over to Chas and set down the ball.

"Ok, so first we need to have posture," Chas began. Alex watched as Chas demonstrated a perfect bowling pose for her. She laughed, and watched as he clearly missed the pins. "Umm, well, it takes a few minutes to get warmed up… let me try again."

Alex watched as Chas missed again, and stood up. She walked over to hr ball and picked it up. "Oh well, Chas. Better luck next time." She walked over to the alley and swung the ball straight into the pins. Perfect shot. Chas watched with surprise.

"How did you…?"

"I guess first time luck!" Alex answered.

Chas, still gaping, stood up and grabbed the bowling ball. After he missed twice, and almost fell over, he sat back down. Alex continued getting strikes, and Chas was amazed.

"I've never seen anyone bowl like that! You're amazing!"

"Thanks!" Alex replied. Chas got up for his turn, and Alex watched him carefully. His brown curly hair was noticeable under his hat, but she felt the certain urge to touch it. His green eyes were the same shade as hers, and he was not that tall. She still felt warm around him, and his smile was very contagious. She barely noticed that it was her turn when he finally told her. Pretending she wasn't staring, she quickly got up and bowled another strike.

"You continue to amaze me," Chas said as the pins were replaced for their last round.

"I tend to be like that," Alex smoothly replied as she too watched the pins get replaced.

After the last round, Chas had lost brutally and Alex won by almost a hundred points.

"Thanks, Chas, that was fun."

"No problem. I enjoyed losing."

Alex smiled as Chas walked towards a door in the corner. She didn't know whether to leave or to stay. Chas stopped in front of the door and looked back at Alex. She was walking towards the front door and was almost outside.

In the confusion of the moment, Chas yelled, "Alex! Wait!"

Alex turned around to see Chas still at the doorway.

"Did you want an interview with Constantine?"

Alex smiled and nodded. Chas beckoned her forward, and led the way to Constantine's apartment.

On the way up, Chas looked behind his shoulder. "You know, you have the same color eyes as me," he said.

"Yes, I noticed that."

"They are very pretty," he replied.

Alex smiled shyly and said, "Thanks."

They reached the apartment and knocked on the door. There was a gruff voice from inside and the door opened slightly to reveal a very tired looking Constantine.

"What do you want?" he asked meanly.

"John, this is Alex Okasick. She wanted to talk to you."

"Well, kid, I'm not much for talking, so no."

"C'mon John! She really wants to!"

Constantine looked down at Alex and squinted his eyes. "What exactly did you want to talk about?"

Alex was quite nervous, so she stammered. "A job! I m-mean like apprenticeship?"

Constantine looked back at Chas and then at Alex. "Fine. Come in, but I'm warning you, you don't wanna mess around with me."

Alex followed Constantine inside, and Chas tried to go inside. Constantine shut the door on Chas and walked into his kitchen.

Outside, Chas was annoyed. "C'mon John! Why can't I come in?"

Constantine sat down at the table as Alex hovered over him. "What are you, a fucking angel?" he asked her angrily. Alex immediately moved to the other side of the room and watched John Constantine pour himself a glass of scotch. "So… you as well?" he asked her.

"I-I don't think I follow you, sir."

"You and Chas both are obsessed with the fact that I want an apprentice. Geez."

Alex nervously looked at the door and back at John. He wasn't the handsomest man in the world. His black hair had grown out everywhere, and he hadn't shaved in a few days, so stubble was starting to appear. His eyes were sort of calm when he looked at you, but his personality wasn't. Alex was quite surprised that her hero was this man sitting in front of her.

"Well, I guess I can't reject you, because then you'll follow me around 'til I say yes. But, Chas can help you out."

"So I'm Chas' apprentice?"

"Yeah, kid, now get outta my house."

Alex smiled and shook John's hand. "Thank you so much Mr. Constantine. You don't understand what this means to m-"

Alex stopped talking and suddenly smacked Constantine across the face. She walked towards the door and opened it harshly to see Chas standing there. "Hey, how'd it go?" he asked. Alex stared at him and then punched him hard in the stomach. "Constantine! Grab her!"

John walked over to the girl and held her down. She kicked and scratched the both of them, until finally, she fell unconscious. "What the hell was that?" John asked Chas as they stood up.

"She just had a blackout. She told me she has those sometimes."

"That wasn't a blackout. I think that was something else; something eviler," Constantine replied. Chas and Constantine grabbed Alex and took her inside. They set her on the couch and cleaned themselves up

Two hours later, Constantine walked out of his bedroom to see Chas watching the girl on the couch. He watched as Chas stroked her blonde-brown hair and put a blanket on top of her. Then, Chas got up and sat at the table, continually watching her.

"Wow, we need a girl around here more often." Constantine said as he walked into the kitchen.

"Why do you say that?" Chas asked.

"Cause for once, you are leaving me alone."

"Ha-ha, very funny," Chas replied grimly. He stared at Alex as she slept. "Do you think she'll be alright?" Chas asked John.

"Yeah, you're just worried. She'll be fine in a couple hours."

"John? Do you think she's pretty?"

John swallowed his glass of scotch that he poured, and drank another. "Give me ten more glasses of this scotch, and maybe I'll consider that question."

Chas looked back at Alex. Two minutes later, Chas said, "John? Do you think she needs anything?"

"No, kid, and enough with the questions! I'm not a fucking wizard! It's enough that I have to fight half-breeds everyday, but having one as an apprentice, geez! I can't escape!"

"Hey! It's not my fault that I'm a half-breed!" Chas replied, almost yelling.

Alex opened her eyes just long enough to see the wings on Chas' back unfold. That was enough to slip her back into unconsciousness.

"Looks like your 'girlfriend' fainted again," Constantine replied as Chas turned around concerned.

Alex opened her eyes again and saw Chas staring at her. "Are you alright?" he asked her.

"Yeah, I'm just super tired."

"Well, sleep. We'll take you home later."

Alex smiled and fell asleep.

"Great job, kid, first day of being a teacher, and your student faints twice."

Chas turned around. "What! I'm her teacher!"

"Yeah, she is now your apprentice."

Chas rubbed his forehead. "You know, John, that you could have told me that a little sooner! Geez!"

Constantine drank the remains of his bottle and looked down at Alex on the couch. "If I was you, I'd keep my eye on her. I'll be back later."

Chas turned to Constantine. "Where are you going?"

"To get more scotch."

Chas shook his head and sat down in the chair. In no more than 10 minutes, he was fast asleep.

Hey y'all... please R&R! Chapter 4 will be up soon enough!