Star-Crossed Myth: The Divine Fate (Book One)

Ichthys, The Mischievious Trickster: Story 9

One day, a few days after my aquarium date with Ichthys. He's completely stopped showing up around the restaurant.

I set down a few dishes to a family. "here you are, the grilled medium-rare steak, the chicken tetrazzini, and the macaroni and cheese for the little one." I wink as I slide the dishes across the table.

"Um, where's your friend? He's not coming today either?" The little girl asks. "He promised to teach me about the stars."

I kneel down to her level. "Aw, I'm sorry. I haven't talked to him lately either."

"Did you have a fight?" She asks.

"Anna, please, it's rude to ask." The mother of the child tries to quiet her. "I'm sorry, dear."

"Oh, it's okay." I kindly reassure them. "Now, please enjoy your food while it's hot." I say, quickly bowing my head and returning to help other customers.

"Hey, Abbs! Can you come help me over here?" Emily calls from outside the kitchen.

I wave to her. "Be there in a sec."

I quickly tend to another family, where I refill their drinks. This time a young boy speaks up.

"Is your boyfriend going to come back, lady?" He asks with innocence in his eyes.

"Oh...um..." I nervously try to say something witty.

That's something I'd like to know too...

I laugh. "I'll ask him the next time I see him, okay?"

"Okay, I hope you two hurry up and make up." He says.

When I'm released from the endless questions from children who are with their families, I head over to where Emily is standing. Greeting me with a wry smile.

"Your boyfriend...Ich...Icc..."

"Ichthys..." I roll my eyes, correcting her. "And, he's not my boyfriend."

"Right, Ichthys. He really got close with some of the children who come in here with their families."

I nod. "Yeah, yeah he did." I look at her suspiciously. "Did you just call me over here to talk about this while we're in the middle of work?"

"Oh, shut up, we're on break right now." She says taking me by the wrist, dragging me in the breakroom.

"Ugh..." I groan.

We sit down on the couch, as Emily continues. "But you know they're right. He hasn't been around lately. Did something happen?"

I shrug, looking down at the ground. "I don't know. I don't think so..."

I recall our date to the aquarium and how we visited Ken at the hospital afterwards. Then stargazing from my balcony, Ichthys told me his story about how he became mortal, and I cried.

And I haven't seen him since that night...

I feel ashamed for showing a pathetic display of my tears that I thought I would never show. It was Ichthys the one in pain, yet there I was crying like a child. I realize I was the one who put him in that position and made him feel uncomfortable, that's why he's probably avoiding me now.

"I guess he just lost interest." I make up an excuse to tell her nonchalantly, getting up from the couch.

Emily grabs my wrist again and pulls me back down to sit. "Shut up," She forcefully turns my face to look at her. "Don't say that."