The memories it suddenly held.
A sudden spark of worry spiked in his mind, making him groan out in annoyance and bury his face in his hands. They’d all spent the day looking for Ray, but after Verana had given up, the rest had been eager to follow. Angel had returned to her room and had been so pissed at himself for giving in to theweakpart of his mind that was almost worried for her.
Shit, shit, shit.
No, this was nothing but a simple infatuation. A girl he hadn’t seen before.A girl he’d sent a million texts to.
Angel ruffled his hair again, abashed at his train of thought when he heard Kyle stir against the couch.
And let out a small groan as he shifted.
Angel’s gaze was almost disappointed when he looked at the boy with his glasses pressed awkwardly between his forehead and the couch.Such a coward sometimes,Angel was thinking when he heard a soft sound from behind him. He turned to face the young girl, who was looking at Kyle with the same look in her eyes. Angel couldn’t hide a small grin.
She glared in a way that made Angel realize she would’ve spat on Kyle if she could.
A small laugh left his lips at the same time his phone buzzed in his hand. Both, his and the girl’s eyes snapped down to the phone as he scrambled to catch it. Saw the number and name and almostdiedin relief as he picked up the phone.
She didn’t give him a chance to speak.
“Out in front of the beach house, on the beach.” She said, her voice quietly firm, shutting Angel up immediately. He frowned at the authority in her words,
“Don’t order me around–”
“Come find me, Santos.”
Take me back.
Angel’s words fell back in his throat, and his hand shook with an inane amount of leashed concern. That concern spiked a rare sort of annoyance in him, making him inhale once, sharply. But he still responded,
“Tell me you’re there.”
Tell me you’re safe.
Angel heard her sharp exhale and his eyes shut at her next words.
“I’m here.”
Angel hung up on her and immediately got to his feet, scrambling to grab his jacket and a water bottle from her nightstand before turning to her door. Angel was fishing for the keys of his bike from the pocket of his jeans when he felt a small tug against the hem of his T-shirt. He froze and looked over his shoulder to look at the girl standing behind him, her eyes wide but alert.
“I go too.” She said softly and Angel winced at her words before he shook his head.
“No, this is just me and her for now kid,” he started but paused as he saw her eyes dart to Kyle and back to Angel again. He paused, hesitating for a second before sighing, cursing this wretched part of himself as he placed his jacket on her small shoulders and pointed to Ray’s cupboard.
“Find some pants to wear from there and you can come along.”
The girl didn’t miss a beat. Turned so swiftly that Angel barely saw her move as she threw open the doors of the closet and fished out a pair of sweatpants. He turned away as she tugged them on behind him and looked down at his phone. Saw the newest message that had popped up.
Storm: Desperation suits you really well, Angel.
Angel scoffed, his eyes widening in surprise at her atrocious words. He was about to type out a response when he felt the girl’s presence sidle close to him. He looked down at her. She barely reached his shoulder, and almost grinned at her overbearing clothes. The jacket was huge on her, but covered every inch of her skin as she zipped it up and looked back up at him, those eyes wide.
“Let’s go.” He said and started walking ahead, not looking back to see her follow. Angel knew he shouldn’t take her, but a part of him couldn’t help but feel slight worry for her as well. If she’d been dumb enough to fall into a mess like this, she sure as hell was capable of following him and getting into more trouble.
They walked out into the cold breeze, and Angel shivered at the sudden touch of cold against his nose and gripped the plastic bottle in his hand harder as he reached his bike. Before anything, Angel opened the seat of his bike and pulled out two helmets, handing one to her.
When he looked back, the girl was already standing beside him, looking at the bike as if it would eat her alive as she clutched the helmet.
Angel didn’t smile at her reaction as he swung his legs and sat on the seat before putting his helmet on. His hand extended, and he inclined his head in the direction of the water bottle in his hand, willing her to grab it. The girl just nodded slightly, her hands shaking slightly as she gripped the plastic tight enough for it to crunch under her fingers and put on her helmet as well.
