First Day (01)

I stop myself from "awwww"ing out loud, but only just.

"You will, JS. Someday, you'll go to a big god party, and it will be amazing, but you have so many other wonderful experiences to have first. You don't need to rush." I look over at her. "Big god parties are another important first. When the time comes, I'll make sure it's a really, really fun one, okay?"

In my head, I'm listing off all the things it won't include though - like mass orgies and human sacrifices. So it won't be a traditional "big god" party...but it'll be one JS can be a part of. Someday. When she's older.

She mumbles her agreement with your plan, but without a specific date for a god party she can attend, it's still a little disheartening for her. She switches subjects to some gossip about Taylor Hawkes that she thinks is hilarious as well as some questions about the theater department and if you think it's cool.

Eventually, you reach the house and she heads inside to work on her homework.

What do you do?

I'm happy to switch subjects with JS, even if it means talking about Taylor. I just hate how she's sticking to the whole "Shane knocked me up" story. Like, what is even the point?

When we get home, I head upstairs to my room, close the door, and immediately call Knox. I'm not sure if he'll be setting up for the party though, so I know he might not pick up.

Knox answers his phone after a couple of rings. You hear Nirvana blaring in the background, echoing flatly off the concrete floor. "Hey spider. Are you out?" He doesn't say "of school", but you know it's what he means.

"Finally free," I answer, flopping back on my bed and looking up at the ceiling. It sounds as much like escaping a prison as it feels, even though I was kind of excited about it this morning. "How are the party plans coming together? Have you learned anything else?"

"Past the planning stage now, only a few hours left," Kno answers as he continues working. "We're in the doing phase. It's going to be something." He pauses, then adds in a quieter voice, "Big D told me there are some guests coming from Protigi."

My heart skips a beat at that. "Really? He didn't say who though?" I can assume the answer enough. I continue, "I got most of my homework done during study hall, so I'll be there. And, um, sometime soon, I'll tell my dad I'm having a sleepover at a friend's house so I can stay with you at the apartment, okay?"

The apartment. I used to call it "ours." Maybe one day I will again.

"Mmmmn," Knox agrees with a hungry rumble. "I'll have to close the place down since it's a school night, though. And you know it's going to go late. Oh, Big D mentioned your mother, of course. He invited her, at least."

I sigh at Knox's reminder of how hard it is for us to see each other. "I know," I answer softly. "I'll work it out on a weekend or something, when Zeke can handle things in the Club and we can just be together." I feel my spirits brighten at the mention of my mother, but then tamp them down before I get too excited. "Well, that's good. I mean, they have had a...sort of relationship in the past." But she was on Aeaea before. Now, with Protigi...maybe it'll be different. But maybe not. "Maybe Iao will come."

"Iao? Ah, you two can hang out then," Knox says between sounds of some physical exertion. "And maybe we can sneak off for some private time? I've missed you today."

Hearing Knox working makes my tummy twist. I imagine his arms flexing as he moves crates of booze or sound equipment or something, then imagine those same arms around me as we tangle in the sheets.

"I would love some private time with you. Just don't wear yourself completely out before I get there. Sounds like Dionysus has you pretty busy."

He chuckles, "I know! Doesn't he realize I'm lazy and push my work on others? Why else did I rise to night manager?" Another long pause, sounds of effort. "How was your first day? Everything good?"

I laugh and it makes him feel far away even though he's in the same frelling town as I am and I'm going to see him in a couple of hours.

"My first day was..." I consider it for a moment, then sigh. "It was okay. A little good, a little bad. Super overwhelming. I kind of just want to drop out and get focused on the gallery. I can always get my GED later if I really want to."

"I don't think your dad would go for that," he stops working to reply. "Don't you have Red? She can help with the bulldren classes, right? And you can pick up followers easier there than... not in there, right?"

I sigh again, more heavily this time. "Yeah. No. Yeah, you're right. Dad would freak out, and Red did a bunch of my homework for me today. I should really get a whole, like, group of people on my side so I don't burn her out though. I'm worried about what it'll cost to keep her on the hook all year if she's the only one, you know?"

"Yeah, you don't want her to think she has power over you. It's the other way around," your boyfriend agrees. "Hey, I might be taking a break in a few. Are you home? If so, are you in your room?"

I'm nodding along when he shares his thoughts on Red, but when he brings up a break, I sit up on my bed, suddenly alert.

"Yes, and yes. Are you...saying you might have enough time to come over?" I'm already smiling at the thought. I add coyly, "But how will you get inside with the doors all locked?"

He chuckles again, "I'm a master thief, spider. I'll always find a way to get to you. The more important question is... are you alone or is your dad around?"

I continue smiling through his answer. "Dad’s not home from work yet. JS and Soph are home though."

"Lock the door to your room," he says in a warm but demanding tone. "Strip down, and get under your covers. I'll be there in a few."

What do you do?