Fairytale Green

The hall looked surprisingly good. The decor really did make the place feel more like a fall-themed party rather than a smelly gym.

The windows of the large gym hall were blacked out and from the walls, hung orange-tinted fairy lights. Over the floors, there was a scattered mix of coloured leaves except from a space in the middle of the room where people were dancing.

Lana looked around the place with a smile ‘This place looks amazing.’

‘Yeah.’ I agreed ‘Although the sweaty stench is still noticeable.’

When my attention went from the room back to Lana who was in a glaring match with Lacey who was also making the colour red look good.

I tapped Lana on the shoulder and motioned to an angry Lacey ‘What is going on there?’

She shrugged ‘Lacey dislikes everyone but she has a strong hatred for me. It has been like that since we came back from summer vacation and started school.’

‘Maybe she is just jealous of you.’ I suggested.

Lana nodded ‘She glares at me at every given chance she gets. Plus, she keeps trying to compete with me. You should have seen her in Geography.’

‘There is nothing wrong with a little bit of harmless rivalry.’ I replied, knowing from experience.

‘You would know all about that, wouldn’t you?’ She grinned before putting an arm around my shoulder ‘I am so happy that you have Stone. I have never seen you so happy.’

Something caught my eye on the bleachers near the other end of the hall. From a distance, I could still see several boys gathered around one person’s phone. Whatever they were watching or looking at had all of them glued to the screen.

Over the loud music surrounding the hall, Lana shouted ‘Let’s go dance.’

I let her drag me to the middle of the dance floor. The music was upbeat, so I started to sway my hips to the beat. Lana did the same. After a few more songs, I was starting to enjoy myself a little more. The moves we were pulling were basic but occasionally we would spice it up with a ridiculous looking motion which made us both burst out laughing.

It was only when he spoke up that we noticed that a boy was standing near us. He looked familiar but I was struggling to remember his name. Lana looked to have the same expression on her face, but she smiled anyway.

The nameless boy kept his eyes on her as he asked, ‘Do you want to dance?’

She met my eye and once I gave her a sign that I was more than happy to leave the dance floor, she shrugged and took the boy’s hand.

I sent Lana a small smile before I retreated to the corner of the room. I sat down at the lowest level of the bleachers which was a few rows away from the crowd of the boys.

The crowd of jocks were watching whatever was on the phone with undivided attention. Their voices were excited, and I could not help but hear their conversation.

‘It is great they are live-streaming the fight.’ A guy spoke.

Another male voice that was a lot squeakier asked ‘Who have you got a bet on?’

‘The one from Arizona. People are saying he is best in the state.’

‘Vulcan will still destroy him.’ Another voice said, ‘I have got fifty bucks on him.’

Something built up at the bottom of my stomach. I shifted in my seat because I was suddenly uncomfortable.

The high-pitched voice spoke again ‘They have taken the whole gladiator and Roman mythology theme a bit far.’

‘How come?’ The other guy asked.

‘Like the names I get but Vulcan getting a massive medusa tattoo on his back is extreme.’

My neck itched as I could feel several eyes penetrating the back of my head while another familiar voice contributed something.

I recognise it as Kyle, Chase’s close friend who uttered ‘It was not for Litora Bello.’

A million images flashed in my head. It was like jigsaw puzzle pieces getting put together and the full picture revealed itself.

The first time we all went to the beach and their car was still there. His black eye and other bruises I had seen on his body. The nights he would disappear. The overall physique of Stone.

Before I could hit myself for being so stupid and oblivious, Lana jogged over to the bleachers while her heels made a horrible clacking noise.

She fell onto the seat next to me and sighed ‘That guy who wanted to dance with me was way too talkative for my liking.’

I could not listen to what she had to say because I was already questioning her ‘You know last year when we took Mythology. You know when I was put in Mr Johnson’s Greek class, and you were put in Ms Grey’s Roman mythology one. Do you remember anything from that class?’

Lana tilted her head in confusion, but she answered, ‘Not really.’

‘I do not know a lot about Roman mythological names. They stole all the gods from the Greek, so I just thought they were the same thing and I never bothered to learn the Roman ones.’ I shook my head as I let out a humourless laugh ‘It would have come in handy now.’

‘Ella, what are you talking about?’

‘Do you remember what Vulcan was the god of?’ I asked and I already knew that I would not like the answer.

‘No.’ Lana said immediately but she thought a little before answering again ‘I think the Greek equivalent was something beginning with an H.’

‘Hephaestus?’

‘That is it!’ She cheered.

The god of blacksmithing and metalwork. In other words, mechanics. Also, the god of fire and known for having an anger streak. The least easy to get on with among the gods.

I felt a little sick.

‘That is all I needed to know.’ I said while my voice wavered.

More people made their way into the middle of the room as the music changed to a slow number. From the crowd, I could see one familiar blonde swaggering his way over towards us through the sea of people.

Instead of a usual letterman jacket, Chase had on a white dress shirt.

I stood up with determination and stormed my way over towards him while ignoring Lana’s protests.

When I met him halfway, I put out my hand and asked, ‘Dance with me?’