Chapter Seventeen

When I wake up, Rhys is gone, but in his place, there's a red rose. I pick it up, smiling. I look toward the window, which is open. I go over and close it, bringing the rose to my nose and inhaling the aromatic scent.

I let the rose rest on my dresser. There's a knock on the door and Avril walks in, "Hey."

"Avril. Come in." I smile at her. I haven't seen her for around a week but it feels like centuries.

"Yeah, I was wondering if you wanted to spend some time. If Rhys is coming round, then I'll..."

"No. He's not. Sit down, I've missed you." I give her a quick squeeze.

"I missed you too. I have lots to tell you. I got a boyfriend!"

"Seriously? We can double date! Who is it?" I ask, beaming at her.

"You will be really surprised to actually hear this, but it's one of Rhys' friends from Arizona. He's really buff."

Confusion taints my thoughts. Friends from Arizona?

"Okay, what's this Buff Guy's name?"

"Elijah. Elijah Greene."

Everything goes silent; even my heartbeat seems to be on pause. Avril's mouth is moving, but nothing is coming out. Nothing I can hear anyway. Then she's shaking me. "Donna! Where are you lost?"

"Sorry... Train of thought." I lie, trying to smile.

Avril nods, "So do you know him? Do you know Elijah?"

"Erm..." Should I tell her? "I don't know him. Sorry. But if he says he is Rhys' friend, Rhys should know he's here."

"Yeah, totally." Avril nods, "You should tell Rhys and then we could all meet up. Double date, like you said."

I nod slowly, "Why not? Maybe tonight?"

Avril nods enthusiastically, "Oh my god, you are so right, Donna. It would be so cool if we all met up. Rhys would be happy to meet his friend after so long, too. Sort it out, yeah? Text me with the deets."

"Yeah, I will. Do you have to go now?" I ask. Rhys was right; I haven't been spending enough time with Avril like I really should have been. Since Rhys came along, we have been spending less and less time atogether. I need to balance it all but at the moment, I have bigger fish to fry.

How dare Elijah use my best friend to check up on Rhys and I?! As soon as Avril's gone, I dial Rhys' number and tell him to come (secretly) over to my room immediately. In less than five minutes, he's in my room, brushing leaves from his hair and clothes. "What happened?" He asks.

"I need to tell you something." I go over and sit on the bed, motioning for him to sit beside me, "I was talking with Avril today and she announced she's got a new boyfriend. That he was a friend of yours from Arizona and his name is Elijah."

Rhys' eyes darken, "You mean Elijah is..."

"Using my best friend to get to us! Yes. And Avril's falling for him and I don't know what to do. I can't exactly tell her the guy she thought liked her is actually a rogue angel and he's checking up on me to make sure I don't die and go back on a promise I made when I went to Heaven? Sounds a bit far-fetched, don't you think?"

Rhys nods, "Just a little. What do you want to do?"

"I have no idea." I say, "That's why I called you here."

"Okay, well, I say we meet up with him." Rhys shrugs.

I nod, "That's what I thought. Which is why I set up a double date tonight with Avril. I made an agreement with the ruler dude and that was that none of his 'ranks' came down on Earth and he's already going back on it!"

"I see." Rhys sighs, "Well, wear something good for the date. I only saw you dressed up for your birthday."

I sigh in response, "I am not a dress-up sort of person, Rhys."

"Yeah and I don't mind but a special effort just to tease Elijah today, please?" Rhys asks. I nod. Can I say no to him? "Thank you." Rhys says, leaning forward to give me a brief kiss. And then he's gone.

"Okay, Dad, I'm going!" I give Dad a quick kis on the cheek.

Dad looks me down, "Honey, you want to take some pepper spray?"

I frown, "Why would I want to do that?"

"Well..." Dad tilts his head, "I have a feeling you're going to be fighting off boy attention all night long..."

I roll my eyes, "Please, Dad!"

"Oh, that's right!" Dad beams, "Youy got your own macho pepper spray! That lad..." He frowns in concentration.

"Rhys."

"Exactly!" Dad winks at me playfully. I shake my head at him and then pull at my outfit. I'm wearing a black vest top and a skirt that overlaps the top. It's multicoloured and looks like paint has been blobbed all over it, in a cool way. I have ringed a few bracelets around my wrist and even managed to put a bit of lipgloss on. I take my phone out and tap a quick text to Rhys. There's a knock at the door.

"That'll be the lad." I stare pointedly at Dad, who chuckles. I go and open the door, leaving my father in the lounge. Rhys is wearing a dark blue tinted blazer over a button down shirt, dark jeans and he's carrying a single rose in his hands.

He looks at me, a faint smile playing at his lips, "So you decided to listen to me, then?"

"Did I have a choice?"

"Not really." Rhys steps in and then playfully wraps his arms around me, pulling me closer, "But you made more of an effort than I expected."

"You know what they say." I counter, "Expect the unexpected."

Rhys grins and then leans in to whisper at my cheek, "Did you expect this?" All of a sudden, we're in each other's arms, my lips pressed against his. Rhys' arms curl around me, pulling me closer even though it's impossible to be any closer. I feel as though I'm about to melt into him.

Rhys pulls away and then raises an eyebrow, "Well?"

"I expected it." I nod.

Rhys grins, shaking his head at me, "No, you didn't."

"I did. I can read you like a book." I lie outright.

Rhys puts his hands on his hips, "Oh really? What am I thinking right at this moment?"

"You're thinking, 'Oh hell, I'm so lucky to have such a hot girlfriend.' I'm right, aren't I?" I look at Rhys expectantly.

He grins, "Maybe you can read me."

"I was right?" I ask incredulously. Rhys shakes his head matter-of-factly. I smack his arm teasingly. Rhys grabs my hand and lifts it to his lips, kissing my hand like he's an old-time gentleman.

"You passed hot five exits down. You're loooking absolutely stunningly irresistible!" He grins at me, dimples appearing in his cheeks. I smile, mainly because I don't get many compliments like this from someone as good-looking as Rhys.

"Ain't doing so bad yourself, Skip." I reply, shoving him gently.

Rhys chuckles deeply, "Skip?" I shrug. He lunges for me, grabbing me by my waist and twirling me around. I squeal, getting the worst case of dizziness ever known to all of humanity. "Skip! I'll show you Skip!" Rhys mutters into my neck, his breath blowing hair at my neck which was really very ticklish, making me laugh and squeal (I don't normally squeal) louder.

"Ahem."

Rhys instantly lets me down and I pull at my skirt, looking guiltily at Dad. Rhys and I exchange a shamefaced glance and then I smile at Dad, "Dad. You remember Rhys?"

"Of course I remember him!" Dad walks over and shakes Rhys' hand extra-firmly, "So, you are my daughter's boyfriend?"

"That's right... At least, the last time I checked, that was confirmed." Rhys looks at me questioningly.

I shake my head, "Okay, let's go. Bye, Dad."

"Bye, darling. Wait, don't don't you want to tell your mom your boyfriend is here?"

"Donna's boyfriend is here?" Comes an indignant cry. I groan and glare at Dad. He beams, giving me an evil grin. Mom appears in the hallway, her hands on her hips, "My daughter's boyfriend is here and none of you bothered to tell me?!" She looks at Dad accusingly, "And you! Why didn't you tell me that he's -- Hello, Rhys." Mom smiles angelically at Rhys and then turns back to Dad with the face of an infuriated demon, "Standing in my hallway without a single refreshment!"

"Mom..." I frown, "We're going anyway. Honestly."

"And where are you going?"

"I told you before, Mom." I say, wishing I could dig a hole and bury her in it. I love the lady, but she's a smidge embarrassing.

"Oh, the double date!" Mom smacks her forehead, "Oh dear me. However... Rhys, it is such a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine." Rhys says, smiling, "I'm glad I could meet you without being under demanding circumstances, like last time."

"Me too, my darling, me too." Mom nods gravely, "So why don't you tell me a bit about yourself?"

"Because we're getting late for our double date!" I steer Rhys out of the house by his arm. Sighing, I weave my fingers through Rhys', "Why are parents so annoying?"

"Because they love, care for and cherish you." Rhys says, squeezing my fingers.

"I love them too and all, but sometimes they tend to over-care and over-cherish."

"It's their job to to do that." Rhys says, raising an eyebrow in my direction.

"And what's your job?" I ask, raising an eyebrow back at him.

"My job... is to protect you from my background and the people in it." Rhys' eyes darken, "If I had my say in this, you wouldn't be coming with me to meet Elijah. I don't like him anywhere near you. But I know you won't listen."

"No, I won't." I shake my head, "I wouldn't let you go alone and I wouldn't let myself stay at home while you deal with him. I can't watch him use my best friend."

"I know it's difficult for you, Donna." Rhys looks sidelong at me, "But I want you to listen to me. If things turn bad, I want you to stay out of it. I need to be sure you're safe and this is my way of doing that."

"But I can't stay out of it, Rhys!" I cry, "You're being unfair! I have a part in this and you can't take that away from me. My best friend has been dragged in this."

"I understand that but you're my priority. I can't see you hurt. I can't, Donna. I'm not prepared for it." Rhys clenches his jaw.

"Rhys, trust me. I won't get hurt but I am going to protect my friend because she is the one who has been there for me through thick and thin and I am going to do the same for her. I'm not going to stand by."

Rhys sighs as we approach the restaurant. I look up at him, "This is it, Rhys. I don't want to argue with you. I just want you to know that I'm going to make sure he leaves her alone. I can't let him use her."

Rhys nods understandingly, "Okay. But please don't get hurt."

"I won't." I assure him and squeeze his hand reassuringly. We turn to the restaurant and we're shown to our seats. Avril and Elijah are already waiting for us at the table. Avril has her auburn hair curled and flowing around her shoulders, a hot pink thigh-length dress hugs her body and her feet are clad in heels. Elijah is wearing a button down shirt and linen pants with smart shoes. His eyes pierce through me and I hold tighter on Rhys' hand. He looks down at me and nods almost imperceptibly.

"Elijah." Rhys says with a curt smile, "It's good to see you."

"As it is you, my old friend." Elijah grins, "And this is your girlfriend, the one who my girlfriend never ceases to stop talking about?"

I clench my jaw at that, wishing I could just punch him in front of everyone. "I'm Donna. Donna Morrison." I say, looking at Avril, "I'm Avril's best friend. Nobody loves her as much as I love her."

"I beg to differ." Elijah simpers.

"Nobody loves her as much as I love her." I repeat, looking at Elijah with a cold expression. Then I remember Avril is here, "You're very charming. I'm surprised you and Avril haven't met you before."

"Well, what can I say?" Elijah looks at Avril, "I saw her and then I knew. She's the one for me."

Avril giggles and glances at me, "Thanks for coming. I'm glad you can get to know Elijah. He's great."

"I'm sure he is." I say through gritted teeth, "He seems very... interesting. So, Elijah, why don't you tell us a bit about yourself?"

"I would, but our food's here." Elijah gestures to the waiter who is bringing our order on a silver platter. As we all begin to eat, Elijah sparks up a conversation, "So, Rhys. How are you finding life in LA?"

"It's good." Rhys replies, "The sun is less harsh but it's never really affected me. Arizona?"

"It's good. It's the hotttest time of the year. Everyone is carrying at least two gallons of water around with them." Elijah nods. Avril laughs and I chuckle, just to please her.

"Avril, could I talk to you? You know, since we're between courses..." I say, glancing at Elijah.

Avril stands up, "Sure. Bathrooms?" I nod and we make our way to the ladies', pushing past a throng of people waiting to be shown to their seats. As we stand in the restroom, I take a breath and exhale.

"Look, Avril, maybe Elijah isn't the best person for you."

"What do you mean?" Avril's smile fades away.

I sigh and run a hand through my hair, "I don't want to see you hurt and Elijah has... a history. I know it feels like you're in love, but he's not The One, Avril. You deserve someone better."

"What are you trying to say? That Elijah's not a good person?" Avril looks shocked.

I sigh and bite my lip anxiously, "He has a reputation in Arizona. It's why Rhys and I are so... uncomfortable today. When he said he was Rhys' friend, that wasn't exactly true. He was an acquaintance, he and Rhys only spoke occasionally."

"What?" Avril splutters, "Are you trying to say Elijah is a liar? That he lied to his girlfriend? To me?"

"Avril, please." I plead, "Elijah isn't what he seems to be."

"Okay, look, I admit it. I need to get to know him better. But don't accuse him. You don't even know Elijah." Avril reminds me.

I nod, admitting defeat, "Okay. Our food must be getting cold. Let's go back to the table."

We leave the bathrooms.

To an utterly chaotic scene.

The side picture is of Donna's outfit. Lightness xxxxxxxx