When Angels Fall (Fallen Angels) Read online

  “I think that’s one of the new administrator’s sons,” Gabbie whispered, bringing Chloe’s attention to the tall guy with short, dark curly hair who’d entered the room. He looked uncomfortable standing there, waiting for the sister to read his note. She knew she’d seen him before but couldn’t remember where. He looked so out of place. Most of the guys wore a dress shirt and tie for the first day of school; but he was wearing the whole nine yards, down to the dark blue blazer with the school’s insignia.

  Sister Mary Margret smiled and said something to him, then called out, “Chloe Gardner, please raise your hand.”

  “Lucky you!” Dave laughed.

  Chloe cringed, knowing she was his babysitter for the day now.

  The guy looked over, and then nodded. His expression lit up as though he might have seen her before, too.

  Sister Mary Margaret always singled her out for stuff like this. “Miss Gardner, I would like you to show our new student around today. I believe you have a lot of the same classes.”

  “Yes, Sister, I’ll do my best,” Chloe replied, wishing the sister didn’t like her so much.

  “I know you will.” The sister turned to speak to the students. “Welcome back, Class. And welcome to the start of your junior year. As you know, our day today will start with the traditional ring mass. I trust your parents are already in the church, waiting for you all to receive your class rings. I’m very excited for you all. Let us ask for God’s blessing, then form two lines, girls on the left and boys on the right. Nicholas, try to stand next to Chloe,” Sister Mary Margret suggested.

  Getting in line, Nick turned to Chloe. “Before you say anything, we kinda got off to a bad start, so let’s start over. Hi, I’m Nick Allen, the stupid jerk who thought you were rude from the carnival, older brother of the most annoying little brother in the world.” He smiled.

  “Chloe Gardner, line butter, and he wasn’t so bad. He was kinda cute. You, on the other hand, were kinda of a jerk though.” She remembered him now, and how he’d called her rude.

  “Yeah, I’m really sorry about that, too. I just hate starting over and I’ve been in a really bad mood since we got here,” he explained.

  She liked watching him squirm. “Really, it’s okay, I understand. I’m kinda like the tour guide around here this year, so I’ll help you as best as I can. We can talk more after mass.”

  Directly after Sister MM’s class they entered the church, it smelled of incense and candles. Chloe scanned the pews for her father. She wasn’t surprised when she didn’t see him. It was normal that he hadn’t shown, but she always held out hope that he would surprise her.

  Slowly, they reached the assigned pew, both of them genuflected by kneeling on one knee, and then they rose to take their seats.

  Tiffany Michaels was waiting for them, her blue eyes aglow and her perfect bleach-blond hair lying perfectly on her dark-blue sweeter. The twisted leer of her smile let them know the news she was about to share would be startling.

  Next to her, was Tabitha Rogers, school slut and one of Tiffany’s closest friends. She sat playing with her cross and a vacant expression on her face while cracking her gum and waiting for mass to start.

  “Have you seen the new administrator’s sons? Just so you know, the one in senior class is mine,” Tiffany informed them in her matter-of-fact-way.

  Chloe rolled her eyes and knelt down to pray, as was the unspoken rule.

  “Chloe got stuck with the other one. She has to play babysitter today,” Gabbie informed them, giggling while pointing out the new kid.

  This got Tabitha’s attention.

  “If he looks like his brother, I’ll watch him,” she purred as she sat up to look for him. Her polished red nail clenched between her teeth as she surveyed her new prey.

  Chloe knew what she was thinking; she glanced over at Nick and felt bad for him. “Please Tab, let’s try and keep him pure for at least part of the school year,” she suggested, hoping this would defer the girl’s lust for fresh meat.

  “With looks like that, I doubt very much that he’s pure. I know you, St. Chloe, protector of small children and new students. You think he can’t handle us. I have a feeling he‘s going to do just fine. Bring him to our table for lunch and let’s get to know him,” Tiffany commanded, using her voice of authority.

  The disapproving glance of Sister George brought them all to attention and they returned to the quiet that was expected of them.

  He has no clue what he’s in for at this school, especially with Tiffany or Tabitha, Chloe thought as she watched Nick now. He wasn’t bad looking with those sweet dark curls. He had kind of a baby face, and eyelashes that even Tiffany would kill for. He also looked kind of lost as he looked around the church.

  As if he could feel her stare, his eyes met hers and he smiled nervously.

  Quickly, Chloe turned away and hoped he hadn’t noticed. She caught Tabitha’s gaze and realized she was looking at him too. This meant she was already making plans for him. She hoped that for his sake, he was smart enough to turn her down.

  The mass in general was pretty boring. It was mostly about Father Paul going on about how through God’s love and their persistence, the final years at the school should be memorable for them. It was hard for Chloe to keep her eyes open as he went on and on about it.

  Gabbie nudged her as he approached the front of the altar with Father Gabe and waited for the students and their families to approach. The huge knot in her stomach seemed to get bigger as they got closer to her name. In general, you were to approach the altar, as your parents were to fall in behind you. In her case, Chloe knew there was no one there for her. She felt stupid that her father was a no-show again, and it just proved to everyone the rumors that went around about her.

  Pushing the thoughts out of her mind, she continued moving up until she was next. She glanced to her side and noticed Nick with his parents behind him. She jumped suddenly as a hand fell on her shoulder. Chloe turned and found Sister Mary Margret’s smiling face.

  “I’m sure they would be here if they could. But I know your mother is here with you, and if it is all right, I’ll stand in her place,” Sister Mary Margaret whispered to her.

  Chloe nodded and smiled. Sister MM, for some reason, had always looked out for her. Even last year, when things fell apart, she was the one who called her father in and tried to reason with him.

  “Chloe Cecilia Gardner,” Father Gabe said aloud.

  She stepped forward.

  “Nicholas Robert Allen.” Father Paul’s voiced echoed through the church.

  Nick stood next to Chloe with his parents by his side.

  Sister Mary Margaret took Chloe’s ring and put it on her finger.

  Nick’s mom did his.

  Chloe walked back to her seat while she watched Nick’s parents hug him. They looked like a tight-knit family, which was something she didn’t have or wouldn’t know about.

  Walking back to class, Nick seemed to notice that Chloe was really quiet. “Is it always like this the first day of school?” he bravely asked her.

  “Yeah. There is usually a mass at different times to sort of remind you of how things will be. Is this your first time in a Catholic school?”

  “No, I’m just not used having to go to mass right away. The sister said we have pretty much the same classes. That’s why she put us together,” he continued nervously.

  “I said it isn’t a problem. Mr. Green is our third period, and that is history. Word of advice, he’s pretty cool but don’t challenge him on any battles. He does historic war reenactments on the weekend. After that, we have family living, which is Sister George. She’s very old school. No gum chewing, pencil tapping, note swapping, or talking,” Chloe explained as she looked over the schedule.

  “Okay, thanks for the warning. What’s after that?” he asked, while they entered into Mr. Green’s room.

  “Lunch,” she replied and found a seat.

  “Hello, Chloe.” A tall, blond-haired jock approac
hed her.

  She closed her eyes as if to wish he wasn’t there. “Hi, Josh. Wow, look at that, we have the same class.” She tried to hide her sarcasm.

  “Isn’t that a stroke of luck for me? There’s a back-to-school dance next week. I was thinking we could go,” he suggested as he leaned on to her desk and started to play with a lock of her hair.

  “I will really have to check. I might be volunteering at the hospital that day.” She hoped he didn’t catch on to her lie.

  “So, check your schedule and get back to me. We could go to Tiff’s after for the party,” he added arrogantly.

  “Yeah, sounds like fun. I’ll let you know.” Luckily, he was too self- involved to notice she’d rolled her eyes at his suggestion.

  After Sister Gorge’s class, the bell rang and dismissed them to lunch, causing a frenzy in the hallway.

  Nick fought his way to keep up with her, as Chloe stopped at her locker.

  Josh was also in their family living class and kept winking at her the whole time. She would turn her head and go back to her book, trying to block him from her view.

  “So, was that your boyfriend?” Nick dared to say. “I mean, you don’t have to answer me. I was just wondering.”

  “Who, Josh? No, he thinks he is or he wants to be, but I’m not interested. But because it is the popular thing to do, I’m kinda getting pushed into it,” she answered, while taking out her books and sketch pad.

  “Oh, so you’re one of those popular kids who everyone in the school looks up to. And he’s captain of the football team.” Nick laughed.

  “You guessed it. And he’s kind of a big deal here and with my friends. Listen, you seem like a really nice guy and I can almost bet you’ll fit in with us, just watch what you say and do. Some of the people here will chew you up and spit you out,” she warned him, thinking about Tabitha’s gazing at him earlier.

  “Thanks for the advice, but I can handle myself. I’ve moved around enough to know the deal at a new school. I know what crowds are and how to handle myself with them.” He seemed to take offense to her suggestion.

  Chloe glared at him. “Okay, smart guy. You think you can handle them? Then, let’s go meet the gang.” She slammed her locker and headed out to lunch and the lions’ pit, a little put off by his cockiness.

  * * * *

  Nick followed Chloe over to the wall where all her friends seemed to be.

  “So, you’re the administrator’s son,” Tiffany cooed as he walked up.

  “Yeah, hi, I’m Nick. And you are?” He suddenly realized what Chloe had been trying to tell him.

  “The Antichrist!” the guy sitting across from her coughed.

  Tiffany’s smile turned ugly as she scowled at him. “Funny not, David!” she hissed and then turned her charm back on to continue, “I’m Tiffany Rogers. I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”

  “Nope, should I have?” Nick asked.

  Tiffany’s evil glare fell on Chloe.

  “Hey, I haven’t had time to fill him in, so sorry! Nick, Tiffany is from the town founder’s line. She’s ninth generation,” Chloe rambled off what Tiffany obviously wanted everyone to know.

  “She’s also one of the riches people in town and likes for everyone to know that. I’m Dave McPierson, of the lowlife McPieson’s,” the guy who coughed finally introduced himself. He was husky, with light-brown hair.

  Nick could tell he was the fat kid who was always the class clown and somehow managed to be a part of this high-class group of girls.

  “And this lovely lady, who is unlucky enough to be stuck with me in poverty, is Gabbie D’Angelo,” Dave continued as he put his arm around the girl standing next to him, who had jet-black hair. She was pretty, like most of the Italian girls he had met, but they all looked and acted the same to him.

  Nick could tell she was an athlete of some kind by the way her body was so tight and the way she held herself and he now recognized them as the groping couple, he’d seen at the carnival. “We have homeroom together,” he reminded them.

  “If you can’t tell, Dave is our class clown and also one of my oldest friends. And as for last but not least is Tabitha Michaels,” Chloe continued.

  Nick knew her type as soon as he’d seen her in church. Kelly had been her type and he‘d already dealt with that kind of racy girl.

  Tabitha had blond hair as well and piercing gray eyes. She was overdeveloped and was the girl who rolled her skirt to make it shorter, almost to the point that when she bent over, you could see her panties, or lack thereof. Her shirt was unbuttoned to reveal a peak of cleavage, and she leered at him with lustful eyes.

  Her gaze embarrassed him a little, but he played things off really well.

  “Chloe, you have to lock my ring.” Gabbie thrust her hand in Chloe’s face, almost to the point that she smacked her.

  “We’ve only had two classes, when did you find time to get it turned?” She turned the ring counterclockwise.

  “What can I say? I’m popular.” Gabbie giggled as she threw her hands in the air.

  “You can do mine, too. Gabbie just did my last turn,” Tiffany added, showing off her expensive ring. Instead of a birthstone, she had a diamond.

  “You guys suck,” Chloe exclaimed as she locked Tiffany’s, too.

  “Mine’s locked. I had Tommy Alverez do it,” Tiffany bragged.

  “I heard he did something else for you, too.” Dave laughed, knowing it’d gotten around school already.

  “You can be banished. I don’t care whose boyfriend you are. You’re not funny!” Tiffany tried to show her authority.

  “Oh, calm down, Tiff. Stop acting like you’re the queen or something. He was just kidding. And I heard that, too. Sorry, Tab. So, Nick, where are you from?” Gabbie asked while changing the subject.

  “Ah, the last place was Michigan. We seem to travel to different states every so many years. My mom made my dad promise this would be the last move, though. She’s a little tired of packing over and over again,” he explained, then realized he just gave out too much information. He always did that when he was nervous, and this group was enough to make him do that.

  It was then that Josh joined them and sat across from Chloe. “Why is that pretty face of yours always in a book?” he asked Chloe as he shut the book.

  “If St. Chloe isn’t defending the young and helpless, she’s sketching away. But that is why we love her.” Tiffany teasingly hugged her shoulders.

  “I’m working on something, thank you.” She pulled the book away from Josh , and then seemed to remember Nick and continued, “Oh, Josh, this is Nick Allen. He’s new to the school, yada, yada, yada…” Chloe introduced them.

  “I met your brother earlier. Welcome to Sacred Heart,” Josh shook Nick’s hand as he seemed to look him over.

  “So, speaking of your brother, tell me about him.” Tiffany smiled and batted her eyes.

  “Who? Kevin? You’re not his type, if that’s what you want to know,” Nick replied. And she really wasn’t. Kevin liked girls who were dumb. Tiffany was far from that.

  “Yeah, Tiff, he’s right. That guy is funny and you don’t like funny,” Josh added.

  This seemed to piss her off. “I’ll be the judge of that! Tab, we have to get to class. I want a good seat,” Tiffany hissed, seemingly in a huff, as she left.

  “Charming girl. You seem to have some really nice friends,” Nick pointed out to Chloe.

  “Tiff is fine when she’s the center of attention,” Chloe informed him with a laugh.

  “She’s harmless as long as you play by her rules, too. Chloe, did you check your schedule?” Josh asked.

  She flashed him with a plastic smile. “Not yet. I will after school, and then you will be the first to know.”

  “Who are you guys kidding? If Tiffany isn’t the center of attention, then there is hell to pay. You seem to handle her well, so it will be nice to have another guy around besides Josh, who’s always busy with practice,” Dave suggested to Nick as he watched the way Josh
was intently staring at Chloe.

  “I would be willing to cut my practice time if Chloe would ask me to. I wanted to take you to homecoming, but since Tiff knows she will be queen, she wants me to take her,” Josh informed her.

  “Oh, that’s fine I really wasn’t going to go anyway. And why would I ask you to cut practice time? You’re an important part of the team. The kids would hate me if I did,” Chloe responded.

  “When are you going to learn that by being with me, you would rule this school? Think about it.” He winked at her. “Nick, it was nice meeting you. If Chloe likes you, then hang with us. She’s the one people are starting to look up to.” Josh smiled and headed off to class.

  “Oh, yeah, I’m a real trendsetter. God, he’s such an ass,” Chloe complained as she put her head down on the table.

  “He likes you. When are you going to stop acting like such a prude and go out with him already?” Dave asked her.

  “Honey, she isn’t being a prude. He just has to grow on her. He needs to grow on you, right?” Gabbie questioned Chloe with a leering glance.

  Nick was a little shocked that they were acting like this about Chloe and the jock.

  “Oh, my God, can we drop this subject? Dave, turn my ring jackass, so I can get it locked,” Chloe said as she put her finger out.

  The whole ring thing was new to him, and after seeing both Gabbie and Dave turn her ring, he had to ask them what it was all about.

  “It’s for good luck, duh! You get people to turn your ring until you get to your class year. We’re the class of 2009, so that’s not too bad, just nine times. But you want to have someone special lock your ring. I would’ve chosen Dave, but Chloe and I have been friends forever and I picked her. And since I just turned your ring, I’m guessing Josh will lock yours?” she hinted to Chloe.

  “No, I’m not sure yet, since it was supposed to be you, Dummy,” Chloe replied and frowned at her.

  “Listen, if you want, we can double date with Josh. This way, I’m here for support,” Gabbie suggested with a hopeful tone.