Invictus

Chapter 9

DENISE
I fell asleep as soon as I hit my bed. Long and dreamless sleep, my entire being ached so I guess I deserved a blank slumber.

The alarm clock went and I sat up straight, slamming my hand on the clock and pushing it to the pile of clothes by the bed.

I yawned and stretched,
Thursday would feel weird as usual,  because it's a full day. I showered and put on a blue dress and black ballet pumps, my short blonde hair swinging around my chin. A layer of lip gloss, a  thick line of eyeliner and a swipe of mascara and I was done for school.

I grabbed an apple from my room mini fridge and my change of clothes. Gym clothes, Sportswear and Greek tunic.

I passed my mum in the hallway,

"Morning, Mom" she smiled and leaned in for a kiss,  then rushed to pick a ringing phone somewhere in the house and I was out the door.

My car was sitting in front, spick and span. I would like it to feel like one of the normal days, but I know it won't be;  the sleeves remind me of my waves and of my responsibility to humanity . I drive off, lost in my thoughts before stopping two blocks up to get April and we drove in silence straight to school.
We had Basic Math for our first period, Liu had Advanced Math.

"How's Fireball?" I asked, absently

"He's fine, doubled overnight though" She replied absently back. Math is not the way to start the day. On this we all agree.

We met up with Liu and Lyanna in the hallway, did locker type stuff, exchanged schedules and went away at the sound of the bell.

Mr. Basil is going on and on about differentials. And this is basic math, we are meant to learn how to add and subtract. I gape at the board, boredly. I don't even understand what I don't understand. Claire from Literature has her head on the desk, asleep.

The guys on the basketball team had their phones out. Lyanna had a little plastic bowl of peanuts in her lap, and she was sketching in a leather bound journal. I felt so normal. I don't like normal.

Forty five minutes later,
The bell rang and the entire universe exhaled in relief, the sea of human bodies pulsing towards the door as he called out the assignment for the day, no one listening.

As we met up again in the hallway in front of Lyanna's locker, I saw Aimee glaring at me. I turned away, I wasn't ready for her. Lyanna was talking about her visit from Artemis and her wolf cub, Khione.

"She said that we are going to need protectors" Lyanna said, putting in her sketchpad.

"I have to go" Liu said, glancing at her watch " see you at lunch" She hugged everyone and bustled off.

I peered into April's phone, she was going through her Tumblr and listening to music, her head doing mini nods. The slam of Lyanna's locker alerted us and we started for the gym.

Aimee looked at us as we walked by, I don't understand why she could hate me for the tattoo, she didn't even let me explain but then again Lyanna had warned me.

April had her hair up in a red bun, mine would not go up, so I left it low, Lyanna braided hers before bunning it. The coach paid us no attention as we started out stretches, then asked us to join the general aerobic team. We stuck out like sore thumbs in our leotards and April blushed as red as beetroot during the jumping jacks. She was two bra sizes bigger than me.

As soon as we were done, Lyanna pulled out a plate of fruit salad, she's always with food. April peered at Lyanna's bag with an arched brow.

"When did you stop smoking? " I blurted. April's head turned in my direction. Lyanna froze, her fork in midair,
She stopped mid-chew, confused as ever. She put the plate down before asking

"Smoking? Where'd you get that idea? "

"The constant finger food and fidgeting " April supplied.

Lyanna laughed, her face lighting up. "This is just a habit, I've picked up various hand habits through the years, this is the most relaxed even." She passed her plate to April and stuck her fingers out, counting off them

"I was a pen clicker, pencil twirler, hair twirler, finger drummer, finger actress, and a penknife flicker"

"Finger actress?" April asked "what's that like?"

A big smile broke out on Lyanna's face as she rubbed her hands together. My question forgotten
" Let me show you..."

I averted my gaze, ashamed that I would even think that. April caught my eye and smiled before she returned her gaze to Lyanna and her finger play.

" It's okay though, a lot of people think I smoke" She motioned to herself " it comes with the image: tattoos and all"

She reached into her bag and pulled out a little ziplock bag of baby carrots and corn. She tilted it in my direction. I pushed my thoughts and laughed as I took it from her.

"There's no end to this bag" April said, pulling the bag to herself and putting her hand in. "You might find Waldo in here."

Vote, share and comment.
Xoxo