Chapter 36

Aphrodite has been at the school for three months now and she was slowly adjusting. Jason and Juliet were now her best friends and Jason kept his promise about keeping quiet. She hasn't talked to her family recently, but she was thinking about giving Ares a call. Her therapist recommended it, but Aphrodite was scared to do it. First period ended as quickly as it started. She had an hour between classes today due to block schedule. Juliet and Aphrodite were walking down to the lounge to meet Jason. Also, Aphrodite has formed a crush on Juliet…like…a real crush. Not something lustful or anything, she actually wanted to hold her hand and buy her flowers, not take her into the janitors closet and have her way with her. She won't admit it to anyone and is pretty good at hiding it. Jason keeps reassuring her that Juliet likes her too, but she doesn't believe him.

Juliet was sitting with Aphrodite, "What are we doing this weekend?" Aphrodite shrugged, "Weekend classes and I'll be back around one or two in the afternoon. You pick." A sigh escaped Juliet's mouth, "I always pick. Why don't you pick?" The trademark smirk that is 'The Davies Smirk' appeared on Aphrodite's face, "Sex?" Juliet rolled her eyes and smiled at her friend, "Haven't you done enough with your over active sex drive?" Aphrodite raised an eyebrow, "Why? What have you heard?" Juliet shrugged, "Nothing important." "Well ok…I don't know what to do," Aphrodite said after a moment. Juliet smiled, "Fine I'll pick. We can paint. I love to paint." Aphrodite sighed, "I can't paint." Juliet laughed, "I've seen the drawings you draw in class and all over your tests. The monster trucks flying around the papers and things like that. If you can draw, you can paint." Aphrodite shook her head with a serious expression, "I'm serious. I can't paint."

They had arrived in the lounge and Jason was now walking alongside of Aphrodite, "It's true. She can't paint. She can do everything in this entire freaking world…but…the idiot can't paint." Aphrodite smiled, "I told you…hey," she had realized he called her an idiot. Jason and Juliet laughed. Aphrodite checked Juliet out as she went up to buy a drink really quickly. Jason sighed and smiled, "Ask her out already. She likes you…a lot. You obviously like her. Ask her out." She shook her head, "I can't." Jason chuckled lightly, "Why?" She shrugged, "Commitment issues." Jason was puzzled slightly, "What happened to therapy helping you with that?" Aphrodite shrugged, "Right now we're going over how it's not ok to just punch someone because I'm frustrated." Jason laughed, "Well focus on that then because I don't like being decked for no reason." Aphrodite shrugged again, "Plus, I don't exactly have the best track record when it comes to dating. I'm sure you've heard." He nodded a little and smiled, "Yeah I've heard you've got a system and every new girl that dates you thinks they'll change you for the better." Aphrodite laughed, "Maybe that's Juliet. I just can't do it." Jason shook his head, "You are such a baby. Just do it. What's she going to do? Reject you?" She nodded, "Probably." Jason laughed, "You don't have a fear of rejection remember?" Aphrodite smiled and nodded, "Yes I remember and that's not what I'm afraid of. It's the commitment if she does say yes."

Aphrodite's phone sounded off and she checked the caller ID. Jason looked at the screen, "Who's BB?" Aphrodite smiled, "My best friend from Ohio." She flipped the phone open and pressed it to her ear, "Hey bro. Haven't heard from you in awhile." BB's thick country voice sounded through the phone, "Yeah dude sorry I haven't called. Been busy with school and stuff. How's it going over there?" Aphrodite nodded a little even though he couldn't see her, "It's cool. It must be kind of late over there. Did you need something or did you just want to talk?"

BB fumbled on his words a bit as he spoke indicating immediately he was nervous, "Both…I couldn't go through with it unless I have your approval." Aphrodite was scared to even think about what he was talking about, "Approval of what?" BB cleared his throat, "I love you Dite, you know that." Aphrodite started to become nervous as well, "Yeah, love you too. What do you need my approval of though?" BB paused before speaking and rushing his words out really fast, "You know I have a crush on Artemis and she's been hitting on me like no other these past two months. She's been driving Ares' truck to school and she comes with me to work on my truck and she was leaning over me. She knows I like her I'm sure of it and I'm taking her out tomorrow for a movie. I want your blessing on asking her to be my girlfriend." Aphrodite was relieved it wasn't something more serious, not that this wasn't serious. She was very protective of her sister, she was practically speechless, "Bro you want to date my…woah. I didn't even know she liked you." BB was relieved that there was no yelling, it was a good sign, "Me either. Until she was hitting on me like crazy. One of her friends told me she liked me." Aphrodite didn't really know what to say, "Did you talk to A-" BB cute her off, "Ares is weird right now and Apollo and I aren't the best of friends, we get along but that's it. You're my right hand Dite. It has to be you that's says it." Aphrodite took a deep breath hoping she wouldn't regret her next sentences, "I trust you man. I give my blessing to date her, but if you hurt her at all, so help me god you're going to need god if you'll want to live again." BB's smile grew large, "You know I would never do anything like that." Aphrodite looked upwards as she spoke, "No pressuring her into sex either. She's still a virgin." BB nodded vigorously, "You got it. So it's official?" Aphrodite nodded, "It's official." By now Juliet was back and standing there looking at Aphrodite waiting for her to get off the phone. "I fully give you my permission to date her." BB was extremely excited now, "Thank you so much. I got to go but I'll call you after she says yes." Aphrodite smiled a little and nodded, "Yeah. I got to go too. See ya bro." BB smiled, "Peace. Love ya." Aphrodite smiled, "Love ya too."

She hung up and Juliet gave her a confused look, "I thought you weren't talking to your family?" Aphrodite shrugged, "I'm not. BB is a friend from back home. We're really close and he's like a brother to me." Juliet nodded, ""BB. That's an interesting name." Aphrodite laughed, "It's a nick name. His real name is Brandon Bartleby." "So who are you giving him permission to date," questioned Jason. "My sister," Aphrodite said. Jason smiled and nodded, "Her very hot sister." Aphrodite made a face, "Dude." Jason shrugged, "Sorry, but it's the truth." Aphrodite shook her head, "It's just awkward." He laughed and so did Aphrodite.

Juliet was a little lost, "Way to be weird guys. So what are we doing today?" Jason shrugged, "Well we have an hour before shop class. Anything you want to do?" Juliet smiled at Aphrodite, "I want to see the inside of Aphrodite's room. She's been in mine, but I've never been in hers. She slips out the door and doesn't let me see the inside. Ever. All of your past girlfriends said they go in there…sleep with you and go to sleep and leave early to watch the sunrise so they never see it fully lit up." Aphrodite shook her head, "Why do you want to go in there so bad?" Juliet shrugged having no actual answer to the question. She had to actually think about a good answer for a moment, "It's mysterious. I want to see it. Is your blanket pink or something? I promise I won't laugh. I just want to see inside." Aphrodite shook her head and added a firm, "No." Juliet made a really hot pouty face, "Please," she questioned. Aphrodite was about to give into the face Juliet was making when her phone sounded off again. She looked at the caller ID and her breath caught in her throat. She hasn't spoken to her mothers since she's been here and why they were calling now was a complete mystery. Aphrodite's breath began to quicken and she knew immediately a panic attack was coming along. A pain in her chest grew and she shakily put her hand into her pocket to pull out a small cylindrical container, popped it open, and took a pill from the inside. She took it and her breath evened out as she watched the caller ID as it stopped ringing, her mother received her voicemail. Aphrodite put her phone back in her pocket and stood there evening out her breathing a little, Juliet was concerned and grabbed Aphrodite's arm to ask if she was ok. Aphrodite drew in a large breath and blew out slowly shaking her head yes. "Who was it," Juliet asked. "My mom," Aphrodite said so nonchalantly it made her quick freak out seem unnecessary. Juliet was confused, "What's so bad about talking to your mom?" Aphrodite just shrugged and looked at the floor.

Juliet suddenly remembered her friend taking a pill, "What did you take? You're supposed to give pills to the nurse and she has to give them to you." Aphrodite dismissed Juliet and walked off explaining as they went along, "I have special privileges because the nurse can't always get to me fast enough and it can get so bad I'll pass out and can get seriously injured so I have to keep a couple pills on me at all times. I have notes and the teachers know about it and everything." Her phone began ringing again and said Mama again. She drew in a deep breath and looked at the phone once again. Juliet smiled sadly feeling bad for Aphrodite's mom, who was so obviously being purposely ignored, "You should answer it." Juliet's sexy English accent made Aphrodite want to do exactly what she was told to do. She hadn't spoken to her mom since she left. She put the phone to her ear and pressed talk.

Aphrodite-"Hello?"
Spencer-"Hey Aphrodite."
Aphrodite-"Hey Mama."

Spencer-"It's about time you answer your phone. Is everything ok?"

Aphrodite-"Yeah. Everything's great. I was just on my way to shop class."

Spencer-"That's cool. How do you like the school?"

Aphrodite-"I like it. My classes are good and I like most of my teachers."

Spencer-"Have you made any new friends?"

Aphrodite-"Yeah. I'm with some of them right now."

Spencer-"What are their names?"

Aphrodite-"Jason and Juliet. Well I have to go we're remodeling old cars in shop and we have a deadline to meet so they can be auctioned off during parent's week."
Spencer-"Really? That sounds like something you'd enjoy. Maybe we'll buy the car you rebuild. Well your mom is begging to talk to you. Can you stay on long enough to speak with her?"
Aphrodite-"Yeah. For a couple minutes."
Spencer-"Ok. Love you."
Aphrodite-"Love you too."
Ashley-"Damn! Finally! Your mama talks too damn much."
Aphrodite-"Mom we were talking for like a minute. Two minutes tops."
Ashley-"I never said I was patient. Meet any girls?"
Aphrodite-"There have been a couple."
Ashley-"You didn't hit it and quit it did you?"
Aphrodite-"Mostly, yes. I think they all like to slap me in the same place though so there is like a permanent hand print on my face."
Ashley-"I'm sure you deserved it."
Aphrodite-"Oh I did."
Ashley-"I knew it. No call from the principal lately so I'm assuming everything has been going well?"
Aphrodite-"Everything's great."
Ashley-"Your sister is crazy she's been hanging with BB all the time. You should lay down the law about best friends dating sisters."
Aphrodite-"I won't do that, sorry. I already gave him my blessing to ask her out. He's going to do it tomorrow night on their date. I spoke to him right before you guys and I really got to go mom. Class is about to start."
Ashley-"Ok. We'll talk soon. Love you."
Aphrodite-"Love you too."

She clicked the phone and looked at her friends. Juliet looked at her, "Class doesn't start for another fifty minutes or so." Aphrodite nodded slowly, "You know that. I know that. But they don't need to know that."