Imaginative Reality

Chapter One; The Siren

“Wow, what a selection they have here!” I screamed in complete astonishment. I looked down at the twelve shelves at the back of the bookstore containing folklore and mythology. I picked out Hercules and his Twelve Labors and flipped through the pages. I sure love this. I sighed as I looked at the other books all on fantasy, Greek and Roman mythology, and all other countries’ ancient pasts. Too bad I couldn’t buy them all. I got up and walked to the cashier to pay for it. “That’ll be ten dollars and twenty-two cents, ma’am,” the lady said as she smiled at me. I took out a twenty and had the two dimes and the two pennies. She put the money in the register and handed me my receipt, change and the bag containing my book.

As I walked, I thought about how the mighty Hercules killed his whole family by Hera’s madness. Sad and depressing story really. Too bad it couldn’t be like the Disney version all happy and joyous. I sat in the car and took out the book and started reading it. I had extra time before I had to go home. Wait ‘til Todd hears about this. He always says the same thing. Wow Chloe, does this one have sudden death in it too? I laughed as I pictured his face in my mind. His lovely short brown hair, high cheek bones, and topaz eyes always lightened up my day. To bad he wasn’t as much as a myth geek as I was.

The clock read 4:36 pm and I decided to leave the parking lot of the mall to go home. I had a date with Todd tonight and wouldn’t want to miss it. We haven’t gone out in weeks due to all the college homework pounding down on us everyday. Summer break finally came, and there was nothing to worry about. I drove into the parking lot of the dorms to the college. As I shut the car off and pulled out the key, someone was knocking at my car window. I looked up to a pair of glistening eyes staring at me in confusion. Who was this girl?

“May I help you?” I asked friendly to this girl I’ve never seen before. She must be on a college visit and got lost. I shut the door behind me not taking my eyes off of her. She was staring at me like I was going to kill her. She had light blue eyes, and dirty blonde hair. She seemed very pale, and pretty enough to get any guy she wanted from the way her clothes were arranged. She looked like one of those Sirens in Greek mythology that just sang and used their beautiful features to lure sailors in to death traps. I looked at her strangely when she didn’t answer my question. “May I help you?” I asked again, hoping for an answer soon, I had to get going. She blinked weirdly and opened her mouth.

“Hi my name is Lucy, I’m new here and I have no idea where I’m going, could

you help me?

“Uh, sure… what dorm room number did the front office give you?”

“It says on this sheet building four room seventy-five. It should be over in the north

of the campus right?”

“No, actually its south, I’m going there right now. Do you need me to walk you

there?”

“Oh, no, I’ll be fine. I have to get my car anyway. By the way, what’s your name?”

“Chloe, I have to go… See you around.”

“Great, Chloe…. See you around!”

That was an odd conversation. Don’t wish to see her anymore; she spoke like she was a narcissist. Her voice sounded like one of those preppy girls from my high school years. I shook my head and soon ran to my room. To my surprise Todd was there with flowers. Lilies. I love lilies. “Sorry Todd, I would have been ready but some girl named Lucy stopped me for directions. I guess she’s new here.” He looked at me smiling. I guess he was just so happy to see me that he didn’t care that I was late.

“Its okay, Chloe, I’m just happy that you didn’t die in a car accident. Lucy? Yea I heard of her. Kind of weird because usually when new people come, nobody knows who they are on the first day. She asked me for directions too, I guess she just wanted to introduce herself to everyone.” What a loser, I thought to myself. I rolled my eyes and walked into my room. “She’s a socialite obviously,” I said in an annoyed tone of voice.

I looked at Todd, who was looking at my shopping bag. “It’s a new book called Hercules and his Twelve Labors. I’ve always read the shorter versions, but I wanted to read the whole story, where nothing was cut out.” He closed his eyes, smiled widely, and shook his head. Here it comes, “I can’t believe you Chloe, and does this one have sudden death in it too?”

I smiled and hugged him tightly. I whispered into his ear, “A lot of them do. This one has extra death.” I laughed and pulled away, “You should really read some of my

books, you’d be interested I swear. There are a lot of romances in mythology….” He laughed and replied, “Yea, you know me and my romance books, but yours all have that turning point of mass blood slaughter.” I laughed and put my bags of stuff from shopping in my room. I loved the stories where someone at least died. I learned a lot of killing techniques too. I laughed at the thought and I grabbed my purse, ready to go.

“Okay, I’m ready.”

“You didn’t really get ready.”

“You didn’t either.”

“Ha, like we ever do? So where did you want to go?”

“Well, nothing to expensive. How about The Black Diamond down the street?”

“Sure enough, Chloe. Do me a favor and leave little Hercules at home?”

“Of course.”

We got into his car, and drove to the restaurant down the street. We didn’t talk much. Todd and I always did this to save more conversation for later. Also, because the last time we talked a lot in the car we almost drove into a ditch. We got out, and there was Lucy walking in with a group of five guys. I held Todd’s arm so she knew that he was with me. I shouldn’t be so jealous like this. I had my reasons though. Lucy obviously was more prettier then I’d ever be and she looked like she was one of those girls who’d just ruin relationships.

“Table for two, please,” Todd told the hostess. He looked at me awkwardly and kissed my forehead. “Are you okay? You don’t usually cling to me like this for long periods of time.” I let go of his arm forgetting that I was still holding on to him. I don’t

know why I was acting like this. I usually can keep my cool. It was probably because Lucy was staring at Todd the whole time. I looked at the guys at her table, an odd bunch too. One of them was paler then the rest and was eyeing me. His eyes were intense. I suddenly felt a surge of hatred go through me. Wow, all of this because of my jealously? That never happened before. It was kind of weird because all of the other girls in the room were either glaring or staring at her too.

“Yea, I’m fine… just a little bit stuck in thought.” We sat down at the table and looked at the menus. Todd looked over at Lucy then back at me. It was apparent that I had an irritated face on, and wasn’t focusing on my menu. “Is Lucy bothering you? You don’t have to think anything, Chloe; I love you more then anything and wouldn’t settle for any other.” He was being completely honest with me. I knew that he wasn’t lying. I loved that about Todd. “We could leave and go somewhere else if you want,” he said after a few moments.

“Oh, no we’re fine here,” I lied…very well actually. “I love you too Todd. I… guess I am having some issues with Lucy to be honest with you. I don’t mean it, I swear… it’s just… she seems so much like something I’ve read in my myth books.”

“When I said to leave Hercules at home, I hope you know I meant the rest of your buddies too, right?” he asked. I looked straight at him and smiled. He sighed and looked back down at his menu. “You and your stories,” he laughed. I responded in the same sarcasm he used, “You and your romances.” We smiled at each other and the waiter walked by.

“What will you have to eat?” he asked opening his notepad. He turned to me first. I looked at him and told him I wanted the lasagna and Todd ordered the spaghetti. The waiter left and Todd turned at me, and took my hands.

“Are you sure you’re ok?” I nodded at him when he asked. We finished eating our food, and talked almost for two hours, catching up with each other on so many things going on. That’s when she walked over. I looked up and glared at her.

“May I help you?” I asked as I did earlier in the day. She didn’t look at me but at Todd the whole time. He looked right back and they both stared at each other for a good ten seconds. That’s when I decided to interrupt. I shook his hands and hissed, “Todd what is wrong with you?” He jolted back and acted like water was just splashed into his face.

“What? What?” He asked at me in complete confusion. Lucy still stood there staring at him.

“What is wrong with you Todd? You just got lost in her gaze or something. Lucy go away! Why are you here? You are not recruiting Todd into your little group of men over there!” I was so mad.

“Oh, you’re Todd? This must be your girlfriend then right? Chloe isn’t it?” We both nodded. Todd squeezed my hands and stared intently into my eyes like he didn’t even know what happened. “I’m sorry, I’m a very observant person and take my time before talking to people,” Lucy said in her little annoying voice. I glared at her again. Todd stared at me the whole time. It was like she sent some kind of force through him. “I was just wondering if you guys would like to join us at our-.” She backed away feeling my aggravation, and left it like that. “Okay, I guess not. You know there is a karaoke

competition later, do you guys want to join me on stage?” I looked at the floor and simply said, “No.” Oh God I hope she doesn’t sing. She spoke to Todd and asked, “How about you? You haven’t answered my question. Or what, your little girlfriend does all the talking?” That’s when he glared back up.

He opened his mouth to say something but soon shut it. He broke off into her gaze again, and his face turned bright red. I’ve never seen that before. I guess there was always a first for that in a relationship. I was soon aggravated. “TODD?!?!” I screamed slamming the table with my fists. I took a deep breath as he and Lucy weren’t moving. I’ve never lost my temper so much. What was happening? There had to be some magic spell going through him. I didn’t think guys could get lost that long in someone’s eyes in order to not hear anything else around him. I got up shook him roughly and he didn’t come to. I raised my hand and slapped him across his face and went into the powder room. I stood in front of the mirror for a good five minutes staring at myself, and thinking hard about what was happening.