I know The Devil

Chapter 020| A content fool

~And if love be madness

May I never find sanity again

I withdrew my hand that was almost caressing his face, looking away but for a second before that, I thought I saw a grin flash on his face. I sneaked a peek just to be sure but it was the same empty yet spectacular eyes that now I stood a bit closer to him could notice that they could look bluish depending on the light pouring on them.

I coughed awkwardly, “Why were you then so angry if you only got a slap on the wrist for how badly you had beaten Jack Hathaway.” I glared at him for even making me worried, “You didn’t even get a slap on the wrist, you got nothing! And you had hit a Hathaway! You must have super powers or be a mini-god because__” I raised my brow making an exaggerated almost comical show of how in awe I was.

“God, you’re so wrong and right at the same time I want to kiss you so badly.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

I stared at him, not able to resist and he wasn’t smiling, he rarely did but I wanted to believe the serious expression on his face wasn’t because he was dope at deadpanning but because it wasn’t a joke.

Time had stood, brown boring eyes had clashed with brilliant ones and for a while, everything had stood still. Maybe for seconds or longer. I couldn’t tell then the bell rang and I had immediately stood up, gulped, and smiled at him.

“Hey, Law what’s good?”

The words flew out of my lips before I could stop them but I was rewarded by my momentary seconds of embarrassment as slowly, Law’s face had suddenly transformed into a reminder that someone could be so gorgeous it hurts and life was so freaking unfair, and the throaty deep chuckle that reverberated in the room made me want to embarrass myself yet again just to produce that sound while I stared at him like the creep I was. Like I was running a Marathon, was out of breath but didn’t want to stop running. Because who needed oxygen anyways?

He clasped his hand around mine when he was done laughing over how much crazy he had gotten himself entangled with and I tried to believe that I’d intentionally done that to make him laugh inside my head even though it was a big fat lie. I knew how unfit we looked even as we walked into our history class, 15 minutes late like we owned the school. I was an image in a hoodie standing next to a god but for that moment I didn’t see the spite and jealousy in everyone’s eyes, didn’t remember my wretched hood and how he could have anyone yet he chose me, I had a goofy smile on my face, didn’t give a shit that I didn’t belong next to him because now, here, he wanted me there so I stayed and that was that. I felt high on life and I should be worried that the crash would have more consequences, but I was a content fool, period because at that moment while I watched the teacher’s lips move only aware of Law’s left hand curled lazily at my lower back absent-mindedly, I didn’t.

I kicked dust that was underneath my leg playfully, almost like I’d just remembered I was 17. My hoodie was down and my black hair was untamed but it was exposed. I was smiling brightly.

Ron, Rob’s close friend, and his classmate in the public school we all had attended and business partner in the workshop Rob had opened during his dabbling into different businesses rush, did a double take when he saw me. I high-fived him, holding on to my backpack tightly with my free hand because although Ron was almost like family, hunger was closer and he was a notorious criminal last I heard about him. I didn’t know if he was hitting it big in crimes or if he was desperate enough to snatch a backpack held together from falling apart with safety pins but I had cookies in my bag I wasn’t about to lose just to find out things about him.

He had a big smile on his face while he walked me home like it hasn’t been years since I’d seen him and Rob was at home waiting for him so they could go over some crazy-ass business idea that was so perfect, lit but never did what other unlit businesses do. Bring profit.

“Where is your friend?” A shoe dropped and it was about fucking time.

I’d been waiting, knowing from the beginning that he didn’t just miss his friend’s sister who still had misgivings on the few times she lost some money when he ‘just’ dropped by. He has always had sticky fingers and the potential to be sneaky. His career choice didn’t come as a surprise, to me at least. Mom was shocked.

“Except you need to make me believe that you have started taking something more strong than regular pot, you need to throw more light on my supposed friend.” I only had one friend in this vast universe, Facebook inclusive and she was too refined to come into a rough neighbourhood like mine. I’d only allowed it occasionally.

“He said he was your friend yesterday,” he mumbled more to himself than me and my eyes widened, my mouth dropping open.

The minute Law had showed up in school this morning smugly walking up to me for a bodily inspection so I’d be sure he was completely unscathed, I’d thought that he had gotten lucky. Just like when he had dropped me at home during his return and had not encountered any thug back home but it was a whole new Revelation to know that he had met Ron because no offence, although the guy would always be the blonde mischievous bastard that stayed up late with my brother discussing sports car, he was a scoundrel on the street. As it should be. No criminal was prim and proper anyways because what was then the point?

“You saw him?” My voice was inaudible.

“Yes. Not only me. Your friend’s car is actually so so cool. It had attracted lots of attention. When I mean lots, I mean it in every way possible. The scums from the next neighbourhood had come sniffing but we had sent them away almost immediately,” he flashed me a grin like it was normal that Law Tyler had gotten that much attention yet had come to school this morning with his frickin one-77 unscathed just like his perfect body and thighs… Hormones not now!

“So?”

Ron shrugged, “He knows how to roll weed. Charlie believes he is cool and I don’t hate him that much even though he is a privileged motherfucker.” He fixed me a curious look, “What is with the perfect dentition and face anyways? He looks way too perfect. I should hate him,”

And want to break his bones, ruin his car and fight for spare parts on the streets, I added in my head.

He regards me for a minute, “He is an okay guy, I guess.” Which in Ron’s dictionary means, I’m so into this guy, when could we make best friends bracelet and share women?

Okay, that was a bit exaggerated but you know what I mean right? And then he opened his mouth next and I blinked standing to be corrected. I hadn’t exaggerated one bit.

“I’ll totally approve if you are dating that privileged asshole.”

Ron would never ever permit me to date just like Rob even though I didn’t give two fucks that he thinks of me as a younger sister and although I hadn’t been able to go against him because of lack of willingness from the male department since it takes two to you know … Have a relationship but I never dreamt of hearing such words escape Ron’s lips.

“We are not dating.”

“He is blind then.”

I grinned at the scowl on his face and was reminded of why I would put up with Ron’s everything that was so annoying all over again. Because he smelt of cigarette, sweat and gin, still looked at me like I was fucking beautiful, and when he held my hands as he did now, the calluses in them all served to remind me of Rob whose memory was beginning to slip and the more I held on to them like fine sand on the beach, they seeped out of my grasp more.

“So where is he?” He asked almost like he just remembered why he had initiated a conversation with me in the first place.

Of course, Law had to make a fucking impression, I thought even as I lied and told him I wasn’t aware because telling him I had run away to the bus station immediately the bell rang for school dismissal because I was scared that Law Tyler might try to pull the stunt he did yesterday and I wasn’t wrong after all if he had scheduled meetings that await him didn’t sound good at all.

The guy must be high on power and how easy it was for him to get away with everything. I would be the first person to believe if he announced he was a superhero anyway through the school intercom system.