"So this guy in the chat room was totally chatting me up and he was like... ancient!" Avril gushes, rolling her eyes dramatically, "When I told him to back off, he was like all defensive. I mean, who even does that anymore? Goes all argumentative with someone? Ugh..."

I let her rambling trail off into the background as I spot Rhys sitting at a bench. I catch his eye and he nods slightly, just obvious enough for me to notice.

"Avril." I say, interrupting whatever she was droning on about, "Why don't you go ahead to the lockers and I'll catch up? I saw someone I need to talk to."

"Okay." Avril looks a little disappointed that I stopped her from telling her story. The girl loves talking, whether it's about herself, someone else or the whole of LA. She's like the gossip queen. You wanna know something about someone, she's the one to ask. I've known her my whole life, yet even I don't know where she gets her info from. It's like she has spies posted everywhere. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if she has.

"Then we'll talk about this latest adventure of yours." I tack on the end, to make her feel better. She grins, gives me a squeeze and then bounds into the school. I watch her go and then lope over to the bench Rhys is sitting at.

"Hi." I say, feeling a little awkward to see him now after the emotionally-charged debate we had at my house just yesterday.

"Donna, have you thought about what I said to you yesterday?" He cuts straight to the chase.

"More than you think." I reply and my heart thuds pathetically as he leans in.

"What is your answer?"

"It's still the same." I say, "I still want to know. Rhys, think about it from my point of view. I am being forced to go to that tower and I don't even know why. I end up in weird places in my house; in the backyard, on the floor beside my bed, in my bed, on the floor in front of my wardrobe. Don't I deserve answers?"

"You do, Donna." Rhys nods appreciatively, "But I'm not the one who can give them. I don't have the power to do that."

"Then what do you have the power to do, Rhys?" I say a little spitefully.

Rhys' jaw tightens, "I can find out why you keep going to the tower."

"Well, I hope you do find out soon. It will help me." I look down at my hand. A big hand rests over it. I look back at Rhys, electricity racing up my spine at a speed that must be illegal. Hell, it must be more than illegal, it should be a crime punishable by death for something to travel so fast. I fight the urge to shudder and exhale lightly.

"I will find out. It's the least I can do."

I look at him silently, "Okay. Thank you for doing it. I didn't expect you to do anything for me."

Rhys gazes at me studiously, "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything." I reply.

"Do you believe in angels?" Rhys asks, his eyes never leaving my face.

I rub the spot between my eyes, "You mean like... guardian angels?"

"More like fallen angels." Rhys replies.

I think about his words for a moment, "I've never really thought about it, Rhys."

I walk with Rhys to Biology, where Avril nearly falls off her seat when she sees us stride in together. I try not to giggle and take my seat.

Rhys looks at me intently, "So, are you going to think about it and tell me?"

I look at him blankly, unsure what he's talking about.

"The fallen angel thing?" Rhys points out.

I raise my eyebrows in recognition, "I'll let you know. I'm going to think about it. Isn't there something about fallen angels in the Bible?"

"Yeah, but religious books are a little biased, don't you think?" Rhys looks at me, an uneven smirk marking his lips.

I tilt my head, "You should smile more, Rhys."

Rhys chuckles, and then when he replies, his voice is dark and husky, "I only smile or laugh when there's a reason to do so. I'm a pretty serious person."

"You don't say?" I nudge him playfully. He shakes his head, still smirking, and turns to the front. We're in pairs to draw out the stages of a growing embryo. I leave the practical work (the drawing) to Rhys and write the labels, writing down how far the embryo is in it's growing stage.

As we walk out of the lesson, Rhys says, "You're different than what I had originally mapped you out to be."

"Different good or different bad?" I ask and as I ask it, I realise it actually means something to me, it matters to me. What he thinks of me. Crazy, I know, but it's the truth.

"Good... so far." Rhys looks down at me, amused.

I smile and shake my head. "Thanks, I guess. This is my stop."

"Why don't you sit with me at lunch? I think we need to talk more." Rhys says casually, looking down at me expectantly.

"Sure, why not? What about Avril?"

Rhys bites his lip, "I was kind of thinking that I would get used to just one person's company first."

"Oh, okay." I say, "But she'll be disappointed. She's curious about you and your solitary confinement."

"My what? My solitary confinement?" Rhys chuckles, "She'll be disappointed, but I'm sure she'll live."

I nod, because it's true, "Okay, deal. I'll sit with you at lunch." I walk into lesson and bump straight into a furious Avril.

"You made plans to sit with him at lunch? Without me?"

"Avril, I know, but..."

"I tell you everything, I share everything with you. But you couldn't share a table with me?" Avril looks enraged and then suddenly bursts into hysterical laughter, "You idiot! Why did you even mention me? You know I would be fine with it."

I slap her arm gently, sighing with relief, "You scared me to death. You really are a piece of work, Avril."

"Oh, I know!" Avril bats her eyelashes, "But honestly, a lunch date with Rhys? You scored, girl!"

I look at her, my eyes wide, "It's not a date!"

Even as I protest, I wonder if it is. And I feel hopeful that it is. Urgh, stupid fat crush!

I know this chapter is short, but the next chapter means a lot to me!