Joey seemed to be everywhere. No matter where I looked he was there, much to my frustration.

“Hey,” he greeted when he came along side me when I was on my way to the cafeteria.

“Hey,” I replied stiffly. I didn’t want to be mean to him but I didn’t want any interaction with him to undermine what I was trying to prove to Damien.

Since yesterday, he had been keeping his distance and it was beyond frustrating. I don’t know why he couldn’t just believe that I knew who I loved and specifically who I didn’t. It was like he didn’t trust my judgement.

I was also running out of time, it was something I couldn’t ignore. Not even for a moment. In fact with each passing moment it became more important.

Nothing that wasn’t figuring a way out of the this situation was a waste of time. None of this mattered, not Damien, not Joey or Parker if I didn’t find a way to keep my life.

The pressure was becoming impossible to pretend I was a normal teenager with normal teenage problems. I felt far too young to carry any of this.

“Everything okay?” he asked, a slight frown.

“I’ve a lot on my plate at the moment,” I murmured.

“Anything I can help with?” he pulled me to the side out of the way of some students.

I released an emotional breath. “You can’t help me Joey. No one can.”

For the first time I was admitting to him and myself that there was no way to escape the Reaper. When he showed up, my fight would come to an end. Could it even be called a fight if there was no chance of survival? It didn’t matter.

I would have to face up to the fact that there was no time dodge death this time. It was then the fear began to seep in. Hell for an eternity.

It seemed unfair to be fated with that for an innocent choice when I had been so young.

“Are you sure?” he whispered. His eyes searching mine.

Being this close to him wasn’t a good idea but instead of walking away I stood there unable to look away. In that moment I couldn’t dispute the pull I felt to him.

“I’m sure Joey,” I sighed. “It’s best if you keep your distance from me.”

A slight frown marred his handsome face. “Why would you say that?”

“Because it’s true.” I caught sight of Damien across the hall in amongst the students walking past. The look in his eyes made me want to push Joey away.

Every interaction with Joey seemed to push Damien further away from me. It almost seemed to solidify Joey’s role in my life and in turn undermined what Damien believed I felt for him. I felt like I was in a no win situation.

“The thing is.” He paused to lean closer. “I can’t stop thinking about you Tessa.”

I swallowed. To have him so close was making it difficult to think. I couldn’t look away from the intensity of his eyes holding mine.

“I broke up with my girlfriend this morning.”

I frowned. “Did you do that because…of me?”

Deep down, I hoped not.

He nodded slowly. “I couldn’t stay with her when I feel this way about you.” I swallowed. It was impossible not to be fixated on what he was saying. It felt right and wrong at the same time. I was torn.

I shook my head. “I’m on borrowed time Joey.”

Why didn’t I just tell him that I was in love with someone else? It was on the tip of my tongue but I couldn’t say it and I couldn’t explain why.

“That doesn’t matter Tessa. When you’re all I can think about, none of what you’ve told me is going to change the fact that I want you.” His eyes as intense as his words.

I was speechless. My eyes drifted to meet Damien’s cool eyes watching us still.

“And I know you feel it too.”

My eyes shot to his. It was the truth but I didn’t want to admit it to him or myself.

I loved Damien and I wanted him. How was it possible to feel the way I did for Damien and still be unable to keep my distance from Joey?

“I’m in love with someone else,” I forced myself to reveal.

His eyes held mine as he studied me.

“I know how I feel about you and I know you feel the same way. Everything else is just noise.”

His words hit my directly in the chest, like he had insight into what I was trying to deny.

“This isn’t going to go away Tessa. You can’t ignore it.” His voice softened.

He was right but I had more important things to worry about that the love triangle that was becoming messier by the day.

“I might die any moment Joey.” My words were harsh but he needed to understand how dire my situation was. “You have to understand that right now I don’t have a way to stop the Reaper from taking my life.”

His intense gaze remained on me. “I can’t lose you Tessa.” The emotion in his voice hit me straight in the heart like a sledge hammer. I could see the grief in his eyes, a reminder of what he had lost already. Parker. He knew what it was like to lose someone who meant so much to him.

“Losing Parker was unthinkable but I know that losing you will be far worse.”

I swallowed.

All else was forgotten but the boy in front of me.

“There is nothing you can do Joey. There is nothing anyone can do to stop it.”

Liar. My subconscious reminded me. There was still chance that Damien’s plan could work. It was the only chance I had for survival.

“I can’t explain why I feel the way I do about you but I know I would do anything to protect you. Anything.” His eyes darkened. “Do you understand that?”

I had no words. How could I argue something that I could felt as well? Even if it was unwanted.

“There is no logic to it and I don’t understand it myself but I feel it here.” He placed his hand on his heart. My eyes fixed on the gesture.

This conversation was getting too intense. This time when I looked for Damien, he was gone.

“And I know you feel it too. Tessa,” Joey said, pulling my attention back to him.

I didn’t deny it. I couldn’t.

But what I felt for him didn’t erase what I felt for Damien.

“I need to get to class,” I murmured, needing space.

He had said too much and I wasn’t ready to accept any of it. I was in denial, determined to hold onto the love I felt for the guardian angel who had saved me despite the grave consequences.

Maybe if things hadn’t happened the way they had there would have been room for Joey and what we meant to each other. But there was no space for anyone else other than Damien.

“Can we talk later?” Joey requested when I was about to walk away.

“I don’t think we have anything to talk about.” What was the point of discussing something I wouldn’t allow to happen.

I should have immediately left but something kept me from walking away.

“All I’m asking for is a conversation about this. You owe me at least that.”

I avoided his direct gaze. His fingers reached to touch my hand. I didn’t pull back like I should have. Instead I let him take my hand in his. The feel was indescribable.

“Let me have my say Tessa.” His hand tightened around mine as I stared at how perfectly my hand fit in his. “And if after that you can make your choice and I will respect it.”

I swallowed hard. My heart was fighting a war between my growing feelings for Joey and the love I felt for Damien.

“I can’t promise you this will go the way you are hoping,” I told him, even if I doubted my words.

The truth was I couldn’t fight what I felt for him when he touched me.

“Just promise me you’ll meet me after school to talk.”

My eyes lifted to his and I found myself nodding.

He smiled and it tugged straight at my heart, winding me slightly. His affect was potent.

Unable to talk without showing emotion, I nodded slowly.

Even after I walked away I could still feel the feel of his gaze on me. I looked back over my shoulder. He stood in the sea of students watching me. I hurried to class feeling like I had betrayed Damien in some way.