CHAPTER 4- VALENTINES (PART 1)

Berkley School
February 13
Physics Class

-Aurea-        

I was slumped in my seat just like all of my class mates. Unlike them, I was twirling my pen around my fingers instead of clicking the hell out of it. The annoying sound they made was nearly enough to drive me mad.

Like them, I wished I had superpowers right now. The ability to control time would be super cool. I glanced at my watch and discovered that we had ten more minutes to go. 10 minutes which will feel much like ten more hours.

If I had the ability to contol time... No more boring Physics classes!

I grinned to myself and clicked my pen open.

“Miss Aurea. I would appreciate it if you stop that annoying clicking of your pen.” Our physics professor called out with a scowl directed towards me

My jaw fell open and my eyes widened with incredulity. It was the first time I did it! And I did it because I wanted to write something! Gosh, could this day get any worse?

Audrey shot me an apologetic grin and I rolled my eyes.

Then I opened my notebook and went back to writing the list of the coolest superpowers I would want to have...

A few minutes later, the bell rang and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. I quickly placed my things back on my bag and slung it over my shoulder. It’s lunch time and it’s my turn at our Rose Sale by the cafeteria.

I went there and opened my bag. I ate my sandwich quickly so that I could man our booth. “Three roses please.” My first customer said. “What color?” I asked. The guy looked baffled so I offered to explain.

“Red is ‘I love you’. White is ‘my intentions are pure’. Pink is ‘I like you’. Yellow means friendship or ‘I care for you’.” I explained.

“Thanks. Uh. Three red roses, then. It’s for my girlfriend and I really love her with all my heart.” He said.

I smiled at him for his romantic gesture.

“Congratulations, lover boy. That’ll be fifteen dollars. Here are your cards. Please write the name, year level and the room number that the girl will be in during the last class this afternoon. The roses shall be delivered by then. Oh, you can also write your message at the back of the card.” I told him. He nodded and scribbled away at the red cards I gave him.

“Drop the cards here in this box. Thank you for participating in our fundraiser. Next, please.” I said.

“Twelve red roses.” My next customer told me. It was our nerdy male classmate, Dylan. I handed him twelve cards. I peeked lower and saw that he was writing his own name.

“No... You’re supposed to write the name of the girl to whom the roses shall be delivered.” I instructed. He raised his head and glared at me.

“I want it delivered to me!” he hissed and then glared some more. “Don’t look at me with those judgemental eyes, cheerleader! Don’t look at me like that because I’m a nerd and I don’t get any gifts! I will and I shall. I’ll send them to me! And you can stuff that judgement in your eyes right in your ass.” He hissed and then finished writing his name on all the twelve red cards I gave him.

“Sheesh. I’m not judging you. Chill.” I placed his cards in the box and accepted the payment. He still stared at me. I really wasn’t judging him and he’s so paranoid. I rolled my eyes and helped the next customer.

By the time lunch was over, the box of cards were full. Lyn tapped my shoulder and reached for the box of cards. “My shift.” She said. “Go to your next class, girl. I’ll handle this.” She said with a wink.

“Right. Just sort them into the different rooms so that those who would be delivering the roses would have an easier time. Thanks, Lyn!” I said and then picked up my bag and hurried over to my next class.

My next classes were again very boring. I found myself doodling on my notebook again. I was also very nervous about our fundraiser. Would we be successful? I hope so. Suddenly, I heard Audrey’s voice over the speakers. Every one sat straighter and there was anticipation in their eyes.

“Good afternoon everyone! And Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you!” her greeting was met with loud cheers and excited murmurs.

“As you all know, your cheerleaders are about to compete in the Nationals! And we need costumes and fees for our transportation. So we came up with this Valentine’s Day Fundraiser! Thanks so much for supporting your squad and I’m glad to say that we reached our target! Thanks guys! And we’ll be delivering the roses soon. Happy Valentine’s day again!” she said.

The sound of the speakers died down and was replaced with excited murmurs. Of course, everyone wanted to receive flowers on Valentine’s Day. No one wanted to be that girl without flowers. I huffed. I don’t need things like those to boost my pride. I’m perfectly happy just the way I am.

Whoever said that you needed a relationship to be happy?

I placed my elbow on the desk and leaned my chin into it. I watched with amazement as the girls preened themselves. They fixed their make-up, put on some lip gloss and combed their hair. I guess they wanted to be pretty when they received their roses. This gained another roll of my eyes.

The door burst open and the jocks entered bearing heaps and heaps of flowers. They grinned and the girls almost swooned with excitement. I could also feel the tension in the air. Everyone in the room hoped they had one. Well, everyone except me. I couldn’t care less if I didn’t have a flower.

I had a beautiful one at home. It was a black rose and it was preserved inside glass so that I could look at its beauty forevermore. It is the only flower I want and need.

“Heather Blake.” The jocks announced and handed her three red roses. Everyone cooed and told her how sweet her boyfriend is.

“Jenny Murphy.” This girl received lots and lots of roses! Her boyfriend must’ve spent his entire savings on them just to please her. It was sweet but for me it was too much. Why spend so much money on flowers that will eventually wither?

Call me a pessimist, whatever. My beliefs just differ.

People might even think that it’s hypocritical of me to speak about spending too much money when I’m so filthy rich. Yes. I am. My dad is the God of the Underworld after all. All the riches beneath the earth belong to him. He always flaunts his wealth by dressing me and my mom in diamonds.

I sighed.

And then I was snapped out of my thoughts when my name was called.

“Aurea Aidoneus.” One of the jocks approached me and hauled an entire box filled with roses. He set it down on my table and all eyes went towards me. Some looked at me with joy but some with unconcealed envy.

I gave the jock a smile of thanks and raised my eyebrows at those who stared.

“Oh, before I forget. Someone wanted a special delivery for you.” The delivery jock told me. He reached into his back pocket and retrieved a small box. Then he dug around my box of roses and in his hand was a single black rose.

He handed it to me together and I stared at it in shock.

The delivery guy moved back towards the platform and they continued giving out the flowers. I was still staring at the small box. I gingerly opened it and inside was a small heart shaped locket. It was simple and made of silver. The heart shape was outlined with small diamonds. My breath caught at its beauty. I opened the locket and my picture was already inside one of the panels.

The other side held no picture and instead a black petal was placed there. I lifted the locket from its box and a delicate silver chain was revealed. It was really so beautiful... I smiled and placed it around my neck. I tucked it inside my shirt so that no one else would know.

Next, I checked the black rose for a note and a small slip of paper fell. Now, I felt really excited. I stifled a giggle while I opened the paper.

“Happy Valentine’s Day... I hope you liked my gift... We’ll meet each other soon...”

It was written in the same handwriting as the first note I received. I smiled and placed the note inside my notebook.

I may have spoken prematurely, saying that I didn’t want any flowers on Valentine’s Day. It turns out that I’m like the other girls too... I wanted flowers too but I want only one. I’d be perfectly happy if I received this single black rose than receiving a box full of multi-colored roses.

I sighed and placed the black rose inside my bag. Then I took a look at the box which held all the other roses I got.

There were a lot of pink roses, some white roses, a few red ones and I one yellow one. I looked at it and it was from Lyn! Gosh, I love that girl. I grinned and made a mental note to thank her later.

The bell rang signalling that it was already the end of the class and the end of the day. Audrey immediately walked over to me. She also had a box of roses which contained about the same amount of flowers I got. There’s no wonder about that. Audrey is so beautiful.

She grinned when she saw my box. I grinned back.

“How come you never told us you have a boyfriend?” she asked in a teasing tone.

“What? I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“Uh-huh.” She said in a tone that said she didn’t believe me one bit.

“It’s true, Audrey.”

“Whatever, Aurea. Your not boyfriend sent over that black rose and that box which I am assuming contained some jewellery. And he also donated five-hundred dollars to the squad just to make sure you got that. So yeah. Great job to your not boyfriend.” She said in a sarcastic tone.

I stopped walking and faced her. “What? You saw him?” I said excitedly.

She stopped walking too and looked at me.

“What do you mean I saw him? Of course I did! He delivered those things! So stop lying. We’re your friends you know.” Audrey nudged me, urging me to spill my secrets.

“I haven’t actually seen the guy. He’s more of like a secret admirer.” I confided.

“Ooooohhh. Gosh, this is so romantic!” she gushed.

“Well, what did he look like?” I asked excitedly.

We walked again and went towards the school courtyard where the squad usually met-up. Audrey looked as if she was struggling to recall things.

“Well... First of all, he has got to be one of the hottest guys I’ve ever seen.” She said and my eyes widened. Audrey was so beautiful that she’s dated a lot of hot guys. And her saying that was a really big deal.

“No kidding?” I asked.

“Yep. He really is hot.” She replied.

“What else? Tell me more! You’re killing me here, Audrey.” I teased.

“He looked a bit older though. Like he’s a college guy. Gosh, Aurea are you dating a college guy? That is so hot!” she gushed.

“I told you I haven’t even met him.” I said while rolling my eyes.

“Oh yeah. I forgot. Secret admirer.” She remarked with an apologetic smile.

“What did he look like? Please describe him to me...” I pleaded.

“He had black hair. It’s a bit long and reached his shoulders. Then he had blue eyes. Wait. Grey ones. Hmm... I don’t really know... And he had this really buff body like he must be working out... a lot.”

I wasn’t able to help the smile that came to my face when she described my secret admirer to me. My heart swelled when she told me that he was hot and had a buff body. Well, what else does a girl want in a secret admirer?

“He has a weird taste in clothes though. He wore black from head to toe.” Audrey commented.

I shrugged. “He must love that color. He sent me black roses twice already. Where the hell does one even find a black rose?” I asked.

Audrey shrugged. “I don’t know but I guess it must be expensive for a black rose is really rare...” she commented.

I nodded.

“Wow Aurea! You have a super handsome, buff, hot and rich secret admirer! I am so jealous right now!” she said and I laughed.

“I just wish he’d meet me. I want to see him. I want to thank him personally.” I said with a dreamy sigh.

“And when you finally meet him, remember to introduce him to the squad, okay?”

“Pink swear.” I replied and we joined our little pinkies together.

We arrived at the set of benches in the courtyard which we have claimed as ours. It’s where me and the cheerleaders always hung out. I dumped my bag and my box of roses on one bench and sat.

“Aurea! Your boyfriend is hot!”

“Yeah he is!”

“And rich too!”

“How come you didn’t tell us you had a boyfriend!”

The girls said these things at the exact same time and I flinched at their excitement. I held up a hand. “He’s more of like a secret admirer.” I told them. “Ooooohhh...” they responded the exact same way Audrey had. I laughed.

“Well, what brings us to this meeting?” Lyn asked.

“It’s about the dance later, silly!” Audrey replied with a clap of her hands.

Right. The dance. The one they pestered me to attend for weeks and weeks now. Of course, my answer’s still no. I don’t want to attend a dance. I’d stay in my room and watch TV like I always did during Valentine’s Day.

“Joey got us a limo!” Audrey announced and the girls acted as though there was a shouting contest or that they were being murdered: they screamed the place down.

“A limo! Amazing!” Bree, one of the cheerleaders commented. Her words were met with assent.

“So we’ll be picking you guys up and we’ll arrive at the same time!” Audrey said and the girls squealed again.

Then all eyes went to me. “Aurea will be coming with us.” Audrey declared.

“No! Sorry... I can’t.” I groaned.

“Why not?” Lyn asked with hands planted on her hips.

“It’s not because of a lack of a date. She’s rejected every one of the boys who asked.” Bree commented.

I groaned again.

“She rejected Jeremy too?” Audrey asked and the girls nodded.

“Why?!?!?” Audrey lamented.

“He’s the nicest guy! And he’s a quarterback for heaven’s sake!” Dianne, another cheerleader said.

“And everyone knows he’s been after you all these years! The guy likes you!” Lyn shouted.

I flinched again... “I don’t know... I just don’t feel something for him.” I replied.

“How could you when you haven’t even given him a chance!” Audrey retorted.

I flinched again. Well, she’s got a point there. I just shrugged in reply for I didn’t know what else to say.

They spent the rest of the afternoon convincing me to go with them. It was a Valentine’s Day and coincidentally, it was a Friday too! Everyone had plans. And I did too! It involved my TV, my bed and a dinner at the Underworld Palace.

All the girls’ efforts were met with a firm ‘No’ from me. Eventually, they gave up and we all went our separate ways. They went to their homes and salons to get ready for the dance while I went home.

I went towards a comfort room and plucked out the gadget Hephaestus gave me. It looked like a small cell phone with a map. It allowed me to teleport anywhere I want. I pressed the home button. When I opened my eyes, I was back in my room in the Underworld Palace.

I opened my bag and grabbed the black rose. I jumped towards my bed and held the rose in front of me. I inhaled its sweet fragrance and sighed. I traced the soft petals and felt this warmth inside my heart.

Something about this felt so right. It was as if this was meant to be. I don’t know what’s happening but I felt this sort of connection inside me. I touched the locket and the connection grew stronger.

What did this mean? Why am I feeling this way?

My senses told me this was right... I didn’t feel the need to worry and instead I felt relax and languorous...

It was as if everything’s falling into place...

That this is how things truly are meant to be...

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