The Devil's Choice

"Deviana! Time for school!"

"I'm up, Mom!" Deviana rushed to get downstairs for breakfast, hopping around with one foot in her jeans. For some reason, she found it extremely hard to put on pants in the morning...

"Well, you'd better hurry if you want a ride. I'm leaving in ten minutes."

"I'm coming!" She successfully pulled up her pants, buttoned them, and tugged her combat boots onto her feet. She quickly grabbed a pop tart from the snack cabinet and reached for her jacket and bag from the table, too. She ran out to the car and skidded to a stop in front of the passenger side door.

"Took you long enough." Her mom said, starting the car. She worked at Better Homes and Gardens magazine in New York. In Devi’s opinion, her mom had one of the lamest jobs on the face of the Earth. But with her recent divorce, Devi decided not to press the matter because that was the only thing that could make her mother smile, anymore.

"Mom, that was hardly ten minutes. That had to be a record! For me, at least." She said, taking a bite of her pop tart.

"Did you pray this morning, Deviana?" Devi rolled her eyes and exhaled sharply, her mother’s heavy Christianity ruining her morning buzz. Nevertheless, her mom remained oblivious. How can she not tell this is so not my style? Devi thought, crossing her arms in her seat, after taking another bite of her breakfast.

"Yeah, Mom."

"Good." Devi couldn’t help but roll her eyes again as she caught sight of the rosary hanging on the rearview mirror. She wasn’t Anti-Christ. She just wanted her mother to understand that she was only seventeen. She had no clue what she believed!

Deviana looked down at her miss-matched combat boots. Hell, she didn't even know what to wear to school! They sat in silence the rest of the way to school. Actually, they look kind of good... and I didn't even have to choose! Yay! Devi thought, as she finished off her pop tart. They pulled up to the school’s gates.

"Be good, Deviana." Devi climbed out the car and kissed her mom’s cheek then, watched her drive away. She made sure to make no promises. A sneaky one, I am. She thought, with a smirk on her face.

"DEVI!" She turned her head and saw her best friend, Isabel, running toward her.

"IZZY!" She screamed back at her.

"The hag gone?"

"She's not that bad, Iz. She's just super Christian." She’d given her that same speech, every day. Izzy gave Devi her best"oh, really?"look. And she’d given Devi that same look, every day.

"Okay, fine. She's a bit out there."

"Ehhh... here comes Josh." Devi turned in the same area Izzy was looking and saw her boyfriend headed their way. Oh, God, she mentally groaned, wishing she had the courage to just dump him, already.

"Hey, babe." He pulled her close and kissed her hard, right in front of everyone and their staring eyes.

"Josh, calm it! People are staring." Devi said, wiping her mouth and pushing him away a little.

"So?" He started kissing her neck, much to her dismay. While Devi was about morals and cute relationships, he was about showing off. And in his head, Devi was his biggest trophy, at the time.

"So, we both know PDA isn't my style." She pushed him off again and he scowled at her, heavily, for a bit, but seeing the look Izzy gave him, he backed off.

"Whatever. Hey, there's a new kid."

"Really?" She used as much sarcasm as she could muster, because... in New York, new kids come and go, every day.

"Well, yeah. But the weird thing is he plays soccer, football and takes dance and music." Although she was a bit intrigued, as no jock ever took any music class during her previous three years there, she had to wonder if Josh was stalking the kid in some way… and if he was so dim that he couldn’t pick up sarcasm. Josh opened his mouth to speak again but Devi felt an intense stare on her. She tuned him out, as usual, and looked behind her.

It was a guy, staring at me, I mean. Not like any I'd ever seen before. He was dressed in all black except for his white high tops. His blonde hair was tousled and a bit messy, but in a sexy way. Staring into my eyes, were the most beautiful piercing blue eyes I've ever seen. He stared at me in a deep, brooding, intimate way that made me feel embarrassed so, I quickly looked away. But I wanted to look back so badly.

"Devi? You back from the dead?"

"Huh? Oh. Yeah... yeah." Izzy looked at me with a concerned look and a tinge of confusion, then she grabbed my hand.

"Come on, first bell rang and I sent lover boy away." I hadn't even noticed Josh was gone. That's how good I was at tuning him out. She dragged me down the hall, making me stumble on my feet, and then we split up. She doesn't have the same classes as me until after lunch. I walked into class and fell into my seat, alone, at the lab table in the back corner. Just the way I like it. I let out a collective breath that I didn't know I'd been holding. The final bell rang and I slumped in my seat but had my attention to the front.

"Class, we have a new student." I sat up in my chair. Please no... please no... PLEASE...shit.

The guy from this morning came in. I don't know why but, for some reason, I thought it was a good idea to stay away from him.

"This is Niall Horan. He's from Europe." Niall looked around for a minute and then his gaze settled on me. He shot me a brief, lopsided smile and my heart skipped a beat. Maybe I need to go see the nurse.

"Niall, there's no more seats so you'll partner with Devi for the rest of the year." He gave Mr. Helmers, the chem teacher, a small confirmation nod and sat next to me. Shit! I wasn't expecting that... I never get a partner.

He held his hand out to me, "Niall Horan, but you already knew that." I bit my lip and stared at his hand a little longer than I should have. Once my hand connected to his, I felt a small electric shock. I stifled a gasp and replied, "Deviana Rishel. But almost everyone calls me Devi... but you knew that." I said, referring to the teacher calling me Devi. I let go of his hand and tried to ignore his adorable accent, although I couldn't place it. I cleared my throat.

"So where're you from?"

"A bit of everywhere, love, but as of late, Ireland." Ah... that explains the accent. He leaned close and my pulse quickened.

"So was that arse your boyfriend?" He smirked at me and I bit my lip, pondering his question.

"K-kinda.." My stutter kicked in when I got nervous and it didn't help that my pulse was hammering away. I could feel it in my ears.

"Why kind of?" He leaned back in his chair and kicked his feet up. Mr. Helmers was going on about covalent bonds and what not. I silently willed him to save me but, his back stayed to us. I glanced at Niall and my pulse went haywire. I was sure he could hear it. Maybe I'm having an anxiety attack...

"B-b-because I d-don't really like him a-anymore.." I looked at the ground and licked my lips. Damn!Why was I so nervous?

"Well, then, dump the lad." He turned my face to him with a finger under my chin.

"It's not that easy..." I have a love/hate relationship with the way he looks at me. I love the way it looks like he's really seeing me but, I hate how vulnerable it makes me feel.

"You could have so much more.." I look up and search his eyes. "If..." He continues, but just as he starts to finish the thought, the bell rings. "Later. Devi." He whispers in my ear while tucking my hair back. I shiver at his touch. I felt like my heart jumped out of my chest and ran after him as he walked out the door. I let out a deep breath and gathered my things.

"Babe!" Josh's heavy body collided with mine when I left the class with my head down.

"Josh..." I say with mock enthusiasm.

"So what's going on?" I feel a familiar brooding stare at my back. Before I could turn, Josh mashed his lips with mine. I pushed him off me for the second time today.

"Damn, Josh! You know I don't like PDA." I took a risk looking behind me and saw Niall leaning against a locker. He raised his eyebrow and I briefly bit my lip before turning back to Josh. I felt a weird rush of power and courage. I lifted my chin to look at him.

"Listen, Josh. About you and me...it's not gonna work out." I started to walk away but he yanked me back by the arm.That asshole!

"Are you... breaking up with me?"

"Yeah. But it's okay. You'll bounce back." I gave him a sarcastic, sympathetic look and walked away.

"That was impressive... yet a bit harsh, don't you think?" I jumped a little at seeing Niall at my locker.

"Weren't you just...? Never mind." I must be flippin'. I could have sworn he was just across the hall.

"You know, you have somewhat of an... exotic look, Devi." That was out of no where... but he, thankfully, ignored my comment and my name sounded ten times sweeter coming off his tongue.

"Ummmm... thank you?"

"It was a compliment. To dance class?"

"Uh, yeah. How'd you know?"

"I have my ways." He winked at me and held out his arm. I placed my hand in the crook of his elbow. We walked down the hall and I tried to ignore the pounding of my heart.

"How long have you been dancing?" I could tell he was just trying to make conversation but my palms started sweating and my heart beat uncontrollably.

"Few years. Five, six, somewhere in there. You?"

"Ever since I could walk. Not very well, though." He gave me a cheeky smile.

"I'm sure you're fine!" I smiled, "But hey, I'll be right back. I need to visit the little ladies' room."

"Okay." He shot me his killer smile again and I went into the bathroom. I walked over to the sink and, after filling the sink with cold water, I turned off the faucet and splashed my face.

I stared at my reflection. I guess I do have an exotic look..

My hair is long, about mid-back length, and it's "midnight" black. Sometimes it even looks blue. I have soft lavender colored eyes but they've hardened to a deep, violet purple...that's never happened.

I also have a small mole above my lip. I have really fair skin that apparently never tans. I know, I've tried. And it's a pain in the ass during swimsuit season.

I looked down and began to wash my hands but was shocked by what I saw.

My veins, instead of being a faded blue-green, glowed a bright, electric blue. I gasped and dried my hands..

What the hell was happening to me?

Notes

Hey guys... hope you like it! Feedback? Anyway, I'll be focusing on this, Keep Holding On, and Tweak, which I may or may not continue writing on here. Once I finish one, I'll be posting two collab stories, one at a time or maybe together. Idk yet. But they'll be with @abbyhahaha and @hot.mess133 so check out their previous stories and such. Thanks :) Love ya! - Kay