Chris has been quiet throughout the ride to The lodge, and yes silence is Chris' friend it is what makes Chris Chris but this one is different. Angelo can't help but wonder if he's still offended by that hug, he's sure he is. Chris looks like someone who loves boundaries and Angelo broke them.
He needs to control himself. He might love hugs, but other people don't and he needs to remember that. He hopes Chris isn't too mad about that hug. The others should have seen the look on his face. It's like his hug is a weapon. There was some kind of fear written all over his face.
Angelo has learned his lesson, to never hug Chris, ever again. Chris doesn't like hugs and he's set some boundaries for himself and Angelo's going to respect that.
Hip-hop music is blasting in the car and the only person singing this time is JJ, Angelo doesn't join in even though this is one of his favourite hip-hop songs. He's not joining because he feels bad and regrets hugging Chris in the first place, Wendy doesn't sing because she's noticed that Angelo is a bit distressed and Chris isn't singing because- well he's made it clear that he hates hip hop.
Wendy places a hand on Angelo's shoulder which makes him flinch. Damn, was he that absent-minded? He's forgotten that he's in JJ's car and is headed to a place where rich kids of L. A go to hang out.
"Are you okay? You're being awfully quiet and it's scary."
"Yeah, bro!" JJ says. "It's not like you to not sing along to a hip-hop song. What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm just—a little bit nervous."
"Because of those rich kids?" JJ snorts. "Don't be, you might think that most of them have life figured out because they're rich but in reality, they're just as fucked up as everyone." JJ shakes his head and JJ is right but Angelo isn't nervous about the Lodge he's thinking about Chris.
He's gone from thinking about Chris hating hugs to Chris setting a large barrier around him to thinking about how much it must have hurt him to see his parents get killed right in front of him. Fighting demons is the least traumatizing thing for him. Angelo is the kind of person who feels like he can save people, not in the way superheroes do in comic books but in the best way he can.
He's told himself that he's not going to harass or pester Chris anymore. But he can't help but feel like Chris needs to be healed.
Oh no.
There it is, that feeling of trying to save someone has come, the feeling is like an itch he has to scratch. It's tiring.
They finally arrive at the lodge and there are fancy cars right in front of the building because of course.
The lodge is like a club but for teenagers. There are no strippers there and no alcohol. It's a kind of club where teens can just go to hang out, there's music blasting from the building and the four supernatural teens stand in front of the building as if waiting for something to happen.
"It's not too late to turn around," Wendy says and JJ gives her a look questioning if the person standing next to her is his friend.
"I don't know what's going on with you and Angelo tonight but I want my real friends back." JJ moves forward. "You clones can go back to hell!" he opens the door and gets in. Wendy sighs and then walks toward the big red door which on top has a neon sign called the Lodge.
Chris with his arms folded unfolds them and follows Wendy. Angelo calls out for him about to place his hand on his shoulder but then stops before it can happen.
Remember, boundaries.
Chris turns around to face him. They say that frowning makes you ugly and that if you smile your beauty shows. Not for Chris. Chris doesn't have to smile or even frown to show his beauty. Any expression he puts on his face makes him look like an angel.
Well, he is technically an angel but still his beauty is out of this world.
"I just wanted to ask if you're still pissed off about that hug. I know I shouldn't have done that I know you have set boundaries and it will never happen again." Angelo hopes his apology is convincing enough. Chris sighs and rolls his eyes then turns around, he's walking away.
"I know Angie!" Chris says before walking inside leaving Angelo outside. Angelo scoffs but then he smiles because that's the Chris he knows and loaths—a little.
He smiles and walks into the lodge. The place is packed with a lot of people. There are tables and chairs, and a bar where non-alcoholic drinks and fast food are sold. The place is gigantic and it screams rich people made this shit.
Angelo looks around in admiration. This is the kind of place he likes. A room where everyone can just hang out and have fun.
"I could get used to this," JJ says in excitement rubbing his hands together.
"It's nice!" Wendy says nodding while looking around. "Don't you think so Angelo?"
"Uh, yes it is nice. I love it."
"GUYS! OVER HERE!" The person calling them is Kelsey and she's waving for them to meet her at a round table.
The gang walk over to the table. Angelo, JJ and Wendy are excited and are looking around admiring the place. Chris is only here for one thing and one thing only, demons.
He's looking around for demons. Because he's a hundred per cent sure that there are demons in this room. This is Los Angeles after all, the hell mouth. A lot of demons are here because California holds the gateway to hell. No one has ever seen it but it is here. Hence why L. A is called the devil's playground.
There are different kinds of demons everywhere, not just dybbuks.
The gang move toward Kelsey Grace and some other girls who are in the cheerleading squad.
"Hey, guys I'm so glad you're here. I forgot to tell you about this place but I see you've already gotten the memo." Kelsey says in excitement.
She's dressed conservatively because of course, she is.
She's in a blue dress, and there's that cross around her neck. She's a Christian. And, strangely, she's with a douche like her boyfriend who hangs out with other douches like Xander. Which by the way the jocks are by the pool table.
And the person who invited Angelo and his friends here is on stage holding a guitar and waving at Angelo. Angelo waves back.
Chris notices him waving. JJ doesn't notice because he's too busy giving Grace the googly eyes and Wendy admires how cute the girls are and wants to be friends with them.
Chris looks between Angelo and Pedro. They're both smiling at each other which is weird. They look like they've known each other for years. But he's sure they only just met. They gave each other the same look when they were in class.
"Uh, you guys please excuse me." Angelo walks away, heading towards the stage. He doesn't even look at anyone else. His eyes are fixed on just Pedro.
JJ stands next to Grace to flirt with her and Kelsey gestures for Wendy to sit next to her. She turns over to Chris who is still looking at Angelo.
"Are you just going to stand there like a bodyguard?" Kelsey asks him.
"Huh?"
"You need a drink."
"No, I'm goo—"
"Waiter!" the waiter, a teenage boy with a slim build wearing his normal clothes but has an apron tied around his waist walks over to their table.
"What do you guys want?"
"A strawberry smoothie please," Wendy says to the waiter.
Chris hesitates because he didn't come here to have drinks or socialize but it won't hurt to be normal and have just one drink.
"Apple juice."
"Cool choice," Kelsey says. "JJ how about you?"
"Vodka!" He answers while still looking at Grace, Grace laughs and so do the other girls on the table.
"We don't have vodka here silly," Grace says flirtatiously.
"Oh, then I'll have what Wendy's having."
The waiter writes it down. Then walks away.
"Please you guys feel free and enjoy yourselves." Says Kelsey. "This one's on me." she directs this one to Chris who nods with a smile on his face, his unique way of saying thank you. Then his eyes move forward to watch Angelo.
Angelo moves upstage his eyes not leaving Pedro once. He can't be blamed he loves looking at things and people that bedazzle and Pedro is bedazzling.
"You came."
"You invited me, thanks by the way."
"I had to invite you because you are so talented." He says. "And also because you're new."
Angelo giggles. "So this place is just for kids who live in Beverly Hills."
"Mostly, sometimes other kids from all over California come here. Come I'd like you to meet the bandmates."
"Holy smokes you're in a band?"
Can Pedro be any more cooler? Angelo is a sucker for bands and guys who play the guitar. He had a tiny crush on Kurt Cobain when he was younger when he didn't know he had a crush on him. He was a wreck when he found out Kurt Cobain had passed away.
Angelo and Pedro walk over to two people arguing about something. One is a white girl, with dark bangs, dark lipstick and dark clothing talking to a nerdy black boy holding a guitar. There are just three people in this band which is so cute.
Angelo stands there awkwardly as he watches the girl and the boy argue about how tuna fish is way better than catfish. Angelo doesn't understand what they must be arguing about. But it is funny to watch.
"Guys!" Pedro calls for their attention and they both stop arguing to look at Pedro
"This is the guy I was talking to you about. Angelo."
"Oh, the siren." The gothic girl says and Angelo looks taken aback by what she just said. The black dude smiles and nods his head. Pedro laughs nervously.
"Ignore these asshats."
"But that's what you said, Pedro. You said he sounds just like a siren." the gothic girl says looking at him with a tilted head.
"I said you—you sounded good."
The gothic girl and the black guy laugh.
"Hi nice to meet you I'm Miranda."
"Victor." the black guy says.
"It's nice to meet you guys. So what's the name of the band?"
"We're kind of still figuring that part out." Says Pedro. "If you have any suggestions you're free to chime in."
Angelo looks at Pedro and the rest of the band who are looking at him waiting for his answer.
"I'm sure my opinion doesn't matter."
"Well, technically…" Pedro drags and then looks away.
"Technically what?"
"Uh." Pedro scratches the back of his head. "We want you to join the band."
"He wants you to join the band," Miranda says. "But it wouldn't hurt to have another member."
Angelo looks flabbergasted.
"Really?"
"Uh I mean if you don't want to you can just…"
Wait, hold up.
There's this tinkling feeling. Something's wrong.
Danger.
And no it's not the fact that JJ and Xander look like they're about to beat each other up right now.
"I said get out of my way!" Xander threatens. His face inches away from Xander's.
"I ain't in your way bruh."
"Guys stop this," Kelsey warns.
"Yeah, Xander you're being a dick," Grace says to him and Angelo shakes his head and continues to look around. Something is definitely wrong, he can feel it in his gut. It's like something twisting on his insides, it's either he's the one in danger or everyone here is in danger.
Or someone in particular.
He spots a guy taking a girl out of the lodge, and what disturbs Angelo is not the fact that he looks like an older guy who is holding hands with a teenage girl but it's that his eyes are different, pitch black.
Angelo gasps quietly.
"Demon," he says.
"Are you okay Angelo?" Asks Pedro.
"Yeah, you look like you've seen a ghost." Says Victor.
"I uh." Angelo doesn't know what to do, he should, he's an angel now. But he never thought he'd ever be one. He has to save that girl he can't just leave her.
"I have to go. I'm sorry I'll see you later." He makes a run for it leaving a disappointed Pedro with his bandmates.
"Well, there goes that," Miranda says.
Chris notices Angelo walking toward him looking distressed. He stops him to ask what's wrong.
"Demon, outside," Angelo says.
"Wait are you sure?"
"Yes. Let's go!" Angelo walks ahead. Chris gestures for Wendy to follow them and Wendy pulls JJ away from them. When JJ sees what's going on, he walks away from Xander.
"Yeah right, you better run!" Xander and his friends laugh.
They're outside and they immediately hear screaming.
"This way!" Angelo makes a run for it and Chris follows. They go to the alleyway and they see other demons surrounding the girl. All their eyes are pitch black. They're not like the demon Angelo saw. These are different and it looks like they want to do something to that girl and it's not something good.
"They're possessed," Chris says bringing the grip of his sword As he presses the button the white blade appears. JJ and Wendy are back from the car after taking their weapons out prepared to fight.
"Hey, uglies!" JJ yells. "You love harassing pretty ladies don't you?"
The demons ignore the lady and then charge toward the Nephilims.
"Angelo stay with Wendy," Chris commands.
"But—"
"Just stay there!" He charges toward the demons and Wendy shoots her arrows. The arrow doesn't kill the human vessel but the demons that have possessed them.
Thank God these are lower-ranked demons. If it were a high-ranking demon that possessed them then they would require a priest, Father Guzman to take the demon out. But since these are just low ranking demons they can easily be brought out and killed by just using a celestial blade on them.
Angelo just stands there watching Chris swipe his sword on the demons and JJ shoot bullets toward them. The lady is unconscious on the ground.
He should feel at ease that they've caught the demons but he doesn't. there's still danger, something dark lurking in the shadows. He looks up and he almost starts running when he sees it; he expects it to attack him but it doesn't. instead, it flies away.
An angel.
Not the angel made by God.