Matt's POV
School felt like prison on Monday morning. We'd had a full week off for repairs to the gym and for the police investigation that didn't shed any light on the shooting. Noel sat next to me in math class, her ankle hooked with mine, and our hands entwined under the table where our teacher couldn't see, though it was probably obvious considering that Noel's arm was pressed up against mine. Most teachers overlooked the contact and didn't make a comment. Mrs. Smith was explaining two new equations to our class. It didn't feel right to be sitting here, knowing that Noel and I had sprinted through the hall just outside this classroom to escape a fallen angel that could've killed her. I looked over at her as we did a practice problem, but she was busy actually focusing on schoolwork.
"Mr. Anderson, would you like to share your work with the class?" Mrs. Smith called me out, noticing the blank sheet of graph paper.
You plug in the initial value into the i variable and then you put the percentage in decimal form into the t and then the amount of time, which is quarterly, into the n, and then you have your answer. I repeated Noel word for word and Mrs. Smith looked mildly impressed that I hadn't needed any of it on paper. Our teacher agreed with my answer and went on to explain something else about the equation.
Thanks.
You've been distracted all morning. Last time I checked, we are still very much high school students, and should be acting like it. The car crash was just a scare and my dad is doing research into the return of the fallen angels. Everything is going to be okay baby. I kissed the back of her hand quickly when Mrs. Smith wasn't watching and tried to calm down. Noel was right, we both walked away from the car crash, and everything would eventually be okay.
"Noel Cipriano to the office please, Noel Cipriano," The intercom called into our classroom. Mrs. Smith nodded her permission to leave and Noel stood up after giving my hand a squeeze before releasing it.
What'd you do now?
I don't know actually. Dad might've got my Avalanche replaced and left it out front. She shrugged at a questioning glance from Taylor and left the classroom. My gut twisted and turned at having her out of sight. We were in a school full of students and teachers, fallen angels wouldn't try anything here, right? I didn't feel stable, all the what ifs running through my mind. Each tic tock of the clock was impossible to bear as I waited for Noel to return. A minute passed and I clenched my fists, trying to control the fear that she wasn't back yet, even though it would take at least a minute to get from this class to the main office.
"Mrs. Smith, may I go to the restroom?" I asked, acting much calmer than I felt, and she nodded because she'd released our class for bookwork anyway. It took everything within in me not to run full speed out the door. I took the stairs two at a time, constantly glancing around to make sure no one would catch me freaking out, and made my way hastily toward the front office. I almost stopped short though when I saw not only Noel, but my mom and Mrs. Cipriano.
"Oh Matt, perfect timing, they were just about to call down to your classroom. You and Noel can go get your stuff, we were signing you two out for the day," I barely heard my mom. Noel's eyes scanned my face, reading into my emotions, and I saw her sigh a little as she approached and we headed back upstairs. When out of sight of our mothers, I took her hand in my mine, and she looked up at me with disappointed eyes.
"I can take care of myself too, Matt. You don't need to worry so much. It's going to kill you in the form of a heart attack or something. Then what are we going to do?" I wanted to argue, make her see how much danger could really be lurking around every corner, but I knew it was pointless. Of all the things Noel was, she was stubborn. Her mindset was like a bulldozer, any opposing thoughts were just crushed or shoved out of the way, and she was willing to do whatever it would take to get the job done.
"I'm sorry," I apologized; on some level she did have a point. She smiled up at me and leaned her cheek against my shoulder before we reentered Mrs. Smith's class to retrieve our things and went back to our waiting moms.
"We figured you two deserved a day off after that terrible car accident. We'll go get lunch and go do some shopping," My mom looked at my face for any form of disgruntlement or fear, but I remained a blank slate. Noel took me shopping with her all the time, if it was just her and me of course. I was used to being an active opinion in what she chose to wear. She didn't tell anyone, not even Taylor or Sadie about my willingness to go shopping with her, and I was extremely grateful.
"We'll see if he can survive," Mrs. Cipriano teased over her shoulder as we loaded up in her Chevy Equinox. Noel was finishing up her homework and then grinned at me because that was the last thing on my mind obviously. After a few minutes, we pulled up to a Mexican restaurant, and were seated immediately.
"Mom, isn't this the place that you and dad—"
"Yes, Noel, it is," Mrs. Cipriano said over her menu without looking at her daughter. Noel smirked knowingly though, far from taking it personally, and pulled out her phone to text someone back.
"What would you like to drink?" Noel stared at the waiter as he took all of our orders and then placed some chips and salsa in front of us. She even watched him retreat behind the counter to get the drinks.
What's wrong?
I thought . . . No, I'm just being the paranoid one this time. Don't worry about it. She squeezed my hand under the table. I watched her, but her features returned to her normal, laid back self. That bothered me even more. It wasn't like her to not tell me. I looked up at the waiter as he set down our drinks, sensing for any malicious intent, but there was nothing. Noel took a sip, pretending to be fine. I could feel where her leg bouncing under the table, a show of being nervous, and again I tried to search for any fallen angels. Nothing.
"I'm going to go to the restroom, excuse me," Noel smiled apologetically before heading towards the girls' bathroom. Following wasn't an option, but I wanted to know exactly what was bothering her. So I settled with waiting until she returned to get some answers.
Noel's POV
Pound. Pound. Pound. It felt as if there was a jackhammer inside of my head. Every continuous second was more pain. As gross and unsanitary as it was, I sat on the ground in the big stall that was intended for people in wheel chairs. My knees were curled against my chest as I cradled my head between my hands. I wanted something to just make the pain stop, but it wasn't receding anytime soon. So I would just wait it out, no point in getting everyone all worked up over a headache. I tried to pull out my phone, but the clear pass code screen looked blurry and moved back and forth though I could've sworn my hand was completely still. The waiter, I'd seen him at the state game, I didn't know when, but I had. Now he was here and yet everything about him rung human. I struggled to breathe deeply as I fought to not fall over on my side to curl up in the fetal position. My stomach felt as if it was on fire now, like I was burning from the inside out. I coughed and found blood, I'd bit my tongue. No, there would be no waiting this out, something was wrong.
"Matt," I whimpered softly. My mind was too far up in the air to try to mind speak and I wondered if I just managed to walk through the bathroom door that would be enough to get some help. My legs were numb though and I could feel my heart start to beat faster in a panic. Someone entered the bathroom.
"Help," I squeaked. A woman calmly walked up to the door, pushed the lock back, and stepped in. It wasn't my mom or Mrs. Anderson, but hopefully she'd help. She seesawed in and out of my vision as she stood above me. She crouched down in front of me and pinched my chin between two fingers and I could feel the sharpness of pain as her nails dug into my skin. Fallen angel all of my senses screamed, but I was too weak now but to stare at her face. Her hair was black and eyes piercing as she sneered at me.
"Matt," I moaned, but his name barely carried passed my lips, and I doubted even she could hear it.
"This is her," I heard her smooth voice say to someone else who had entered and I was scooped up. I tried to struggle, but the numbness had spread, and I couldn't even make out the face of whoever was carrying me now. My eyes were closed before we went through the bathroom door and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't open them again.
Nora's POV
"DABRIA! IT WAS DABRIA, PATCH!" My baby, Dabria took my baby, and all I could do was watch as some fallen angel walked out with her through the front door of the restaurant. Some other fallen angels had rushed in and Matt and I were wrapped up in devil craft whips before we took two steps from our table. The waiter had left with Dabria, I saw that part, but nothing about him had caused me to be alarmed up until that point. The rest of the fallen angels left us though, following Dabria out, and I couldn't put together why they hadn't taken me as the Black Hand's daughter. I'd been calm until we got home. I'd wiped Matt's mom's memory clean and we left her at his house. There was no way I was going to convince him to stay there now that Noel had been taken. Patch had been home when we arrived and I showed him what I know. Now, every muscle in Patch's body was rigged and strained, as if they were all about to rip at once. I watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed, staring sightlessly out the window, and his jaws were locked together in a grim pursing of his lips. Matt was pacing from one end of the kitchen to the other, eyes fierce and full of hatred.
"Do something," I whimpered and then Patch was a machine like he'd been so many years ago before our daughter was born.
"Noel, was she wearing her lettermen today?" Patch looked at Matt.
"Yes," He replied with a growl. I couldn't begin to fathom how much he was tearing himself apart, if I felt this terrible about Noel, it must've been ten times worse for him.
"Let's pray they haven't ditched her jacket yet," Patch muttered and pulled out his phone. I recognized the app on his phone that was hooked up to a tracking device, all these years and I never realized he'd put one on her jacket, though that should've been obvious.
"Portland, let's go," I stood up to join them and Patch rested his hands on my shoulders.
"I'm going with you. She's my baby, I'm not risking anything," I snapped.
"That's not what I was going to say. I wanted to tell you that you need to listen to whatever plan I come up with. Even if you don't like it, you need to put Noel's safety above my own, okay?" I bit my lip. That was hard to think about. I couldn't live without Patch, even if I had Noel, and we both knew it. I shifted my weight, trying to summon a yes from somewhere in the depths of my heart, but every single no was clogging up my windpipe. So I wrapped my arms around his neck instead, because there wouldn't be an agreement. Matt would get Noel out no matter what, so I would pass that torch to him, Patch and I could face anything together, even death. Patch kissed me hard on the mouth, knowing I hadn't given an answer, but now he didn't expect one. So we clung to each other for a few passionate seconds before pulling away. Patch planted one more kiss on my forehead and we stared at one another for another heated moment before going in the garage. Matt was all ready in the back of Patch's truck, looking grim and impatient. Noel's brand new Avalanche sat beside the truck in the garage. Patch had bought it this morning and planned to show it to her after school. She'd going to see that truck I decided, my baby was going to be okay, and we were going to save her.
AN: So I'd really appreciate reviews. I know this chapter is a little shorter, but it's a cliff hanger, so it'll make up for it next time.
