"How do we get rid of it?" How do I get rid of him? Is what I was really thinking. How do I escape Zeke and his stupid face and his stupid warm aura?

Michael looked from me to Zeke. He seemed... apprehensive about what he had to say.

"Only... only God can remove it. Hence, the promise of God." Only God can remove it? I had to repeat that to myself in my head. The big guy who's impossible to reach by his own family? How are we supposed to contact him to remove it?

"I have a ball and chain of heavenly magic on my ass and the only person who can remove it is your overly distant daddy?"

Zeke reached his arm out, going so far as to brush my arm but I shook him off. Why didn't he get the idea yet? Michael was paused in thought, understanding the current dilemma for what it was. I was ready to go home and nap.

"But God is also the only one who can give out a promise, so how did a human get one? A simple human." Thank you so much, Michael, that was so sweet of you. "Which means, if he gave it to her, certainly, he has reason to come into contact now? If not to remove it- at least to discuss? Father doesn't make random moves Ezekiel."

"I know." God, Zeke sounded so pissy and depressing. I know he felt bad but that didn't make up for his manipulative shit. I wish this dumb field trip was over.

I could respect that this was serious, that having my chance at my old life was dependant on our next moves. But what if I didn't want my old life? I simply couldn't feel worried about it. If I was really such an issue, wouldn't God smite me where I stood? Everything would be alright, ultimately. It wasn't that big of a deal-

What? I turn to Zeke and slap his arm. "Stop compelling me. I'm not upset." I turned to Michael.

"I just want to go home." I figured God wouldn't exactly come at my beck and call just because I asked pretty please, so I presume there was enough time for me to go back and apologize to Jennifer for ditching her.

Zeke ran his fingers through his hair, so human-like, but he wasn't that simple. His more elegant brother was starring at me, lips pursed, probably thinking the same thing I was. That meaning, that God wasn't about to show up this very second and also that Zeke was 100% a dumbass.

"I guess you should go home for now. Zeke will watch over you." Yes. That was his job.

"I have to leave. I will attend to you later." Michael disappeared. I jumped a little. Damn those supernatural feats.

"Listen, Gwen. Can I talk to you?"

"Oh, so now you want to talk?" I turned to face him, in my stance, ready to rebuttal. I was disarmed, however, by how vulnerable he looked.

"I realize that you don't appreciate my compelling antics. I'm sorry. I've never had this happen to me before and I didn't know what to do."

"You mean you haven't stumbled upon another human you could manipulate? Or do you manipulate everyone." He looked at me.

"I don't owe you anything, Gwen. My job is to babysit you, not deal with your shit. I've been really nice to you, for no reason at all. I made your life easier by compelling you, and now that you've expressed that you don't want that, I'm respecting it. I don't think you get it- any other angel wouldn't treat you with a shred of respect. You're an insect in our world. Now, I don't have a choice. Until we figure out this promise of God, I am required by my higher-ups to watch over you. We can do this the easy way, or the easy for me way."

I was stunned, I had nothing to say. It made a lot of sense, what he said, but it just made me feel more stupid. I felt like a bug. Any one of them could've squashed me, but instead, they were doing what they could to protect my life. Zeke killed four people (demons) just the other day- why didn't he kill me? Make his life easier? Maybe it was angel code to be nice to humans or protect us at least but, he had a lot of points. I was pissed though. I didn't ask for this to happen, I didn't ask to make his life more difficult. His life? His existence?

I didn't want to be watched over by someone who I couldn't guarantee was being genuine- or who was thinking of smiting me. I didn't know Zeke- Ezekiel- at all. I didn't know a thing about the angel world or demons or God.

"Are you okay? You didn't say anything." Even though Zeke was all of a sudden concerned and caring, he didn't compel me. I didn't understand why he was being nice to me considering he just said I was a bug in his world.

"I don't owe you anything either. I want to go back; I don't want Jennifer to think I ditched her." I crossed my arms and glared at him.

"This is what you want it to be like?" His soft expression turned into a frown.

"I want to go-," He reached out and grasped my arm, "-back." By the time I finished my sentence, we were back in the Triple O's bathroom. I held onto Zeke because I got disoriented as soon as I conceptualized my surroundings. My brain- the human brain- was not intended for this super speed (Teleportation? Flying?) transportation. I didn't know when I blinked- when my surroundings changed. Not a fan.

"Please give me a warning next time!" We were in the women's washroom; I could tell because there were no urinals and the orientation was the same. Also, there was the lady who just exited her stall and was now staring at us unamused. I could imagine from her perspective we were in an embrace in an inappropriate location. I was still clinging to Zeke.

I let go of him quickly, but just a little too late. It was a bit awkward. I brushed my clothes clean of imaginary dust and walked around Zeke, who was staring at me.

I looked back as I exited, was he not going to leave? I beckoned him with my hand. He closed his eyes and followed me out of the washroom. I turned back to where I was walking.

"Listen, Jennifer shouldn't see us together so it'd be great if-," When I turned back, he was gone. Ghost mode?

"Okay then." I looked around Triple O's. Jennifer was still sitting at the booth, typing on her phone. When she saw me, she stood up quickly.

"Hey! I just sent you a text. I don't- I don't want to be weird or anything, it's been like ten minutes. Is everything alright?" I thought it had been longer than that, but why was she acting weird if I was gone just ten minutes?

"Yeah, I guess I must have eaten something funny earlier, sorry about that." We were awkwardly standing by the booth. I was trying to think of how long I spend on washroom trips on average.

"Okay, yeah, I didn't want to assume anything. Sorry. I think I've got to get going anyways."

"Yeah, I've got to get back home too. Amanda's waiting for me." She was not, but I was trying to ease the situation. Jennifer smiled at me.

"Thanks for today. I had fun." We walked together towards the exit, but we had to part ways outside.

Jennifer looked up shyly at me. She looked down and ran a hand through her hair.

"You want to do this again sometime?" I didn't think much of it.

"I'd love to hang out again soon." I adjusted the strap of my bag over my shoulder.

Her face froze, but she quickly recovered. Wait- what am I supposed to interpret from that?

"Okay. I'll see you Friday." She turned around and started walking.

What just happened? Why was she upset? Why was I not currently obsessing over what Michael told me? I can only process so much.

The Promise of God. Well, I would be asking Ezekiel all about that tonight, if I would be seeing him. I'm assuming he's hanging out right now. It didn't sound bad though- no supernatural intervention? I didn't understand why I could be compelled and transported though, that would need clarification.

Furthermore, what the heck was up with John? I am now 95% certain that it was expected that I would be unable to see him, though I don't understand why. But I could see him. Why can't normal people see reapers? Ah, wait. Maybe that thought process I could tackle on my own. That makes quite a bit of sense now that I think of it.

Jennifer. Why was she acting weird? I definitely upset her somehow just now but I have no idea what I said or did. It didn't sit well with me.

Amanda was home when I get there. She waved at me from her phone call in the living room. I waved back and made my way to my room. My door was the first one on the left off the hallway.

I sighed and unzipped my bag to grab my notes and water bottle. I sat on my bed and started studying. Calculus was kicking my ass, I told Jennifer I had barely passed- I got 52. I know the class average is poor but that didn't mean I didn't want better grades. I had so much to think about.

I put my headphones in and got lost in my head.