We Faced a Goddess

Friday night I couldn’t sleep. Keres was really upset about something and that was upsetting me. Time that night was almost at a standstill. I couldn’t stay in bed so I crawled out my window and sat on the roof. I watched as the stars became blanketed by the clouds. It started to drizzle and within minutes it was almost pouring down. I liked the rain, so I didn’t mind much.

“What are you doing just sitting in the rain?” Keres asked. I didn’t even realize she came out.

“It’s just rain. I’m fine.” I said.

“Bonnibelle you are on a rooftop and it is pouring down rain. Get inside before you fall!” Keres was adamant.

“I’m not going to fall! I’m fine!” I didn’t realize that I was raising my voice.

Keres let out an angry puff and started walking across the wood connecting our houses. Thunder roared and it caught Keres off guard. She slipped and fell. Her arms were the only things holding her. Before I could even think I ran to Keres and pulled her up. We were closer to my place so I just took her to my room. Both of us were soaked and shivering.

“Get some comfy clothes out of my closet.” I told her. “You need something warm to wear.” I walked down the hall to grab a couple of towels and thought I saw someone go into my room. It must have just been my imagination. Keres was the only person in there.

Once Keres and I were in warm clothes we sat on my bed and she leaned on me. She had a death grip on my hand. I understood why. She almost fell from a second story drop. It’s natural to be scared and just want to be close to someone.

“I’m sorry.” She said. “I haven’t really talked to you much. I just thought you’d be upset or something knowing that a girl likes you.”

“Wait what?” I was shocked. She actually liked me? Like, liked me more than a friend liked me? What?

“I literally said I like you last week. Did you not catch that?” She asked.

“I thought you meant as a friend dude. I’m awful with people having crushes on me. You could drop a hint and I’d just pick it up and give it back to you.” I explained.

“This wasn’t a hint! I told you.” Keres laughed a little.

“Why would I be upset with that?” I was confused.

“A lot of girls get upset knowing someone gay likes them. They think it’s creepy.”

“Thank goodness you’re gay.” Why did I say that?! “I mean… um. Yeah. I’m bisexual. I’ve had a crush on you for a while dude.”

“Well, I’m pansexual,” she explained. We both kind of laughed. It was kind of funny and it was almost three in the morning so we were also exhausted. “So, with us coming out of the closet and all… Do you want to go to the masquerade with me? Like, with me with me?”

“Of course,” I said with a smile. I had an actual date with the most beautiful girl I knew. “You know… I didn’t think you’d be interested in me. You’re so pretty and I’m just eh.”

“Eh? What do you mean?” She asked.

“I’m so plain…” I looked down. Keres placed her finger under my chin and lifted it. Her face was centimeters from mine.

“I don’t think you’re plain.” Keres said softly. I could feel the heat in my face. I was screaming internally. Time stood still for a moment.

I let out a nervous laugh and pulled away from Keres. I looked away then back at Keres so see she was smiling. “We should probably go to sleep.” She said. I agreed and turned out the light.

By the time I woke up Keres was gone. She text me and told me she went home when the rain stopped. I opened my curtains and the sky still looked grey and dismal. I actually really liked seeing the sky dark and dreary. It was comforting. I eventually decided to get dressed and headed downstairs to see Aunt Paige.

“Hey kiddo,” Aunt Paige slurred. She was still half asleep. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and pumpkin spice was in the air.

“Hey, Aunt Paige. Are we going anywhere today?” I asked.

“No plans but if you want to do something we can.” Aunt Paige poured herself some coffee and drank it black with a dead expression on her face. I was terrified.

“I was thinking we could go to the mall. Keres and I were planning on going to this masquerade on Halloween and I don’t really have anything fancy to wear.” I explained/ Aunt Paige’s face lit up.

“I was hoping a day like this would come.” Her eyes practically had stars in them. “I haven’t been dress shopping since your parents got married. I love dress shopping more than I love pizza.” Aunt Paige downed her coffee and ran upstairs. I drank some coffee just to perk up some.

“Hey,” Aunt Paige said entering the room, “if you want to invite Keres I’d be more than happy to take her. I mean, you guys are going together. Might as well try to match.” I nodded. Rather than just texting Keres I actually walked next door to ask.

Keres was usually dressed very cutesy but when she answered the door she looked very different. She cut her hair into an undercut. There was still a good amount of hair on the top and she had curled it. She had a black leather jacket with zippers and patches all over it. Her long legs extended out of a black miniskirt and ended in black combat boots. She matched her bedroom aesthetic.

“Badass,” was all I could get out of my mouth.

“Oh thanks. I just wanted to change it up some. It started with cutting my hair and ended here.” She laughed a little.

“Do you want to go dress shopping with Aunt Paige and me?” I managed to ask.

“That totally sounds like fun!” She took my hand and we were off.

The car ride to the mall was mostly internal screams. Some screams were out of excitement for a date and such. Most of them however were out of fear. A goddess was after me and my girlfriend and our first date was most likely going to be a battle to the death. Who let this happen to a seventeen-year-old?