Chapter 1
“Hurry up! We’ll be late at this rate Fate,” Brandon tugged on her arm flirtatiously. The sky was smoking setting thick grey clouds above their heads. It engulfed the stars and the moon as they fought their way to peak through the thick masses.
“Slow down, where are we going?” Fate’s soft voice came very calm, that’s the way she always was, when she was with Brandon. Her hair was beautifully blond and long and waved like oceans around her face. She forced her lungs to inhale more air as they climbed through the trees to the top of the hills. Everything was like a grayscale photograph, it was still and quiet and dull. Not a bird in the sky for miles around, all the wolves were silently watching, it was the perfect night to run to a secret meeting of the Northern Coven.
“Let’s go, common Elf is already there, and they’ll start without us,” he ran facing her into her deep grey eyes. Fate nearly tripped down the hill from all the twigs fallen to the ground. It was mid July and the atmosphere was sizzling. That’s when she saw the mansion. The house was magnificent in its endless walls and directly in the middle was a bleeding door, the walls were all white. Fate had been here before; just it didn’t seem so real. It was the first time that she had ever been called upon to attend a secret meeting before, she had always fantasized about the topics they talked about. Everything had made sense about Brandon, their love and her life all together, but when she took a step inside the house and looked at its massive staircases that looked like they led nowhere, she couldn’t help but to feel a little conscientious.
“Wait here,” Brandon stricken, and lingered away slowly. The entire pulse of the room changed when he walked into the white room. Everything was bright, and eerie, nothing held a sign of color, only the officials were aloud in this sacred room, and for once Brandon didn’t want to be in that room.
“Is she ready?” the elder had spoken from the chair in the direct center of the room; it was circular, having no defined ends to it. It was built that way to show how nothing ever ends, when you think it does it just indeed starts over, and goes over again and again.
“She doesn’t know.”
“And why not? You were told to tell her, she has to be willing,” the wrinkles in the man’s face somehow showed how wise he was. There were so many, that he began to look like a bull dog than any type or form of human.
“Because he loves her,” Aillil stepped out from behind Brandon and began to orbit around the room, not gravitating too close to anyone. She had delicate brown hair that glistened in the light. Her eyes were a radiant blue that were just gems into her perfectly carved face. She was dressed like she was going to a funeral, and her cheeks were kissed by tears. As she took every step, her dress swished around her long legs, and she flowed around the room like a spirit, not really there but still very important.
“She needs to know. How on earth are we suppose to have a sacrifice if well, she’s not willing?” his wrinkles formed a deep v on his forehead implying that he was angry. Aillil had stopped dead at the opposite end of the room and glared at the Elder, she didn’t like any of this. She hadn’t even want to come in the first place.
“Isaac. Please, spare her, not her—
“I’m sorry, I know you told me to wait outside, but it’s been like five minutes and…” she trailed off, everyone held a face of concern, but when she had walked in then she knew she felt something wrong.
“Fate, sweet Fate,” Isaac began, “You are so beautiful today, I mean I must say, you are glowing.” Fate began to back towards the door but heard it suddenly shutter shut. Brandon was only a few steps ahead of her and she felt like she was alone, in a dark alley with a stocker following or waiting.
“Fate, you are the utmost importance here, please let us prepare you…our virgin willing miracle, for this is you fate,” the old man, spoke in a strange voice, almost deceiving, he was hiding something. He stroked Fate’s hair calmly; it was an intimate moment even for an old man to a sixteen year old girl. “What do you mean by willing?” Fate’s voice sounded hallows and blunt. His fingers felt grimy as if he were rubbing tar in her hair. It made her twinge at the feeling of him being so close to her, he was invading her personal space.
“My dear, you’ll love where you’re going, your right of age and still a virgin, if my daughter had this chance at her age we would have done this, what you’ll do is simple stay strong he loves strong individuals,” he was still beating around the bushes.
“No. Tell me what is going to happen,” her voice was eager and sharp. The candles that hung from the ceiling began to flicker as her glare became very deadly. Then Isaac shot Brandon a look, one that sent him into a coma, and robotically he began to speak.
“It’s okay,” Brandon took her by the shoulders, “it won’t hurt,” his eyes seem to melt at the pain she was expressing.
“What won’t hurt?”
“Death, sweetie, you’ll get to have the greatest man in the entire known world, well of all three worlds. Once you and him are together you’ll fertilize the largest army of us, to make us, the good guys win,” it felt wrong in her ears but very important in her heart.
“You knew all along? I loved you, I told you everything…” her voice was drenched in tears.
“This is a decision that cannot be taken lightly, you have to go willingly—“
“You led me on! I wasn’t a part of this until I met you Brandon. Is Aillil in on this too?” Fate begged. She fell to her knees, and the eyes cut down her cheeks, jaggedly.
“Yes, but she wasn’t happy about it, this is the greatest honor—you’ll go down in history,” Brandon tried to reason. He crouched down to her level, like she was three years old.
“Elf, tell me what to do,” her eyes were grey and shedding dreary colorless tears.
“Fate, I can’t tell you what to do, I am just here to fill your last requests,” she was neutral, and didn’t want to be killed for losing their sacrifice.
“Fate I don’t love you, and I never will,” Brandon spoke brutally, to her ears, though in his eyes he wished she could see past his masquerade.
“What?” it came out as more of a whisper, her mind went blank and couldn’t remember the reason why she was standing there arguing, without Brandon there was no point. No point for her to crawl along in her stupid, fugal, insignificant human life; she could die and not a person outside of her household would realize it or even care, “Are you going to participate?” the elder now needed to wrangle the argument.
“Yes. Yes I am.”
“Are you willingly giving yourself to him?” he needed a for sure answer now.
“Of course he shall dine upon my virginity, and enjoy me and I will enjoy him too,” her voice was dead, like her body would be soon.
“Good, good, very good indeed. Miss Aillil will you please escort our VIP guest to resume to planned engagements,” he presumed motioning towards a long dark hallway where she was to be prepared.
“VIP guest, more like party favor,” Aillil whispered in a vexed voice as they left earshot range of the Elder.
“It won’t hurt, will it? Elf tell me,” Fate cried as she undressed herself to be put into her wedding dress. This one was oddly black and heavy with embroidered beads and lace.
“That much darling I cannot tell you, I’ve never died before, believe it or not, so I have no way to help you in that topic,” she tried to joke but the melancholy in the room choked her, it was hard to believe it but this was the last time she’d ever see her best friend, “Try not to think about it,” she restarted her thoughts as she began to button the endless amount of buttons and tie up so much string, “Just when you think you’re going to give in remember be strong—be strong for me…remember how brave you are,” she tried to force back the endless stream of tears dropping from her eyes. Fate stared in the mirror as the corset began to take form, tightly she found herself bound to this engagement and as hard as it was she kept looking back at last fall, when Brandon, Aillil and she were in the trees of fall, running and playing in the leaves. That was when Brandon had said that he loved her, and Aillil pretended not to hear. The laughter was still strong in her ears, it was also the day she thought Brandon was going to kiss her, but he didn’t. That was the day of freedom, true love that had no chance of stopping, she was so excited the day he took her to his church and said that she belonged there, that it was her fate to be there. At first it seemed like a way of flirting but now, now she knew that it really was her fate. As the clouded memory faded she saw herself in the broken mirror of the run down mansion, they had held a service there once, only in the ballroom, they had placed several old patio chairs and various other sittings from throughout the house.
“There, now that the dress is on, you look so beautiful, but we have to do your hair now,” Aillil looked almost paralyzed in her finger tips.
She started to fade into another trance as things started to clear up, she had always noticed how everyone there at the church watched her, and always spoke mysteriously to Brandon after ever meet, she knew something was up, but anytime she had attempted to question him, he’d get offended and say that she was knocking his religion. She then realized that she was so in deep, in love and lies, and this cult too far when she started to notice the strange things. Then she felt her hand being grabbed and she jumped,
“Oh sweetie its okay, it’s just your ring,” Aillil had held up a large blood ruby gem, in a tarnished gold ring. “Thank you. I love you Elf, I always have, and always will,” she said as everything was so numb in her body she didn’t care anymore, in fact she was almost happy that this was going to be her end.
“I love you too, and we are all done, take another look at yourself while I collect myself,” she handed Fate a hand mirror that wasn’t busted in. Porcine, is what she looked like, a bride she didn’t, actually looked more appropriate for her funeral which was pretty handy since that was planned on the same day.
“You’re not going to stay are you?” Fate wanted her support but didn’t want her to have to have the memory of her dying imprinted in her mind for ever.
“I promised to be there until the end, remember that. I am also here to fulfill your final wishes and if you wish me not then I will go,” she looked hurt by the thought. “No. no I want you hear,” Fate begged her to stay. “Well then, let’s go sweetie you’re ready.”
They walked down the hallway back to where the epic argument took place down the main stair case and that’s when the air smelt of death and chilled down subzero temperatures. When they got outside there were candles everywhere, and everyone in black cloaks applauded. Aillil lead her all the way to the altar, and then mixed into gowns of black, more than likely next to Brandon. Fate felt so alone that moment but then remembered that she was going to be a mark in history, she was chosen for this.
“I must remind all of you my family, that we are here to make history, and those of you present when this ceremony takes place must continue chanting until the water turns red, if you don’t we will have failed and be blessed to heaven,” the elder spoke hoarsely to the crowd. Everyone shouted, “I am in.” Then he nodded, “Very good. Now Fate, you have taken this ring, and worn this dress that has been waiting for you for centuries. No one else was meant for this, you are the one that our master wants, do you wish all this upon you?” it was almost a trick question.
“I do,” she said as she felt spark in her soul. “Good, good. Then now my chariots of men will deliver you to your husband,” a series of men all wearing a red robe, stood in the water and the elder took Fate’s hand and lead her to the pool.
From that, the chariots began to hymn these words, “Glac an vesal, mar mo bhronntanas. Siúd a d'fhéadfadh a bheith agat le thy thrown. Tóg é seo sí toilteanach a chur in iúl Úthas thy. Glac Soul seo agus é a chur chun depts thy agus ríocht,” almost instantly snake like fogs began to pull at the bride raising her higher to sky. In an echo the robes replied, “Take the vessel, as my gift. Take this willing virgin thrown to thy. Take it this is willing to express thy joyful soul. Take this and put it in the depts, and thy kingdom,” as Fate looked down but remained strong, once she was in the center she fell, like a brick to the deep pool. The chants picked up momentum, and soon the chariots and the echo were yelling at the same time. When her flesh met with the water there was a loud crack, Aillil trembled in fear as she forced herself to chant. The water was cold, like knifes stabbing her in every direction, feebly she saw the candle flames wave good bye to her. That’s when it struck her, she was going to die, and there was nothing else but death awaiting her as she felt his hand grab her throat. “Be strong. Be strong,” she pleaded with herself. Then her back scraped the bottom of the pool that’s when she tried to scream. Nothing came out, but the water began to choke down her throat and invade her lungs.
“Nothing left to fight for,” she thought as she closed her eyes, welcoming the warmth death would carry, so the pain could stop…
She awoke cold and gasping for air in a patch of grass aside of the pool, with two pale faces trying to revive her, “Am—Am I dead?” she spoke as water sped from her lips.
“No dear, not even close,” Aillil nearly began to laugh in her joy.
“What the hell happened?” Fate sat up and began to clear her eyes that were heavily watered.
“I am not sure, but it has to do with someone stopping with their chanting, the whole place is going mad,” Brandon spoke then embraced her with hug.
“Get your hands off of me,” Fate nearly yelled.
“Fate, I’m so sorry, I love you,” he began to pull her closer.
“I loved you, but even if I do, which I am not sure if I do or I don’t, I am engaged…remember,” she spoke as she pried him off of her. Elf took Fate’s shoulders and wrapped her in her arms. She had almost lost her best friend but was blessed to feel a beat in her arms, and hold her in grasp so strong it was almost like none of it had happened. Fate weighed over thousand pounds in clothing and quivered as the wind swooped down to snuggle her.
Then the sky had opened up and began to down pour, “Common lets go,” Elf dragged Fate from all she knew, all she wanted to know and worst of all back into her pitiful life.
* * *
Brandon slammed the door to his room making and echo that sounded like an avalanche. “I can’t believe it! Fate doesn’t want me,” as he finished his loud yell he began to cry. In raged he looked around the room and saw all the photographs of her, the one he wanted, the one he had to give up for his stupid cult. It was almost as if his soul was ripped in half, he wanted to love Fate, but he couldn’t be with her. As, he rampaged through his thoughts he wanted an escape. He didn’t want any of this anymore he wanted to erase Fate from his mind, to forget those sad grey eyes he always wanted. Lighting struck in his eyes as the rain pelted the window outside, his fingers flew vigorously to the first picture of Fate, she was so young, as it crashed to the floor; he got a sudden shutter of relief, as tempting as drugs. Wasted, his breath was cold, and he tore down every little picture of her, the anger felt good in his throat, and thunder revved loudly outside. His thoughts became shorter and more violent, and he realized that he needed more relief; he was addicted. A tornado of rage swept his room, leaving a massacred bed and his closet vomited its bearings. Then that when he saw it, the ultimate drug, and the ultimate escape…death; he was on the second story a fall that wouldn’t be too bad though directly below was his mothers sculpture. Pure marble, pointed upward with sharp, but to Brandon it looked so soft and irresistible. He stuck his leg out the window, balancing himself for a second; then braced himself for takeoff.
“Stop,” a smooth angelic voice coiled around Brandon’s ear. He shuddered and he was now drenched with the ice rain, “Don’t do this, I need you here on earth Brandon.” He cranked his head mechanically towards where the voice was speaking, where it should have been total darkness a boy, wearing all white stood his wings radiated rays of sunlight, “Wh-o a-re yoou?” he asked shivering.
“I will explained once you aren’t dangling to you death,” Shawn’s voice was calm and convincing, Brandon moved inside the room sheltered from the cold weather.
“Now tell me, who are you? How did you manage to come I here…the door was locked,” his voice was steady now and ready to interrogate.
“I didn’t use the front door,” Shawn smiled peacefully, “if I tell you who I am you have to promise not to freak out, or attempt to kill yourself again—Fate’s life depends on it, as well as all humanity”.
Brandon looked around the room, and he saw the photos all over the floor and banned the thought that Fate were going to die, she barely escaped death tonight, and she didn’t deserve to die, “I won’t, what do you know about Fate?” Shawn looked around the room and sat on the disheveled bed, “You’re asking questions faster than I can answer them.”
“Then I guess you should start answering them because I’ve got a longer list in my head.”
“Fine, my name is Shawn, and I am an Angel. That means I didn’t have to use your door, though it was smart of you to lock up. Now for Fate, I’ve known her forever, before her existence. She’s in great danger, and on a lot of hit lists. Your cult, you grew up in, is one. They need her to die so that way the demons of the underworld can walk the earth and control humans,” Shawn paused looking at the nausea sweeping Brandon’s cheeks.
“Why Fate, why couldn’t it be like um anyone else in the world?”
“If it were that simple we would have already saved—
“Well I guess I can understand that. Now, you wouldn’t happen to know, why she didn’t die tonight now do you.” Brandon’s face started to regain color, though he still looked like any moment he was going to vomit, or faint.
“Yes and as cliché as this may sound, she wasn’t meant to die on this night any ways. But, I was there just as the prophecy had stated and I stopped chanting, after that I disappeared. That is what was intended all along. Now that, that has happened her journey has just began. I need her not to fall into darkness because I’m not the only one sent to be her guardian, the devil has a just as fair hand, and he will use it. Now this is where you come in so listen carefully,” Shawn looked at Brandon until he feebly nodded, “I need you to help me by keeping her away from anything you find…evil. You should recognize it the best since well, you know. Will you, because if you don’t and I can’t save her, one you’ll be controlled by demons and you’ll never get to be with her.”
“Is this dangerous?”
“Well it isn’t going to be a walk through the park.”
“Okay I got it, I will help you in any way I can possibly posses. This means I also have to get her to trust me again...” Brandon looked down, ashamed.
“What on earth do you mean by that?” Shawn lifted his head from the floor. “I had to tell her, that I, that I…didn’t love her. Now she hates me,” Brandon tried to tuck his head again.
“We’ll have to work on that, and I can’t understand why you had to but—” there was the sound of the front door opening.
“Brandon we’re home. Anything wrong?” Brandon’s mom’s soprano voice ran chillingly up the stairs.
“I have to go, goodbye Brandon,” Shawn whispered and before Brandon was able to protest he was gone.
“Who was that?” Brandon pulsed and almost fell down in shock, when he turned around his mother was eyeing him, almost creepy the way she had. “What happened here?” she pushed for information.
“I got a little upset and well I did this, no need to worry mom. I take it you hadn’t found the offender?” Brandon tried the words out ignoring the other question; there was a one way ticket to a mental hospital if he tried to say something about the fact he was talking to an angel.
“No we didn’t,” she started to circle him sniffing the air intensely; “we don’t even have a trail to follow. I hope we weren’t gone too long.” He was sweating in beads, “No of course not, I managed,” he felt a tense edginess to the room, but he knew it was just because his parents had wondered hopelessly around trying to locate Shawn, when he was in their own house.
“Well, I think I need to get some sleep,” he glanced at the only thing that looked remotely still intact, his alarm clock, a soft buzzing and it glowed 3:33.
“Yes I guess you should, and clean up this mess in the morning,” she was almost past the threshold when she paused almost possessed, “I don’t want you talking to strangers, sweetie, at least until we find who ruined our ritual, especially him.” Then she was gone, she hadn’t seen Shawn, Brandon was sure of it, but then what did she mean by that, and he wasn’t going either or at least not tonight.
The day was at its break, the sun barely surfacing the horizon. As Fate staggered out of her bed, she looked beneath it—nothing. The wings that she had shoved beneath it the night before hadn’t shown, all that was left of them was blood stains on the oak floors. With that she exhaled a ragged breath and proceeded into the bathroom. She was oblivious to the mirror as she turned on the water, then once she was fully bathed she braced herself to her reflection, “Oh my…gosh!” she turned around rapidly like a dog chases its tail. How did this happen she thought. The two wings that she had shaved off her back were bigger and fuller on her back than they were before. They stood there mockingly as she was anguished. “My parents are going to flip out,” she muttered to herself, but surprising when she got dress the wings folded neatly to her back, relocating them to peak out from the arm holes. Fate, aghast in the dismay, braced herself for impact from her parents.
“Good morning my dearie, Aillil called the last night, wanted to make sure you were okay,” Fate’s moms alto voice swam in the warmth of bacon and eggs.
She was looking right at them, yet she couldn’t see Fate’s wings.
Could it be possible that they are invisible to the human race? Because, I surly don’t feel human at the moment, Fate thought.
Fate!” Her mother finally out broke in anger, “You never asked if you could dye your hair!” What the heck? Is it not glaring you in the face, I have a bigger problem than a stupid jet black streak in my hair.
“Darla, perhaps she had remembered that fact and stopped, leaving only a simple streak. Anyways I think it’s very unique and gorgeous; we can’t keep her on such tight chains,” a low but smooth voice swooped down the stairs as a tall man, about six foot even, descended the staircase. He was still wearing blue pinstriped pajamas, and fuzzy brown slippers, he also had his giant glasses sagging on his nose. “Fate come and give your daddy a hug,” he sang, and she ran to him and embraced a tender hug. He just wrapped his arms right around my wings and didn’t feel a thing, how the heck is this possible. She rubbed her cheek against his prickly one, he didn’t have the chance to shave this morning.
“I’ve gotta go to school, Elf should be here any moment. Actually I think I hear her up the drive, see ya’ll after school,” Fate began to run towards the door.
“What about breakfast?” her mom beckoned. Before her mother could demand her to come back in and eat something, Fate was up the drive approaching the yellow Jeep. It had thick caked on mud from the night before. Elf had played her music echoing to where everyone down the street could hear her. Fate pried open the door and lifted herself up.
“Hey Fate,” Elf began to turn down the radio to hear. She was gawking right at the obtrusive wings that filtered out from Fate’s shirt, “What on earth happened to you last night?” Fate’s heart began to race, and sweat showered down her back could she actually see them? Aillil had shook her glare and traced her eyes up the face of her best friend, “Okay so I know dying your hair is all cool and all, but what were you thinking with the jagged bangs?” she forced the words to sound realistic.
“What? I have bangs?” Fate yanked down the mirror and saw the jagged black pattern of her bangs, as if they had been cut with a razor blade. She let her breath out slowly, and spoke softly, “What is happening to me?”
“It is all okay. I promise, look, I mean it isn’t like anyone is just gonna freak out about the fact that you dyed your hair. Honestly, it looks pretty hawt! Hah, but I just don’t know what you were thinking, not even consulting with me about this.”
Just play along with it, it is okay, she can’t see these things growing out of your back, it is all going to be okay. “Sorry, I thought that you would just talk me out of it,” said Fate, laughing bitterly.
“I would never do such a thing, you ought to bite your tongue!” Elf barked, and they both burst into hysteric giggles. Still laughing, Elf turned the radio off completely and after stopping the car, she said, “We’re here.”
Fate clamped her jaw shut, stopping her laughter completely. Oh no, nonononononnonono! I can’t do this there is no way I can go in there and see him…I can’t even stand thinking about Brandon, not after all that he’s done to me.
Fate spoke aloud, “Elf, I swear if I were to see him today my mind might explode,” Fate fumbled with her nails as they walked into first period and sat at their desks. Not only was it first period of the day, it was the first of the many classes she had with Brandon.
Fate didn’t know that someone was behind her, until she felt a tap on her shoulder. Before turning around, she knew who it was; Brandon. She closed her eyes softly, and turned around, “What do you want, Brandon?”
“I just wanted to know if you forgive me?” He said it, but it sounded like a question. Are you freaking serious? He just left me out to die, almost like tying me to a post to feed the vulture of death. Fate shook her head, and looking right into his eyes, she said, “I don’t know when, or if, I can. You can’t possibly understand how my heart was ripped into two. You told me that you didn’t love me, and because you could even let those words leave your mouth, then I honestly don’t know if I will be able to trust you. I mean, how can I be sure that you won’t lead me on again? Like a pig that is taken to a slaughter house to only be killed and served to the Devil to be feasted apon. I gave you my heart, but instead of giving me yours in return, you just shredded mine into hundreds of pieces. I don’t want to chance that again.”
Brandon’s bright, hoping eyes saddened, and he whispered, “I am sorry. They pressured me into doing this, I honestly didn’t want to, Fate. You do not understand the pain that I felt when I said that I didn’t love you. I’m sorry.” His eyes were watery as he finished speaking.
Fate looked down, “That’s the thing, how can I know if you won’t be pressured into doing that again?”
Brandon opened his mouth to say something, but the sound of the bell cut him silent. Defeated, he retreated to his desk as Mr. Ivenshnout started a speech on the grammatical differences between the United Kingdom and the adapted American literature. He’s an awkward man, 6”9 inches, with legs as long as a freight train. His hair was an ashy grey that collided with his rich chocolate brown beard. His hands were massive and when he banged on the desks to emphasize a point, it sent shock waves to the back of the room. His voice was a roar, which warned all those who didn’t listen to a slow and painful humiliation. “Mr. Grey?” his voice single handedly cut off the gaze Brandon held upon Fate.
“Yes Mr. Ivenshnout?”
“Your answer,” his eyes began to bubble like a potion in a cauldron, “You did hear my question, right Mr. Grey?” The room began to collectively mumble.
“Um. Sorry sir can you repeat it?” Brandon’s face turned a blaze under the embarrassment.
“Mr. Grey, I have repeated the question twice. Please come to the front of the classroom,” everyone began to snicker at his pain as Brandon reluctantly headed up the rows of desks as if it were leading to his death sentence. “Mr. Grey, now I want you to tell us, what your mother calls you.”
“Sir do I have to?”
“Mr. Grey, you can tell us or you can head down to the principal office,” Brandon started to shuffle towards the door, a narrow exit, “Don’t. Just tell the class, Now Mr. Grey.”
“She calls me,” he turned his head to muffle his voice, “Bran Bran,” he tried to escape the glares everyone had given him.
“Louder please, so even those sitting in your row, right next to you can hear it.”
“She calls me Bran Bran,” he loudly pronounced to the class as if almost, almost shameless. He even put his hands on his hips and looked up to the ceiling like a super hero.
“And?” Mr. Ivenshnout pushed more.
“Dude, you know what else she says?” he asked mortified.
“Yes, parent conferences can be very informational…Now proceed.” He boomed.
Using his hand to cover his mouth and silently spoke “Goo foooor uuur coollluuun.”
“Say it louder, I can’t hear you.”
Three tries later, he said loudly, as if he were trying out for a cheer squad, “Because it is good for your colon!” the entire classroom erupted into an epidemic of laughter, and just like that the top of the food chain dropped to the very bottom, below the lowest in social status.
The first period bell rang shortly after and as the students began to file out, Elf approached Brandon, “Smooth Bran Bran,” and left him standing paralyzed in shame in the middle of the hallway.
“That didn’t go as bad as I thought it would,” said Shawn from behind him.
“What the heck, have you been following all this time?”
“Of course, I’m not ashamed of admitting things,” the way he spoke it sounded like he was knocking at what had happened moments before. “Do you wanna just skip the rest of the day?”
“Aren’t you suppose to be like my guardian angel, leading me to do right things?”
“That’s so old fashion, who likes those types of friends, or you know you can go check what they are serving on the lunch menu, see if its some—
“Don’t even say it.”
“Bran Bran,” a smile carved deep into his face as he fought back a harsh laugh.
It's okay. Typos are a part of everyday life.