Light streams in through my window and I groan. Why, oh, why does dawn absolutely have to appear. Can it take a day off? 'Cause that would be really nice. More incoherent thoughts stumble through my head as I stagger out of my room, then trip down the stairs nearly doing a face-plant in the process. Since Mom is probably still snoring away in her bedroom, I rummage through the pantry and fridge until I find something I deem edible. I actually manage to find a perfectly good bagel, but I decide that cream cheese with a fine layer of green on top isn't exactly healthy. With a plain bagel hanging out of my mouth I jiggle the front door until it unlatches. I smile when I see my trusty, rusty old truck. My '51 Chevy was my seventeenth birthday present last year. An untrained eye would see a falling apart soon-to-be-scrap-metal truck, but I see solid gold; the rustier the better. I throw my phone and book bag into the passenger seat, and I shove the last bit of my breakfast in while wondering when my fascination with old cars and… well… anything antique manifested. I have to crank the engine a couple times before it starts. I back out of the driveway and start towards school. Yay.

"Hey, Aura." He is like one of those stupid gnats that never fly away no matter how many times you swat at them. I had been walking to my locker when stupid comes and tanks my mood. Why does he get under my skin so bad? I notice the groupies standing at the other end of the hall giving me death glares since Apollo whom they worship is trying to grab my attention. Most of the people here had given me no more than a second glance yesterday, but since Goldie here can't seem to leave me alone they all want in on the newest gossip… or murder story judging by the looks I'm still getting. He walks behind me to the left all the way to my locker. He's persistent I'll give him that. I sigh and look him in the eyes.

"Look. I really appreciate yesterday, but I'm sure I can make it to my classes today." I turn away books in hand, but before I can make my getaway, he lightly grasps my forearm.

"Throw the dog a bone would ya? I would really like to get to know you, but you are being very-"

"Frustrating?" I interrupt," infuriating? Hard-headed? Anti-social? Sorry buddy, but I've heard it all before thank you. Oh and I like how you are the dog in that scenario." I stalk off leaving a frustrated, bewildered Apollo behind. I snicker at how dumbfounded he is… and crash right into someday. A girl about my height with bleach blonde hair and I fall to the floor with our papers floating down around us. After a moment we both say sorry simultaneously and begin picking up our papers. After I finally get all my class work in order I decide to introduce myself willingly. Willingly, as in not being forced to cough up my name to a jerk. Said jerk needs to go pull his egotistical head out of the clouds.

"Sorry 'bout that. I'm Aurora." I offer a small smile that turns into a grimace as I glance over her shoulder. Goldie is standing there grinning like an idiot. I force my attention to the girl I'd nearly run over.

"Ivy. Nice to meet you. Yeah, I don't really look where I'm going most of the time." She peers at me cautiously but friendly. Oh no, I think before he comes up with a dazzling smile.

"Hello ladies. Aura," his gaze lingers on me before acknowledging my possible-new-friend-as-long-as-I-don't-scare-her-off, "Ivy." Her eyes grow wide and I begin to worry a little bit when her eyes glaze over.

"H-Hi Apollo." Oh dear sweet baby Jesus. Why is everyone so in love with him? It's not like he has amazing eyes…or body…or hair… or… you know what? Forget it. I sigh and plaster a sarcastic smile on my face.

"Oh hi Apollo! I can't believe his majesty has graced us with his presence!" I roll my eyes and slowly walk away. I could've swore he made an unearthly growl. Really?

"Aurora. I was going to ask you a question, but you are stalking off like a one year old." His haughtiness was going to get him killed one day. Possibly by me if he isn't careful.

"First of all, one year olds can't walk let alone stalk. Second of all… what could you possibly want? An third, did you really just growl at me?"

"Would… would you want to come with me tonight to a local band playing in the park?" He looks down at his shoes before meeting my eyes. My eyebrows shoot up. Is he pulling the cute shy kid card or is he for real? It wouldn't be so bad would it? Wait, this is Apollo we are talking about here. There is no way I could possibly even consider it… right?

"Sure." It pops out of my mouth before I can shove it back in. Oh crap. Now I'm in trouble. I swear his grin is going to split his face in half if he keeps smiling like such a moron.

"Great. I'll meet you in Green Hill Park at the entrance at six okay?" After I nod in confirmation he continues, "alright, I'll see you later." He winks (actually winks!?) before going down the hall in the opposite direction. Ivy hurries to follow me almost tripping on her jeans that are much too large for her tiny frame. She has a band I'm not familiar with on her formfitting tee shirt and about a million bracelets of all kinds laced up to her elbows. She meets my eye and I have to do a double take. Her eyes are so dark brown that they seem black. What is it with these people and unnatural eyes? The contrast between them and her hair is just plain eerie.

"Do you like him?" I'm slightly shocked at her boldness, but I shake it off.

"Not really. In fact, he drives me near insane." She raise a single eyebrow and blinks slowly.

"Uh huh," She says skeptically, "then why are you going with him?"

"Uh…" I scramble for a response more intelligent that uh, but I come up short, "I don't know." She grins manically before saying in a sing-song voice, "You are smitten with thee." She flutters her eyelashes and laughs. She seems completely at ease with the fact that I'm 'smitten,' which I'm not, with the guy she was making doe eyes at.

"Ha. Ha. Hilarious." I say dryly.

"You know what the funny thing is? You didn't deny it!" She smiles angelically as she walks through the door to her class while I stand there with my mouth hanging wide open.

Thank you all for reading… reviews, tips, anything would be supertastic! It is my first story, so critical is good. Um… again thanks for reading… hope you stick around. ;) I plan to have one chapter per week unless something comes up. ~Dawn