School hasn't even started yet and I hate it. That's right, it's the first day of school and I'm standing outside the front doors. I spent most of yesterday convincing the office that they don't need my paperwork or my parents. And of course by "convincing" I mean I have a thing layer of power settled over the office so that whenever they feel the need to double check my records they will just pull out a random students' records and see what they expect to be mine. It's a tedious process but necessary.

"Hey Raph!" I turn at the sound of my name. Tony is walking up to the school now. There's a girl walking next to him. I recognize her but I can't seem to pinpoint where or how I know her. Her choppy brown hair that ends at her shoulders compliments her face nicely. I use my superior eyesight to get a good look at her while she's still so far away. Her eyes are a lilac color, that's odd, rare. The rest of her face just screams young and innocent, except for the diamond stud piercing on the right side of her nose and her double pierced left eyebrow. If someone wasn't looking closely they'd miss these because the stud is so small and her hair falls in front of her eyebrow. She's shorter than Tony, probably closer to my height. Her skirt and loose blouse combo give off the impression of a sweet girl. But there's a coldness in her eyes that I recognize all too well. There's more to this girl than meets the eye.

"Hey!" I respond to Tony's greeting. He's so cheerful, why is he so cheerful?

"You ready for your first day of high school?" There's humor in his voice as he asks, coming up to stand next to me. I smirk, "It's your first day too." He rolls his eyes good-naturedly at my comment. "Well yeah, but I wasn't homeschooled my whole life."

I shrug and glance at the girl again.shes watching me carefully. We stare at each other for a moment. "Oh my gosh I'm so sorry! This is Seraph, she moved to the neighborhood about the same time you did." Tony gestures to the girl next to him. I nod in greeting to her and she smiles.

"Seraph, this is Raphael." Tony once again gestures between us. We don't say anything to each other, just stare warily at each other. I know I know her. I have a nearly perfect memory for someone over a hundred and thirty. So the fact that I can't remember her is irritating to say the least.

"Why don't we get your guys' schedules?" He breaks our staring contest and pulls us inside. I already have my schedule but I don't mention this. I just stay close to Tony. While we are in the office I let my mind run through possibilities.
Her name is Seraph, that seems significant. I mean doesn't Seraph mean angel? "Angel?" I whisper to myself in realization. Her head snaps up to look at me. "What did you say?" Her voice is urgent.

"Seraph? As in angel?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at her reaction. She stiffens and struggles to school her expression. "I'm not an angel." I smirk at this response, that's what I thought.

"I never said you were, Angel." She clenches her jaw and turns away from me. I smile, very proud that I've managed to upset her. Maybe school isn't going to be as bad as I thought.

We exit the office as the first bell rings. We all glance at our schedules and head for our first hours. We have the same first hour, what a coincidence. Or as coincidental as it can be. We arrive at our first class and find our seats. I look over at Seraph and smirk,winking at her. She clenches her jaw and turns away from me, showing me her back. I chuckle at her irritation. She's making this too easy.

I'd forgotten how much fun this is. Just messing with people. Purposely pushing buttons and testing people's limits. Playing with people until they break. But she's strong. She won't break like any other human. And that is intriguing. I'm glad I decided to stick around. This is going to be fun, I'm not bored.

We get through the day without much communication between the three of us. Most of it was between Tony and Seraph.

That is until lunch, by this times I've observed enough to know my angle now. And this is going to be quite the entertaining year.

We sit down for lunch and I strike up a conversation with the stubborn woman. "Hey Angel, how's your day so far?" A smile twitches on my lips.

"It was great until you got here. Don't call me Angel." She snaps, throwing me a glare. I chuckle a little before continuing. "I thought Angels were supposed to be sweet."

She snorts a short laugh. "Yeah well, I guess you're an exception." I grin, "I can't help that I'm exceptional."

"Yeah you're exceptional. Exceptionally irritating." The annoyance in her voice is more than clear. I smirk, enjoying myself. "So you admit that I'm exceptional." She rolls her eyes, "In a way."

Oh this is entertaining. "I didn't think you had it in you to admit I'm better."

She laughs a humorless laugh again. "Better at being a prick? Not exactly what I'd call an accomplishment."

"Depends on what you consider an accomplishment. For example, I feel very accomplished that I've rattled you."

"Oh really? And why is that?"

I smile slyly at her. "Because no one and get to you like I can."

She glares at me. "Don't push your luck."

I let out a soft laugh. "And why not? It's so much fun when I do."

She looks at me carefully, "You know what else would be fun?" I grin and let my eyes travel over her, "I have a few ideas but I doubt that's what you were implying."

She scoffs and doesn't respond. "Why so hostile Angel? All I ever did was introduce myself."

"Yeah, that's most of the problem."

I clutch at my chest as if wounded. "Most? What's the real problem?"

"Well I would say it's all you, but that's giving you too much credit so . . ."

"So? Come on Angel, don't hold out on me now." I pout.

"Not like I have an obligation to tell you."

I smile. "I didn't have to ask either. It's a courtesy. So be courteous. I lave a feeling we are going to be seeing a lot of each other."

"I'll be courteous when you deserve it." She snaps.

"So far I haven't said anything that warrants me not deserving it."

"I can tell you don't." Her voice stays cold.

"Without proof. Come on Angel, live a little. Take a risk. You never know where it'll lead."

"Yeah, that's the problem."

"What's the problem? Your boy trusts me."

"He's not my boy." She snaps defensively.

"You sure about that?" My implications in my question clear, at least I thought.

She rolls her eyes, "Positive. He's his own person."

"That's not what I was implying."

"Then what were you implying?" Aw, she's so cute when she's confused.

"Oh I'm sorry Angel, but I can't tell someone who obviously doesn't trust me. Why should I trust someone who can't trust me back."

"You haven't given me a reason to trust you."

"Then I'm afraid we are at an impasse because you haven't given me a reason to trust you either."

"I wasn't trying to." Like I didn't already know. "Are you implying I was?"

"Of course not."

"I don't believe you." And truly I don't. There's something going on with her.

"There's a big surprise." The sarcasm in her voice is very apparent.

"Actually it is. Aren't angels supposed to be honest? Then why don't I believe you?"

"I am being honest, not my fault you don't trust my word." She's getting frustrated, it's hilarious.

"It's not mine either Angel."

"Then I guess there's not really a point to this conversation, is there?"

"Depends on your point of view."

"Oh?" Again her face is contorted in confusion.

"Yeah. I still got you to talk to me."

"And why did you want that?" Good question. "To prove to you that I can get you to."

"Good for you, feeling accomplished?" Yes, as a matter of fact I am. "I don't need you to feel accomplished."

She huffs. "What's the matter Angel? Did I hurt your feelings?"

"No." She snaps. Ha! Caught you. "Oh you say no but your eyes say yes."

"You're not worth my feelings." Oh please. "Never said I was. But you may have just said so." She rolls her eyes. "Ooh the silent treatment. Tell me now that I don't matter."

She turns to Tony and asks him about his day. "Aw look, she's ignoring me. I must mean something if I'm worth ignoring." She snorts a laugh. "How'd you come to that conclusion?"

"Because people don't feel the meet to ignore things that mean nothing to them." From years of observing humans I've picked up a few things.

"That's the dumbest logic I've ever heard." Then you obviously haven't heard much. "It's the truth."

"Do you even know what that word means?"

"Truth? Do you?"

"Of course I do!"

"Then why aren't you telling me it? Not the definition of truth. The truth."

"I'm telling you the truth, I don't know what your problem is."

"You're hiding something Angel." And the truth is she is, I can't put my finger on it though.

"Am I?" Yes, you are. "Yes. And I'm going to find out what it is."

"Good luck with that."

"I don't need luck Angel. I am luck." Exactly what kind of luck I chose to keep to myself.

"Yeah right." She scoffs.

"It's the truth Angel." The bell rings, signaling the end of lunch. "Have a nice day." I tell her has I stand up.

"I'll try, not much worse it can get."

"Don't say that Angel," I warn. "There's always something worse."

"Worse than you? Doubtful." Oh this girl has no idea what the world is really like.

"Be careful what you say Angel. It might turn out to be true."

"Is that a threat?"

"Wouldn't dream of it. It's a warning. Not everything is as it seems,but not everything isn't."

"You're weird." She states firmly. "Not weird." I respond coldly. "You really are." I'm really not.

"Only by some standards."

"I'd say by most."

"You don't know everything you think you do. Have a good day." I turn and walk away but I can feel her glaring at me.