Loving Apollo

Loving Apollo - The almost failed attempt of rivalry

Days, weeks passed. I was waiting. I couldn't admit it to Bryan, to Callie, to my mother... not even to myself. But inside, deep in the abyss of my sorrow, my suffering, my insides churned at the sound of his name when people asked about him. Or when I saw places and things that reminded me of us. I never went back on the clearing where we used to hang out every after school. And even if it took me most of my morning, I walked my way to school.

However, the deepest of me was perfectly aware that I was waiting for his return. Several times, in deep desire to busy myself with everything, I went out with Bryan to everywhere he went. To every party, to every gimmicks, to everything. With Callie, it became a little less unbearable. But the pain grew intricate and desperately deeper every day and Soon, I got tired of waiting. With my patience went my hopes away. The hope of us being back together. And the hope that I wasn't some mere piece of a chess game he was playing. I started to doubt the information of a God that he said he was. Maybe he was using some magic trick to burn my hand. But that doesn't explain how he healed it, twice. Perhaps it really was a dream. A dream he rode on when I told him about it and just dragged the joke along till he grew cold and tired of me. Maybe... but I fought on. Moved forward.

I joined the track and field team and put all my anger to running and even took taekwondo for my extra-curricular. I vented all my anger to the dummies. I would think of it as Cal's face, but it would only make me cower and miss him and my feet would retrieve to what should've been a side kick. I became extra particular with my school works and I even volunteered at the children center on Sundays, of course I dragged Callie and Bryan with me.

"Would you like another cookie?" I asked the little girl who was drawing a bear that's colored pink. She nodded so I handed another chocolate chip to her.

"You're good at this." said Callie, who stood beside me, the tray of chocolate milk drink in packs in her hands.

"Not even the tiniest bit." I replied, walking to the next kid, Callie trailing behind me. "You should've seen me with the other kids a while ago."

"Yeah, I heard you were trashed in dodge ball by three nine-year olds." She said with a laugh.

"They're monsters, I swear." I said, earning another laugh from Callie. Soon, Bryan jogged his way to us. I wanted to strangle him right now. He'd been ogling the last hour picking on the children and making them run errands for him.

"So, are we up for the party at Prez tonight?" asked Bryan, stealing a cookie from my tray.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Screw you."

His lips quirked up. "That a yes?"

Callie rolled her green ones too. "That's a 'Work your a*s up', Walters. You've been slacking the entire time, as how you have been the last two times we've volunteered."

He put his hands up in defense. "Hey, in my defense, I didn't want this. You two, dragged me into this. So are we up or not? I have to rsvp."

"We're up." I finally responded so that Bryan would shut up.

We went back to work in another hour, folding aprons of children used in culinary class, teaching them how to do it themselves, helping the welfare people with whatever they needed help with, and attended to things that needed attention. Soon, Callie bid her farewell since she needed to get home because her father was asking for her presence. I had to say yes because I've been acquainted with the fact that her father was a little strict of a businessman to deal with. And besides, she threatened us with the absence of her presence tonight if we didn't let her go now. Despite her being adorable, she possessed that authoritative quality in her.

Bryan left too, leaving me without any ride and any explanation. I set aside my punishment for him later.

With another uncalled for sigh, I slung my bag over my head and bid farewell to Jane, the welfare that held my hour card, who asked me if I was going to come next Sunday. There wasn't really something important for me to do yet so I told her that I would ring her if I faced any technicality.

I immediately noticed the black limousine that was situated at the very front of the welfare, a black man, rather tall and sturdy stood by the back door, his gaze I was certain intended for me. Frozen and frowning, I unfixed my stare at the strange man and glanced behind me, checking if there was someone else he was supposed to be referring - and actually hoping that there was someone behind me.

Which was not happening.

With a turn of the head forwards, I saw with utter surprise that he had opened the back door-and alas, he was referring to me, silently asking for me to enter the vehicle.

*

I stared at the beautiful lady before me, and suddenly, I felt so small and insecure. Her amazing looks made me want to bury myself twenty feet deep into the ground and cower. Probably the same reason why I went in that vehicle earlier, cause as soon as I saw this woman inside asking me nicely to get in for us to have nice, small chat, all my mother's 'No talking to strangers' and 'Never get in a stranger's car' teachings has gone down the River Styx.

"Fascinating." The lady muttered after studying me, her face seemingly amused. "It really is."

Confused, my brows dropped.

"Indeed your mind's clouded from me." She answered my unspoken question.

I stayed silent. What was she talking about?

She pursed her lip and lifted one corner. "I need you to leave Apollo alone."

Wow, straight to the point huh?

Hang on a second... If she knew about Cal, then that leaves me one possibility of who this woman might be.

A goddess...

I frowned. "Who are you again?"

The lady scoffed, and somehow, it looked like she was doing toothpaste commercial. "You imbecile little mortal!"

I leant away from the table a bit, frightened by the figurine doll that suddenly became Chucky. Someone was PMS-ing today. She calmed herself, breathing in and out in a rhythmic manner and smiled forcefully.

"I am Aphrodite." She said.

Oh Gods.

"Right." I muttered. "You're that junk God's wife."

"Scrap metal!" She corrected. "Er... Ex-wife."

"Well, Aphrodite," I started. "I'm afraid you've gotten your facts a little bent because Cal-err, I mean Apollo, already left me."

Aphrodite chuckled and it sounded like music. "Honey, you clearly don't know very much about Apollo. And you call yourself his woman? You're barely one."

I frowned. Did I? Was I? Am I?

"He's asked you, a mortal, to marry him." She chided. "You think he'd let you go that easily?"

This woman was making everything confusing. Like everything can be easily said and done. How would she know? She wasn't the one who was proposed to and then left by the same man without any valid reason.

"I believe he already has." I said firmly.

She clicked her tongue. "No, no, no. That's not how it works, honey. Apollo doesn't act on impulse, so..." She sneered at me ever so slightly before continuing her sentence. "So he's not gonna ask you if he wasn't sure."

Aphrodite's face showed disgust at the idea that she knew him better than I do and yet she believes that he was sure of his decision to ask for my hand in marriage.

"Even if he does go back to me," I stated, narrowing my eyes at her. "What's it to you? Are you some sort of his babysitter?"

Her nose flared, grabbing the edges of the metal table. "Don't you sass me, mortal. I could pulverize you in a matter of seconds."

"If you wanted to, you would've already done that three minutes ago." I retorted.

She gritted her teeth and I swear I was watching another commercial. "Anyway, that is not the point. The point is you don't deserve him."

My frown grew deeper. "And you do?"

"He's in love with me. He's crazy about me." She said dreamily. "He has been for centuries."

"Clearly." I mumbled. "That's why he asked me to marry him."

Aphrodite sneered at me once again, this time of frustration, crossing her arms on her chest. Wow. Those are making me either jealous or sexually confused. "He needs someone more... lady-like. Not some school girl who barely even reached puberty. Apollo and I broke it off when I married Hephaestus. Since then, I've realized there's nothing in this universe I want more than him. Your sole purpose is just to make me jealous so don't assume you're something more."

I gritted my teeth. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you haven't given him your answer which means he's still expecting it. I have been watching you and I know he'd be back, and when he comes back, I want you to say no to him."

I chuckled teasingly. "I thought he's crazy about you? If he is, then you shouldn't be worrying about me. In fact, you should be back together by now."

"You fool!" She cried. "I am going to make you sugar to my coffee!"

"Go ahead." I challenged, holding my breath in for what I was about to say. "Let's see if Cal-err, Apollo will still be crazy about you if he finds out you're the crazy woman who pulverized the love of his life."

I was completely bewildered at my reasoning having said that and where my courage to say that had come from, but that wasn't the question here. This woman had said that Apollo-or Cal-or whatever was still expecting my answer to his proposal, and moreover, she seemed perfectly sure. What if he really was?

With another sigh, I stood up from my chair, trying to sharpen my stare so I'd at least appear confident.

"I have to go." I stated rather arrogantly. "And when you see Apollo, you can tell him to stick it up his ass."

*

I rolled the last batch of hair onto the flat iron, resting it an inch away from my ear. My conversation with the Goddess mercilessly replayed in my mind like a broken record and every so, I would cringe at the memory of me trying so hard to sound confident when I probably looked like an i***t. If what she told me was correct about Apollo still waiting for my answer, and that Goddess was worried Apollo would be coming back to me despite him leaving the first place, and that all of this was real, then he must still be lingering around probably watching over me.

I sat straight immediately after realizing I was in such a bad posture. What if he really was watching? I'd hate it if he saw me ugly. With pressed lips, I froze, trying to feel the space around me. Stealthily and slowly, I circled my eyes around the room as if looking for any sign of uncanny or out of the ordinary and then a loud disturbing beep came from outside my window causing me to jump in surprise and retracting a tiny squeal from my lips.

With one more look at the mirror--what with my black shorts, white camisole, and a champagne pink cardigan--I headed down.

Mom was in her blue robe laughing with Bryan when I got down. He was dressed like a jock as usual with his Letterman jacket on. Cal never wore those out of school. He always thought it was childish to be wearing something to flaunt what you were on a community that was much bigger. He'd always wear a simple shirt and pants when we went out. He loved wearing dress shoes despite his sporty charisma and his favorites were the brown ones his father gave him. He would always pair them up with collared cardigans especially after I told him they looked best on him.

"Mom, stop talking to Bryan or you'll get brain damage." I said when I went straight to the shoe cabinet to get my flats.

"Very funny, Kingsley." Bryan said. "But Gina and I have a lot in common."

"And what is that?" I asked, tying up my laces.

Bryan smirked. "We both look damn divine in blue."

Mom laughed hysterically. She appreciated Bryan's wit this entire time and I praised her for that. You are so gay, Walters.

"Honey, I won't be coming home tomorrow." Mom proclaimed, taking a seat at the dining.

I immediately frowned. "What? Why?"

"I'm doing double shifts so we could spend your birthday together."

"Oh yeah your birthday's up Ariadne!" Bryan interjected. "But that's the night of the dance."

"I'm not going to the dance anyway." I said.

"Why not?" Bryan and Mom said simultaneously, their heads snapping my direction.

"Cause I don't have anyone to go with."

They looked at each other, worried look on their faces.

"You could go with me." He offered. I knew he would. "Do I even have to say that?"

I pursed my lips. I didn't want to go, that was much obvious to Bryan. He knew it wasn't because I didn't have anyone to go with, but it was because I have already lost interest in practically everything socially since Cal left.

"It's two nights." I argued. "How can I get a dress that quick?"

Bryan smirked. "Leave it to me baby."

Mom smiled as she traced the rim of her coffee mug. Now I remembered why she was so fond of Bryan. He was like the big brother I never had. In fact, he probably reminded her of Adrian, what must've become of him. Maybe that's why she trusted him too much.

Bryan and I took off when Mom was ready for work. She was doing double shifts, which meant she'd be back tomorrow night. Which meant tonight, I'd be home alone.

I can't keep my mind off of what Aphrodite told me. Our little scene kept replaying in my mind a thousand times per minute and it was enough to keep me distracted the whole ride to the party. If there's any truth about what she told me, then how can I compete against that Goddess-like perfection? Not even Goddess-like cause she was a real one but besides that, a school girl like me was an absolute no-match.

Callie told us she'd meet us at the prez' house which she did. We spotted her being surrounded by the jocks who were all seemingly fascinated by her good looks and charm. When I looked behind, Bryan was nowhere to be found, but with another turn of the head, I found him flirting with a brunette over at the keg barrels, who looked too smart to be fooled. When they saw me, Bryan waved me to come over.

The brunette cat-zeroed in on me as I walked over, like she was expecting Bryan would call me and ask to join them. Like she was expecting this. And she looked eager... Very eager.

"Ariadne." Bryan said my name a bit forcefully. "This is Catherine. She's the prez' cousin."

Catherine. It fitted her. With eyes shaped like almonds and a clean braid going out under her left ear, she looked simple yet divine.

"Hi, nice to meet you." I handed out my hand to her warm one. "You don't go to our school."

She shook her head. "No, I'm much older than you guys are."

It didn't look like it. She had one of those faces that wouldn't pass for twenty-one in a bar but her body physique would. She had all the curves in all the right places and her sense of fashion--which was a dark green blouse and black dress pants--made up for her baby face.

"I think I'd like a drink." Catherine announced. More of a pass-by for Bryan which he immediately caught up on.

"I'll get you a cup." He offered.

Catherine smiled and placed a hand on his arm. Ohh little did she know, that doesn't work on him. "Uh, I'd like a bottle please, I never really trusted kegs."

To my absolute astonishment, Bryan seemeingly affected by the touch, whimper the tiniest bit. "Of course, I'll get you inside."

Bryan laughed and jogged his way inside the house, stopping at no one which was very unlike him. Usually he'd high five and chat his way but it wasn't what I was seeing and I couldn't help but attribute it to Catherine's touch.

"Ariadne," Catherine pronounced my name with a hint of urgency, it surprised me. "Could you come with me for a sec?"