Chapter 3

Thunderous applause and screaming made the whole arena rumble, as the singer sang the last words of the song. The flames and fireworks on stage shined brighter and reached towards the sky at the same time the music faded away after its crescendo. Cam vaguely heard Hayley Williams thanking the applauding crowd. He was deep in thought, trying to come up with all the possible ways that they could be attacked and how he would save Luce. An amphitheatre like this could hold up to sixteen thousand people. Damn it. A lot of people could get hurt, or worse.

The band members gradually took their leave and the stage became empty and dark. The concertgoers started to get up and leave, too. Tiny gold feathers littered the whole arena. Daniel gave Luce a quick kiss on the cheek and took her hand. They started walking away from the stage, joining the viscuous sea of people making their way outside. Cam followed them but continued cautiously looking around, his body humming with energy, his wings wanting to break free from his shoulders. Just as he convinced himself Lucifer would not try to harm her here and risk getting God's attention, a deafening explosion went off behind the stage. Shit. It's a bomb. The overpowering heat and shockwave knocked down everyone nearby, except Cam. He ran over to where Daniel and Luce were and held her by the arm and waist, pulling her up gently. Hands over her ears and fear in her eyes, she gasped when she recognized him. But she was still in shock, her body shaking. Cam pulled her close to him, holding her by the waist protectively. Tears streamed down her face as she leaned against his chest, her eyes squeezed shut.

Cam tried to stay calm among the fans screaming in terror, running away from the stage and desperately trying to escape. He noticed that the stage was unscathed. Flames from the explosion looked a bit far from the stage, only burning the trees in the surrounding area. But it was enough to turn the audience into a panicked, dangerous mob. He was not about to let Luce get trampled in the mad rush out of this place. Before she could regain her composure and cling to Daniel, Cam bent down and draped her body over his shoulders, using a Fireman's Carry. His muscular arms held her in place, one arm grasping her thigh and one holding her arm. Luce started protesting, but Cam ignored her. By now, Daniel had stood up and had an alarmed expression on his face as he realized what Cam was doing.

"Let her go!" Daniel tried to pull Cam's arms away from Luce's body. She struggled to break free from his grip and hit his back several times with her other hand.

"I'm trying to save her, you idiot! Back off!" Cam yelled.

"Who are you, anyway? I'm her boyfriend. We didn't ask for your help. Now, drop her!"

Damn it. We're losing precious time because of this fool. I've had enough. Cam shut his eyes and mumbled a few words to himself. Daniel and Luce immediately fainted. A big, muscular guy that looked like he could be a football quarterback ran by. He had a buzzcut and looked like a tough guy. Cam stared at him as he silently recited some words and snapped his fingers. The guy stopped running and stood frozen in place for a moment, dazed. Cam nodded in approval as he dutifully hoisted Daniel over one of his shoulders and started running towards the exit. He made sure his hold on Luce was firm before he quickly followed behind him.

Joining the throng of terrified youths, Cam and the big guy found themselves carried along by the swift current of the river of people. Hysteric fans kept pushing and shoving. Cam had to help steady the big guy a few times when he stumbled and almost fell down. He also used his powers to help anyone who fell, keeping people out of their way long enough so they could get up. But there was only so much he could do, he could not save everyone. Feelings of anger and pity washed through him. These people are innocent. All these senseless deaths, just because of a grudge between Lucifer and his former lover.

A second loud explosion made the ground shake beneath their feet. Cam managed to glance backwards as the stampede got worse, and saw a cloud of smoke and flames rising from the burning, collapsed stage. The crowd was out of control, and moving twice as fast as before. Even Cam was having trouble keeping up with the wild dash to the gates. He could not risk the big guy falling and Daniel getting hurt. Even though he was being really annoying tonight, Cam knew he had to save him. He ran in front of the big guy, whispering to himself. Soon, wherever Cam moved, an invisible force started pushing other people aside, just enough for him and the big guy to move forward unhindered.

Finally, they reached the gates. They were safe. The crowd was no longer trapped in the narrow tree-lined, winding path and far enough from the arena. People were calming down and slowing down, using their phones to call loved ones and quietly crying or talking to each other about what happened. They dispersed across the broad grassy area where they had bought overpriced food and Paramore merchandise just a few hours earlier. Cam and the big guy staggered to a wooden picnic table and carefully laid the couple down on the two benches. Shaking his head a few times, confused, the big guy looked at Cam and then his surroundings.

"Thanks for carrying my friend out of there, man. That was very nice of you." Cam shook his hand and smiled.

"Oh...no problem..." He smiled back at Cam before he trudged away, scratching his head.

Cam snapped his fingers and Daniel and Luce slowly opened their eyes and sat up.

"What happened...are you okay?" Luce asked Daniel.

"I'm okay." Daniel pulled her close and hugged her tightly.

Cam cleared his throat. "You guys need to get out of here. Now. Make sure she gets back to her dorm room safely."

Daniel nodded but looked at him skeptically. "I'm not sure what happened back there, but...thank you for saving us."

"Thank you, Cam. But next time, please don't just pick me up like that without asking me first!" Luce glared at him.

"Wait, you know him?" Daniel asked her.

"We have some classes together," Luce explained.

Cam ignored what Luce said. How was he supposed to rescue her if he had to waste time asking for her permission each time? She would just refuse to listen to him, anyway. He wondered when he should tell her the truth, or part of the truth, anyway. It would be so much easier to protect her if she knew she was in danger and he needed to keep an eye on her at all times.

"No need to thank me. I can't take all the credit. This other guy carried you out of there, Daniel. And you're not the only ones who need saving. I have to go back to see if I can help anyone else." Cam ran back towards the gates, where a steady stream of traumatized fans were still pouring out into the grassy area.

He heard Luce shouting at him. "Are you crazy? Don't go back, you'll get trampled to death! Cam...don't try to be a hero!"

The last thing she said almost made him laugh. He still thought of himself as the bad guy, not the hero. Glancing backwards one last time, he saw her worried face looking back at him as Daniel was pulling her in the opposite direction. He managed to give her a confident smile and a wink before he joined the mob again. But this time he felt like he was the only fish stupid enough to be swimming upstream. It was difficult to see and breathe, with so much smoke blowing towards them. A weak male voice was repeatedly crying "Help!" somewhere nearby. Cam weaved through the crowd, towards the voice, hoping it was not too late to save this person or others who had fallen. The piercing sirens of police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances could be heard. Despite that, a sense of despair filled the air.

...

Luce sank back into one of the soft pillows behind her and snuggled more closely to Daniel's warm body. The cool night breeze rustled through the leaves of the trees outside the window. Cuddling with him in his dorm room was her favorite way to spend her weekends, or sometimes, even her weeknights. Unlike her, Daniel did not have to share his room with anyone and his room was a magnificent and serene space. Mostly everything in the room was a beautiful shade of blue, both light and dark shades. He did not have a lot of things cluttering up the small space, either. Just a bed facing the window, a small desk and chair right next to the bed (where his laptop, books, and backpack are), a shaggy rug on the floor, a small bookshelf, and a small LCD TV and a stand for it. His clothes and other things were in drawers under the bed.

The walls were white, but he had some blue wall washer accent lights that made the walls a lovely shade of sky blue. A strip of LED lights in neon blue also outlined his bed, making it glow mysteriously underneath. The first time she visited his room, her jaw dropped at how amazing and elegant it was. His furniture, bedding, TV...all were expensive brands. Nothing like the typical messy, cluttered dorm rooms filled with bargain furniture she'd seen. It looked more like a hotel room.

But it all made sense to her after he explained that his father was a somewhat famous fashion photographer that worked with celebrities often. Daniel was certainly not an arrogant, spoiled rich guy who wanted a luxurious bedroom. If that was true, he could have rented a fancy apartment nearby. It was his father who insisted on "helping" him decorate the room, wanting to make sure that it was at a certain level of comfort and style for his stubborn son who wanted to go to a regular college (not an Ivy League school) far from home. This dorm room was a simple imitation of his room back home in his parents' mansion in the Hollywood Hills. And Daniel already toned it down a lot already.

What made the ultra modern and minimalist room more cozy and less intimidating were all the lighthouse figurines he had. Big ones, small ones, some that actually lit up. Most of them were displayed on the top of his book shelf on the other side of the room. But some were on the floating shelf above his bed. Daniel had a big collection of lighthouses. He also collected lamps. Unique table lamps in all shapes and sizes, with bright to soft lighting, all shining with a pure, white light. They were placed in a neat, straight line on the white shelf on the wall. One light chain of delicate white flowers that Luce had bought for him partly hung down towards the bed. She reached up and fingered the plastic petals absentmindedly.

Daniel laughed at something going on in the TV show they were watching and Luce turned back towards the TV. She grabbed a handful of popcorn from the bowl in his lap.

"What happened?"

"Weren't you paying attention? Your mind has been wandering again?"

"I guess..."

Daniel frowned at her. "Hey. When we cuddle, I want both your body and your mind here with me, Luce." He put the popcorn bowl on the floor and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her onto his lap.

"I know, sorry..." She curled up on his lap, perfectly comfortable in the position and in her tanktop and pajama pants. Daniel was wearing an Emerald College t-shirt and track pants.

"Don't apologize, I'm just kidding." Daniel lightly kissed her on her bare shoulder. "After what happened yesterday...I'm sure you are still thinking about that. I can't believe someone would set off bombs at a concert. Thank goodness we got out of there before the second bomb exploded."

Luce nodded. "It almost feels like it was a nightmare, just a bad dream. But it wasn't. A lot of people were injured. Fifteen people died. They don't have any idea who did it and why."

Daniel sighed. "Yeah, I read the news about it. Have you seen Cam? How is he doing?"

"He's his usual moody, quiet self. We have a few classes together and his dorm room is near mine, but we don't talk much. I barely know him."

"Hmm..."

Luce hoped he wouldn't ask her about Cam anymore. She never told him about the tree branch incident or Cam bullying her. It was strange how in a short time, this was the second time Cam saved her life already. And apparently, he was still following her around. But he did save her and Daniel. Luce somehow knew he would not harm her. But explaining to Daniel why she trusted Cam, despite how weird he was acting, would not be easy. Reaching down, she retrieved the blue plastic bowl of popcorn and turned towards the television.

"Nevermind, I don't want to talk about it anymore. Let's just watch TV."

"Okay." Daniel smiled at her before popping a few pieces of popcorn into his mouth.

A commercial for an action movie came on the TV. Luce liked it, until the explosions destroyed the White House. She screamed, threw the popcorn bowl in the air, and hid under the comforter.

"Shh...it's okay, it's okay. It's not real. I turned off the TV. You're safe here." Daniel hugged her tightly and stroked her hair tenderly.

Luce wrapped her arms around his waist and held him close, until his gentle breathing and steady heartbeat calmed her down. Being with Daniel always made her feel safe. Whenever life became chaotic and stormy, Daniel was her lighthouse. He would always watch over her and protect her from harm.

"Let's stay in your room for the rest of the week," she said.

"That is a brilliant idea," Daniel replied. He brushed most of the popcorn off the comforter onto the floor where the bowl had fallen. "You have popcorn in your hair, Luce."

Luce laughed and tried to get them out, but Daniel pulled her hands down.

"Let me do it..." he said softly.

He started to eat the popcorn pieces right off of her hair, making Luce blush. But then he dropped some onto her tight tanktop, a few of them resting on her cleavage.

"Daniel!" she protested, even though she was getting turned on.

Daniel gave her a sexy smile and swept back his tousled blonde hair. His grey eyes were dark and wanting...and in this light, more violet than grey. He was still the most gorgeous guy she had ever seen. And he wanted her. She wanted him back. Badly. Luce wondered how they managed to delay consummating their relationship all this time. They had been dating for almost six months now. There had been a lot of kissing and making out. A lot. But he did not try to go beyond that and Luce was too embarrassed to make the first move. Maybe taking things slow was not so bad, though.

"What are you thinking about?" Daniel murmured, between kisses. He gave her soft kisses on her neck, slowly making his way towards her cleavage.

"You...me..." Luce breathed. Her face and body was getting hot and she was breathing faster. Daniel was straddling her and she knew he was aroused. She could feel it.

He reached the two popcorn pieces at the edge of her tanktop and carefully licked each of them off her skin, into his mouth. Luce moaned softly.

Daniel straightened up so he could look her in the eyes. His hands cupped Luce's face as he whispered to her. "I want you, Lucinda Elizabeth Addison. I've never wanted anyone so much."

"I want you, Daniel James Irvine. I've wanted you from the moment I met you." Luce and Daniel gazed at each other. She could almost feel the air around them grow damp and hot from all the sexual tension, as if they were in a steamy shower together.

Daniel leaned in and kissed her passionately. The sensation of their lips moving against each other was intoxicating. Her lips parted and their their tongues twisted against each other deliciously. One of his hands held her firmly by the waist, while the other squeezed her bottom possessively. Luce wrapped her hands around his neck and started biting and licking his bottom lip. Daniel groaned sexily as his hands roamed all over her body. They kissed hard and long, as if they would never see each other again. Luce would never get tired of kissing him.

They had no idea that someone was watching them. Someone who wished they had drawn the curtains instead of shamelessly making out in front of an open window. True, they were on the second floor and it was close to midnight, but they still should have known better.

Cam shook his head in disgust and turned away. He was sitting on a branch of the tree just outside the window, but it was too dark for them to see him. After so many times seeing them kiss, he should have gotten used to it. And maybe he had, in some ways. But he still hated seeing them kissing and touching so intimately. The intense eye sex right before it happened was also annoying. All of it made him feel lonely. He could easily get a girlfriend if he wanted to. But he found himself randomly making out with girls at parties instead. Anything long-term was out of the question. In his experience, love was pain. Better to have flings than a serious relationship. But what Daniel and Luce had was so...true...complete? He couldn't find the right word to describe it. Sometimes it made him question his views on love.

Cam glanced back at the amorous couple and then looked away again. He sighed and decided to call it a night. Luce did not need him to protect her from Daniel's affections. Even though he had the strongest urge to pull the lucky bastard off of her and punch him hard in the face several times. Cam quietly laughed, imagining Daniel's perfect face full of ugly bruises.

Kate's Notes:

Whew. I'm done. I've thought it over and I think from now on, I'll upload each scene once I'm done rather than wait until I have 2 done and then make it 1 chapter. Since I take quite a long time for each scene and they are often quite long. I noticed that I have more followers for this story and more people have favorited this or my other stories or followed me, too. THANK YOU! ^_^

Yes, I used part of the names of the actors playing Daniel and Luce's roles for the Fallen movie. Lol. And yeah, the part about Daniel having a famous photographer father is inspired by my reading about Ansel Elgort's life.

I used to think writing kissing/sexy scenes was fun. But it's actually hard to write stuff that sounds new/unique. A lot of the same phrases and words are used in these kind of scenes. Lol. If you have read a lot of sexy fanfiction/books (like me. lol.), you know what I mean. Haha.