Orientation Day 2 Part 2

Chase quickly added, "It'd be better if we took the picture later, after I take a shower."

"Why?" Diana's happiness faltered.

"Well…" Chase hesitated, seeing her enthusiasm dip. "The picture will turn out better if my actual appearance is, you know… out there."

Diana paused, considering his words. He had a point—if she wanted the picture to look better than the receptionist's, he'd need to be at his best. After a moment, she nodded.

Chase didn't realize how important the picture was to her, but as the conversation ended, Diana's steps seemed lighter, almost as if she were skipping, though she kept pace beside him, a grin playing on her face. Her victory felt sweet, like she'd just won a small battle.

Her roommate, who had been walking quietly beside them, suddenly asked, "Hmm, what does your real appearance look like?"

Diana turned to look at her. "Oh, Alice, you're still here?" she said casually, introducing her with a small smile as she moved closer to Chase, almost as if to shield him from the question. As Alice clutched her chest dramatically, her tone dripping with mock hurt. "You replaced me so fast with your boyfriend? You forgot all about the one who took care of you first!"

Diana's eyes widened, and she quickly shot back, "He is not my boyfriend!"

Alice tilted her head, studying Chase curiously. She definitely likes him, she thought, but couldn't understand why. He looked… normal. A bit like an emo loner, even. "Well," Alice said, crossing her arms, "are you at least going to introduce him to me?"

Diana hesitated. Her face scrunched up as a frown began to form. She thought about how much other girls seemed to like Chase when they met him, and the idea made her uneasy. If she gets too close to him, will she like him too? Diana bit her lip. Alice is someone I can actually consider a friend. The thought made her frown even deeper. And if she sees what he really looks like, will she turn out like all the others?

Finally, Diana shook her head and simply said, "No."

Both Chase and Alice blinked in surprise. "Diana, you're gatekeeping your secrets now? So it is true—you hate me!" Alice declared, her tone once again heavy with fake heartbreak.

Diana looked alarmed. She thought Alice might actually be serious this time. "I don't hate you, it's just…" She trailed off, wracking her brain for an explanation. Why am I even bothered? It's not like I care if she likes him, she told herself with a little hmph.

"Fine," Diana relented, though her voice carried a begrudging tone. She pointed at Chase and said firmly, "Alice, this is Chase. He's mine, and you will not touch him."

Chase looked utterly exasperated. "Don't introduce me to people like that!" he stammered, his face turning red.

"It's true though," Diana retorted without missing a beat.

Sighing in resignation, Chase held out his hand to Alice, offering a small, polite smile despite the obvious dread in his eyes. "I'm Chase Everett," he said.

Alice shook his hand with a playful grin. "I'm Alice Franco, Diana's roommate and best friend," she announced proudly.

As Alice shook Chase's hand, she subtly analyzed him. Hmm, perfect teeth, I guess. Her thoughts flickered back to their earlier conversation about his "real appearance." If they had talked about it after a shower, did that mean she had already been to his place?

While Alice was lost in her observations, Chase took in her appearance. There was no denying she was beautiful—probably only second to Diana. Her long auburn hair framed her face elegantly, and her legs seemed to go on forever. She also had striking brown eyes that held an almost mischievous glint.

Before the handshake lingered too long, Diana abruptly broke their hands apart. Alice chuckled at her roommate's antics, clearly amused.

As they continued walking, Alice couldn't resist her curiosity. "So, what do you really look like?"

Chase stammered, "Umm… what I really look like?" He tried to act confused, as if he didn't understand the question.

Diana cut in sharply, "None of your concern," her voice firm as she pulled out her phone and immersed herself in a game.

Chase glanced at her, thinking, She's becoming addicted to that game. Aren't I a bad influence?

Alice hmphed, crossing her arms. "Fine. Then at least tell me this—when did you even get a phone, and how did you suddenly get so good with technology?"

Diana didn't bother looking up from her screen, simply pointing at Chase.

Alice raised an eyebrow and turned back to him. "And you, what exactly did you do to her earlier? I've never seen her so frustrated with a guy and not beat him to death. You had to have done something to make her that mad."

Chase froze, blindsided by the question. What did I do? he wondered. He thought back but couldn't pinpoint anything specific. Finally, he shrugged, genuinely clueless.

Diana frowned at Chase's answer but quickly masked it. They arrived in front of the counselor building. It wasn't too crowded yet, probably because most students were either meeting with friends or didn't mind their schedules. They stood in line for only a few minutes, since the line wasn't long, and people couldn't help but glance over. Diana and Alice were both stunning, which kept the conversation at bay—something Chase appreciated.

Once inside, Chase was taken aback when he saw who was behind the desk. His reaction was barely noticeable, but it was there. The counselor greeted them with a smile, and at first, Chase was too distracted by her beauty to notice the details. However, as she spoke, he realized something—her hair was like his, only longer. Her eyes? Exactly the same as his, though her skin was fair and glowing while his was more of an olive light-brown.

The counselor's voice was warm and cheerful as she introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Lila Bennett!" Her smile lit up the room.

They all introduced themselves. Alice, being the most talkative, went first. Diana followed, but when it was Chase's turn, he stuttered. There was no way this could be happening. "I'm, uh, I'm Chase Everett."

Lila's eyes brightened. "You said your name was Chase," she said, looking him over. Her gaze faltered as she sighed, a look of mild disappointment on her face. "I thought you were someone I was looking for."

"Sorry about that," she continued, her voice more apologetic now. "I have a brother, and my mom told me if I wanted to find him, I should come here."

Diana, who had been distracted by her phone, finally looked up. The words hit her like a ton of bricks. "This can't be real," she murmured.

Chase froze. She has a brother? His thoughts were racing, and his confusion was written all over his face. Diana seemed to be on the same page. "Your mother told you you had a brother?" Diana asked, her voice calm but probing. "Have you ever seen your mother?"

Lila paused. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she glanced at Diana, unsure how she knew all this. How does she know about my mother? she thought. I barely ever see her. How could she possibly know?

She hesitated but decided to answer. It wasn't a secret, after all. "I didn't grow up with my mom," Lila said slowly, her voice quieter now. "She sends me money now and then, but I didn't like her much at first. Then one day, she sent me a letter with some money, and in it, she said I had a brother who was just like me. I was excited at first, thinking that maybe someone would understand the problems I've had. But I still haven't been able to find him. All I know is his name is Chase, and he looks like me."

As Lila spoke, Diana studied her closely, her eyes flicking to Chase to gauge his reaction. Chase's face shifted through a variety of emotions—worry, anger, confusion—before his expression settled into something colder.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said, his voice a little too cold. "But we're here to change our schedules." The words weren't directed at Lila, but his tone made it clear he was unsettled.

His thoughts were racing. My mom had another kid before me, and she's not that old. This might actually be my sister. The idea struck him harder than he expected. The realization left him torn—he wasn't sure how he felt about having a sister, especially one he hadn't known about until now. He wanted to ask more questions to confirm, but something held him back. He wasn't ready for this conversation.

Diana was shocked by his tone but stayed silent. Alice, clearly confused, had no idea what was going on, and Lila, taking his response in stride, simply nodded, assuming he wanted to stay on track with their original purpose for being there.

Very well, so who's going first?" Lila asked, looking between them.

Diana, still recovering from Chase's cold tone, quickly composed herself. "I just want my schedule to be the same as his," she said simply, keeping her voice steady.

Alice, without missing a beat, added, "If Diana's changing her schedule, I want the same thing."

Chase looked confused. He didn't want them in all of his classes. "Why?" he muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for Diana to hear.

Lila glanced at their IDs and schedules. "You're a sophomore," she pointed at Diana. "And you're a junior," she said, turning to Alice. "Why would you want the same schedule as a freshman?"

Alice's eyes widened in shock. "No way. Diana, you're dating a freshman? Now I have to know what you like about him so much!"

Diana shrugged nonchalantly. "Does age really matter?" she said, her words sounding almost reckless to Chase.

Chase blinked, bewildered. That definitely sounded crazy to him. No one should say something like that out loud.

Diana continued, "Can I not have the same classes just because I'm in a higher grade?" She looked at Lila, her confusion evident.

Lila chuckled at Diana's remark about age. "You can have the same classes. It's just that his classes are mostly for freshmen, so you'd likely be one of the few upperclassmen in there."

Diana quickly dismissed the issue. "That doesn't matter."

Alice didn't care either, but Chase still minded. He spoke in a low voice, barely audible. "Do we have to have all the same classes?"

Diana shot him a glare, her expression stern.

He immediately backpedaled. "Never mind."

Lila let out a soft laugh at their exchange. "I'm guessing you two are dating?" She squealed, clearly eager for more details, her tone almost too enthusiastic.

Diana recognized that eagerness all too well. It reminded her of someone—her mother. She hated that look, the desire for gossip.

She muttered under her breath, not realizing she said it out loud, "She is definitely your mother."

Lila froze, her eyes widening. "What do you mean? Have you met my mother?"

Diana instantly realized her slip-up and looked to Chase, hoping his expression would hide the awkwardness she was now feeling.

Chase couldn't hold back his curiosity anymore. He sighed, knowing he had little choice but to ask. "When your mom sends you letters, is there a lipstick mark on the seal?"

Lila froze, her eyes widening in confusion. How could these two younger people know such specific details about her mother? She had never told anyone else about this. "How do you know these things?" she asked, her voice filled with shock. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, and she began to wonder if they had been stalking her.

Chase sighed again, unease settling in his chest. He could feel the weight of the moment. If this conversation continued, Lila would eventually know the truth—that he was her brother. And honestly, he wasn't sure if he was ready for that.

Alice, who had been watching the exchange with growing confusion, wanted to know more about how Chase and Diana knew such private details. However, Diana seemed to have made up her mind. "I'll meet you at the dorm," she said to Alice, not waiting for a response.

Alice looked at her, then at the two of them, before shrugging. She wanted to act heartbroken and pretend to be upset, but she decided it wasn't her business. With a final glance, she walked out of the room, her thoughts buzzing with curiosity. She considered eavesdropping by putting her ear against the door but ultimately decided against it.

Now, it was just Chase, Diana, and Lila left in the room. Lila still appeared confused, as if she couldn't fathom how these two knew anything about her mother. She glanced between them, her eyes filled with suspicion and curiosity.

Chase turned to Diana, not sure how to proceed, but feeling the pressure building. Diana took the lead, her voice steady but with a hint of hesitation. "Well… I know your mother, and I might know your brother too."

Lila's eyes lit up, hope flooding her expression. "How? No, seriously, tell me—do you know where my brother is?" Her voice trembled, and tears almost welled up in her eyes as she looked at them desperately.

Chase felt his heart tighten, guilt creeping in. She was so eager to meet her brother, to finally find the family she longed for. But he couldn't help feeling conflicted. He wasn't exactly excited about the idea of having a sister, especially one who had only just appeared in his life. The weight of the moment hung heavy between them, and Chase was unsure of what to say next.

"Well…" Chase sighed, realizing there was no easy way around it. He reached up, pulling down his hoodie and brushing his hair out of his face, revealing his eyes fully.

Lila was confused at first, her gaze fixed on his face. Then her eyes widened as she began analyzing the similarities. Tears started to form, and before Chase could react, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. "So… you are my brother."

Chase froze, unsure of what to do. Hesitantly, he patted her back in a clumsy attempt at comfort.

Diana stood to the side, silently observing the scene. Her mind wandered to her own relationships. She had never felt eager to meet her family, not even her siblings. Once, she had been close to her brother, but even that bond had faded over time. She frowned slightly, lost in thought as she watched the reunion unfold.

Lila, after holding onto Chase for what felt like an eternity, finally released him. Her expression shifted to one of confusion. "But… Mom said in her letter that you looked just like me."

Chase sighed again, brushing a hand through his dyed hair. "I do. I just… dye my hair to hide my appearance."

Lila tilted her head, baffled. "Why would you hide your appearance? You'd be really popular, and I'm pretty sure you could have any girl you wanted. Why wouldn't you want to show that off?"

"I don't like attention," he said simply, his tone flat.

Lila stared at him in disbelief but decided to let it slide for now. "So… have you ever met our mom?" she asked.

"Nope," Chase said bluntly.

Lila frowned, even more confused now. "Then why did your girlfriend say she knew her?"

"She isn't my girlfriend," Chase replied almost immediately.

The words stung Diana. She didn't know why, but hearing him deny it felt wrong somehow. It was an unfamiliar ache, but she kept her face impassive, unwilling to let it show.

Lila blinked at Chase, then shifted her focus to Diana. "So, how do you know my mom?"

Diana crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "I will only tell you because you're his sister, but know this: I dislike your mother very much."

Lila muttered under her breath, "You dislike her?" Then, louder, she blurted, "Why?"

Chase raised a hand to stop her. "Don't laugh," he warned. "What she's about to say… is the absolute truth. Unfortunately." His sigh carried the weight of his resignation.

Diana's silver eyes gleamed as she spoke. "Your mother is Aphrodite, the goddess of love."

Lila froze, looking between Chase, who sighed heavily, and Diana, whose serious expression didn't falter.

"I don't think I heard you properly. Can you repeat that?" Lila asked cautiously, a nervous edge in her voice.

Diana's irritation flared. "Your mother is Aphrodite, the goddess of love," she said again, her tone a notch sharper.

Lila blinked, her brain scrambling to process the words. "Let's just say, hypothetically, my mother was—"

Before she could finish, Diana's frustration boiled over. "You two really are related," she muttered. Her voice turned cold and sharp. "Your mother is a goddess. I am a goddess. And if you want proof, I can show you. But know this: I have plenty of frustration built up from dealing with your brother, and I'd love to take it out on the offspring of that vile woman."

"Which goddess are you?" Lila asked curiously, her tone almost casual, completely ignoring the earlier threat Diana had made.

Diana gave a dry laugh, her silver eyes narrowing as she glanced between Chase and Lila. "It seems brains aren't a mutual trait between you two," she remarked, her voice sharp and dripping with sarcasm.

Lila blinked, confused at first, before her expression darkened. "Did you just call me stupid?"

Chase, already dreading where this conversation was heading, sighed heavily. "She's Artemis," he answered quickly, hoping to cut off the brewing argument.

Lila froze, her irritation momentarily forgotten as the name sank in. Then her eyes lit up, a smirk creeping onto her face. "Wait a second. Doesn't Artemis hate men? Why would the goddess Artemis have a crush on my brother?"

Diana's calm veneer cracked instantly. "I do not have a crush on him!" she snapped, her voice rising defensively.

But her outburst did little to silence the lingering doubts in her own mind. Why did the accusation sting? Why did she feel the need to deny it so vehemently?

Her thoughts spiraled into a chaotic internal argument. On one side, her very essence as a goddess cried out in protest. She had always despised men—their arrogance, their selfishness, their inability to see beyond themselves. She was the Huntress, the eternal maiden who had sworn off all such foolish entanglements.

But then, there was him. Chase, the frustratingly kind mortal who treated her with respect and patience. He cooked for her, tolerated her temper, and—worst of all—had managed to make her feel… something she couldn't quite name.

Diana's hands clenched into fists as a single, horrifying thought took root in her mind: this couldn't be natural. It had to be Aphrodite's doing. The goddess of love had likely cursed her, weaving some spell to humiliate her.

Her anger flared as her silver eyes glinted with restrained fury. "Just wait until I get my powers back," she thought darkly. "Aphrodite will regret this."

Lila, meanwhile, was still trying to process everything. "So… you're really Artemis?" she asked, her voice tinged with awe and disbelief.

Diana, her temper still simmering, didn't respond immediately. Instead, she shot Chase a sharp look. "If she asks another stupid question, I'm holding you responsible."

Chase groaned. "I didn't ask to be part of this," he muttered under his breath.