Heaven’s Angel

By:  Stacey

©2002

January 3^rd, 2004, 10:30 p.m.

Y los ángeles bajan cielo…

And the Angels fall from Heaven…

Twenty-one year old Heaven McComas was sitting in her loft/apartment with her two best friends, Autaumn Stanton, 23, and Mirra Sanchez, 22. The power had gone out in a storm and they were telling campfire stories to keep themselves occupied. Heaven was telling a horror story she had heard as a kid.

“The girls were all closely huddled around the campfire, scared to death. The footsteps kept getting closer and closer until…” Heaven’s cell rang. Autaumn and Mirra screamed. Heaven picked up her cell phone.

“Hello?”

“Heaven?”

“Yeah. Who is this?”

“Ummm… It’s Mark, remember, your boss. Listen. Don’t bother coming in to work tomorrow, er, Monday.”

“What? Why?”

“You’ve been fired.” She sat down on the couch.

“F-F-FIRED?!” She sputtered exasperatedly.

“GOTCHA!!” Heaven finally recognized the voice. She stood up and her face almost went purple she was so mad.

“Ashley Ward Parker Angel, you asshole! Don’t joke like that, it wasn’t funny!” Ashley started cracking up. Ashley Angel, Heaven’s favorite person in the whole world (usually) was pretending to be Heaven’s obnoxious boss, Mark Wright. Heaven and Ashley had been best friends literally since the crib. Ashley could tell Heaven was mad when she said his full name.

“I’m sorry Heaven, you know I couldn’t resist. Hey…” He was interrupted by a loud beeping noise.

“Damn it! Ashley, my phone’s going dead. Do you want me to call you back?”

“No just come over.”

“Okay. Bye.” Heaven heard something that sounded like a goodbye before the phone went dead.

“Okay. Come on girls. You get to watch me kick Ashley Angel’s ass.” The girls burst out laughing.

“You’re gonna kick his ass?” Mirra asked. She knew that Heaven knew the guys of the popular boyband O-Town. She didn’t even know who was in the band. Heaven nodded.

“I’m gonna make him cry like a baby!” They giggled.

Once everyone had gotten ready and in the car, Heaven took charge immediately. She looked in the rearview mirror at Mirra and Autaumn who were in the backseat talking about how much they will faint when the meet O-Town. Heaven rolled her eyes. She didn’t see what was the big deal about meeting a boy-band. Albeit one that she had met before.

“What is it with your infatuation with holding on to your teeny-bopper days? When we get there will be no fainting, shrieking, swooning, or anything else that will scare the hell outta them. Understood?” She asked. Autaumn and Mirra nodded. “And don’t interrogate them. Especially Jake. He likes to be very private.”

When they pulled into the driveway the girls sobered up very quickly.

“That place is freaking huge. Is this where they live?” Mirra asked. She couldn’t believe how incredibly large the house in front of them was.

“No Mirra. They live in a trailer park south of here. We’re just sightseeing. Yes they live here. Come on. The guys are waiting.” Heaven said sarcastically. They walked toward the house and saw the door fly open and Ashley run out like the devil was after him.

“Miss Priss!” He yelled picking her up and practically throwing her in the air. Heaven laughed and playfully tugged Ashley’s hair. He set her down quickly. Erik came running out with Trevor right on his heels, followed by Dan and a reluctant Jacob. They practically skidded to a stop in front of Heaven, Ashley, Mirra and Autaumn.

“And who are these lovely ladies Heaven?” Erik asked indicating Mirra, and Autaumn. Heaven rolled her eyes.

“Guys, these are my friends, Autaumn and Mirra. Girls, this is Jacob, Dan, Ashley, Trevor and….” Mirra’s jaw dropped and she ran at Erik.

“Erik-Michael Estrada!” When she reached him she jumped in his arms. He swung her around. “Mirra Jayde Sanchez oh my gosh is that you?” He asked incredulously when he set her down. She nodded. He took a step back taking in her beauty with his mouth open. Mirra was 5’9, the tallest of the group, with chocolate skin and long black hair and deep brown-red eyes that shone. Erik stared at the woman who he had once played with as a kid.

“Are we going to stand here and let Erik eat flies or are we allowed to go into your house?” Autaumn always said what was on her mind and Heaven had admired that about her since the day she met her. Autaumn always spoke a lot, in avalanches, and if you didn’t stop her she would soon become Hurricane Autaumn, speaking completely incoherently and destroying every ego in her path. The guys were shocked out of their trances and Erik muttered something in Spanish before they trooped into the O-Town house.

They gathered in the living room and sat down. Mirra was sitting with Erik on a love seat getting reacquainted. Heaven, Autamn, Ashley, Jacob and Trevor were sitting on the two couches talking about nothing. Dan was sitting in an armchair, being quiet.

“Hey does anyone want to play a game?” Erik suddenly asked. Everyone looked at him.

“What game?” Heaven asked. Erik smiled mischievously. Uh oh, Heaven thought. I’m gonna regret this. 

 

Next Day

Y la tierra recibido los con los brazos abeirtos.

And the Earth received them with open arms.

The sun shone bright in the window, casting shadows on Heaven’s face. She opened her eyes and immediately shut them again. Staring at her was a big blonde haired monster with blue eyes. Heaven moaned and rolled over and immediately regretted that. She looked up at Ashley, reproachfully, from the floor.

“Owww. Where am I and why am I here and what in the world are you?” She asked Ashley laughed.

“Last time I looked I was a Homo Sapien, or a human. And last time I checked I’m also a member of the gender class male named Ashley Angel. And you are a female. You, Mirra and Autaumn stayed the night because of the storm. Now get up and have some breakfast with us. Oh, yeah, you’re on the floor in the living room of O-Town’s house in Orlando, Florida, U.S.A, Earth, The Solar System, The Milky Way Galaxy, The Universe, God’s Mind.” Heaven glared at him and stuck her tongue out.

“Since when did you become so smart?” He pretended to think.

“Umm, since you made me?” Heaven smirked.

“Good answer. Now help me up.”

Breakfast was great and everyone was in a good mood. Trevor and Autaumn were arguing over basketball (good-naturedly, of course) and Britney Spears, Mirra and Erik were reminiscing, and Heaven and Ashley were sitting silently, enjoying each other’s company. Jacob and Dan were reading the mail. All was happy in O-Townland. It couldn’t get worse, Heaven thought. Could it?

“Hey Heafen, d’ya wan a go oo Fermont in a coupul a week?” Ashley asked with his mouth full of toast.

“What?” She asked, confusedly. Ashley swallowed.

“D’you want to go to Vermont in a couple of weeks?” He asked clearer.

“Why?” Heaven asked.

“It might be fun. Mirra and Autaumn can come too. C’mon. Please?” He gave a charming smile and Heaven nodded.

“Alright sure. As long as it’s free.” Ashley laughed. 

 

January 15, 2004

Alrededor del mundo los ángeles descendidieron en la noches,

Around the world the Angels descended into the night,

“Heaven! Open the door! I know you’re in there!” Heaven sat up quickly. She looked at the clock in the kitchen and frowned. ‘Why am I on the couch?’ she asked herself.

“Heaven! C’mon. You can’t just let us stay out here forever! It’s Vermont! We’ll freeze!!!!” Heaven got up and opened the door to the cabin. Ashley and Autaumn ran in. “It’s soo c-c-cold out thereere.” Autaumn said, her teeth chattering. Ashley laughed. Heaven looked confused for a second then realized, ‘we’re in Vermont on a little vacation with the guys. Duh.’ It’s been almost two weeks since Ashley asked them to go to Vermont. Naturally the day they got there, there was a blizzard.

“Why’d ya have to wake me?” Heaven asked. “I was having a good dream.

“Sorry” Mirra came in from the hallway.

“ It’s fine. Why was I on the couch?” The door opened again and Dan, Erik, Trevor, Jacob and Janie ran in.

“Damn it’s cold!” Erik said. “Why does it have to snow so much?”

“Uh, Erik We’re in Vermont in the middle of winter, it’s supposed to snow.” Ashley pointed out. Erik scowled.

“I would make a nasty comment back, but I’m just too cold!” Ashley laughed and stuck his tongue out.

“We need coffee or hot chocolate now!” Heaven said. The guys and girls nodded.

“Anyone up for a fun day in the snow?” Erik asked smiling. Heaven threw a pillow at him and it caught him on the side of the head. They moved to the spacious kitchen and Heaven turned on the coffee maker and a cappuccino machine with hot chocolate in it. Soon everyone was warming up with their warm beverage. They sat in silence for a minute, sipping slowly.

“I was serious about the ‘day in the snow’. Anyone up for it?” Erik asked suddenly. ‘What harm could it do,’ Heaven thought.

“Why not Erik? It sounds like fun,” she said smiling. Erik smiled back.

“Yeah! It sounds like fun.” Ashley said enthusiastically. Heaven and Erik laughed.

“I guess it could be fun.” Mirra said doubtfully. Autaumn, Trevor and Janie nodded.

“We come in as soon as it gets too cold.” Dan said in a motherly tone.

“Yes, Mom,” Ashley mumbled. Heaven laughed and Dan kicked Ashley under the table. “Oww!” Everyone looked at Jacob, who hadn’t said anything. He shrugged.

“I guess.” He said nonchalantly. Everyone smiled. When they finished they went to their respective rooms in the large cabin. Heaven wandered through the cabin (which was as big as a lodge) aimlessly. It had seven rooms. One room was for each of the guys and two rooms were for the girls. Autaumn had her own room and Mirra and Heaven shared one. Janie slept in Jacob’s room. Each room was unique. Mirra and Heaven’s room had a meadow-in-spring thing. The twin beds had flower pattern bed sets and the carpet was a spring green. The lamps were even flower shaped.

Heaven walked into Ashley’s room, which happened to be the master bedroom. His had been decorated with a pine forest thing going on. The king-size bed had a hunter green bed set and a pine frame. The headboard had a carved scene of a hunter aiming at a huge ten-point buck in a forest (pine, naturally). The carpet was shag and a matching shade of forest green. It was really pretty in a manly sort of way.

Ashley walked out of the adjoining bathroom, freshly showered, wearing only a towel. Heaven couldn’t help but stare at Ashley’s upper body. She found herself thinking about how good his hair looked down and not spiked up. Ashley looked at her and Heaven looked down, blushing.

“I didn’t see you there Heaven. Did you need something?” Ashley asked remembering he was only wearing a towel. He grabbed his clothes and went into the bathroom, shutting the door. Heaven sat down on Ashley’s super-comfortable bed and waited. After a few minutes Ashley opened the door. He started to spike up his hair.

“You should leave your hair down. It looks really good and you don’t have to spend so much time on it.” Ashley looked at her and grinned. “You spend more time on your hair than I do on my entire face Ashley. It makes people wonder.”

“Wonder what?” Ashley asked, brushing his hair down. He picked up his toothbrush and started brushing his teeth.

“Wonder if you’re gay or straight.” Ashley spit out a bunch of toothpaste all over the mirror. He took a towel and wiped it off.

“What?” He asked incredulously. “D’you want me to prove I’m not gay?” He started brushing his teeth again thinking of ways to prove he wasn’t gay.

“Nooo.” Heaven said putting emphasis on the word. She could only think of one way he could prove that he wasn’t gay. She felt herself get red in the face.

Ashley smiled. He figured by her blush that she had thought of the same thing. He walked out of the bathroom with his shirt in his hands. Heaven stood up and gave him a puzzled look. Her gaze traveled his bare chest and went a little further down. Ashley smiled again.

“I want a different shirt.” He said. He watched her watch him. His gaze took in her mop of red curls, her large expressive green eyes and her pale skin. ‘She is so beautiful’, he thought. ‘Why can’t I just tell her?’ Their eyes met and Ashley could feel the electricity between them and the tension in the room increased.

“I better go see if anyone else is ready.” Heaven walked out of Ashley’s room and sighed in relief. The tension in that room was almost thick enough to taste. She didn’t want to think about why there had been tension and electricity between them. 

“Mirra?” Erik asked softly, knocking on the door. Mirra opened it and smiled at Erik. She went back in and pulled her hair back in a ponytail. He walked in.

“What’s up Erik?” She asked. Erik smiled.

“Nothing just wondering if you’re ready or not. You know there’s bound to be a snowball fight. When there is, I’m gonna win.” Erik knew he sound cocky, but he didn’t care. Mirra gave him a quizzical look.

“Oh really?” She asked, her voice taking on a teasing tone. “Well, we’ll se about that.” Erik smile grew wider.

“What’re you going to do? You’re just a girl!” Mirra flashed a mischievous smile. She grabbed Erik by the waist and threw him on the bed closest to her. She promptly sat on his chest.

“Wanna say that again?” She asked smiling. Erik shook his head. “Good.” Mirra got off of Erik and stood up. Erik grabbed her around the waist and threw her on the bed and started tickling her. She started giggling and fighting him.

“Erik! Stop! You’re gonna make me pee my pants! Quit!” Erik stopped. He looked down at Mirra and smiled. On impulse he leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. Mirra didn’t resist so he deepened the kiss and slid his tongue into her mouth making her moan softly.

“You guys should close the door if you’re going to be doing that.” Heaven said with a hint of amusement in her voice. Erik and Mirra sat up and Heaven smiled widely when she saw that Mirra was blushing profusely. “I was just seeing if you’re ready. I’ll go now.” 

 

Outside

9:15 am.

y tocaron corazones de las almas puras en esta por seimpre.

and touched the hearts of the pure souls on this Earth forever.

Everyone gathered around the large snowman they had built as Heaven put on the finishing touches. She took the scarf around her neck off and put it on the snowman and the rest of them cheered.

“So is it a snowwoman or a crossdresser?” Ashley asked. “‘Cause not many snowmen I know would have a light purple hat and a frilly pink scarf.” Heaven frowned and hit Ashley lightly on the shoulder.

“It’s a very feminine snowman.” She huffed. Ashley smiled.

“So it’s gay.” He said. Heaven hit him again, harder.

“No, but you are.” Heaven took off running and Ashley chased her around the lodge. Heaven turned and bent down, grabbing a large handful of snow. She threw the snowball at Ashley and it caught him in the face. He retuned fire and soon the rest of the party joined in. Soon it began to snow again. The others started walking toward the cabin.

“Ashley. Look! A deer.” Heaven pulled Ashley toward the deer that was at the edge of the forest. The deer calmly walked inside the woods and stopped, as if it wanted them to follow. “Let’s follow it Ashley.” Heaven pulled him into the forest without waiting for an answer. They followed the doe for about ten minutes until it went around a clump of trees and disappeared. Heaven looked around. They had followed the doe deep into the forest.

“Which way is the exit?” Ashley whispered. The wood was silent and the weight of that silence bore down on them hard. Heaven shook her head.

“I don’t know.” She said in a helpless tone. ‘It’s official,’ she thought. ‘We’re lost’ 

“ASHLEY! HEAVEN! Where are you?” Autaumn called out. “Trevor, have you seen them?” Trevor shook his head.

“This storm is getting worse. We’re going to have to go inside in a minute, Autaumn.” Autaumn shivered beneath her parka. ‘Wherever Ashley and Heaven went off to, I hope they’re okay,’ she thought.

“We have to keep looking,” she shouted over the howling wind that had picked up.

“Looking? We can barely see! If we don’t go back, we’re going to get lost.” Trevor yelled. Autaumn shook her head.

“We have to keep looking!” She wouldn’t give up on her best friend. “HEAVEN! ASHLEY!” Trevor shook his head. ‘Odds are they’re lost,’ he thought. ‘But I’ll do anything to make sure that Autaumn is happy.’

“HEAVEN! ASHLEY! WHERE ARE YOU?” He shouted. He knew that the wind carried away any hope they had of finding them. “Autaumn. We have to go back!” Autaumn noticed the storm getting worse.

“Alright!” She shouted. “Let’s go back! They’re probably already inside wondering where the hell we are!” They turned and made their way back to the lodge. When they got back, Erik and Mirra were in the living room, looking very worried.

“Autaumn! You’re okay.” Mirra stood up and walked over to Autaumn and Trevor and gave Autaumn a hug. “Where’s Heaven and Ashley?” She asked after she let go. Autaumn frowned and looked at Trevor.

“We couldn’t find them. What about the others?” Mirra nodded.

“They’re all here. They’re saying it’s the biggest blizzard in the history of the state. I hope wherever Ashley and Heaven are they found shelter. They might be out there a long time.” 

“Ashley! We’re lost. Let’s find a place to stay for the night.” Heaven shouted over the increasingly gale-force wind. Ashley nodded. They were attempting to find their way out of the woods. The farther they traveled, the windier and snowier it got. The trees blocked out some of the snow, but it was still coming down really hard. Heaven took a few steps forward and felt the ground below her give in. She felt an immediate numbing cold; she had broken through ice on a pond that was completely covered.

“Ashley!” She screamed as she went under. She struggled to keep her head above the freezing water, but her body was beginning to go completely numb. It became increasingly hard to keep her head up and she went under again. She couldn’t get a breath.

Ashley frantically searched for something, anything, that would help him pull Heaven up out of the water. “Ashley! Help me.” He got down on his knees and reached down into the water. He felt her grasp his hands and tried to pull her out. She was almost out when Ashley’s grip slipped and she fell back in, going under again. Ashley tore off his gloves and drove his bare hands in. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her up, this time not losing his grip.

“Heaven! Heaven, are you all right?” He sat back on the snow and pulled her to him. He held her to him while she shivered and shook. After a minute he turned her toward him. Her lips were blue and her skin was deathly pale. He took off her wet mittens and gave her his gloves. The tips of her fingers were also turning blue. He helped her put them on. “We have to find a place to get out of the storm. Can you move?” Heaven stood up uneasily. “You have to move to keep the stiffness out. Otherwise you’ll freeze. C’mon.”

After about ten minutes of searching they found a large heavy thicket, like one that a deer would occupy. They crawled in and sat down on brush and branches. The thicket sheltered them from the storm, and from everything surrounding them. Heaven was still so cold. Ashley held her to him, wrapping his arms around her. He was trying to give her as much body heat as possible.

“How do you feel?” He asked softly. Heaven laughed between her chattering teeth.

“You fall into a freezing pond and see how you feel.” Ashley smiled. If she could still make cracks at him she was going to be all right. “I guess I’m all right.” She yawned sleepily. Their body heat had made the enclosed thicket pretty warm and she was feeling very sleepy. Her eyes started to close and Ashley had to shake her awake.

“Stay awake. If you go to sleep you won’t wake up. I want to you to stick around for a while baby. Who else will make fun of me every chance she gets?” Heaven laughed softly. She started coughing deeply. Ashley frowned. “Heaven, are you okay?” Heaven stopped coughing for a while and nodded.

“I’m okay. Ashley, at the risk of sounding corny, you saved my life. I owe you a lot now.” Ashley smiled.

“You better believe it. Not only did I save your life but I also gave you my gloves. You owe me big time.” He pulled her close to him and put his arm on her shoulder. She bent closer and laid her head down. Ashley could still feel her shivering slightly. ‘I hope they find us soon,’ he thought. ‘Or it may be too late.’ 

“The storm seems to be moving to the east very fast. I suggest you STAY INSIDE. Wait this one out folks. Our meteorologists predict this one will clear up around midnight tonight. Some parts of the state are already clear. I pity anyone who got caught outside when this baby hit! If a friend or loved one was caught out there and hasn’t gotten back yet there is a number you can call: 1-800-LOST. That’s 1-800-5678. That number again is 1-800-5678. This is your local weatherman Tim Davis saying see you tomorrow.” Mirra wrote down the number that was on the screen and sighed. Ashley and Heaven had been gone for six hours.

“Erik, do you think they’re okay?” She asked in a small voice. Erik walked over and sat down next to her on the couch.

“I’m positive they’re okay. Ashley isn’t one for giving up. He’ll make it back just to prove he can.” Erik was trying to reassure Mirra, but it obviously wasn’t working. He put his arm around her. He sighed. The truth was he was nervous too. “Let’s give that number a call.” 

“Trevor?” Autaumn was standing outside of Trevor’s door. Trevor opened the door. He looked into Autaumn’s face and noticed she’d been crying.

“What’s wrong?” He asked. Autaumn shook her head as tears fell from her eyes.

“I don’t think they’re okay. The storm is bad. There’s zero visibility. They could be anywhere and I can’t do anything about it!” She cried desperately. Trevor held his arms out and Autaumn gratefully walked into them. Trevor held her close while she sobbed. When she calmed down she loosened her grip on Trevor and looked up at him. He smiled reassuringly. “Thank-you.” She whispered. Trevor released her and gave another smile.

“Anytime, sweetheart. I’m always here.” Autaumn laughed. Trevor walked her over to the bed and sat down. “D you feel better now?” Autaumn nodded.

“I, I’m just so worried, you know, and I can’t help remembering all of the movies I’ve seen where people get lost and freeze to death. It scares me so much.” Trevor nodded lightly.

“They’ll be alright.” He said softly.

“How do you know?” Autaumn asked.

“I just do.” Trevor looked into Autaumn’s gray eyes. He reached up and touched her cheek lightly. “Trust me. They’ll be okay.” He leaned in and went to softly kissed her cheek but Autaumn turned her head and Trevor’s lips met hers. He pulled back blushing.

“Sorry. That was an accident.” He said. Autaumn smiled.

“No it wasn’t. I meant to do that.” Trevor looked up. Autaumn was smiling broadly. “I did really. I like you Trevor. At the risk of sounding corny I really do like you, a lot.” Trevor smiled and leaned in for a kiss. 

9:15PM

La belleza de sus corazones hechos los ángeles llora,

The beauty of their hearts made the Angels weep,

Ashley woke up suddenly. Heaven was asleep against him. He listened. As far as he could tell the storm had stopped. He smiled at Heaven’s sleeping form. His smile quickly turned to a frown when he realized that she shouldn’t be asleep. He shouldn’t have let her fall asleep. He pushed her lightly. She didn’t move. He shook her again and began to panic.

“Heaven. Heaven, baby don’t you dare be gone. Heaven wake up, baby you gotta wake up.” His voice grew desperate. He shook her more urgently. Heaven groaned slightly and opened her eyes.

“What’s amatter?” She asked sleepily. Ashley stared in astonishment and then pulled her to him. “What’s wrong Ashley? What happened?” She pulled herself free and looked him in his baby blues, which were slightly teary.

“I thought you were…” He trailed off. “You weren’t supposed to go to sleep. I, I was supposed to make sure you didn’t go to sleep.” Heaven took Ashley’s hands and forced him to look at her.

“I’m okay, Ashley. I’m not cold anymore. I have my color back. I’m okay,” she lied. Ashley looked into her eyes and nodded slowly.

“You don’t look as pale as you did. But…” Heaven put a finger on his lips, stopped what he would have said.

“Ashley, it’s okay.” She removed her finger. “Everything is fine.” She was about to say something else when they heard shouting.

“Ashley! Heaven! Can you hear us?” The person wasn’t someone they knew; the others must have called someone.

“We’re over here!” Heaven shouted. “In the thicket!” She took Ashley’s hand and crawled through the opening. The search crew helped them out. They gave Heaven a new coat. ‘It’s okay,’ she thought. ‘We’re going to be okay.’ 

January 20, 2004

y las rosas floreciaron donde cayeron sus rasgones.

roses bloomed where their tears fell.

“Ashley?” Heaven was standing in the doorway of Ashley’s room in the cabin. They were packing to leave later that day. Heaven walked in.

“You know, I never got to thank you. You’re like my guardian Angel now.” Ashley smiled as Heaven laughed.

“Just knowing you’re okay is enough for me.” Heaven smirked.

“Fine, then I guess I don’t get to give you what I wanted to. Too bad, you would’ve really liked it.” Heaven’s tone was slightly teasing. Ashley frowned.

“On second thought, what did you want to give me?” Heaven grinned.

“Too late. You already said you didn’t want to get anything.” Ashley pouted.

“Aww c’mon, give it to me.” Heaven laughed.

“Alright you talked me into it. C’mere.” Ashley walked over to her eagerly. Heaven had to stop herself from laughing really hard. She looked up at Ashley and gave her best sexy smile. Before he knew it she leaned up and kissed him hard. Ashley responded immediately and when they finally separated, they were out of breath.

“I love you,” Heaven whispered in Ashley’s ear. “I really do and always have.” Ashley smiled softly.

“I love you too.” He whispered. ‘I would do anything for Heaven’s love,’ he thought, happily looking at the woman he’d loved since high school. ‘Anything.’ 

Earth Angels

And the Angels fall from Heaven

And the Earth received them with open arms.

Around the world the Angels descended into the night,

And touched the hearts of the pure souls on this Earth forever

The beauty of their hearts made the Angels weep,

And roses bloomed where their tears fell.

The End

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