“You're never gonna have to be without me again,” I tell him, my belly filling with butterflies as he leans in and kisses me.
His lips are so warm and soft against mine. A little moan escapes my lips, and Leo’s hand that is tangled with mine tightens.
We break apart and I’m about to tell him I love him, one of my new favorite things to say, when he shouts, “Abby, watch out!”
I only have enough time to look, which was a bad idea because I allowed the ball that is flying towards my face to hit me full on. I don’t have enough time to react as it makes contact.
I can feel my nose break, the crunch of the bone causing me to cry out in pain. I know I’ll be able to heal it, but fuck, does this hurt!
“What the fuck?!” Leo roars, already on his feet. My hand is covering my nose as blood starts to gush freely.
“It was an accident,” comes from Luke. I look over at him, still in shock with what just happened. He’s looking at me with wide eyes, like he really didn’t mean to hit me.
“Bullshit, you did that on purpose!” Leo accuses, stepping up to Luke.
Luke’s attention is on Leo now. “No, I didn’t. I was trying to pass it to Heather. She missed the shot, and it went flying past her.”
“Yeah, right. You hate Abby, you all do. Words are one thing, but going as low as to physically harm her is messed up. I thought you were all about good and peace and love.” I’m pretty sure that’s hippies, but he’s close.
“We are. I said it wasn’t on purpose.”
“What’s going on over here?” The teacher finally decided to come over and do her job. She talks to Leo and Luke, and I move to see if I can find something to put over my nose for the blood.
“Gross!” someone shrieks. “You got your nasty Demon blood all over my school jacket.” I look down to see that my blood has dripped onto the white jacket. I’m about to apologize and tell them I’d pay for a new one when I see it’s the Heather who apparently missed the ball Luke kicked to her. And I use the word missed lightly because anyone can tell she did this on purpose.
“It’s just a little blood. Calm down,” I say, my words coming out slightly muffled because of my hand.
“Someone get a hazmat team over here. God only knows what that blood will do to us if we touch it.”
“Oh my god,” I scoff, tipping my head back. “My blood won’t do anything. Unless you want some for a sacrificial ritual. I bet you can use it to summon my father.” Probably not smart to poke the bear, but she’s being so overly dramatic right now.
Gasps ring out around us, and I only now remember my dad is the bad guy to these people.Shit.
“Leave!” Heather yells at me. “No one wants you here, you demon freak...” She goes off on me, yelling every insult she can think of, but when she says that my father didn’t even want me because he sent me here to get rid of me, that’s my final breaking point.
I do something, something that will probably get me kicked out of school, giving them just what they want.
My horns start to extend, and my breathing comes out ragged. I’m normally really good at keeping my anger in check. I have been with my stepbrother and his friends for months. But there’s only so much I can take before I snap.
Dropping my hands from my nose, I let my bloody hands hang at my side. From the wide looks on everyone’s faces, I must look pretty fucked up. Blood all over my face, horns on the top of my head. My wings don’t come out, but I can feel my hellfire rippling along my skin. I know my eyes are as black as the darkest pits of Hell as I step towards Heather.
“Leave. Me. Alone!” I bellow. My voice is coming out loud and a little bit demonic, not helping my case at all. I’m not going to hurt her, I’m not like them. But she drops to the ground, curling up into a ball and starts screaming, begging me not to hurt her.
“Abby!” Leo’s voice has me blinking. “Abby,” he says my name softer this time, as a familiar warmth flows through my body when a hand finds my shoulder. “Breathe, Starbright. This isn’t you.”
His words cause my breaths to even out, my heart to slow down, and for reality to hit me like a freight train. I gasp as my horns recede. I take in all the horrified looks on everyone’s faces.
They all start whispering. Freak. Loser. Demon scum.
Horrified at what just happened, I start to panic. My eyes dart around, landing on Isaac and his friends. I expect for them to be happy, to love seeing my own downfall, only they just stand there, blank faces as they let their peers do their jobs for them.
I need to get out of here, to get away from their hurtful words.
I do the only thing I can think of and run. Turning around, I jump over the bench and start sprinting towards the exit.
Leo calls after me, screaming my name. I feel bad. I know he’s gonna be worried sick about me, but I can’t think about that right now. I just need to get as far away from here as I can.
I’m not going fast enough. I need to go, so I let my wings spring free and carry me into the air, thankful for the gym shorts I have on.
I let my wings carry me to a safe place, a place I know none of these horrible people will be able to find me.