Earth Angels Part Two

CHECK OUT PART ONE BEFORE PROCEEDING PLEASE :)

PART TWO:

CHAPTER FOUR

"If stalking were a sport, you'd take the gold medal."

"April, you're so dramatic," I said, chuckling. "It's not stalking. I'm gathering information."

She rolled her eyes. "You're obsessed."

Maybe I was a bit obsessed. We walked from yard to yard trying to find David's home. I was doing it the human way, walking by foot, the way most humans did.

April drew out the shape of a square with her hands in front of us and a rectangle beneath it. "There's a much easier way to do this. You know that, right?"

On the rectangle, she typed: David Banks Near Me

Instantly, the square showed his photo, and his home lit up in red.

Audibly, we heard the screen respond: "David's home, detected, 1 mile away."

Funny. I should have known his home was so close. I studied everything about him. I knew where he lived and all. I didn't realize it at the time, but spending a few minutes on Earth was making me more like people.

It both excited and frightened me.

I observed the scenery of nature as I walked: the birds gliding through the air, and the leaves swaying in the wind. I felt it on my skin, a strange sensation that I wasn't used to feeling as an angel.

"We're here," April said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I gazed up at the house: it was ranch style with a cute little porch at the front and two rocking chairs.

"Who's the second chair for?" I wondered. I looked at April and forgot that on Earth she couldn't read my thoughts. I was actually relieved.

"So..." April said, "Go ahead! Ring the doorbell."

"What do I say?"

"Hey, it was your idea to come down here," she said, "That's up to you."

I took a deep breath. My stomach felt like someone was squeezing it with a tight rope. I couldn't think straight. I closed my eyes tightly and was about to press the doorbell when I heard someone walking from around the corner.

CHAPTER FIVE

"May I help you with something?"

I froze, mouth agape, not knowing what to say.

April was already on it though. She pulled up the name ID screen in front of me.

Of course, it wasn't visible to the human standing in front of me.

"That's Josephine, from London, England, a newbie to the neighborhood."

I put my hand over my lips so Josephine wouldn't see my response and said, "Thanks, April."

"Are you looking for David?" Josephine asked. Her long wavy red hair glided gently against her arms as she stared at me with bright green eyes. She was stunning.

"Yes, actually, do you know him?" I blurted out before I could think.

She folded her arms. "We're getting well acquainted. He gave me a very warm welcome to the neighborhood."

"Define...warm welcome," I thought.

She reached out, shook my hand and introduced herself. I did the same. I made up a story. I explained that I saw David at the college he taught at and just wanted to ask him a few questions. She shook her head in a seemingly understanding way.

"David should be home any minute. Maybe we could have a cup of tea when he arrives?" she suggested.

April was observing the whole conversation. "Looks like someone's in competition with you, sis."

My eyes squinted as I observed Josephine again. I hated to admit it, but April was right in more ways than one. I knew that I would experience human emotions when I got there, but I didn't see this one coming at all.

CHAPTER SIX

As if on cue, a navy-blue Ford Focus swerved into the driveway and parked. Just like that, there he was...David. The feelings I had for him when I saw him were even stronger now. He had smooth skin, dark brown eyes, low cut hair, a mustache and a low-cut beard. He smiled as he walked towards me. Then he hugged Josephine. I realized that's who he was smiling at all along.

"Welcome back, David," she said, "I was just meeting your new friend, Layla."

David looked at me with clear confusion, but there was something else there too, something I couldn't quite detect at that time. "I don't think we've met before, but it's nice to meet you now, Layla."

"Same," I said.

April nudged my arm. "Smile any wider and you'll be showing more teeth than a shark! Play it cool."

I took April's advice and calmly stopped smiling. I made up the lie about wanting to discuss something I noticed about him at the college when really, I just wanted to be alone with him. Before I could finish explaining, Josephine chimed in.

"We could discuss this over tea inside, yeah?" she asked.

David looked at her then back to me again. "You start boiling the water, and I'll be there in a second."

When David looked back at me, there was something about the expression on Josephine's face that I didn't like. She seemed offended at the thought that he wasn't eager to go into his house with her. She took another look at me and put on a smile.

"Sure," she said and walked into the house, closing the front door behind her.

"Are you a student?"

I looked at David. "No, not exactly."

"Staff member?" He asked. He gently pulled out the rocking chair for me to sit.

"I was interested in enrolling in your class, but I wasn't sure if it's right for me," I replied. This lying thing was becoming too frequent, too easy.

"I can help you see if it's the right fit for you," he suggested, "what questions did you have for me?"

I paused and looked at April. She signaled for me to continue.

"Josephine is waiting for you inside," I said, "I don't want to keep you out here too long. Maybe I'll meet you at the college sometime. Have a great afternoon."

I stood up and started walking away. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe I should never have come to Earth. Falling for a human was not in my plans, but it just sort of happened. What was there really to be learned from this? Besides, Josephine seemed to have caught his interests already. Maybe it was just wishful thinking...maybe I was too late.

"Wait," David said.

I paused and faced him.

He walked down the steps until he was just inches in front of me.

"We can talk about it more over dinner tonight. Just you and me...without Josephine."

There it was again, the same look he had before. This time I detected what it was much clearer: curiosity with a big dose of attraction.

CHECK OUT PART THREE CHAPTER SEVEN