Falling For The Demon: The Girl Who Taught Hell to Love

Chapter 2

I glanced over my shoulder at the young girl silently trailing me. "So, you're opting for silence again," I remarked in a flat tone. "It’s a bit unsettling, you know? Have you ever found yourself in a situation where someone observes your every move but chooses not to speak a word?"

It was undeniably frustrating.

Vanilla remained unfazed by my comment, continuing to walk behind me as if my words hadn’t registered at all.

But really, I wasn’t surprised. This had been her behavior for the past few days. The moment I attempted to spark a conversation, she would slip away like a whisper in the wind.

With a roll of my eyes, I headed to my next class. A small yawn escaped my lips, and my eyelids felt heavy. I pulled out a piece of gum and popped it into my mouth, hoping it would help me stay awake during the lecture.

I was still worn out from waiting tables the day before. My body ached as if it were protesting against the demands placed on it. I knew I should prioritize rest, but between college and work, there was little time left for me.

And let’s not forget the household chores and caring for my mother.

It all felt overwhelmingly heavy at times, but I had no choice. Once college was behind me, I could pursue a proper job and hopefully take better care of myself. Maybe then, I would finally find some moments to relax.

"Hey, Arabella," a voice broke through my thoughts.

I furrowed my eyebrows and paused, turning to see who had called my name. "Oh, hi there," I waved at Dylan, "I didn’t realize you were in this class too."

We were already deep into the semester, so how had I missed him before? He was the only guy in my batch who had ever spoken to me.

I had known Dylan for about a year and a half now. He was one of the kindest people I knew, never hesitating to lend a hand with group projects and always willing to have me as his partner.

I was eternally grateful for that. A loner like me, who struggled to make friends, truly needed someone like him in my college experience.

Dylan flashed a boyish smile at me. "Yeah, I’m actually quite touched that you still remember me," he chuckled softly, revealing his bright white teeth. "I mean, it feels like you’re so focused in class that everything else just doesn’t seem to grab your interest."

I let out an awkward laugh. "Right," I replied, struggling to grasp his point.

He must have noticed my confusion because his expression faltered slightly. "Um, yeah, I just meant that you don’t really pay attention to me—" He coughed mid-sentence, "or to anyone else except the lecturer."

"That’s why we’re here, right?" I asked, feeling a little uncomfortable.

He chuckled again, and this time his face flushed slightly, as if he were embarrassed about something. "Yeah, I suppose we are here for that. But at the same time, we’re here to make friends and, you know, have some fun too."

I stared at him, unsure of how to respond.

He watched me for a few moments before letting out a sigh. "I was hoping we could hang out this Saturday," he said. "There’s a party—"

I shook my head before he could finish. "I’m not invited to Kelsey’s party."

Earlier, I had overheard a few juniors discussing the event, raving about how it was going to be the best party of the decade. Apparently, everyone in college had received an invitation—everyone except me.

"I know. I’m invited, and I thought I could take you with me as my plus one."

I was taken aback. My eyes widened. "Plus one?" I asked, tilting my head in disbelief.

Was he joking? But Dylan wasn’t the type to pull pranks…

He nodded earnestly. "Yeah. It’ll be fun."

"Uh—I’m not sure, Dylan. You should find someone else to be your plus one," I said, forcing an apologetic smile.

I doubted anyone would appreciate my presence at such a social gathering—especially not Kelsey.

"I want to go with you, Arabella," he said firmly. "I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’ve been trying to get your attention lately, and you seem a bit oblivious to it." His words tumbled out quickly.

My heart skipped a beat. "Uh—I don’t—"

"You should go," Vanilla chimed in from behind me.

I mentally rolled my eyes, resisting the urge to turn around and glare at her.

Now she decided to speak?

Dylan lifted his arm and gently brushed my hair away from my face. "Come on, give me a chance. You can’t say no to me without even getting to know me."

This was the first time a boy had asked me out. A large part of me wanted to say yes, just to experience what dating was like, but my responsibilities loomed heavily over me.

"Please," Dylan pressed.

I sighed. Maybe it was time to prioritize my own happiness, just this once. I pressed my lips into a thin line. "Fine. When is this party again?" I asked, watching as Dylan’s eyes lit up with excitement.

"Saturday evening," he answered eagerly. "I’ll pick you up from your place."

"No, I’ll meet you at the central square." My tone was firm, leaving no room for further discussion.

I couldn’t risk Dylan being seen by Matthew.

Dylan’s expression dimmed slightly, disappointment evident in his eyes. "Well, sure," he replied, forcing a smile. "Thank you, Arabella. I’m sure you won’t regret it."

I smiled back at him and quickly scurried away, feeling his gaze linger on me as I left. Fortunately, the class began shortly after, redirecting his attention to the lecturer.

"That was a wise decision," I heard Vanilla say.

"Go away," I murmured under my breath, pulling out my textbook and diving into my notes.

I didn’t realize a small smile had crept onto my lips until Vanilla pointed it out.

"That’s a genuine smile."

I sighed and glanced at her. "I think this isn’t exactly the best time or place for you to start talking to me again, Vanilla. I need to focus on passing this semester," I replied softly, fully aware she could hear me.

I sighed when I heard her chuckle. It looked like she was going to be sticking around for a while.

My eyes unconsciously drifted back to Dylan, and I watched him for a moment, pondering how I hadn’t noticed all his efforts to get my attention before. Just as I was about to look away, Dylan glanced up, our eyes locking.

Surprise shot through me, and I quickly averted my gaze to the lecturer, my cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

Oh God, why was my heart racing like this?

"He’s looking at you," Vanilla sang teasingly.

Thank goodness he couldn’t see her.

I ignored her for the rest of the lecture, diligently taking notes. Occasionally, I caught myself glancing toward Dylan, but I managed to look away before he noticed.

Once the lecture ended, I gathered my things and shoved them into my bag. I glanced at my watch and sighed; I needed to get to the diner as quickly as possible.

"Um, Arabella," Dylan’s voice cut through my thoughts.

I looked up, startled to find him standing right in front of me. "Yeah?" My voice came out as a squeak, prompting me to clear my throat.

How had he managed to bridge the gap between us so quickly?

Dylan smiled down at me. "You don’t have any lectures after this, right? Would you mind joining me at the cafeteria for some drinks and a chat?" His cheeks had a hint of pink.

I shook my head. "I’d love to, but I have to get to work." I bit my lower lip, feeling guilty as I saw his expression fall. "Maybe next time," I blurted out without thinking.

He nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "Next time, then."

I waved at him awkwardly and walked away, my heart racing in my chest.

"I didn’t know you could get all flustered like that," Vanilla commented, appearing beside me. "You like him?"

"Don’t be ridiculous," I shot back. "I’m just surprised he asked me to accompany him to the party. That’s all." I turned on the tap, washing my hands, feeling the cold water against my skin.

"Yeah, that blush is telling me something different."

I scoffed. "I am not blushing."

"You are," Vanilla said, nodding toward the mirrors in front of us.

I looked up at my reflection and, sure enough, noticed the faint blush on my cheeks. It was the first time in years my face looked a little less pale. I raised my hand to touch my face in wonder.

Then I let out a shaky breath. Maybe I was flustered, but I had a good reason. This was the first time I had been asked out. I shook my head, trying not to dwell on it too much.

No expectations, no problems.

"So, what are you going to wear to the party?" Vanilla asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I'll find something in my wardrobe," I shrugged.

"You don’t have any appealing clothes."

"Something will have to do," I said. "I’m not about to buy new clothes just for this," I muttered under my breath, "I’m too broke for that." I turned to face Vanilla fully now.

She seemed disappointed by my response. "Your brother is gambling again. He might show up at your apartment later," she stated in a serious tone.

My eyes widened. "You’ve been watching him?"

She pursed her lips, clearly not pleased with that notion either. "Just wanted to give you a heads up in case he decides to come knocking on your door."

For some reason, a smile crept onto my lips. "So, you go all silent on me and then secretly look out for me?" I asked playfully.

"I just don’t want you to get hurt by him. Especially when I can’t do anything to help you," she replied straightforwardly.

My smile faltered. "That’s very thoughtful of you, Vanilla," I said sincerely. I cleared my throat to dispel the lump that had formed. "Hey, if you’re going to stick around for a while, then keep talking to me, okay? Don’t just stop communicating with me again."

She regarded me for a moment before nodding. "Believe me, I can’t stop talking to you even if I wanted to. You’re the only person who makes me feel alive right now."