~4~ From Down Under

(Joey’s POV)

“Who exactly is this ‘Angel’ character?” Meghan asked me almost immediately when we got back to our hotel room. I sighed as I sat on the bed. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto my lap.

“Why do you care?” I asked.

“I don’t like her. She’s up to something,” she said.

“Trust me. Angel’s well…an Angel,” I laughed, but she obviously didn’t see it as any joke. “You have nothing to worry about.”

“Does she have a boyfriend?” she asked. I rolled my eyes.

“I don’t know. She says she doesn’t, but I don’t know,” I said, dazed. She got up from my lap and grunted before storming into the bathroom.

“Babe. I don’t know why you’re getting so mad…” I said, starting to kick off my shoes and lay on our bed. I know it was wrong; telling her something when it wasn’t the truth while still hiding the fact that Angel was my ex. Truthfully, I don’t believe “nothing” will happen.

Meghan came out of the bathroom in only blue and white satin lingerie. My eyes widened. Not because she was wearing that—please, I’ve seen her in less considering she’s on swim team—but because of what she was doing.

“You’re right,” she said as she started to walk over to me on the bed. She climbed on top of me and straddled my waist. “I have nothing to worry about because you’re mine.”

She leaned down to kiss me, but at the time, Angel still crossed my mind. The idea of her started to fade away each time a layer of clothing was peeled off of me.

(Angel’s POV)

“Brian!” I yelled and almost immediately collided into him when he made it to my house the next day around noon. His arms coiled and condensed around my waist. We pulled apart, only for him to kiss my cheek.

“It’s only been a month,” he smiled. I didn’t really care. I stepped back from him completely and found him to be holding out a bouquet of assorted and colorful flowers. I gave him a deserved smile.

“Thank you,” I said, taking the flowers in one hand and one of his bags in another. I led him up the stairs of my apartment which was basically a two-storied town house.

“So this is my new home?” he asked in a laugh.

“Well it can be if you want,” I shrugged. “Didn’t you say your scientific nerd group you were roaming with said they could get you into any medicine university?”

“Yup,” he said, flinging himself onto the bed. Lucky him. Ever since half way through senior year, he interned with some scientists and now he’s so good with plants and medicines, he didn’t have to apply for any colleges. All he had to do was choose one and he’d get in. Of course, I know the studying for him was hard because, come on, he was an eighteen year old facing middle aged scientists and he couldn’t prove any theories without magically growing plants to prove it. His powers were under watch just like the others’ all because the world wanted to know who exactly “The Great” Devin Hallow tested his Cure out on and the results. However, under FDA’s information, the boys’ names were in fact written down with information, but not as well as it could’ve been considering Brian’s brother, Luke had stolen the information what, nearly two years ago? Devin had to rewrite all that was destroyed and it’s all locked up in a safe where no one but Rivers and Sherman has seen. I don’t even know where it is. “Angel?”

He asked that as if he’d been calling me several times.

“What?”

“Would you mind if I enrolled at RIU?” he asked with a frown and nervousness. I smiled.

“I think it’d be perfect for you,” I said. Then my smile dropped. “But you could also go to Harvard…I mean we’ll probably be going down to Cambridge often.”

“Nope. I’ll stay right here,” he smiled. I raised an eyebrow.

“If that’s the case, don’t think you can get away with free rent—”

“Angel, please,” he interrupted. “You know my family. I’ll pay half the rent.”

“Third,” I corrected. He was the one to raise an eyebrow now. “I have a roommate. Her name’s Nelly. She should actually be back—”

“Angel!?” as if on cue, Nelly called up.

“I’m up here!” I yelled back. I heard her jog up the stairs that weren’t used much. I mean, her room was downstairs along with the kitchen, living room, one and a half bathrooms and guest room. Upstairs was my room, two bathrooms, (now) Brian’s room, and an extra guest room.

Nelly entered the room and looked between Brian and me.

“This is Brian. He’s going to be living with us…” I greeted, worried about her reaction. Nelly was…outspoken. If she didn’t like someone, she’d let it be known.

“Well I hope he isn’t just someone you picked up on the side of the street,” she said as she crossed her arms and kept her beautiful eyes on his face. He was fighting the urge to laugh.

“I’ve known Brian my whole life, just about,” I informed with a laugh. “He’s fine.”

“Okay, good…” she said cautiously. She dropped her crossed arms and held out a hand towards Brian. “Nelly Lindsay.”

“Nice accent,” Brian said…in a perfect Australian accent? “What part of down under are you from?”

“Sydney,” Nelly answered, with her face lighting up at the fact that she thought he was from Australia as well. “And you?”

“I’m from the States, mate,” Brian smiled. Nelly’s face was the picture perfect image of confusion. In conclusion, Brian continued in his normal American voice: “I went to Australia last year for research. It’s a beautiful place.”

Nelly narrowed her eyes at him, for she had been deceived, but all I did was watch. I think our housing arrangements would be perfect.

***

“Where you going?” Nelly asked when it was seven o’clock and Brian and I were planning on going to see Devin.

“To see my brother,” I informed. Nelly looked up at me with her nose turned up. She didn’t really like Devin. She didn’t like how his arrogance masked his actual intelligence. “Don’t wait up.”

“No worries,” she replied as she continued to use her laptop. I rolled my eyes as we had crossed the living room. I opened the door and saw Joey standing there with his fist in the air as if he was about to knock on the door.

“Hi…” he said nervously. He was wearing his legendary leather jacket that had a hood and made it seem as if he was also wearing a hoodie over his faint blue shirt. He glanced behind me to see Brian. His eyes even darkened. “Oh.”

“Nice to see you,” Brian said. I felt him straighten up behind me as if he’d reach the height of Joey.

“Long time, no see,” Joey smirked.

“Gee, wonder why,” I heard Brian breath. I hit him stomach. Joey stood there awkwardly and I noticed something missing.

“Why are you here?” I asked.

“I was coming to ask more about what was really going on and to apologize for Meghan and to apologize for assuming all that I did yesterday,” he informed.

“He was here yesterday?” Brian asked me, nudging my arm. I nodded. He looked to Joey. “I thought you went to Florida…”

“I did—I mean I do,” Joey stammered.

“Then why are you here in Rhode Island?”

“Swim meet scrimmage,” I answered for him. Brian smirked.

“So that’s your scam is it?” he asked Joey. “Nice use of power.”

I widened my eyes. I pulled Brian out of the house and locked the door as I shushed them.

“Hel-lo! Nelly’s in there,” I reminded. She shouldn’t ever have to know about the boys and their powers. They both shrugged, but kept their eyes locked on each other.

“Unlike you, it’s not a scam,” Joey hissed to Brian.

“And you think discovering medicine is a scam?” Brian scoffed.

“It is when you just grow the d4mn flowers for it while people search the globe for that sh!t,” Joey started to raise his voice. That was enough.

“Stop,” I ordered to both of them. “You’re causing a scene and if you really want to know more about why I need you both, you’ll just have to come to Cambridge with us.”

Both boys scoffed.

“In order for that to happen, you have to tolerate each other in a car for an hour okay?” I added.

“Fine,” Brian hissed.

“Only for Devin,” Joey whispered to himself. I started to walk down the steps to go to my car parked along the street, and I saw Joey and Brian brush each other’s shoulders. God…this was going to be a long a$$ car ride.