It really is true that sometimes people can be reliable, law abiding citizens by themselves, but put them together and you have trouble.

This was true for Don and Gale.

Gale stands five foot seven in her Saucony sneakers. She refuses to wear Nike, or The north face or any other popular shit. She likes what she likes, and stubbornly resists fads and fashion. She is slim and athletic, graceful even. Fiercely independent, inquisitive and restless, easily bored and irritated with the petty concerns of her peers. She wears her long dark hair contained in a pony tail, and carries herself with fearless confidence. By all accounts a brilliant student, destined to be successful at whatever profession she might choose.

Boys find her incredibly sexy but scary, and most girls avoid her because of her sharp tongue and utter contempt for bullshit. When Gale turns her considerable attention to you, you get all of it, and most people just are not ready for that level of scrutiny. They say a person’s eyes are the windows to their soul. Gale’s bright green eyes confirms that saying. When she looks at you, you see fire, and you know you are seen, all of you, all of your secrets and fears, your whole being on display.

Gale doesn’t have any friends. That does not concern her at all. She learned early in life that the only person she can truly trust and rely on was herself.

Don is a quiet observer. This does not make him invisible. His six foot three body makes him tower over others, his shock of shoulder length curly black hair makes him stand out, and when he turns his gaze on you his grey eyes will make you stare then look away. Don does not speak much. He keeps mostly to himself and his own thoughts. He is a gentle giant, always respectful and considerate around others.

The other boys in the school treat him the same way, leave him alone, silently wishing they had his talent and grace on the football field, basketball court and baseball field. Don is a different being when he participates in competitive sport. Once he knows the rules of a game, he is an absolute demon, unstoppable, powerful and so much fun to watch. Scouts from all over the midwest already approached him with offers to come to their colleges on full scholarship.

Don secretly wish that he can get a rule book to life, so he can learn the rules and live like he plays sport, unbounded within the boundaries of the rules. It is hard work being good all the time.

Don doesn’t have any real friends. Just acquaintances, team mates and gym buddies. This does not concern him at all. He learned early in life that the only person he can truly trust and rely on was himself.

Don and Gale attended different schools. Both in their final years. They met at a football game, their respective schools being lifelong rivals, and on that day was competing for bragging rights and a lame trophy. Don was on his way to meet the rest of his team, Gale was on her way back to her car. She dropped off a banner she made for her schools team. She had to make this banner as punishment for making her homeroom teacher cry.

Both Don and Gale always walk purposely to their intended destination, eyes front ignoring others. They became aware of each other while still several steps apart.

It was like time slowed down for the two of them, the noise from the football field pushed to the background. As they approach their heads turn towards each other, their eyes meet and something passes between them, is well received, then echoed back. They stop, facing each other, staring, not understanding this powerful attraction that came out of nowhere. Don’s gym bag slips from his hand and the sound it makes breaks the spell.

Don’s smile is beautiful, Gale’s unforgettable.

Love at first sight is probably bullshit. People often experience intense attraction when meeting strangers for the first time, and for some the love blooms later but is always associated with that initial meeting.

What passed between Don and Gale was not attraction. It was something old and familiar. Something ancient, comfortable and welcome. Something that was lost and missed and longed for and unexpectedly found. The most amazing thing was they both felt it and knew the other felt it.

Gale steps closer and place her palms on Don’s chest. ‘Do you want to be here today, or come with me?’. She could not help herself, something else was taking control.

Don answers by placing his hands on hers, then leans forward and down until their faces almost touch. ‘Let’s get out of here’. He too only watching the scene unfold from behind his eyes.

Time has not yet resumed its normal pace for the two of them. They kiss like old lovers and images of the two of them flash through their minds. In one scene they are both dressed in animal skins, slaughtering something that resembles a buffalo, but turns out to be someone wearing a buffalo skin. Then another image of the two of them on a battlefield, again wearing skins but also leather and steel, swinging bloodied swords, surrounded by bodies and screams, their faces rapt with pleasure. The final scene before they break the kiss more recent, the two of them dressed smartly, joyfully mowing down people with Tommy guns.

Don and Gayle now each with one grey and one green eye.

‘I missed you Naahmah’ Don says with a gravely new voice. ‘I was afraid we will never see each other again’.

Naahmah’s smile widens, the fire behind her eyes now an inferno. ‘Alastor my love, I never doubted that we would reunite! They will never learn, they cannot keep us apart for ever. Fuck the creators! Eventually we will have their heads on spikes and together rule this shithole’.

The reunited demons embrace for a moment. ‘Where will we start?’ Naahmah asks against her lover’s chest. ‘This world has many nations, and the most fantastic weapons! We can spend centuries here and never be bored.’

’We have time. This is as good a place as any to get warmed up. I want to use only my hands for now, it has been so long since I held a hart in my hands.’ Alastor curls a hand into a fist, savoring the long forgotten memory.

’Good idea. But let’s wait until the game starts. I want to see the people’s reaction when they see their team burst out of the picture of an asshole I put on their banner’.

Hand in hand the reunited demon lovers walk to the bleachers. For a few moments just enjoying each other’s company, their desire for each other and their excitement for the slaughter ignored for the moment.

Self control, patience and love are not only heavenly characteristics, it benefits demons also.