Temporary Goddess

Tic-Tac Needed

            My first two classes were very boring. First was calculus, which I ignored. Then second was universal history which I slept through. Now I was heading off to third period. Looking down at my school map wasn’t helpful, and before I realized what was happening I was tripping over someone else. When I looked up it was a long-legged blond with bright tan eyes. The girl in front of me was absolutely gorgeous, and for a moment I was thinking about just apologizing. At least until the girl spoke.

            “Are you stupid or just blind?” The blond asked as she straightened her skirt before glaring at me through a strand of hair.

            After letting out an irritated sigh, I shrugged. “Are all of you people in this school asshole’s or am I some kind of jackass magnet?”

            The girl looked shocked as her lip curled in disgust. “You have no manners for a lady.”

            “Coming from the person who suggested I was stupid, that’s pretty rich. By the way, your tampon string is showing.” I said as I smirked and walked around the girl. Knowing full well that the girl freaked out and looked, even if she wasn’t on her period. And that’s exactly what she did.

            “You’re a b***h, new girl!”

            I rolled my eyes. “Better than letting myself be bullied by the likes of you.”

            “You said what to Vivian?”

            Now sitting in third period with Derek, I told him about what happened before coming to class and he was absolutely losing his mind.

            “I don’t know who that is. If that’s the girl from my story, then yes, I told her that her tampon string was showing to get her to leave me alone.” I yawned at the end, getting sleepy from all the boring classes.

            Derek rubbed the back of his head nervously. “That girl is the most popular girl in school and I do mean most popular. Vivian is literally the female slightly-less frightening Jacek, and for years everyone swore that they would get together.”

            I narrowed my eyes. “Why didn’t they?”

            “Neither can stand each other. Can I ask why you said something so crass to her? Don’t get me wrong, I think it was absolutely amazing that you did, but you don’t even know her. Why be so rude right off the bat?” Derek asked as he watched I questioningly.

            “It’s simple, Watson.” I said as I let out a slow breath. “I rather be known as the bitchy girl who no one wants to mess with than the nice girl who gets bullied. Girls like Vivian see someone like me who just wants to keep to myself as an easy target. I won’t be bullied by anyone, and getting myself right at the top of her ‘avoidance list’ will ensure that she will leave me the hell alone. It worked at my last school, so I figured that it would work again.”

            Derek nodded. “You are very well calculated, Cairyn. But your right. Vivian’s bullied me and Casey for as long as I can remember. As you can tell, we are not the most popular pair.”

            I shrugged. “It’s over rated anyway.”

            Suddenly I felt the air shift, and I figured it was only one thing. As I looked towards the door I smirked to myself. Jacek walked in like he owned the place, going right for his seat without looking at anyone. Determined to not let him get the best of me either. I raised an eyebrow as I let my eyes stay with him the entire way to his seat. When he sat down he glanced over his shoulder at me and shook his head. I smiled and flipped him off.

            “What are you doing?” Derek hissed in a low voice as he ducked his head down as if to avoid being seen with me.

            I ignored him as I watched Jacek’s eyes narrow, and I could have sworn I almost saw a smile pull at the corners of his lips. I laughed a little before biting down on my lip and turning away from him, giving the now panicking Derek my full attention.

            “Breathe, Derek. You look like you’re going to have a complete meltdown.”

            He didn’t even blink for a minute before looking to me. “He didn’t do anything…Jacek just turned back around like nothing happened. You flipped him off…and he just accepted it…”

            My eyes narrowed a little as I tried to get him to look directly at me. “Did I break you? Derek?”

            “Cairyn. You are a goddess.” He stated as he shook his head free of wherever his mind went off too.

            I shrugged. “Okay. Yesterday, Jacek called Gunner a ‘Demi God’ and today your calling me a goddess. This is an interesting theme we have going.”

            “Theme?” Derek now looked completely confused. “What do you mean?”

            “Does that not sound weird to you? A guy like Jacek calling someone a Demi God? Is this like normal behavior here in this place? Did I somehow end up in the Twilight Zone?” I asked as I tilted my head to the side.

            Derek shrugged. “No, it’s not weird. Gunner’s a complete d**k-face and is one hundred percent a Demi-“

            “Derek.”

            Hearing his name coming from Jacek’s mouth stopped him dead in the water. I watched as Derek swallowed like he was trying to get a brick into his stomach before glancing over in Jacek’s direction. For a moment neither of them moved, and it nearly looked like they were having a private conversation in their heads.

            “What the hell is wrong with you two?” I asked as I leaned my head down on my palm to watch the bout between them.

            Derek inhaled deeply, tearing his eyes away from Jacek. “Nothing. I was just going to say something stupid. That’s all.”

            I raised an eyebrow. Looking to Jacek and shook my head. “I don’t get what just happened, but I’m going to say this for the second time today. I’m not stupid. I know what I heard and saw last night, you’re not good at hiding anything.”

                “Cairyn, leave it go…” Derek whispered as he felt the hair stand up on the back of his neck watching me and Jacek’s stare down.

                  Jacek slightly tilted his head as his annoyance was apparent all over his face, but he never said anything. Both just kept eye contact with me. His gaze was challenging, daring me to look away or show any sign of defeat, but I and no intention of giving it to him.

                “I’m sorry, Mr. Big Bad Wolf, but you don’t scare me.” I said with a wink.

                For a split second, I could have sworn he smiled again, but I passed it off as he turned back around in his seat. Giving me the feeling that I won this round. Or that’s what I thought.

                “Cairyn did what to Jacek?!”

                Now at lunch, it was Casey’s turn to panic. He rubbed his face with both hands as he took a deep breath. I rolled my eyes while Derek explained the events of the day. They went back and forth, making me tired. I got up to go get something out of the snack machine.

                My hand pulled a dollar out of my back pocket, but before I could get to the machine Vivian and three other girls stepped in front of me. I blatantly sighed as I let my shoulders drop.

                “Aw, come on.” I shook my head as I pouted.

                Vivian scoffed. “I haven’t even said anything yet.”

                “Oh, but I know you’re going to.” I whined.

                The beautiful blond ground her teeth as she tried her best to keep her composure. “You have a terrible mouth on you.”

                I shrugged. “That’s what your daddy said too last night.”

                Derek face palmed as Casey’s jaw fell open, Vivian’s whole face turned wretched. She lunged forward to be face-to-face with me. Expecting me to back down a little, but I didn’t move an inch.

                “You think you’re so funny? How funny do you think it’s going to be if I wipe the floor with that smug pretty little face of yours?” Vivian hissed.

                I wasn’t scared of her, but there was something building in the atmosphere that I couldn’t explain. Just like before with Jacek and Gunner, it was earth shifting. In my entire life, I had never felt anything like it before. I took a deep breath and made sure that Vivian knew I wasn’t going to back down or submit to this kind of treatment.

                I tapped my finger against my bottom lip, as if to think deeply and comically. “I can’t tell if that was a threat or a complement, your sending mixed signals doll face. Are we done here or did you want to keep this going?”

                Before I realized what was happening Vivian growled and slightly opened her mouth. I watched as a light illuminated from the back of her throat. For a moment, I couldn’t seem to move. I was awestruck with what I was seeing, and I had to bite down on the inside of my lip to make sure I was even seeing straight.

                “s**t, Cairyn! Get away from her!” Derek yelled as he shot out of his chair.

                Casey got up and began to run towards me. “Cairyn, move!”

                In the back of my mind, I could hear the boys yelling to me, but for some reason my legs wouldn’t move. I was stuck, and apparently going to find out what the light thingy in Vivian’s mouth did. A bright flash erupted over my eyesight, and a white-hot burning sensation began to wash over my skin. Then suddenly a cool embrace seemed to cloak over my whole body, and a very noticeable hand planted over my eyes to protect them. After a few more seconds like that the hand moved away and I could open my eyes.

                When I looked up a mighty pissed off Jacek was right there with his arm still around my waist. He was staring down Vivian with a look I only could describe as one of death. And then I saw it again. Jacek’s eyes were completely blacked out, making me very aware that I wasn’t crazy, and it was these people that were insane.

                “What the f**k is wrong with you?” Jacek growled as he let his arm fall away from me to face Vivian completely.

                Now intimately frightened, Vivian took a few steps back. “Jacek? How did you? I was just…the new girl started it!”

                He huffed, he looked completely fed up with this conversation already. “She’s a f*****g human, you inbred lizard.”

                Vivian shook her head violently. “No! She wouldn’t be here if she was. Humans can’t get into this school! You know that, Jacek.”

                Jacek shrugged. “You’re an i***t, Vivian.”

                With that he glanced down at me and let out a little sigh, but he didn’t say anything. He just moved around me and went to go outside. I watched as he looked down to his hand that been on my waist as if it was about to fall off, and without a care in the world spartan kicked the door open. When he was gone, Vivian looked like she was about to have a massive melt down. Her whole pretty body was shaking like a chihuahua, and it looked like she was about to lose it in her heels.

                “Hey, are you alright?” I asked. Unsure if I should even be concerned about my bully.

                Vivian’s head snapped over in my direction as if she just remembered I was there. “You! Your human?!”

                I raised an eyebrow. “Okay, this is getting freaky. I’m…going to go somewhere you aren’t. Bye bye now.”

                Before anything else could happen, I turned on my heels and took off out of the cafeteria. Not sure what was going on anymore. As I rounded the corner I could hear footsteps behind me. Not really wanting to fight with someone else, I sighed and kept walking fast.

                “If you’re here to batter me like that pretty girl who just tried to BBQ me, then you should give up and go back. I’m not in the mood to fight anymore right at this moment.” I said over my shoulder.

                “Hey! I don’t want to fight with you! I was just going to ask if you were okay?”

                I sighed and stopped. Taking a deep breath before turning around. A gorgeous girl with long candy blue hair, bright golden eyes, long legs, and a perfect complexion stood in front of me. Without thinking I shook my head.

                “Geez, is everyone is this school gorgeous? I feel like a potato in a sack of unicorns.” I said as I ran a hand through my waist length light chestnut colored hair.

                The girl laughed hard as she shook her head. “You are one amazing human, not to mention that you are far prettier than everyone here by a long shot. Did you already know what we all are?”

                I raised an eyebrow. “No and yes. I’m currently trying not to think about the fact that all of you can kill me so easily. I’m a wimp, and that’s depressing.”

                “Oh no, none of us want that. Well, except for Vivian. That was intense. Me though, I just kind of want to get to know you.” The girl said as she put up her hands defensively. “My name is Gwyneth Myston.”

                “Cairyn Castell. Is it rude to ask what you are? I know the she-devil spews burning light out of her face and Jacek kind of reminds me of your classic vampire.” I asked as I leaned against the wall.

                Gwyneth smiled and shrugged. “I personally don’t find it offensive, but I would avoid going around calling Jacek a vampire. He would probably kill you for that.”

                “Duly noted. Although it would be a waste since he’s went out of his way to save my fragile ass, twice now.” I said with a sigh.

                “That is actually pretty amazing. Jacek barely speaks to anyone let alone interact with people. Oh, your question. I’m a Sol Shadow, I can walk through walls, floors, pretty much anything. I’m on the Immortal side, but I am immortal as in I don’t get sick or injured. I won’t live forever.” Gwyneth smiled as she studied my face for some kind of reaction.

                I nodded, then raised an eyebrow. “Your serious.”

                Gwyneth laughed a little. “Yeah, everyone here is something un-human. Well, everyone except you, Cairyn.”

                I fiddled with one of my many rings for a moment and then huffed. “Of course, I’m the least entertaining thing in this school. You can walk through walls, Vivian is a fricking dragon, and Jacek is a vampire.”

                “Not a vampire.”

                Knowing full well that he was close when I said it. I smiled when I looked over my shoulder, seeing him passing by. “Oh, come on. You are a stick short of being a full on famous romance novel character. Do you sparkle in the sunlight too?”

                Gwyneth sucked in a breath and covered her mouth. “Cairyn, shut up…”

                Jacek shook his head, but never stopped walking. “Wouldn’t you like to know, dolcezza.”

                I smiled. “Maybe one of these days you’ll show me, Mr. Bad Wolf.”

                “Don’t hold your breath.” He said as he got farther away.

                “I won’t, because unlike all of you, I will actually die.” I said, biting down on my lip as I saw him glance over his shoulder back at me for a split second.

                When he was gone, I looked back over to Gwyneth and raised an eyebrow. “Yo, are you alright?”

                “No.” Gwyneth put a hand to her forehead. “I thought I was about to have a heart attack. You spoke to Jacek! Like had a full entire conversation with the man who doesn’t speak to anyone unless he absolutely has to. You know what, I don’t even think you’re a human. You’re a goddess in a human body.”

                “That’s what I said earlier when I spoke to him.”

                Both of us looked over to see Derek and Casey walking over.

I nodded to them. “What’s up boys?”

                “Um, can we please talk about what the hell just happened in the cafeteria?” Casey asked as he locked his hands behind his head and waited.

                Derek sighed. “So, I guess it’s pretty much out there that we are all…”

                “Inhuman? Freaks? Immortals? Gods? Monsters? All powerful? Yeah, Derek. I caught onto that when Vivian tried to blow me up.” I said, rolling my eyes teasingly.

                “She didn’t try to blow you up. She was trying to burn you to a crisp. Vivian’s a Dragon Descendent.” Casey said as he shrugged.

                I laughed and shook my head. “Of course, that lady is a damn dragon. Oh, that’s good.”

                Casey laughed too. “I’m a Manipulators of Water. Which is pretty much self-explanatory.”

                “And I can control electricity.” Derek said as he pointed to a light and with a snap it shut off.

                “And I can stand here and have a heart attack.” I put a hand to my heart and began to fake one.

                The three of them laughed at me for a second before Gwyneth stopped and looked over to the boys. “Hey, did anyone see her go through the front gates of the school? Did Cairyn just walk in or did something weird happen?”

                Derek shrugged. “Nothing weird. She walked up, the gate sensed her, then opened for her to move through it.”

                “Um, what gate are we talking about?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

                Casey yawned. “It’s invisible to the eye, but it makes sure no humans are allowed to enter the school. It makes them feel like they are having a severe anxiety attack, and then if they stay longer they slip into a coma until they are removed from the grounds. It makes sure they don’t see anything, or any creature, moving them to a safer place. After they are off school property, they wake up in around twenty minutes or so.”

                I nodded. “Good to know. I felt pressure, made me uncomfortable, but then it subsided. That’s all.”

                “Strange.” Derek said as he put a hand to his chin to stroke his non-existent beard. “Maybe you’re not just a human. Is there anything strange about your family?”

                I shrugged. “Not that I’m aware of, but I never knew my dead-beat dad. He left my mom before she found out she was pregnant, and G-ma C moved us to the States when they found out I was cooking in there.”

                Gwyneth sighed. “If this is too insensitive, please tell me to shut up, but do you know who he is? Just a name or anything?”

                I shook my head. “It’s not, I don’t care. I don’t know anything about him, not a name, not what he looks like, not even how or where they met. My mother is very touchy about the whole sperm donor subject and says, ‘he’s useless in our lives and not a man you need to get to know’, and that would be the end of it.”

                “That’s oddly scary and vague. Is your mother a terrifying woman like your granny was?” Casey asked.

                With an entirely straight face, I looked over at him. “Of course. I’ve seen her scare off perverts and two muggers with just her stare. It’s skin chilling the way she can do it, me on the other hand, do not possess the same mojo. I’ve already gotten bullied twice since we moved here, and both times got my ass saved by Jacek. Saying out loud is making me even sadder…”

                “Two? Who is the other bully?” Gwyneth asked, her head tilted in confusion.

                “Him.”

                All three looked over to see Gunner and a few other guys strutting over in their direction. Beside me Casey sucked in a breath, Derek groaned, and Gwyneth sighed.

                Gunner smiled big as he ran a hand through his short brown hair. “If it isn’t my lovely girl. What in the hell are you doing with these freaks?”

                I rolled my eyes. “First off, I ain’t your girl. Secondly, these people are my friends or I think they are anyways. So, leave them be. What in the crap do you want?”

                He shrugged. “Isn’t it obvious? Come out with me? I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

                “Wait, seriously?” I shook my head. “Were really back to this?”

                “Of course. We were so rudely interrupted last time, but I bet that won’t happen again.” He said as he winked at me.

                Derek huffed. “You never know, Gunner. Jacek just walked by us a minute ago. He could come back and kick your ass.”

                Gunner laughed as he leaned forward to shove Derek backwards. “Shut up. I’m not afraid of that immortal. Plus, last time was a fluke. It’s not like he’s interested in some human girl, that would be ridiculous. Jacek doesn’t care about anyone or anything other than himself.”

                “How do you know that? Are you two besties now?” I smirked as I took a step forward. “Last time you tried to back talk him, Jacek snapped your neck like a baby bird. What would he do to you if he heard you talking s**t about him?”

                He ground his teeth. “Let me let you in on a little secret babe. Jacek is a monster who doesn’t feel. He doesn’t care. Not about me, and most definitely not about you. Some pathetic human in a sea of immortals and Demi Gods. Who do you think you are? I’ll tell you. Your just some play thing for us beings until someone accidentally kills you. So, be a good girl and I’ll make sure you stay safe.”

                I swallowed hard and tried to keep my breathing steady. Gunner wasn’t all wrong. I was only a human in a school full of people that could hurt me, but that didn’t give him the right to think because of that he could own me. With my head held high, I scoffed. “That’s golden coming from a Demi God who goes around trying to get a lowly human girl to be with him. So, what does that say about you? Are the other Demi girls and Immortals too busy pissing in your corn flakes? Is that why you’re so angry all the time? Or is it that all of them are too busy fawning over Jacek to even thing about giving you the time of day?”

                Gunner moved so fast that no one was able to do anything. He shoved me back into the wall and surrounded me completely. Derek rushed him, but was easily blocked by one of Gunner’s friends. Casey went for Gunner, but was grabbed and put into a headlock. While Gwyneth glared at the two other of Gunner friends who enclosed around her.

                “Gunner! Leave her alone man.” Gwyneth said as she shook her head.

                He laughed as he saw the cold hatred in my grey eyes. “There it is. I love seeing that look in a girl’s eyes. Makes me all excited on the inside.”

                “God, you never got that tic-tac, did you?” My face twisted into disgust as I moved my face away from his.

                Gunner growled as he punched the wall right next to my face. “Now, now babe. You really don’t want to piss me off. Things could get a lot worse for you than this, I promise you that.”

                I rolled my eyes. “I really doubt it could be worse than being stuck here with your rank ass breath. Do you even know what a toothbrush is? I could probably see your plaque from space, my guy.”

                “You…” Gunner’s hands balled into fists. “You’re making it really hard for me to not consider hurting you.”

                Gwyneth tried to get closer. “Stop this Gunner. You can’t hurt, her. Cairyn just a human.”

                “Even if you do something small, you will seriously hurt if not kill her, Gunner.” Derek said as he shoved the guy blocking him before receiving a hard punch to the jawline.

                Gunner rolled his eyes. “Then, Cairyn should apologize.”

                “What?” My eyes narrowed as my arms crossed in front of me.

                He smiled. “Apologize for being a b***h to me, and then I might not do anything to you. Today at least.”

                “This is stupid, Gunner.” Gwyneth said as she pushed away one of the guys. “Leave her alone, this is getting out of hand.”

                He shrugged. “Then she should apologize. Do it, Cairyn. Lick those thick lips of yours and tell me how you want me to stop and your sorry for all the mean things you said to me. Then maybe I’ll reconsider shoving my fist through your beautiful face.”

                “Gunner!” Casey yelled as he scored a punch in the stomach.

                I looked back into Gunner’s psychotic brown eyes. “No.”

                His anger leaked into his face as he tried to keep composed. “What was that?”

                “I. Said. No.” I hissed, never breaking eye contact with him.

                Gunner shook his head. “This is going to hurt you a lot more than it’s going to hurt me babe.”

                I saw his fist coming for me. Then I blinked. And when I opened my eyes I was down the hall.

                “Oh, thank god I was fast enough.” Gwyneth sighed as she let out a deep breath.

                I smiled, looking up to her. “I think I love you.”

                “Cairyn! Get the f**k back here!” Gunner yelled as he turned to glare in our direction.

                With a huff, I turned and started running. “Where the hell are all the teachers?”