Ch. 2

The next day wasn't that different from any other accept for the stares that I keep getting from students. I should've expected this when I saw people watching the scene, I could've de-escalated the situation and maybe it wouldn't have been so bad. But me and my idiot self let my emotions take over and so it made it even worse.

The bruise I got from the basketball yesterday isn't helping much either, and I hear my fair share of snickers from some dumb kids.

Floras been around trying to find me, but she isn't getting any help from anyone. She blew-up my phone right after school ended with messages and calls. I even had to turn my phone off when she wouldn't stop. I didn't mind though, it was a perfect time for me to catch up on sleep.

I'm guessing news got out to the teachers because even Mr. Dimvit seems to be more tolerant of me. It's creeping me out if I'm honest, I preferred the asshat version of him better.

Anyways it was about time for lunch, when I saw Flora for the first time today. She looked frazzled. I thought about going up to her, maybe to try and apologize. For what I'm not entirely sure.

But the better part of my brain said otherwise and instead moved my legs in the opposite direction. Away from her and towards the gym.

I haven't gone there since freshman year when I couldn't find a table, so she won't look there. Hopefully. And even if she did I had a secret spot behind the bleachers. Or not secret- it was more like no one wanted to go near the dirty, gum, and spiderweb covered space.

I made my way across the gym and to the doors that lead into some storage area. I pulled a pin from a little pocket at the side of my shoe , quickly bending it a few times before jamming it into the lock. It took a minute until the lock clicked and the chains sagged loose.

My hand reached down, quickly grabbing the chain with only a small amount of noise. Better than them falling on the floor.

I pulled one of the doors open with barely any protest noise. The smell of old mop water making its way into my nose. The room was dark but I reached out my arm, if I remember correctly it should be here... Gotcha.

The light switched on as I pulled the small metal string. It flickered once or twice until finally it made up its mind. I shut the door behind me loosely hanging the chains between the door handles. If someone walked in at least I'd have a head start.

I made way to the back nearly tripping over bags of team shirts and sports balls. As soon as I sat down I saw it. The writing on the wall that read something so important. I'd almost forgotten I'd written it, but I remember thinking that the first day of freshman year was so stressful that maybe seeing this on a wall would lift up my spirits.

Sure as hell still works.

I tossed my bag and plopped down right next to it, and I continued the routine that I do every lunch. I pulled out my book, put in one of my headphones, and started blasting my playlist.

I think I sat there for a good 6 minutes until my eyelids began to shut. Recently I'd been so tired that even sleeping for a full day wouldn't have done shit for me. My head leaned to face the wall. And the last thing I saw was the writing on the wall.

* * * * * * * *

It's been a while since I felt like this. At peace I mean. I needed this. I felt so calm like I was floating. Floating...

Wait a damn minute.

My eyelids were still closed but suddenly a light began to grow brighter and brighter, until it stopped right in front of me.

"You gotta be fucking kidding me..." My voice seemed to echo around me. Fuck me!

'Why do you always use such fowl language.' I heard her speak, my eyelids slowly opening.

"Listen it's been a really shitty week so far and I don't need your fucking opinions on my personal life!" It took a while for my eyes to adjust but then I saw her clearly.

She hovered in place, her yellow tinted wings splayed out beside her. Two tucked behind her back, and four splayed out. She was tall with dark skin and sliver freckles covering her body. Her eyes were wide open with no color except pure light. Her lips a dark shade of plum. Her chest and pelvis area covered not with clothing but beams of light. She had the appearance of a Goddess.

And that's exactly what she was. The Goddess of Fate.

Beautiful, but not my type, I don't fall for Goddess, especially ones that contradict my every choice.

'I simply wanted to speak with you and see how you were doing Night Light.' She spoke and used that damned nickname she'd been calling me since I was little.

"I told you to stop calling me that. Plus I know damn well you don't show up to just 'see how I'm doing.' "

" So what do you really want Kismet" We stayed there staring at each other for a short amount of time until she finally spoke.

"I told you it wouldn't end well—"

"Not this bullshit again." I turned my back to her and started floating away from her. I can't really hover away from my own mind but it sure feels nice.

'Don't use that language with me Night Light. I warned you over and over again about that girl. I told you that relationship wouldn't work out but you ignored me. I told you that you could befriend her. That's it. Anything more and the relationship would be ruined!' She began to follow me, I could tell when the light from her began to come closer again.

"Yeah well to be fair you say that about every girl I try and date. Just back off, Okay!"

'What did you expect to happen, did you think that fate could be changed!"

That made me stop. What did I expect, that somehow I could change the way fate was played out... Maybe.

'I know that your persistent but even you know not to mess with fate, it's dangerous for a mortal to tamper with that sort of thing.' She let those words sink in. Waiting for how I would respond.

"I know. I know that. I guess... I just wanted to try." I heard her sigh behind me. And suddenly her light got closer.

I turned around squinting up at her. Her hand was now placed on my shoulder, it was warm, even I could feel that through my hoodie. My shoulder flinched at the heat, and she quickly took notice.

'Oh! Apologies, I forget myself sometimes.'

As soon as she said that her light dimmed and the heat from her body lessened.

'Your just like your mother in that way you know that. She was persistent when it came to raising you right, always made sure you learned everything that the world would throw at you. Even if you were too young to actually understand any of it.' She had a fond look on her face, like she was remembering my mother.

My mother had died in a work accident. She was a cop and working in the field on a hostage situation. She was able to get the hostages out but heard that they still had someone inside, a father and his 10 month old daughter. She went against orders and snuck in, traded herself in place of the family. The criminals got away, stole 8.6 million dollars from the bank. They left her inside tied to one of the pillars inside, when her partner got the all clear he rushed inside to free her. Only problem was she was dead when he got to her, throat slit like she was some sort of farm animal.

I was a year and 5 months old when that happened. Worst part is...

"I can't even remember her face... her voice." My voice was so quiet that I don't even think she'd hear me if not for the echo.

'I know... I'm sorry.' Her voice echoed out until it was only a faint noise...

A faint noise....

* * * * * * * *

That's what I heard the faint noise of the chains being moved. Someone was opening the door.

My body reacted on its own, reaching over to the mats that were used for sit ups and pulling them over my body. They covered the view that anyone would've been able to see of me. And it was just in time.

As soon as I heard the chain hit the ground I froze. Hand covering my mouth and nose to quiet my breathes. My body smushed farther into the darkness of the corner just in case.

The light was dim enough that the room was still pretty dark. No one should be able to see me , and even if they did I would just make a run for it. I was after all fairly fast when it came to running.

I had barely waited a minute until heard someone speak.

"Pssttt! Zevina, I know your in here! No one else would be smart enough to leave an alarm. Where are you?" They whispered inside the room. At first I didn't know who it was, it was only mid sentence when I actually remembered her voice.

"Gods Almighty, Annie!" I kicked the mats off me and leaned over so she could see me.Instead I saw her jump and release a small squeak.

ANNIE

Annie was one of the cheerleaders from the my table a lunch. She was light skinned with brown hair that she always kept in a tight bun. It made her look a bit intimidating but she was the sweetest person in this school, talkative to the point were it was only sometimes uncomfortable.

"I thought you were one of the administrators or worse, the janitor!"

"Sorry! I didn't see you at lunch today so thought I'd come looking for you—well we thought."

"We?..." I asked confused. "Who else is here?"

As soon as I said that 4 of the other cheerleaders made their way into the small room. They all had on shy smiles and a few waved awkwardly. I couldn't help but start laughing, my head leaning back against the wall.

"You all look like a bunch of kids that got caught stealing!" I continued to chuckle as I stood up and dusted myself off, grabbing my bag when I was done.

"Come on we still got a good 50 minutes of lunch. We can sit on the bleachers together."

"Thanks, but I don't really wanna be out in the open..." I hung my hand behind my neck and looked away, scared they'd be upset with me.

"Well, then we can sit under the bleachers, I know you have an area set up all the way in the back corner, I was surprised when I didn't find you there first."

"Uh, yeah, sure." That's where I was planning on going anyway, I guess Kismet accidentally passed along her intentions of talking to me.

We exited the packed room and the rest of the girls made their way to area at the back. It was mostly just a bunch of blankets and two mats, one on the floor and one on the wall.

LEAH

It's seems like one of the girls even found the flashlight I left here at the beginning of the year, Leah, I think was her name. She was tanned skinned like me and and had mid-back length brown hair, natural curled and well cared for I might add, plus she always kept it at a side part. She was nice, always made conversation in the hallways.

By now they had all sat down on the mat that they unfolded to make more room. They were splayed out in almost a circle and they saved me a spot right in the middle. I quickly sat down and made myself comfortable ready to just sit back and let them continue talking about whatever they were talking about at lunch.

But they didn't, instead I felt something fall into my lap. I looked down and saw a green apple, I looked up again and saw them staring at me.

"You didn't get any lunch dumbass. If you don't eat your gonna end up starving to death, can't have that on our conscious can we." Willow spoke up.

WILLOW

Light skinned, with silver dyed hair. Bit of an attitude but only to those who deserve it. She's kinda the mother figure in the group.

"Thanks, but I'm not really hungry." I set the apple to the side, avoiding eye contact with any of them.

"Like hell you aren't! We gotcha food, so now your gonna eat it! You shouldn't starve yourself cause Flora cheated on you, she ain't worth it!" Reed spoke up.

"Reed! You can't say that!" Jay quickly shushed her. Smacking her on the back of her head.

"What?! I'm just saying she shouldn't punish herself over some cheating bitch!"

REED

Reed and Jay. They act like their siblings even though their far from it. Reed was tan skinned with lilac dyed hair, she always kept her hair long or in a ponytail. Resilient and sometimes struggles in understanding when to comfort and when to talk shit.

JAY

Jay was dark skinned with their hair being shaved. Probably the most comfortable person to be around and always understands what someone needs in any situation.

"Ignore her Zev. You can be upset about the break up for as long as you need. And if that mean you have to go into a storage room to cry about it, then so be it." Jay spoke softly.

"Yeah. What they said. Now wipe those tears from your face and eat." Reed said, finally understanding she may have taken the wrong approach to the situation.

"Guys I'm not crying."I laughed

"Honey you got tear streaks on your face..." Leah said as if I was crazy.

"No I don't—" I reached my hand up and sure enough my face was wet.

Weird. I don't remember crying... oh.

I realized I must've started crying when talking to Kismet about my mom. It was kinda embarrassing now that people have seen my crying face. But I quickly wiped my face off and pretend I knew I was crying.

"Well yeah... but it's not about Flora. Just some family stuff. I swear." I can't exactly tell them everything, but a half truth isn't a lie.

"Well either way, you still gotta eat so. Eat." Willow spoke again, planting the apple back into my hands.

"And if you ever just wanna talk or if you need anything just ask and we'll all help out. Okay?" Annie said cheerfully and then began to lay down on my legs.

I was little shocked when she said that if I'm being honest. It's been a long time since I've had people to actually talk to and who'd be there for me. I kinda missed it. And even if it was only for a little while, I think I could get used to them hanging around.

"Yeah... thanks."