Here you go guys, I am so happy my daddy is here, sorry it's taking away from my writing time. I don't own…never will. (Although Danaya is mine and so is Calli, Woot!)
Chapter 7: The Fallen Angel
"Is it wrong, that while my best friend is floating around in a pool of heartbreak, where she can't quite escape the liquid depths of her tears, and she is starting to drown, I am dancing around the clouds in a love struck euphoria?" - Theresa
Atlanta walked around the next day in a state of oblivion. She marched past Theresa without saying hi, she didn't try to ruffle Neil's perfect hair, for which he was continually grateful, and she didn't even try to challenge Herry at football. She seemed content to drift around in a world of pretend.
Neil watched his red-headed friend sadly. Sure he may be a self-centered blond boy, but he did have feelings. He knew Atlanta would never be the same without Archie, I mean "They was like peas and carrots, her and Archie". Neil laughed at his random comment of Forrest Gump (A/N: I love that movie…sniff). Atlanta sent him a death glare.
Okay, so apparently when the red-head ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.
Neil was okay with this, as he had something better to think about and watch. Surprisingly, it wasn't himself or his mirror! He glanced towards the other couch where a woman sat looking out the window aimlessly. She seemed to be remembering something and her hand twitched towards her black sweater casually.
Neil sighed; he wanted to know more about this woman. Her silky black hair was just below the collarbone and her pale skin gave her an angelic appearance. To Neil she seemed like a Fallen Angel. Her eyelashes were thick and fluttering against her ivory skin. Her tight black sweats were low cut, and her ebony shirt clung to her upper body, exposing her creamy midriff.
"Wow, Neil, I'm surprised you haven't gone to the mall or something already. Where is your mirror?" Herry teased. Neil shot him a glare and sighed.
"Why do you all think he is so shallow? He is the nicest person I've ever met." Danaya asked trying to defend the blond boy. Herry laughed as though she had made a hilarious joke and then left again to find a phone. Calli had wanted someone to update her on the Atlanta situation.
"That wasn't a joke I really wanted to know…"Calli objected softly. Neil laughed.
"They say I am shallow because my ancestor was Narcissus, so I have a reputation to uphold, and well what can I say I'm just hott!" Neil exclaimed. Danaya rolled her eyes and let out a small giggle
That laugh was unlike anything Neil had ever heard. It was soft, but strong, and it seemed to get into your brain and just make her want to laugh again. Neil then and there decided this raven haired woman might, just might, be hotter than him. A teeny bit.
"Hello, is Calli there? May I speak to her please?" Herry asked politely, while twirling the tiny phone cord around his fingers. He heard a small breaking noise and stopped playing with it, knowing at any moment it could snap it in half.
"Hello?" Calli asked wondering who called her. She didn't get very many calls anymore because her dad didn't like her hanging out with a ton of people. Not that she minded, she wasn't really into parties and that.
"Hey Calli, it's Herry, you told us to phone you…"
"Oh hi, yeah! What's going on, how is Atlanta?"
"Well, she emerged from her room, only to stumble around in a fog out here. She's not good; I doubt she will get over it anytime soon." Herry said sadly.
"Did Archie really mean that much to her?" Calli questioned, stunned at how deeply their loyalties to each other lay.
"I honestly didn't think she loved him as much as he loved her. We thought she considered them just buds. Frankly, I am surprised Archie left, I mean, he can barely go two hours without seeing Atlanta." Herry explained quietly.
"I don't really believe in this young of true love. It just never seems to work. How much could Archie really love Atlanta?" Calli wondered skeptically.
"Trust me; Archie loves Atlanta more than Neil loves himself, by far. He would die for her and almost did just that night. He was challenged with a fight to the death and was going through with it. When she got sick, he never left her side and he was the only one who could break the spell Arachne cast on her. He would do anything for her, and she would do anything for him. Whether they like it or not they will end up together, it's just the way it goes."
"I hope so for her sake, I mean sure I hate Apollo and stuff, but Atlanta has never done anything, personally to me, to deserve this. Poor girl, I can't even imagine losing the one person who makes you feel safe or loved or happy. It would be awful." Calli said sympathetically.
"Don't worry; Archie won't be able to watch her go on in this misery. He will either come back or come get her every weekend to see her, there is no way he can just drop her like this."
"Okay well, I guess I will go seeing as how I am going to see you tomorrow!" Calli sang happily.
"Alright Calli, bye."
"Wait, Herry! Do you believe in love at this age?"
"Yes I do. Look at Jay and Theresa and Archie and Atlanta. I definitely believe it hits the most unsuspecting of people." Herry murmured, lost in his own thoughts.
'Like me for example,' he thought miserably, 'Stupid teenage feelings!' After he had hung up the phone Herry laughed. She didn't believe in young love, and yet with ease she had wormed her way into his heart. Stupid good smelling perfume and soft hair. He was so weak! But she was just so pretty…
Danaya knocked on Archie's old door where Atlanta answered it.
"I am going to the mall with Neil, would you like to come?" Danaya asked.
"No, but before you go I have something to give you. Come in." Atlanta answered. She went to a small bag that had been set in her room and pulled out two hundred dollars. There still looked to be a lot left in there.
"Here, this is all yours and some more I invested in an account. Your brother set it up, but I ended up with it. It's all yours." Atlanta handed the money to a trembling Danaya.
"I shouldn't have this, it should be yours." She objected softly. Atlanta snorted. No, that bag was definitely Danaya's; Archie had left specific instructions to give it to her. She handed Danaya the bag and shooed her out the door trying to sit in misery alone.
You would think that Odie or Neil or Herry would be the ones to desert, not Archie. He was the front hand fighter and an important part of the household. Atlanta decided she wanted to visit the gods, see if they had anything that could ease the pain of the black shadow clawing at her heart.
Atlanta raced out the door hoping no one had seen the red blur running by. She kept running and didn't stop until she was at the school doors. Once there she sprinted inside to the janitors hall closet and pulled out her golden necklace, with the engraved A on it.
As soon as Atlanta could, she was on her way to the gods' hide out. When she reached there she ran to Hera's room. Bursting in after lightly knocking, Atlanta saw that Jay was in a meeting with his mentor. She muttered an apology and tried to run away but Hera stopped her.
"Did he leave? Is he truly gone?" Hera asked frowning. She was too preoccupied to notice the shadow of hatred creeping over Atlanta's eyes.
"Yeah, he's gone for good, and you all got what you wanted. I am leaving; I want to talk to Artemis and Ares."
She ran out the door ignoring Hera's protest. When she reached the Goddess of the Hunt's domain, Atlanta knocked and waited for an invitation. When she got that she opened the door and went inside. Trees loomed up around her, much like in Persephone's garden, but at night. There were many more trees than flowers, unlike Persephone's garden.
"Artemis?" Atlanta asked. The goddess appeared in front of her and held out her thin arms gently. Atlanta ran to her and hugged her. Out of everything her friends had tried to do for her, none had tried hugging her. Artemis held her closely and rubbed her back.
"It'll be okay, don't worry, he'll come home."
"No, he won't! It's my entire fault and Ares is going to slaughter me!" Artemis sighed and sat down on the ground. Atlanta plopped down beside her.
"He will be angry, yes, but not at you. He would know it wasn't your fault, Archie liked you. He still does!" Artemis reassured her. Atlanta sighed and nodded. She promised the goddess she would be back after school tomorrow and went off to break the news to the God of War.
"Ares, are you here?" Atlanta called into the empty room.
"Yeah, what do you want!?" He muttered grumpily.
"It's about Archie-"
"I hope he broke or leg or something, because there was almost no excuse for missing practice and training today." Ares shouted at her. She paled slightly.
"Well, actually…Archie'sgoneandnotcominghomeagainandit'sallmyfault." Atlanta rapidly shouted out. The baffled look Ares gave her told her he hadn't gotten a word out of that jumbled sentence.
"Slower girl, you might hurt yourself at that speed. What did you say?" Ares asked. He was a bit shocked at Atlanta. I mean sure, Archie could beat the girl any day, but still, she never got nervous or stuttered!
"Archie, he's gone and not coming home. Ever again. It's all my fault, I ran away, I got scared and he tried to protect me and now he is stuck in the city with a group of people he doesn't want to be with."
Then Ares did something so strange, so unexpected so…un-Ares.
"Ahh, don't worry then, Archie's tough, if he's on the street no one will touch him. He is deadly, trust me, you should see him fight in the dark. He'll come home soon; it's not your fault, although, I always knew you would run first!" Ares chuckled and slammed Atlanta on the back. Usually even his large strong hand wouldn't come on so unexpectedly but Atlanta was busy deciding if Ares was kidding or not. She almost flew through the wall when Ares clapped her back. Getting to her feet she glowered at the God of War and marched out.
Jay walked slowly beside Theresa, lost in a swirl of thoughts. He was confused about Calli and how she would fit into the prophecy. Danaya also was another problem. She didn't know the team as well as Archie had, how would she be able to fit in synch with them? What about Atlanta, she was almost a zombie nowadays and could barely talk, let alone fight. And what had Atlanta meant by 'You all got what you wanted' when she had yelled at Hera!?
But most of Jay's thoughts were centered on the girl walking beside him. She walked quietly, almost as lost in her own mind as Jay was. Her emerald eyes looked to the stars as if asking the heavens for guidance. Every once in a while, their hands would connect and then quickly retreat as if singed, still savoring the feeling of warm flesh against their own.
"Jay?"
"Yeah?"
"Is it wrong, that while my best friend is floating around in a pool of heartbreak, where she can't quite escape the liquid depths of her tears, and she is starting to drown, I am dancing around the clouds in a love struck euphoria?"
"I hope not because if it is wrong than I am a really bad person." Jay whispered. Theresa decided that the burn would be worth it and snatched his hand. He held tightly to hers and she leaned upon his shoulder. He let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"I am really worried about her…She loved him you know. She loved him just as much as he loved her."
"She told you this!?" Jay exclaimed softly, unbelieving that the whole time Archie was worried about screwing up their friendship Atlanta felt the same.
"No, but look at the way she talks now and acts, as supposed to when Archie was here. She has become a living dead where she used to be an outgoing woman. He was everything to her." Theresa explained sorrowfully.
Jay kissed the top of her head and said nothing. Theresa knew that meant there was nothing left to say.
A/N: Aweee…sorry barely any AxA in this chapter but I figure they are going to have to suffer through a miserable life for a while. I want to know if I should make them miserable for a time period of:
a) 2 years
b) 2 months
c) 2 weeks
d) By Friday…(it's Sunday in this chapter)
If you have an opinion, please review. I am starting my next chapter as we speak, should be up tonight or tomorrow.
Love Me
