Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Devil's Angel ❯ familiar stranger ( Chapter 1 )

Prologue

You know those strange kids who speak to no one but each other? Some call them freaks. I don't mean rock obsessed sixteen-year-olds like me. I'm talking about the familiar strangers who hide behind a mask of black make-up and midnight clothes. Those who are only seen as the suicidal basket cases with nothing better to do than write violent poetry and slit their wrists. The beautiful, but unbearably antisocial, gothic angels we all love to hate.

It's strange though, how humans tend to judge strictly on appearance when there is so much more to people. I hated that very same gothic group for the longest time just because of their style. I've always tried to stand out in school, but I guess all humans have to have some similar habits. When Evan Peters first spoke to me, my entire vision of them vanished. His charming face and heart melting voice allowed me to see who they really where. Unfortunately, a dark secret would try to pull us apart.

There was no doubt in my mind that the first meeting between Evan and I had given me a whole new perspective on life. By the end of the day, there was no doubt in my mind that I had fallen madly in love with the creature. Of course I had no idea of the danger I had put myself in being so close to him, but I'm getting ahead of myself. This story must begin at the very first conversation Evan and I had.

 

 

Chapter 1

 

It began on a simple Friday morning. I was walking to school, one of the downsides to having a careless mother and no license. It was raining heavily that day, staining the solid black tank decorated with a row of safety pins on the side I'd chosen to wear that day. Every once in a while, a bead of water would fall from my dark auburn hair and catch my eye, a temporary distraction from the chilled air. It was going to be another miserable day, I had already decided that.

An unfamiliar car began to pass, but slowed and backed toward me, causing my body to freeze. I closed my eyes, fearful of what this stranger could possibly want.

An equally unfamiliar voice came through the window at that moment, but whoever it was they knew my name, if nothing else.

“H-hey Chrystal,” the voice seemed timid and shaky, as though whoever it was seemed to be forcing themselves to speak, “need a ride?”

I turned slowly, forcing myself to finally look the stranger in the face. I was, however, shock to find it wasn't a stranger, just someone I'd never heard speak. “ e-Evan? Wh- what are you d- doing here?” I asked between violent shivers from the icy wind and chilled rain.

He looked at me as though the answer should be obvious, “going to school?” he said, questioning my stupidity. That was obvious.

“I mean, why are you asking if I want a ride?”

He smiled timidly, but still sincere. “ well, you looked absolutely freezing, so I figured it would be best for me to offer you a ride. But, I guesss, of you don't want one I'll just…”he tapped the gas slightly, sending the car forward just a few inches.

“No!” I shouted, the car coming to a stop once more. “I was just curious. Thank you.”

Of course!” he beamed, obviously pleased by the desperation in my voice.

I crawled into the corvette awkwardly. “You'd think for how much these things cost, they'd give you a bit more room.”

He just chuckled. It was a smooth sound, helping me see the true beauty in him.

His eyes where strange, possibly the lightest natural shade of blue I had ever seen, and icy. The lines centering from his pupil looked more like cracks in a frozen lake than the decorative lines of someone's eyes. His skin was a smooth, creamy color. The palest shade I'd ever seen, though my skin was nearly white. It was a cream color, the palest imaginable without it being white, but somehow still beautiful on him. His lips, too, seemed to have little coloring in them, though they where still darker than his skin. A loop had been shoved through the right side of his lower lip, the contrast of the dark silver and pale pink was vast, but still heavenly somehow. His torso was thin, and I found myself wondering how he held his perfectly broad shoulders up. His arms had muscle, but not like he was addicted to working out. In fact, through my eyes, they where perfect. On his left arm, the tip of something black peeked through his sleeve. A tattoo? I fought back the urge to pull up the back sleeve for a better look, not thinking it would be worth getting thrown out of the car. His hair was pitch black and hung limp over his left eye, though the brightness of it seemed to shine through the sheet of black. In the back, his hair was saturated in gel and messily arranged in spiky disarray.

He looked at me nervously, “what's wrong?”

“Nothing.” I replied pathetically.

He looked away. Why would someone as beautiful as him be so shaky around a girl as dull as her? She had never been one to stand out in positive ways. Her hair was flat and boring and her eyes where a little too far apart. She had thin lips which most men found unattractive. The only thing about herself she liked was her slim figure, though she often felt she was too thin.

“ What brought all this on? I mean, you never talk to anyone but that other gothic kid.”

“Davey? Oh, he's not gothic. We like black. That's all. And I stopped because I couldn't bear to fell the empty seat beside me taunting me in English.” It was then that I noticed his accent. Was it French?

His black and red painted eyes seemed locked with mine for the rest of the ride. I wondered why he wasn't paying attention to the road, but I somehow found myself trusting him.

Unfortunately, the ride to school had been the greatest part of the day. I had realized when I walked into science and saw the projector that our presentations where today. Therefore I had been forced to stand in front of the room and present my research project on grey wolfs. I also had to work with Kyle, my ex- boyfriend, in French and ended up doing all the work. On top of that, I left my lunch money at home, so I had to go without food for the rest of the day.

No matter how terrible my day went, sitting beside Evan for that single hour of English seemed to banish all depression.

He looked over with an intense, curious gaze. “Hello.”

“Hi.”

“You and Derrek are friends right?”

I studied him cautiously, “yes…”

“And the two of you will be attending Carlo's party tonight, correct?”

“Yes…”

He sighed, and then spoke softly, not meant to be heard by me,” he should have been more careful.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Do you need a ride back home?” he sounded all too eager to change the subject.

“Yes, please.”

“Alright. Meet me by my car then.”

“Right. Wait, what did you mean, `he should have been more careful'?”

“Nothing, really. I was simply lost in thought. How has your day been?”

“It hasn't been the best day, but I'll survive.”

“Oh, I'm sorry.” Silence filed between us. Why did he have to be so mysterious? And what was with the way he spoke? He didn't speak like a typical teenager of the twenty-first century, his vocabulary was to sophisticated.

The strangest sensations always passed through me whenever I was near him also. Of course, the undeniable happiness was always there, but there was something more. I believe it was fear, but I couldn't be sure.

“so, I'll meet you by my car?”
I hadn't even noticed the bell ringing. “Yes. But, wait. I thought you and that other kid went to the mall after school. What's his name again?”

“Davey. We usually do but we have other plans later tonight so we're skipping to mall. He brought his car to school today. It's honestly no problem.”

I got up and started toward the door. But a question continued to spin in my my like a fly I couldn't swat. “Evan…”

“Yes?”

“Where did all this come from? I mean, you've never even acknowledged anyone at this school and one day you just suddenly decided to speak to me as if we've known each other forever. I don't get it.” It all came out in such a rush I was sure he'd missed parts of it, but he seemed to understand.

“I'm not quite sure yet. There is simply something about you. I feel it should be obvious, yet I simply cannot grasp it. That and I needed to know some things.”

“What kinds of things?”

“Just a few things your better off not knowing about.”

“Well, you seem to know plenty.” Oh no, I didn't mean to say hat out loud.

He became tense with rage. He gritted his teeth together as he spoke. “more than you know.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Nothing, I was only thinking out loud.”

“No, you said it. Now answer me.” I could see the rage building up inside him, so I was kinder the second time. “Evan, please, just tell me. It can't be that bad, can it?”

That seemed to be all he could take. His fist flew into the wall, cracking the cement. “No, your wrong!” you think you know everything but you don't. It is bad, no, it's terrible, and nobody would believe it anyways so just shut the hell up and drop it okay?”

I could see only rage in his face. “I'm sorry. I never thought you'd react in that way.”

“What's that mean?”

“Nothing. Look, it's time to go. Can I still get a ride or am I walking?”

Why wouldn't I give you a ride?” he looked in my eyes. “ I guess I know. Don't take my anger personally. It's just… well… my life has been… difficult. I suppose that's the safest description. I don't enjoy lying, but you can't know, so I simply avoid.”

“Know what?”

“Damn it, do you ever listen to me speak?”

“Sorry.”

A rumbling noise escaped my gut, yet seemed to low for anyone else to hear. “You're hungry.” It wasn't a question.

“I skipped lunch. No money.”

“I'll get you something on the way home.”

“No, really, I'll be fine.”

“I want to.” A crooked smile crossed his lips.

“Alright fine.” He slid my book bag of my bag as though it had no weight. “ I am perfectly capable of carrying my own bag, thank you.”

“I have no reason to doubt that. However, I was raised to treat people properly, and I believe it's my duty to carry your bag for you.” He beamed.

“That is so sweet!” Why did I continue to blurt out my thoughts?

“Is it?” he asked with a huge grin.

I looked shyly at the pavement. “Yes, it is. Most guys aren't like you. You're so polite and kind. It's just too easy to be around you.”

“Oh, dear. That's no good.”

“It's not? Why?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“its just another thing about me you have no need to know.”

“Why are you like that?”

“Like what?”

“I don't know. Mysterious, I guess. I mean, you keep telling me all these things that make no sense with no explanations and you refuse to let me ask questions. It's just, I don't know, weird.”

“I'm weird?” for some reason this thought made him smile.

“Yes.”

“Ok.”

We stepped out the door and under the awning to discover a sheet of cool water tumbling from the sky. “Oh, no. Are you serious?”

He chuckled. “Weather rarely jokes, Chrystal. Here, take my sweatshirt.” He handed me his black hoodie which seemed to be a few sizes to large for his slender frame. I slid it over my shoulders graciously and thrust the hood over my hair.

A gentle hand fell on my back and urged me into the treacherous rainfall. The warmth of his hand remained there even after he had removed it and the rain drenched the dry area.

That's when one of the safety pins holding the sides of my shirt together came undone. We had just reached the corvette and he was holding the door open for me. “Damn!”

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing. Just these stupid safety pins. One came undone.”

“Here, let me help.” He wrapped one slender arm around the front of my waist and the other across the back. He got it in, but not before the tip pricked my finger and a small drop of blood dripped from the sore.

“Ouch!”

“What's—“ he didn't finish. Instead, he backed away from me, his eyes cautiously fixed on the red liquid oozing from my flesh.

I didn't understand. What's so frightening about a little dot of blood? I stuck my finger in my mouth to suck the blood from the wound and slow the bleeding. “ are you alright? You like sick or something.”

“His eyes shot up to meet my gaze. “Huh? Oh, that? Ill be fine I, I, uh… oh shit!”

“Oh… I think I get it. You get nauseous at the site of blood, don't you?”

“I, um—yea! Something like that.” He took a deep breath. “Okay, has it stopped bleeding? I can still sme—uh, see, some blood.”

“it'll be fine. Trust me.”

“Oh, no! Here,” he reached into the center consol and took out a napkin. “ wrap it in this.”

“thanks.” I wrapped my finger in the paper cloth. He gestured to the car, signaling me to get in. his slender yet muscular arm extended toward the door.

He took my hand and helped me in the car. His hands heat remained on mine even after he removed it. I sat and waited as he seated himself in the driver's seat and started the car. My stomach growled again and he shot a glance in my direction

“Shall we go eat?”

“Honestly, I'm fine. I can just eat at home.”

“It's truly no problem.”

“Well, I mean, you just passed McDonald's.”

“Who said anything about fast food?”

“What—what the hell are you thinking. You can't honestly be thinking of taking me out—“

“Whoa, I wasn't thinking of it like that.” He smiled crookedly at me.

I looked down at my knees. I would never admit to how much his saying that hurt me.

“Are you alright?”

“I'm fine.”

“You weren't hoping that I wanted to—“

“No, no. Of course not.”

“Okay, good, because that would not please me. Believe it or not it would not be so bad for me to like you. However, for you to like me would be quite unacceptable. You truly do not understand what you have gotten yourself into simply by agreeing to get a ride with me.”

“Huh?”

“Ugh, nothing. Just forget I spoke.”

“Okay.” He chuckled at my acceptance.

“So, how does P. F. Chang's sound?”

“What?! Um, expensive.”

“It's honestly not a big deal.”

“You realize there's no way your forcing me to eat there?”

“Oh, yes there is.”

After much needed persuading, I gave in and asked the dazed waitress for mu shu pork as she stared dumbly at Evan.

“I'm sorry. What?” she seemed frustrated, as though her job was to admire Evan's beauty? Then again, I couldn't blame her. He was stunning.

“The, um, mu shu pork, please. And a coke.

She turned anxiously back to Evan. “and you.”

“Nothing. Thank you, though.” She hesitated a bit before leaving.

“You're not hungry?”

“No. not really.” he smiled.

“Well, I'd feel a lot better if you'd eat something as well. That way I don't look like such a pig.”

“I ate at school like most people, remember?”

“Hey, I told you I left my money at home or I would have.”my eyes fell on the booth three behind us. “Hey, what's Chris doing here?”

“Huh?” he turned. “Oh. Looks like he's got himself a date.” He beamed, but his face fell quickly. “No. Not him.”

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing. Just, promise me something. Promise you won't go over there, ok?”

I stood up. “Why? Chris is my friend. I'm gonna go talk to him. I'll be right back.”

“But I--” I walked away before he could find his words again.

“Chris, hey!”

“Whoa, Chrystal. What are you doing here?”

I pointed to Evan. “that ass? Damn how did you hook up with him? Sure he's hot, but he's totally anti-social. Too good for us all, ya know?”

“I don't know. I think he just likes to keep to himself. I mean, he's not like we expected. At least, as long as you don't ask questions.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. So what are you doing here?”

“Oh, sorry. This is Marshall. My date.” He beamed.

“Hi. Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, the pleasures mine.” Marshall's voice seemed alluring and flirtatious. Did he honestly just hit on me? In front of his boyfriend? It must have been my imagination. I mean, he's gay, right?

So, you guys going to the party?”

“you bet! I'm so psyched.” Chris boasted. “it's gonna rule.”

“Are you?” Marshall asked.

“Of course! Wouldn't miss it for the world.”

“Would you miss it for that pretty boy over there?”

“What? Oh shit! I forgot about him.”

Chris looked confused. “How do you forget that?”

I started back to the booth where Evan sat. “I'll see you later?”

“Yea, later.”

I spent hours trying to find the perfect outfit for the party. I had convinced Evan to go with me, and I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when I met up with him. In the end, I ended up in my cropped AFI tank and a plaid mini with knee-hi boots. My red and platinum hair was as straight as I could possibly get it and my eyes where dark with eye shadow.

Then all I could do was wait. Wait for him. His perfection. Just to know that I would see him soon sent an excited shiver down my back. The only thing I could think of was to write about him in my journal.