The Manhattan High Attack

Rebecca sat up in her bed, turning off her alarm clock. God, did she hate that forsaken piece of technology. She mindlessly got up and went to shower. After showering, brushing her teeth and blow drying her hair, she put on some black and red Nike shorts and a red tee shirt. She slipped on some Nikes and looked in the mirror, deciding to throw her curly hair up in a messy bun. It would just have to do, she told herself. She ran downstairs and to the kitchen where Holly and Brandon met her. They were already at the table, eating a breakfast that Holly cooked. She hated having Holly cook her breakfast. Even though they'd raised her since she was a toddler, she always felt like she was imposing on them.

"Good morning, dear." Brandon said. The way she thought about it, he sounded like a pedophile.

Maybe it was abandonment issues, but she felt that he shouldn't call her things like dear because he wasn't her real father. She knew it was selfish and very ungrateful, but maybe they didn't want her either? Her real parents didn't want her so why would complete strangers?

"Yeah. Morning." She replied, sipping orange juice. She made a face at the horrible flavor in her mouth. Of course, she'd brushed her teeth. How had she forgotten?

"Oh, dear, i'm sorry the match got cancelled. You don't have to go to school today, you know." Holly told her for the millionth time since last night when her archery match got cancelled.

"No, Holly, I want to go. I mean, I need something to do today." Rebecca shrugged.

It sort of always bothered them how Rebecca never called them mom and dad, not since she was ten anyway, but they never said anything. They knew she was grateful and glad to be with them, they knew she loved their son, Luke, and they knew she was happy to be apart of the family, but it was always something that would bother them.

"Alright, well, I'll meet you in the car." Holly smiled.

Rebecca nodded and put her plate and glass up. She went outside with her backpack and climbed into the passenger seat. Holly had always dropped her off at school on her way to work. The routine was simple. The'd eat, and Rebecca would wait in the car while Holly made a second cup of coffee and then she'd kiss Brandon good-bye. She would then come to the car and Brandon would exit the house as the pulled out the drive way to get to his own truck. Rebecca would listen to her iPod all the way to school. She would hug Holly good bye and most times would walk into the building with Luke, but he was way with his friends for the rest of summer.

"It must be awesome to have a license." Rebecca thought, listening to her iPod as they passed a Wendy's. Since her older adoptive brother, Luke, turned sixteen, he was never home. He was always out with his friends and his slutty girlfriend who often cracked jokes at Rebecca. Holly had told Rebecca that Luke wanting a sister precisely three years younger than him at six was what made them adopt her. She was the first and the last child they looked at. Luke hadn't stopped holding her hand.

Oddly enough, to Rebecca, there couldn't be anyone in the world that Luke hated more than her. Every time his girlfriend cracked a joke, he was right there laughing along with her. He couldn't stand the sight of her, probably. Rebecca never knew why he hated her. She'd never done anything to him. In fact, up until she was ten, they were inseparable. Now, he barely talked to her and avoided her at all cost. Rebecca got out of the car after absently hugging Holly. She listened to her music all the way until she reached the school hallway. She was met by Route. Route was a pale boy with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes.

He smiled at Rebecca and pointed to Ricardo.

"You know, Becky-" He was stopped as she sent him the deadliest glare he'd ever seen. "I mean, Becca- I think today could be the day. You and Rico are going to talk."

Rebecca glanced at the tall boy in blue and black putting his things away in his locker and laughed.

"No way. The only time a boy besides you would talk to me would be when I'm dying. And that boy would be my doctor, I shit you not." Rebecca said, rolling her eyes and dismissing the thought.

"What ever, Becks."

"For crying out loud, Route-" She paused, punching him hard in the arm, "just Becca! Or even Rebecca!"

"O.K, O.K. Gods, you hit like a man."

"Asshole."

"You swear like one, too."

"Shut up!"

Their playful arguing had attracted the attention of Ricardo. He paused, taking his attention from his locker, and looked in their direction. It didn't bother him that they were friends, Route even tried to make them talk, but it just wasn't the right time. Not yet. Rebecca, drawn from her laughter, caught his eye. It was silver on brown. They were gazing at each other, curiously. Ricardo, thinking about speaking, covered his ears as the shrill whistle of the bell ringing echoed in his ears. Obviously, this wasn't the time to talk, either.

Rebecca, staring at him just a moment longer, walked off to her class with Route, Ricardo behind them. They all had first period gym, which is why they walked the same direction. Along the way, she got side tracked and zoned out, though nothing was really going on around her. They'd made it in the gym, having a substitute coach for the day. Rebecca, Route and Ricardo all sat their things down on the bleachers and Route took a seat beside them. He never rubbed it in Rebecca's face, but he was glad he wasn't able to participate in the activities that they have to.

The substitute, Coach Krash, told everyone to run five laps. Rebecca groaned in protest with most of the other kids. The coach glared harder at her than most other kids. They'd began running and then started a game of dodge ball. Rebecca was great at sports. She had the agility and reflexes of a cat. Plus, she had great aim. Her team, which included Ricardo, had won.

"Calitas and Garcia, I'm gonna need you two to stay for a minute." Coach told them as the bell rang.

Route was looking curiously at the man and decided to hide behind the bleachers. Rebecca and Ricardo looked at each other and then back to the coach. They approached him cautiously.

"Coach, if-" Rebecca's sentenced died down on her as Ricardo grabbed her shoulders. She looked and saw her teacher turning into a dragon. She yelped, jumping and bumping into Ricardo. Ricardo looked around and grabbed her wrist, noticing some of the archery equipment. He dragged her to it and handed it to her. Just as he was about to speak, they heard Route.

"Shoot it! It might not work but shoot it!" Route yelled.

Rebecca nodded and started shooting arrows at the monster, only to have it laugh, if dragons laugh, and spew fire at her. Ricardo tackled her out of the way and they landed with a thud. She'd had a good grip, so she held her bow. She stood, helping Ricardo, and threw the bow down. It wasn't working and it wasn't going to.

"Not working, Route!" She screamed, getting frantic.

The dragon extended his arm, hitting her and sending her into a wall. Route rushed over to her, but it was obvious she was unconscious. Ricardo stared helplessly at her still body. Was she dead? A source of light blazed for a second in the boys bathroom and a tall man with tanned skin, blonde hair and blue eyes walked in.

"You know," he began, boredom seeping in his voice, "we aren't suppose to help you guys, but rules are so boring."

A bow materialized in his hands as well as a quiver of arrows on his back. He notched an arrow, aiming, and shot it. A loud frequency emitted from it before it hit the dragon. The dragon dispersed into golden dust and fell on the ground. The man walked over to Rebecca and knelt beside her.

"Who are you?" Ricardo asked, dying to know.

"Apollo."

He began humming a song and his hands glowed. Rebecca's eyes opened and she eyed him down.

"Um-"

"Nice to meet you, I'm Apollo and your doctor."

"See, Route? I told you. The only man to ever talk to me would be a doctor when I'm dy-"

"Are you O.K? And how'd you do that, Apollo?" Ricardo interrupted.

Rebecca never imagined hearing him speak, much less the first sentence being about her or her health, but she nodded anyway. She then remembered how he'd saved her. Why did he do that?

"I'm Apollo, I'm an amazing and sexy god. I healed her because I'm the god of healers."

"Good to know."

With that, Ricardo collapsed on the floor.

"Not much of a protector are you, Route?" Apollo smirked.