Chapter 9: Marla

This was all too freaky. I wasn't ready to be a goddess! I couldn't be expected to save the damn world! Zoey's the one with the affinities! Why couldn't she do it-? Why'd there even have to be a stupid prophecy? Why the hell wasn't Karissa here? Why was I hyperventilating???

Oh, yeah...I was in a panic attack. I just didn't understand this one bit! And to make matters worse, if I didn't understand, the world would be destroyed because of it. So I had to understand. I must. It was sunlight right now. I should be getting asleep, but I couldn't...I was way too anxious to sleep. I was fearful of everything. Nearly.

"Hey, Marla." A voice spoke my name from the door. It had been several hours since the rest of them had left my room, so I wondered who it was this time.

"Come in..." I whispered.

"Hey." A guy named Jonathan that I'd seen quite often, but had never once talked to walked in. What the hell was he doing here at this time? It was daylight right now, we were supposed to be asleep, and guys weren't allowed in the girls' dorm right now. I didn't have a problem with Jonathan specifically, being in here. He was really cute. He had pitch black hair that looked like the way that goth guys wore theirs. His bangs covered one of his eyes, and his little crescent was a darker blue than most others' were. I think he was goth, or at least a cute one. He came in and looked a little awkward. "Yeah...I know we barely even talked. Except that time in Dragon's class," and then I really remembered. He had been my partner in fencing. I remembered being really stuttery because he was really really good at it and for a while I thought he flirted with me.

"Oh, yeah. No problem. I remember." I nodded.

"I couldn't sleep. I know, this is really awkward. But I was thinking about that time we were partners in Dragon's class, and I liked talking to you. And I wanted to talk to you again."

"Don't you think it's a little late-early, or whatever-?" I laughed uneasily. I wondered why he didn't gawk at my new marks.

"I suppose you're right. I only wanted to come for a few, though. I came so I could ask you if you wanted to sit with me and a bunch of my friends tomorrow. We could talk then."

"Oh...um...yeah! Okay!" I spoke a little too quickly, and Jonathan stared at me and made me feel really awkward. After that moment, he chuckled a little and turned toward the door.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then," he whispered and walked out. I could feel my eyes widen in surprise as I lay back down. I stared at the ceiling, and surprisingly, I found myself drifting into sleep mode.

***

I woke up and it took me several minutes to realize that it was Saturday. I remembered that Jonathan had wanted me to sit with him, so I clad myself in purple leggings, a black mini skirt, and a black, v-neck, long-sleeved shirt. I applied my makeup extra carefully, because I wanted Gorgeous Gothic Jon to find me extra attractive, but it wasn't like anyone would notice my makup or sexy clothes. They would definitely stare at my new marks. They were all used to Zoey. But they'd get a whole new thing to get used to. Her marks were all beautiful saphire. Mine were a bunch of different colors.

I ran out into the cold night, not really minding the cold much, and ran straight for the dining hall. I didn't want any of those disgusting, horrible, scary, mutated bird creatures attacking me again. I was so desperate to escape the dangers of the night that I didn't realize I was already at the dining hall until I stopped hyperventilating and found a whole bunch of faces staring my way.

Oh shit...

Zoey rushed up to me suddenly (thank Goddess). "What are you doing, Marla?"

"Jonathan wanted me to sit with him today. And I wasn't thinking, and I said yes."

"Jonathan? Jonathan Cross? The guy who Dragon-"

"Yes. The guy that Dragon paired me up with."

"Oh. Where is he?" I looked around at the audience and found Jonathan's face. He smiled and waved toward me. I smiled back, and a few heads turned to glance toward him. "He's over there." she answered herself.

"Yeah." Was all I said.

"Are you sure you're ready for the spotlight?" she asked.

"It's a little late to change my mind, isn't it?" We both looked at the gawking faces of the crowd. I turned away and looked over my shoulder at her. "Plus, Zoey, I have to be ready for everything. I am ready. I'm ready for anything." I walked past the staring faces and sat next to Jonathan.

***

"Hey, Marla!" Jonathan greeted me as I took my place next to him. "I see you've got fans." We looked around. The whole room was silent and everyone stared at me.

"Give her a break would ya?!" Aphrodite shouted. Everyone turned their glances toward her. "Let Marla eat without having to worry about people burning a hole through her with their eyes!" When she said this, a couple of people just made faces and turned back to each other. Conversations rose again and I was, fortunately, no longer the center of attention, although several kids still stared at me. But I ignored them.

"Well, that was awkward." I whispered. "I'm glad you're not like the rest of them."

"Well thank you." I looked around at the booth. The rest of his friends appeared gothic like him. "Oh, these are my friends. Kyle, David, and Aleck." All three of his friends were cute and gothic-looking. Not really hot like Gorgeous Gothic Jon but just cute. They all waggled their eyebrows at me, and Jonathan glared at them. "And they're dumb, too. Try to ignore them."

"Hey gorgeous," said the one whom was named Kyle. "Nice tattoos."

"Hey, Jon, I never knew that you had such good taste in girls. This one here," Aleck jerked his chin in my direction. He never continued the sentence.

"Hey." David simply spoke. I smiled and answered.

"Hey."

"It looks like you have a few extra fans, too..." Jon muttered.

"Yay." I whispered to myself. Jon heard me and glanced at me. He laughed.

"So, name's Marla?" David asked me.

"Yeah."

"Cool." was all he said.

"David's got a girlfriend!" Kyle immaturely sang. We all glared at him. Especially Jonathan.

"Shut the hell up, Kyle!" he snapped.

"I'm just saying. I knew it would piss you off." Kyle looked at Jonathan and then me back and forth. "I'm thinking that she's gonna have more than just one number one fan." he waggled his eyebrows at me again. I sighed.

"Should I leave?" I began to feel awkward. I was beginning to think that being surrounded by all these guys who took so much interest in me would start something.

"No! I mean, you don't have to..." Jonathan answered.

"Of course I don't." Kyle added.

"Are you kidding?" Aleck chuckled. "I need something that won't burn my eyes to stare at." And that something just happened to be my marks.

David didn't say anything.

"Look, I don't want to go through what Zoey went through before. It would help if you guys would just quit staring at my marks." I began to feel a little irritated.

"We don't care about the damn tattoos. Though they are cool. But we're not like that." David replied.

"I ain't starin' at your tattoos. I'm starin' at you," Aleck burst out into laughter.

"Yeah. They're right. In some ways." Jonathan added. "With us, you don't have to worry about our attention being paid to your marks."

"Duh." Kyle blandly stated.

Well, even though two out of these four boys were highly immature, I began to like them all. Especially Jonathan. Especially Jonathan.

"Thanks, I guess." I murmured. I looked toward Zoey and the gang's booth. They all looked toward me at the same moment I looked toward them. They waved at me encouragingly. Zoey made a dismissal gesture with her hand, basically saying that I wouldn't have to worry about hurting their feelings. I smiled and mouthed "thanks" and continued talking with "my fans."