Making Waves (4 page)

Over our meal, my soul-mate and I got into this really deep conversation and before we knew it, the evening had flown by.

Eventually, Lola started collecting up takeaway cartons.

“Hey,
carita
! We didn’t do our fortune cookies!”

“We can do them now!” I said, stifling my yawns.

Lola’s fortune said she was going to risk everything for love. Mine said I would have to learn to tell the real from the unreal.

“How come I never get to fall in love?” I moaned.

I could weep when I remember us innocently reading those cookie fortunes. If we’d read our bios, and more importantly
shared
them with each other right then, things might have been so different. But I started on about my stupid corset and that led into happy reminiscences about Shakespeare’s girlfriend.

“Cat Darcy had it all,” Lola sighed. “She was pretty, smart, brave.”

“It must have been a nightmare being a black person in England then. The Elizabethans treated her like she was some exotic pet.”

“Chance didn’t,” Lola said softly. “Shakespeare, I mean.”

“Those two were true soul-mates, weren’t they?”

“I wanted them to get it together, didn’t you?”

“Totally. But if Chance had gone to sea like Cat’s dad suggested, he’d never have discovered he was a play-writing genius.”

Lola did one of those feline stretches she does. “Gotta move my angel booty,” she yawned. “Brice is picking me up in two hours.”

I gave her a hug. “Mind you watch out for that Caribbean love-interest!”

“And you go on keeping it real, girlfriend!”

I heard Lola pattering down the hall in her little beaded slippers, and the soft double clunk as her door opened and closed.

Next morning there was a note pinned to my door:

Soul mates see each other’s true colours no matter what. Big love 2 u Lollie

It was like she knew.

A few minutes before I was due at the nursery school, I finally glanced through my bio. I couldn’t see too much to worry about. The character in my cover story even shared my real first name to my relief.

Melanie Woodhouse had grown up in England, but her parents had died and she’d been sent to Jamaica to live with her uncle and aunt. They were called Josiah and Sarah Bexford and owned a sugar plantation with the magic name of Fruitful Vale.

This is going to be SO sublime, I thought happily. I was OK with being visible now. For one thing, when you’re visible you can enjoy the local food. Once, my friend Latisha’s mum cooked this massive Jamaican Sunday brunch for us. Ohhh! It made my mouth water to think of it.

When I got to the nursery, everyone was outside in the sun. Chairs were set out in rows for specially invited guests. Our headmaster was in the front row, chatting to Miss Dove. At least he was trying to, but several overexcited preschoolers had decided to use him as a climbing frame.

Michael seems so human and easy-going, it’s easy to forget he’s an archangel; until you look into his eyes. Omigosh, those scary-beautiful eyes just see right into your soul!

“Melanie!” he said warmly. “I hope you’re going to sit next to me! It’s been too long.”

“Hey, whose fault is that? I turn up to school every day!”

It’s a standing Angel Academy joke that our headmaster is almost never around. As archangel with special responsibility for Earth, Michael is constantly jetting off to historical trouble spots. Yet here he was, keen to see the little nursery school angels do their stuff, looking slightly tired but totally serene.

Preschool angels obviously can’t go off on dangerous missions. But they’re desperate to do their bit for the Universe. Miss Dove tries to encourage this positive attitude, so she’d arranged for them to perform their HALO contributions in front of a friendly heavenly audience.

The children had been practising for WEEKS. The Rose group performed last of all, looking totally darling in their miniature school casuals. They’d organised (you’re not going to believe this!) a Giggle Marathon!

I’d already seen them in rehearsal, but it got me every time. There’s something about preschool angels laughing. They sound SO naughty!

Soon everyone in the audience was laughing helplessly. Michael had been the first to crack up. He even set Miss Dove off and she is the soul of professionalism, believe me.

Finally the children took their bow, still giggling. Some of them could hardly stand by this time!

“Thank you,” Michael told them, wiping his eyes. “Who’d like to tell me about this unusual project?”

One of my favourite preschoolers stepped forward. Obi has absolutely no hair, almost invisible eyebrows, and the calmest face you have ever seen. He looks just like a mini Buddha.

“Miss Dove said to think of a project that could make Earth a happier place,” Obi said shyly. “So Maudie said we should just giggle and have fun. She said our vibes will beam all the way to Earth and children will catch them and start giggling and feel happy again.”

“Is that right, Maudie?” Michael asked gently. “Was this your idea?”

She gave him an awed nod. “Yes, because giggling is catching. When I start I can’t ever hardly stop.”

There was a kiddies’ party afterwards. Unfortunately, I only had time to grab a fairy cake before I had to leave.

I was SO touched when Michael offered to take me down to the Agency and see me off.

“I’m glad you felt able to support Brice’s HALO entry,” he said as we purred downtown in his awesome Agency car. “This one could be quite a challenge for all of you.”

“Oh, we’re old hands now. We’ll be fine!” I said airily.

No matter what time you go, it’s always crowded in Departures. I rushed into the ladies’ cloakroom and came out feeling self-conscious in my seventeenth-century cap and gown.

One thing I find so comforting, is the way the Agency gets every teensy historical detail just right. Like the coin purse hanging at my waist had items of real seventeenth-century jewellery in it. Nothing flash. Just the type of sweet simple trinkets my character would have.

Michael and I joined the long queue for angel tags. No one is allowed to leave Heaven without them. They basically tell the Universe that we’re on official business, plus they keep us in touch with all the angelic support guys.

I saw a sudden flicker of worry in Michael’s eyes. He’d seen my teacher talking to a junior agent. “Excuse me, Melanie, we may have a problem.” Michael hurried over to Mr Allbright.

I had a sudden bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I caught confused snatches of their conversation. Communications between Heaven and Earth had been disrupted in the early hours, just bare seconds after two trainees left on a HALO mission.

I knew it had to be Brice and Lola.

I heard Michael say, “And there’s still been no word? Well, page me as soon as you hear anything.”

The agent hurried away. Michael and Mr Allbright went into a huddle but this time I couldn’t hear what they said.

I’d collected my tags, but now I was at a total loss. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. I glanced up to find Al, my favourite maintenance man, at my side.

“Your portal’s ready, doll, but it looks like we’ve got a bit of a situation,” he said sympathetically.

Michael and Mr Allbright came over, looking grim.

“I’m calling your mission off,” Michael said bluntly. “We’re fairly sure your friends arrived in the right time slot, but unusual atmospheric conditions are making it impossible to pick up signals. Mr Allbright and I have considered various options and decided to send in a SWAT team.”

“To get them back? NO way!” The angry words burst out before I’d even thought. “It’s the worst thing you could do!”

Michael looked startled. “Melanie, we’re trying to save him.”

“Yeah, save his hide, but what about Brice’s self-respect? He’d think he was a major loser. You’ve got to let him sort this out on his own.”

Mr Allbright had joined us. “This is not about doubting Brice’s ability,” he said quietly.

“Oh, really! What is it about then?” I was fuming.

He sighed. “It’s about the school acting responsibly.”

“You’re wrong,” I said angrily. “You’re not seeing the big picture.”

Michael took a breath. “Your friends could be at risk. I’ve decided to bring them home. That’s all there is to it.”

“NO! Whatever it is, Brice and Lola can deal with it. Why won’t you trust them?” I was yelling at an archangel, but I knew I was right.

“I’m sorry, Melanie,” he said, “this is one for the professionals.”

I was getting that burning hot-potato sensation again. My inner angel wanted to get in on the discussion. “Tell them what’s in your heart, sweetie!” she whispered. “But try not to lose your temper.”

I forced myself to calm down. “Listen, everyone knows Brice and I aren’t exactly bosom buddies. When he came back I was just waiting for him to screw up. The way I saw it, I was right and good, and he was bad and wrong. If he screwed up, he’d be bad for ever, and I’d be good for ever. That’s how I was thinking.”

“I fail to see—” Michael began.

“That’s what I’m trying to TELL you!” I almost yelled. “If you rush to his rescue, you’re as good as telling him he’s got no future as an agent!”

“On the contrary, we’re showing him how much we value—”

I cut across him. “Can you see Brice doing some heavenly desk job? Michael! It would kill him!”

He looked upset. “Melanie, there will be other opportunities—”

“Not like this!” I was practically wringing my hands. “I truly think this could be a cosmic thingummy. A turning point, kind of. Like, if Brice can get through this, he’ll know he can really make it in the angel bizz.”

“What if he doesn’t get through it?” Mr Allbright’s brow was puckered with worry.

“I can’t think that far,” I confessed. “I just know you’ve got to give him a chance.”

They exchanged glances.

“Excuse us,” Michael murmured.

My headmaster and Mr Allbright went off into another huddle. I was so anxious I was literally digging my nails into my palms. Their private conflab seemed to last for aeons. I could see Mr Allbright shaking his head dubiously. Eventually Michael walked back to me. His expression was so grave that I was sure it was bad news.

“Mr Allbright and I have agreed that you must do what you think is right,” he said in a quiet voice.

I went weak with relief. “I promise I won’t let you down.”

Urgent squawking sounds came over Al’s headphones. The time technicians were getting twitchy.

“Hate to hassle you people,” Al said apologetically, “but we’re cutting this really fine as it is.”

“Just let us have a few more seconds.” Michael’s scary-beautiful eyes searched mine. “I know Lola is your best friend, but I’m not sure you realise how dange—”

I shook my head. “It isn’t just Lola.”

“You feel responsible for Brice, is that it?”

“I think,” I started shyly. “I think when Brice met me that first time, it reminded him what he’d lost. In a funny kind of way, I’m the reason he came back to our school. He signed up for the HALO mission because I promised I’d be on his team. Now something’s gone wrong.” My eyes stung with tears. “I should have been there, Michael. I
have
to go.”

This time Michael didn’t attempt to change my mind. He simply held out his hand for my tags. “Shall I fasten those?”

He did up the clasp, and I found myself engulfed in the fizzy rainbow cloud of Michael’s energy field. I literally saw cosmic light and colours whooshing everywhere! All at once, my heart was burstingly full of love. It was like the tiniest glimpse of how it might feel to be an archangel.

I tottered into my portal, still fizzing with angelic electricity.

“Take care, Melanie,” Michael said softly. “Call the Agency as soon as you can.”

“Good luck, doll,” called Al.

The glass door slid shut. Al said something into his headpiece then gave me a thumbs up. I waved to show I was ready.

We must have been cutting it REALLY fine, because next minute my portal lit up like a laser show and I was blasted out of Heaven.

Soon afterwards, I felt the familiar jolt, as the portal burst through the invisible barrier that separates the angelic Light Fields from the human realms of Time and Space. I wasn’t actually watching at that point. I was emptying out my flight bag, desperately trying to find my bio. I’d planned to have a quick last-minute read. You’d better not have left it behind! I scolded myself.

As it turned out, reading was not an option. Seconds later, my portal started pitching about like you would not believe. We’d hit major cosmic turbulence.

Must be those weird atmospheric conditions Michael was talking about, I thought anxiously.

I glanced through the window and was alarmed to see time zones streaming past in a multicoloured blur. We were travelling fast, even by Agency standards. Screechy metallic sounds started up under my feet. The portal began to judder. I could literally feel my back teeth vibrating.

I hit the PANIC button. “Help!” I shouted. ” We’ll have to abort the mission. This thing is shaking itself to pieces!”

Weird staticky sounds came from my radio, making me clutch my ears. My radio link was malfunctioning along with everything else.

“Help!” I called again. “Al? Michael? Can anyone hear me?”

Outside, the different historical eras were flashing past so fast they just looked colours in a migraine.

I thought I was going to dissolve with terror. Could angels actually DIE? It was one of those technical details I was always intending to look up. Now I might never get a chance.

“Michael, if you can hear me, please help!” I moaned. “Please, please…”

Then a jagged hole tore in the portal and I was sucked out into space.