Page 45 of Demon Kissed
But instead of floating in the sky like I expect, once I’m out of his arms, I plummet. I plummet through space, and through the cloud meadow—which feels like nothing but wet, insubstantial fog—down through the sunset, pelting toward earth like a raindrop.
And the only thing I can hear, other than the wind whipping my ears, is Ziel’s answer on repeat in my mind.
“Because I love you.”
His words slash my chest to ribbons because I wish more than anything—maybe even more than getting a shot with William—that Ziel was real. But he’s not. He’s a dream lover. Too perfect to be true.
I wake up and find my pillow soaked with tears.
15
Today isthe worst day of my life.
And that’s saying something, considering I just had five demons in my house the night before.
I heard from Sarah, who heard from Dianna, who heard from Billy, who heard from Mallory, that William Washington has a date with Janie tonight.
A date.
A freaking date.
My heart feels like it’s being shredded into impossibly small confetti pieces, littering the floor around me. Because, yeah, it hurts like a bitch, especially since I thought…
Well, is it stupid to have believed that William likedme?
Honestly, I don’t know why I’m even surprised. She’s five foot six with slender legs, shimmery blonde hair, and sensual features. And I’m…me. I’ll never be good enough for the likes of William fucking Washington.
But that doesn’t stop the pain from percolating in my stomach, threatening to expel its contents. I can get a dream guy to fall in love with me, but a real guy?
I’ll be the first to admit that I wallowed throughout the day. During gym, when that asshole Raz demanded I participate in the group game of volleyball, I purposely aimed the ball at Janie whenever it came in my direction. And for lunch, I grabbed a bag of cheese puffs and a bottle of Mountain Dew, and then sat on the closed bathroom toilet seat, listening to Celine Dion’s “All By Myself.”
Even Zolroth couldn’t penetrate the depressive fog I found myself in, though he sure as hell tried.
In decathlon, I ignore everyone and take a seat near the back of the room, content to press my nose into the study guide and memorize my ass off. I become distinctly aware of a towering silhouette stealing the remaining light from the room. Blinking, I glance up at Kastros’s scowling face. He reaches over and touches my hair, pulling out a… Well, I’ll be damned. That’s one of the M&Ms from my second hour pity snack fest. How did that get there?
Ignoring the ogling girls and the wary boys, Kastros grabs my wrist and practically drags me out of the classroom and into the hall. Van, Zolroth, and Raz all stand in a haphazard semi-circle, similar expressions of irritation etched onto their ridiculously handsome faces.
“What?” I growl, struggling against Kastros’s iron grip.
“You can’t keep fucking doing this.” Raz’s voice is a rumble that reverberates through my body. Husky and almost primitive in nature. His eyes hurl daggers in my direction as he leans against the closest locker and crosses his arms over his chest.
“Doing what?” I demand. Honestly, I haven’t been doinganythingtoday. Literally. Unless they count the time in third hour when I watchedSixteen Candleson my phone while the teacher lectured. Or in fourth hour when I traded a pack of gum for an entire box of cereal that Manny Brooks always brings to class, just so I could binge eat and forget my troubles. Or the time—
“You’re fucking pouting.” Van makes a face at me, as if my teenaged troubles are so far beneath him. “It’s irritating.”
“I amnotpouting,” I protest immediately.
In answer, Kastros grabs another strand of my bright pink hair and pulls out a… Is that a piece of chicken? When the fuck did I have chicken—
Ohhhh. Fifth hour. I paid Martin Smiles—the resident stoner—to pick up a bucket of KFC. Stace, being the perfect friend she is, even went as far as to stop at the nearby gas station and grab me a tub of mint chocolate chip. She didn’t necessarily understandwhyI needed my go-to comfort food, but she’s my ride or die bitch and supports me unconditionally.
“What the hell do you even see in that guy?” Raz explodes, throwing his hands up into the air. It almost sounds as if he’s actuallygrowling.Honest-to-God growling, like he’s some sort of feral hyena set loose on the unsuspecting population. “You know what? Don’t answer that.”
“Fuck you.” I mimic his posture, crossing my arms over my chest and leveling him with an almost incandescent glare. “And fuck you, you, and you too.” I direct the last line at Van, Zolroth, and Kastros respectively.
“You wish,” Van snorts.
“No, I don’t actually! I wish I was fucking William! But no. You all are the worst demon matchmakers in the history of ever!” I’m super articulate when I’m pissed.
