I guess Adam must've checked into a hotel because I woke up the next morning in a hotel bed.
"Okay, so I looked like Medusa this morning…" I looked up at Chandler who just came out of the bathroom and she was drying her hair with a towel. I moved my head up and smiled at her, since I was lying on my side.
"Shh! Chandler! Althy is asleep." I knew that was Adam scolding Chandler and I could tell he was sitting next to me on the bed. She pursed her lips at him but then a returned her original, gleeful smile at me.
I yawned and sat up, waving my hands in the air in a stretch. I rubbed my eyes because they were tired from crying. Chandler took the towel away from her head, revealing that the tips of her blond hair were now blue. I saw Adam's eye widen as he switched to a more comfortable position on the bed.
"Whoa, what's up with the new hairdo, Splash?" Adam asked and Chandler scoffed, resting her hands on her hips.
"Excuse me?" Adam smirked.
"You heard me," She raised an eyebrow.
"Shut up, Bolts." She replied. Adam rolled his eyes.
"Well, will you answer my question?" She sighed in agitation and nodded.
"Whenever my hair gets wet," She started, walking towards us. "The tips of my hair become blue."
"That's totally wicked!" I shouted. Chandler shrugged.
"I'm like a freakin' Polly Pocket, though!" I got up off of the bed.
"But an awesome Polly Pocket," I threw an arm around her neck, giving her a noogie. She screamed and flailed.
"Althy!" She groaned. "I will douse you with water if you don't let me go!" I snorted as I laughed, letting her go. She stumbled back a bit with a grimace on her face. She fixed her hair as she gave me the stink eye, but I could tell she was trying her hardest not to laugh. She grumbled at me.
"Now I look like Medusa again…" I looked at Adam and we started to laugh.
Even though corvettes are supposed to be snazzy with luxury and all, but truly, I was getting sick of it. I mean, on the inside, it was so cramped, that it was truly telling us that this was not a car for a numerous amount of people to travel in, no matter how fast it may go. We should've stolen Adam's dad's trailer or something like that. We could've saved a lot of money with that vehicle.
Anyway, we were almost there, I could sense it. That's probably the main reason why I'm so giddy, even though a nagging feeling told me otherwise. I just had this feeling that there was one more obstacle in our way. Only one. I've been savoring those words all afternoon. I had another feeling that this obstacle would be coming directly for me and me only, not Chandler or Adam. But, I wouldn't have it any other way, as long as they're safe and protected, I can sleep at night. Well, at least give it a try.
Adam was driving through a quaint little town somewhere in the west. It was picture perfect, making us stand out like a sore thumb, especially the chili-pepper red color of the corvette.
Adam drove around a circle where a little, white gazebo stood in the middle. There was a band occupying it by playing. I could hear the faint music come through the windows and I smiled at them, watching them. In front of the band was a man who was conducting them but then taking random, lyre solos. I thought it was pretty cool overall, mainly because I have never seen someone rock out so hard on a lyre before.
When he took these interludes, he would turn around and face the minor size of the crowd, a slightly cocky smile amidst his face as he plucked the strings. But at that point, he caught my eye, his smile turning into a sly one. Adam came to a stop at a stoplight as I slammed into the metaphorical wall of realization: he was my obstacle. I looked at Adam, my eyes were wide.
"Adam, stop here," My hand was already on the door handle as he put the corvette in park at a curb. I hurriedly got out of the car and Chandler followed me, trying to keep up with me as I jogged to the gazebo.
"Althy," She worriedly called. "What's going on?"
"He's what's going on," I pointed out to her. I nudged my head towards the gazebo; the guy was still jamming out on his lyre. I heard Chandler gasp behind me and she managed to join by my side.
"Is he the obstacle you were talking about?" I nodded, walking onto the dried, yellow grass.
"Do you know who he is, Chandler?" I stopped and studied him some more. "I just mean, he looks awfully familiar." I saw her nod and tap her chin as she thought.
"I know what you mean," Her eyes lit up when the answer finally came to her. "He's Orpheus!" I tilted my head.
"The guy who went to the Underworld to get his wife back?" She nodded.
"But sadly, he died." She dejectedly said. I sighed.
"Then how can he be here right no-" I was interrupted by Orpheus.
"Daughter of Apollo!" I didn't notice that the band had stopped and everyone had their eyes on me. I slowly turned my head towards them, giving Orpheus a meek smile.
"Hey, guys!" I waved because I was really trying to be nonchalant, but my heart was beat like the big brass drum up on that stage, due to the sudden (and unwanted) attention. Orpheus raised an eyebrow at me.
"And this is the girl he warned me about…" He shook his head, clucking his tongue in disappointment. I instantly felt pissed off, so I walked towards the gazebo, my hands balled at my sides.
"Excuse me, but you were right to be warned," I marched up those stairs, only one stair down from his face. "Show me what you got, lyre-boy." I poked him in the chest, even though my finger kind of went through it. I pulled my hand back, tucking some hair behind my ear. Orpheus smirked at me.
"I have already shown you what I have, my dear Althea," He walked past me and snapped, the instrumentalists disappearing into midair and stage lights appearing in the corners of the gazebo. A grand piano and pianist waited, already waiting to play. I looked down to see that I was wearing a red, sparkly dress that glimmered in the lights. I looked up and around, seeing that it was now night time and that Orpheus was sitting in a theatre chair out on the lawn. I cleared my throat and squinted as I looked out at the audience.
"Um, Orpheus, I'm kind of not warmed up yet, you see. I-" I saw him roll his eyes, cutting me off again.
"Excuses, excuses!" He cried. "I want a show!" He demanded, looking around at the audience members for support. And soon enough, all of the members were shouting that same statement in monotone voices, as if they were under his control or something. I sighed and pursed my lips.
"All right, all right," I caved. I cleared my throat once again, standing up straighter, taking deep breaths in and out as the pianist began to play the introduction of my song.
And I began to sing.