Flirting with Sanity

Chapter One- I hate Tuesdays

~~*Olympiana*~~

High above the thinning, white nimbuses and above Mt. Olympus and invisible to the human eye was a kingdom made of shining, rare metals. The hands of Hephaestus, the God of Fire, and husband to the flawless God of Love, Aphrodite, forged it to utter perfection. It was named Olympiana, after the mountain where the immortals lived.

It floated on immortal wings, a gift from Mother Earth, and the weather was always fair and sunny—never too hot or cold—and ageless forests of willows and magical animals inhabited the lands. The lands were governed by strict laws enforced by the Gods and Goddesses, and the supreme ruler was of course, Zeus.

Sometimes, Gods and Goddesses favored beautiful and clever humans, and hid them carefully in the magical forest in the form of animals, so as to court them on their own terms. Rules were made to be broken said the Gods and Goddesses that lived on Olympus.

However, it was a certain trouble-making lad by the name of Aquarius, which stirred deep resentment and scorn among the Olympian court. Once again, the roots of the trouble was Aphrodite, the ever-loving worshipper of confusing love triangles and to-die-for romances. She had persuaded Aquarius into following her into the depths of the forest one starry night and transformed him into an enchanted fan—taking him with her to the metal kingdom.    

However, it seemed that Aquarius was craftier than Aphrodite herself had expected, and he found ways to escape her and refused to court with her. She was furious, but wholly amused at the same time, and she plotted a heinous crime against him—to punish him for refusing her Goddess charms.

--*--Olympus--*--

“Zeus, I feel so guilty to tell you this, but Queen Hera seems to be infatuated with my servant, Aquarius!” Aphrodite said innocently, slowly released a calming lavender scent from her hand—a hidden bottle so it seemed.

“Why do you say this, Aphrodite? Do not try to test my patience!” Zeus pronounced each syllable with clear dislike and suspicion. He had been tricked by Aphrodite far too many times to fall for her claim so easily.

“Zeus, Zeus, Zeus, am I not the Goddess of Love? I know infatuation when I see it! Clearly, my servant is trying to seduce your lovely spouse with sweet words and tender touches… Zeus? Are you listening?”

Zeus had to use all his godly willpower to keep himself from drowning in the Goddess’s perfume and his vision kept blurring while large pink swirls seemed to wrap around his whole form.

He tried flaying his arms, to escape the pink fumes, but too late, he was already under Aphrodite’s ancient spell.

Aphrodite lowered her head right next to Zeus’s ear and whispered with practiced serenity, “Now you must fulfill my one desire. I want you to judge Aquarius before the Olympian Court and give him the worst possible punishment… Besides, he tried to flirt with your wife.”

Aquarius was brought before the immortal court within 48 hours, only moments in the immortal’s world. 

“Thine shall not be given second chances! Until thy has proven thyself worthy I, Zeus, King of all Gods and Goddesses, condemn you to the life of a mortal.” His golden gavel boomed three times, solid and true, as large thunderbolts thundered nearby. Zeus was pissed off, so it seemed.

But compared to Aphrodite he was just having a kiddy tantrum—the Goddess of Love had flames of anger in her perfect blue pearls for eyes and her lips were pursed in a thin line. Aquarius was being sentenced to a world where his beloved mortal dwelled.

Well, Aphrodite thought, hopefully she’s dead and he’ll die as a lonely hermit.

*~*Evadell Residence*~*

I HATE YOU FOREVER, SO WHY DO I, WHY DO I, LOVE YOU? YOU’RE JUST A DREAM AWAY~

“SHUT UP!” Valerie shouted into her pillow as she thrashed the radio alarm, unsuccessfully searching for the off button. Today was possibly the worst day ever. Yesterday was the first day of high school, but for Valerie, the second day of school was much, much worse.

First, she saw that everyone pretty much looked the same. Summer days had left some tanned, some burned to a crisp, some had gained some inches vertically or horizontally, and others were doomed with major breakouts. Also, sleep deprivation started to kick in and heck, that sure didn’t help things.

Those stupid counselors and 8th grade teacher hollering and spitting about high school dramas and disasters—there was nothing different. It was still just an educational building from hell, only now teachers were bigger devils with even bigger pitchforks.

They warned the graduating middle-schoolers about upperclassmen beating the living crap out of freshmen and making them do menial chores, like planting stink bombs in the cafeteria. Albeit, there were a few seniors that loved to abuse that right, but through and through, they were just like freshmen—dazed and utterly confused.

Unfortunately, the crisis at hand, the blaring radio alarm, was waking up the rest of the Evadell household.

Merciless light flooded Valerie’s room and she writhed from the evil brightness in her eyes. She hissed and bared her canines, hoping that she looked somewhat as menacing as her cat, Bobby, when some poor soul was trying to give him a bath.

“Hey, Valentine, make it stop!” her lanky older brother barked as he threateningly grabbed one of her feet. Valerie’s worst weakness was her ticklish feet, and nobody but her older brother knew about this. It was his blackmail on her, and he used it all the time. Luckily, she had a few potential blackmail photos of him wearing superman boxers in her desk.  

Her eyelids instinctively flew up and her stormy gray eyes met with her brother’s sea green pearls. For some reason, she looked nothing like Luke, her brother—with his golden curls, baby dimples dusted with freckles, and lean wiry frame. He had naturally unblemished skin and he always smelled like peppermints.

Valentine Evadell, or Valerie for short, had short black curls that covered her heart-shape face perfectly and accentuated her beautiful gray orbs. She had supple pale skin and her cheeks always had a rosy tint. Boys used to call her Snow White—but she made sure they ate their words by shoving them into the dirt heads first.

She always preferred torturing guys than being lovey dovey over them. Maybe that’s why so many people wanted to cling to her, she was the essence of confidence and beauty. Too bad she didn’t believe in romances…

Valerie eyed the alarm clock like a cat does to a plump mousie, and plunged her fist onto the purple “off” button—all but snapping the alarm into two.

Luke ran his long fingers through his hair and muttered, “Well, that’s one way to silence an alarm clock. Isn’t that your fourth one this month?”

She threw off her blankets and before brushing past her golden-haired brother, she mumbled, “Fifth.”

Valerie hurriedly washed her face, brushed her teeth, combed her hair three times—downwards, sideways, and upside down—then carefully braided a single black curl with her trademark red ribbon. She then proceeded to the hardest task in the bleak hours of her morning preparation. Putting on makeup.

Frankly, it would only take the young Snow White ten minutes to apply cosmetics, but she had overly nit-picky mood swings when it came to makeup and clothes.

Today she felt like a shimmering bronze, pink lip gloss, and liquid black eyeliner. She didn’t bother curling her eyelashes or applying mascara, since she already had long, lush eyelashes. And blush? She wished she didn’t have to worry about rosy cheeks. Just once.

She stood before her wooden closet with her hands on her hips and her feet planted firmly in resolution. She attended a private school where dress codes were enthusiastically enforced by the hallway patrol, made up of nerdy freaks who wore bright orange vests. Somebody really needs to dial 911 for the fashion cops—she was sure they’d break every fashion law in history.

Valerie sighed as she glanced at the clock. 12 minutes till Luke would holler for her in the garage.

Valerie grabbed a gray pleated skirt, buttoned up a blue oxford shirt, and threw on a short black cardigan. Next came on the checkered knee socks that she detested with vigor and her black converse sneakers, worn and faded, but still good.

Valerie then grabbed all her books, papers, notebooks, and other essential items (like her cell phone) and shoved them into her black bookbag. She practically flew down the stairs and barely made it out the garage door with a breakfast cereal bar and juice box in hand.

God, it’s only the second day of school, Valerie thought as she munched on her cereal bar, and her brother breezily drove out of the Evadell driveway. There were two other people they had to pick up on their way to school. Luke had to pick up his *ahem* study buddy, Athena, and Valerie’s best friend, Ares.

Luke killed the motor in front of 8911 Peach Star Grove, and pressed the honker four times, in a weird pattern that was like their secret Morse Code or something. Valerie translated today’s honking as either Come out, my love or Shake the booty, my yoke. Valerie was pretty sure it was the first one.

Today she was late…by like two minutes. Valerie leaned her head on the cold car window and said, “Luke, do your honking gig again, maybe she didn’t hear you.”

Poor guy, doesn’t know how to ask a girl out was the single thought in Valerie’s head as she said those words. At the age of 16, and her brother still had a fear of being turned down by his dream girl, even though he was one of the most popular guys at Foxcroft High.        

Can’t blame him, though. Valerie added in her mind, Athena was really smart and pretty—like genius brilliant and super model pretty. Girls seemed to be overshadowed by her perfection whenever they stood too near her.

And as if by cue, Athena came out the door, her slender, willowy body wearing a simple plaid skirt, black knee socks, and a red sweater with Foxcroft’s mascot—a grim-faced, stern fox. She wore no makeup, but her golden face seemed to glow with radiant beauty, and her soft brown tresses were pinned up in a messy bun.

A male, younger version of Athena bounded out of the house with books and pencils flying everywhere. Ares was Valerie’s age and he had thick, brown curls, a handsome thin face, bright blue eyes like the color of the rarest sapphires, and a charismatic Roman nose.

“Good morning, Lucas. Valentine.” Athena said in her calm, regal voice. Valerie sighed, Athena always called them by their full names, and she was one of the very few they allowed to do so.

“Hey Snow White! Hey Luke!” Ares said, playfully nudging Valerie to scoot over with his elbow. Valerie glared daggers at him. She allowed some people to call her Valentine, but Snow White had no exceptions. Valerie promptly dived her right heel on Ares’s left foot.

“YEOOOWWW! Aw…Valerie, I was just kidding!” he moaned, cradling his bruised left foot.

The two juniors both looked at the two freshmen in the car mirror, and Valerie quickly turned her head, pretending to be fascinated by the passing trees and grass. Ares ruefully lowered his head and said, “Fine, fine, I’ll shut up now!”

He added quietly for Valerie’s ears only, “But it was Valerie’s fault. She started it.”

Valerie fell for his enticing blame game and whispered back, “No, you started it.”

Ares smiled inwardly as he whispered, “Nu-uh.”

“Ya-huh.”

“Nu-uh!”

“Ya-huh!”

“Nu-uh!”

“Ya-huh!”

Throughout the whole car ride, Ares and Valerie whispered the same annoying phrases over and over again, and when the two freshmen came out of the car, the appropriate older sibling soundly whacked them across the head.

The two freshmen muttered curses under their breath as they ran towards the front doors to escape their older siblings’ wraths.

As soon as the two freshmen entered Foxcroft High, they were quickly bombarded by their small, but growing circle of friends. Before the two were ushered away from each other, Ares gave Valerie a friendly wink.

In their Morse Code, it meant, Break a leg, Snow White, it’s Tuesday.

Hm, I would, but I hate Tuesdays, Valerie communicated back with her own devilish wink.

*~*~End of Chapter One~*~*

Greek Gods and Goddesses (Their Roman names are in parentheses)

Zeus (Jupiter): (oohh, hard one) Ruler of all Olympians

Hera (Juno): Zeus’s wife and Goddess of Childbirth and Children

Aphrodite (Venus): Goddess of Love

Eros (Cupid): Her son, the God of Chaos

Hephaestus (Vulcan): Aphrodite’s ugly husband, God of Fire

Ares (Mars): whoo-hoo! Handsome God of War

Athena (Minerva): Goddess of Wisdom

*Important Notes*

Olympiana is from my head: don’t go looking for it on the Internet.

Aquarius is a fictional character: don’t go looking for him on the Internet. He’s basically your typical air sign—bizarre, creative, and stubborn. (like myself ^ __ ^;)

(Notice I say the Internet and not the library.)

Hope you liked the first chapter!