AN: My third fanfic. This is not a popular category for people to post fanfics in, but I remember reading these books for the first time and absolutely loving them. Plus, there was a disappointment in no sequel being made because the ending of the third left you in the blue. So yes, I am beginning something new once more. Ahead of time, I do not own any of the characters from The Angel Trilogy, however wonderful they all might be. Please read and tell me what you think. It has been so long since I have read these books, so yeah... if out of the blue, I randomly contradict something one way or another, don't feel shy to tell. Criticisms are always good, no matter how harsh they may be. Sometimes the most candid and frank reviews are the best. Once again, thanks to the lovely Dom Dom for introducing me to the wonderful world of fanfiction. It gives me an opportunity to just write and have fun with it. So yes... here I go...
Entertaining Angels Unaware
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:
for thereby some have entertained
angels unawares."
-Hebrews 13:2
Chapter 1. The Need To Be Alone
It had been a grueling four years, but she had graduated.
A year had come by, and Leah was still adjusting to the life that still seemed so foreign. Though time had progressed, not stopping for her heartbreak, she had pulled through with half a thought, believing that perhaps someday she might wake up from the reality that surrounded her to find herself graduating high school again.
Had it truly been five years? Leah chewed on the end of her pen at her desk that took up the vast majority of her small room.
"Leah, honey?" Mrs. Hendrickson knocked on her door twice to let her presence be known. "I am almost finished with supper. It will begin at six o'clock sharp..."
"As always," Leah finished for her with a smile.
Mrs. Hendrickson did not care what you did the rest of the day, or where you went, so long as you were there at six punctually, for dinner.
As hospitable as a person could get, Mrs. Hendrickson had not hesitated to take Leah into her home. Though the five bedroom house was far too large for just the two of them, Leah felt almost as if she were concealed within these walls as they slowly closed in on her. The quaint neighborhood of New Albany had welcomed her amiably, all smiles and joy the day that she had moved in to the room Mrs. Hendrickson was willing to rent to her.
"It's been a year," Leah sighed at the thought, watching a redbird that rested on the windowsill outdoors. "I am in the prime of my life and I already feel so old!"
To her carping, the bird only fluttered off to a tree past the white picket fence of Mrs. Hendrickson's garden. The small brick ranch was situated in a quaint neighborhood where everyone knew one another and visited often, giving the neighbors pastries and vegetables. Such relationships troubled Leah more and more, especially when Mrs. Hendrickson was out and she was forced to answer the door and greet the neighbors with a wan smile.
"Any lucky with the job hunting, dear?" Mrs. Hendrickson inquired between her bites of mashed potatoes and gravy. "No dear. You are not cutting the roast the right way. Do as I am doing, Leah, darling."
"Thank you, Mrs. Hendrickson." Leah offered her a small smile before Mrs. Hendrickson nodded in satisfaction. "I haven't really found anything I'm interested in."
"Well, what are you interested in? Perhaps I could help? An old lady like myself must have some contacts in such a town as New Albany, you know."
"Thank you," Leah hesitated by chewing her food slowly before proceeding. "I am not exactly sure what interests me, if I am to be honest."
"There must be something…"
"I don't know…" Leah lowered her head, not wanting to discuss anything further.
"Your mother called today," Mrs. Hendrickson brought up to break the awkwardness. "She asked for me to tell you to call her back today. She said that it did not matter how late."
"I'll be sure to call her later," Leah responded.
"A letter also came for you today."
"Oh," though her heart fluttered in hope, her mind knew that she should not get her hopes up. "Is it from anyone you know?"
"Anyone I know?" the old woman laughed at the though. "Leah, darling, the only other person I know that might write to you is your mother. Everyone else is a stranger to me."
"Oh," Leah drank some water in the hopes that it might stop the rapid beating of her heart that had taken over. "May I pleased be excused for a -"
Her request was cut short by knocking on the door.
"Could you get that, Leah?" Mrs. Hendrickson requested, standing up and picking up her dish to bring to the sink. "I am going to begin washing dishes now."
"No problem," Leah got up and headed to the door.
A college friend- her only college friend- stood at the door in a hot pink halter dress. Large hoop earrings cast the remaining light from the sunset off in various directions as it reflected from the silver of the hoops. Hair tousled in a pile on top of her head, she held out her arms playfully and grinned a mouth of white teeth between scarlet lips.
"Thought I would steal you away for the night for some fun, Leah-baby."
"I'm not sure if Mrs. Hendrickson would approve, Jay."
Darjeeling Campton was the wild girl on the college campus Leah had attempted. Known for engaging in various scandalous acts, Leah had been surprised when her mother had fallen in love with her new friend, thinking her "just the think that you need right now." Though the times at college had certainly taught her some responsibility, Jay had not been so anxious to toss aside her outrageous fun-loving habits as soon as college came to an end.
"Come on now, Leah." Jay laughed. "We both know Mrs. Hendrickson does not care what you do with your life, so long as you make sure your presence known during dinner. That's why I came right after I knew you would be done. And, if you remember, Mrs. Hendrickson likes me, as does you mom, so I don't think she would mind you going out with me for the night."
"Although I will never understand why," Leah grinned, opening the door wider for Jay to walk in. "Mrs. Hendrickson, Jay is here. She is going to take me out for the night. We are going to go upstairs for me to grab my purse and a jacket, and I'll be going."
"Have fun, dear!" Mrs. Hendrickson hollered. "If you must be out late, stay safe. Tell Jay that I give her my hello as well. Such a nice girl!"
"Did you hear that, I really am a nice girl." Jay beamed as she entered my room, gaping at the clutter that she saw. "It does not look like you cleaned your room since the day you moved in."
"I probably haven't," Leah remarked, moving a blanket on my mattress to find a jacket. "I am always up and about, I never have the time. Besides, when I am in here, cleaning my room is always the last thing on my mind."
"If you had a dead body in here, the cops would never find it." Jay commented, frowning whenLeah headed to walk out of her room. "Where are you going?"
"Aren't we leaving?"
"In that?" Jay referred toLeah's outfit.
"What's wrong with it?" Leah questioned defensively. "I happen to like these jeans, and this black tank isn't stained or torn or anything. It's in better shape than half of the clothes you see scattered on the floor."
"Suit yourself," Jay shrugged, stepping over a heap of clothes before exiting. "But I doubt you are going to find any men in clothes like that."
"Is that what this is about?" Leah said after she had locked the front door behind her to enter the passenger sat of Jay's convertible black jaguar. "You think that you are going to steal me away for an evening to go party with all of New Albany's bachelor population in the hopes that one of them might be crazy enough to get together with one of us?"
"You're a pretty gal, so I guess you don't really have to worry." Jay remarked, starting the car and pulling out. "And I am glamorous enough to get enough guys for the both of us, no matter how horrible your fashion sense is nowadays."
Night had already settled over New Albany when Leah entered the hall of a great house that was settled by itself in the wilderness of one of the many forests that filled up the town. Looking up, she saw people chatting as they leaned against the banister of the grand staircase, cans of beer in their hand. She tried to brush aside the empty feeling that settled in her stomach, making her uneasy, but it only accentuated further when the host walked over.
Willard Burnaby had graduated a year before them. His parents, both rich beyond their small-town comprehension, had bought him this house as a graduation and he never wasted an opportunity to continue the celebration by hosting parties every other weekend. To see him stand before her and Jay, his black hair ruffled from whatever havoc he had been investing his time in so far as he grinned like a fool, Leah put a hand over her stomach when his cobalt blue eyes looked over at her.
"Hey Leah," he smiled. "You alright?"
"She'll be fine," Jay answered for her, knowing well enough Leah would probably not say anything at all to Will's inquiry. "Quite a gathering you got here."
"I can't help it if my parents bought me too big of a house," Will put it. "These parties are the only way to fill up all of the rooms."
"I can see it's been working," Jay said, laughing when she saw a few people draped over the back of the couches, half passed out. "Anyone die from too much excitement yet?"
"No," Will laughed good-heartedly. "But with you here, they might."
"How flattering," Jay leaned forward, pinching him on the cheek before kissing him on the same spot. "I'll be sure to do the best I can, buddy."
Left alone when Jay pursued a group of guys playing billiards in the next room, Leah held her breath, left alone with Will. He did the once-over, looking her up and down, before grinning shamelessly.
"No outrageous outfit?"
"I thought Jay was outrageous enough for the both of us," Leah replied.
"Very true," Will admitted, turning to the counter where an ice chest was filled with cans of beer. "You want a drink?"
"I didn't drink in college, and I don't think I'll be doing it in the near future either." Leah shook her head. "Sorry I am such a bore."
"Not at all," Will now leaned against the counter, his elbows resting on the granite. "You know, you sure do pull off the black and blue jeans look. Much more classy than most of the ladies here tonight."
"I hope you're not talking about Jay. She would be heart-broken if you thought bad of her outfit. She thrives upon looking glamorous."
"And no one would think she was anything but it," Will agreed. "How is Jay nowadays? She been up to anything?"
"Not exactly sure. Jay decided to randomly stop by and take me out for the evening." Leah told him candidly. "I haven't seen her in a few weeks. Maybe a month."
"I see," Will nodded. "How about yourself? What are you up to?"
"The usual," Leah smiled to herself. "Finding myself. The works."
"You've been doing that for a year," Will chuckled. "You've always been such a hard-worker. I'd think you would'vefound yourselfby now."
"I'm in no great rush, I guess."
"Well… you're not always going to be young forever."
"I know," Leah lowered her eyes. "I already feel old."
"You sure don't look it."
"I hope not," Leah laughed. "Do you have water? Bottled water, please."
"Maybe in the fridge," they walked into the kitchen, where Leah turned crimson, feeling numerous men burning holes at her sight. "Here you go."
"Thanks," Leah fiddled with the bottle for awhile, her nerves getting the better at her because the eyes had failed to leave her.
"Need help?" Will did not wait for an answer as he grabbed the bottle and opened it for her. "Here you go again."
"Thanks again."
"You want to step outside?" Will suggested.
"Outside… yes." Leah nodded.
Underneath a tree, sitting at a bench, Leah's nerves calmed down as she drank half of the bottle of water. She hated how those guys had stared at her as if she were a slab of meat and they were wolves, thirsty for something to fill their hunger. So lost in her restlessness was Leah, that she jumped when Will set a hand on her arm.
"Sorry," Leah apologized. "I haven't been out in awhile. I almost forgot how hungry guys can be at times."
"Talk to me, Leah." Will stated plainly, an arm draping over the back of the bench as he turned his body to face her. "You are on the edge right now. It seems like if we're not careful, you might fall off it."
"There's nothing to talk about." Leah looked down, her fingers strumming the water bottle.
"We used to talk. You used to trust me with these things. Have times changed so much that we cannot even talk like we used to, Leah?"
"I still don't know what I want to do with my life."
"Is that it?" Will laughed. "That's perfectly fine, Leah. Pretty much everyone here has no idea what they are going to do with their lives at this time."
"It's not that I don't have an idea," Leah said slowly. "It's just… I don't want to get an idea that something might actually happen when it probably won't."
"What do you mean?"
"I just don't want to get my hopes up."
"Leah, if you're worried about going out there and exerting yourself, don't waste your time. I have not seen you fail at anything yet. You tackle every task put in front of you and make everyone proud. I worry more for whoever is your boss because you are likely to take their place in no time."
"But what if that doesn't happen?" Leah looked up, her dense eyelashes framing eyes that were filled with an uncertainty, fear, and anxiety. "What if I become so convinced that it will all work out and it doesn't? I don't want to go through that, Will."
"Let me help you, Leah." Will offered. "My parents have connections. They could help you. I could try to pull strings as well. Any job you want. Just tell me."
"I'll be fine."
"You don't seem fine, Leah."
"Oh… what do I know." Leah laughed meekly. "I am probably getting all ruffled up over nothing. Count on me to do something like that. It tends to happen when you go insane, you know."
"You're not insane," Will used his other hand to set on hers, over the water bottle, as his eyes bore into hers sternly. "Really, you aren't. You are magnificent. The most magnificent person I've ever met."
"Why do you always say these things?"
"Because they are true." Will answered candidly. "Why did it not work out between us, Leah? What did I do wrong? I would go back to you in an instant, if you would let me, but you won't. Why, Leah?"
"I just… need to be alone right now."
"You do know that I would never let you be alone, if you would give me the chance, right?"
"I know, Will." Leah sighed. "But you aren't the first guy that gave me hope like that before."
When Leah dropped on her mattress in the early morning when the sun was bound to rise within the hour, she felt as if sleep would claim her any moment. It was only when she turned to her side and heard a crumble beneath her that her eyes shot open and she sat up to find an envelope resting beneath her.
Mrs. Hendrickson probably left it up here for me, Leah thought, smiling at the idea of the woman entering the chaos of her room. I wonder what she thought of all this.
Turning the envelope over, she felt her blood go cold at the handwriting. It was only when her eyes drifted over to the return address that she was convinced that her heart had stopped completely.