Not So Cinderella

by Rebekah L. Thompson

  “Me too. I can give Athena the school work she missed.”

  “Of course you would, Alec,” Ross teases with a playful punch in the arm. “She’s in the hospital, man. Give her a break.”

  Alec scoffs. “Well, we do our classwork, so I’m giving it to her,” he tells Ross while sticking his tongue out. Shaking my head, I groan. Like Scar in the Lion King, I’m surrounded by idiots.

  “I’m Alec, and I’m a nerd with nerdy friends,” Ross mimics in a high-pitched voice as he circles his hands around his eyes, pretending they’re glasses. Alec grabs Ross by the nape of his neck and pulls him into a headlock.

  “How nerdy am I now? Huh?” Alec asks, squeezing. Ross wheezes, coughs, and then taps out. We all scrapped while growing up, Alec included, so he has a few tricks.

  “Geez, I was kidding. You didn’t have to try to murder me,” Ross jokes. Alec, Chase, and I roll our eyes at this childish behavior. A movement out of the corner of my eye catches my attention, and I look up. Lucas smirks, and when I make a move to stand and put him in his place, Chase grabs my arm. Lucas is poking the bear, that punk.

  “Don’t let him win,” Chase reminds me, and I eye Lucas before sitting back down. Just one more chance, and I’d skin him alive for what he did to Athena. He may not have physically given her the injuries, but he made things so much worse by locking her in that closet.

  “She could’ve died. He deserves a good beating,” I argue and glare at Lucas, who’s now sucking face with Lexi. Yuck. Chase sighs, and I look back at him. He knows more than anyone how it feels to want revenge.

  “What would Athena do?” He’s right, she hates bullies, and I’d like to think it would be different, but I wouldn’t be any better than them if I beat him up.

  “You annoy me sometimes,” I grumble, and he laughs. I take significant measures to keep my eyes off of Lucas. As we finish eating, Chase looks down at his phone again. He’s been doing that since we sat down.

  “Something wrong?” I ask as I chunk my trash in the can near the doors.

  “No,” he mutters, looking up. “Kim just asked if we could hang out after school. Can she come to the hospital?” The guys follow me out of the cafeteria to the next period.

  I shrug my shoulders. “I’ll ask Mason, but I don’t think it would be a big deal,” I tell him and pull my phone out. I’d like to see Kim since we don’t see her as much as we used to. She lives near here, but she doesn’t get to hang out much with adjusting to her new life.

  Me: Chase has to pick his girlfriend up after school. It okay if she comes to the hospital?

  The science teacher drones on about DNA and squares. I hate science. Well, I hate how boring school can be. My phone buzzes. I pull it out, opening the message from Mason.

  Mason: Yeah, that’s fine.

  I don’t bother replying simply because I have nothing else to say. Sighing, I lean back in my chair and watch the clock. I have the rest of this class, then PE, until I can see my girl. Again, I hate waiting.

  I pause. Did I just say ‘my girl’? What is wrong with me? She wants nothing to do with me, even though I’ve tried to gain her trust or favor, so why am I calling her my girl? Why am I falling for one who resists me at every step? I wouldn’t stop, though. I’m going to make that girl happy. She always seems so sad, and I cringe thinking about it- no one should look like a kicked puppy all the time.

  No one should be unhappy all the time.

  The bell rings, and I jump out of my seat, hoping to leave those questions behind. We make our way through the busy halls to reach the gym. I don’t bother changing because I don’t want to. Ross hits my arm and points at the bleachers. “Let’s go sit,” he says, and we all walk over. A group of girls look up and scoot away when we sit near them.

  After a few minutes of the girls glancing back and whispering, I crack. “What?”

  One with brown hair straightens up and looks me in the eye. “Is it true?” She asks, confusing me. She could mean several things.

  “Is what true?” I ask. Briefly, she glances at her friends and gulps. Fear flashes across her face, confusing me even more. I filter through my actions. Did I do something to her and not realize it? I don’t like the feeling of uncertainty rushing through me, so I cock an eyebrow to get the girl to respond.

  She asks, “That the nerd girl wouldn’t sleep with you, so you totally beat her up?”

  “What?” I yell, making her flinch back, “Where did you hear that? Who said it?” My anger builds quickly, like the swell of an enormous wave.

  She lifts a shaky hand, her finger pointing a straight path to the culprits. “Lucas and Lexi are telling everyone that’s what happened, then they’re saying you threw her in a locked closet. We all saw the pictures of the blood,” she squeaks, her hand shaking as she lowers it. Those little- Ugh. I’d like to get rid of Lucas and get on with life.

  I slam my hand on my thigh and stand. I walk away, but I turn and face the group of girls. “No, it’s not true. I don’t hit girls, unlike Lucas,” I tell them. Their eyes widen in surprise, eyebrows shooting up to their hairlines.

  With that, I turn and storm in the direction of Lucas and his friends. When I reach them, I don’t bother talking; I just grab Lucas’s shirt and throw him to the ground. His friends stand there shocked as I tower over the little leech. “Why’d you spread rumors about me? What the hell is your problem? Do you have nothing better in your pathetic life than to hurt others?” I growl, grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling him to his feet.

  Lucas smirks. “I bet this is what you did to the nerd, isn’t it? Look how she ended up,” he smirks, pushing back at me. How can someone be so pig-headed?

  I send a punch to his face and drop him. “I didn’t touch her,” I growl, hoping it’s the truth. “You’re the one who locked her in the closet. She was already hurt, and she almost died in that hell hole YOU put her in,” I growl, punching him in the face again. My rage takes over, flooding through my veins like a river, and I keep hitting him.

  Face, stomach, chest. Face, abdomen, chest.

  “Stop! Break it up! Break it up!” Coach yells. Hands grab at my shoulders, and I struggle against them until I see the damage I’ve done. Lucas is sprawled on the ground, bleeding from his nose and mouth, bruises littering his skin. Coach turns to me and points at me. “Suspended for the rest of the week!” He yells before he carts Lucas away.

  I turn around and shake the guys’ hands off of me. They’re all staring with wide eyes. “Drake, you just got suspended! What the hell?” Chase yells, “I thought you weren’t gonna fight because of what Athena would think,” he says, and I lean my head against the wall. It’s no use when crud like Lucas mouth off. I clench and unclench my fist, reveling in the pain.

  “I wasn’t going to, but what that girl asked me- I just blew up.”

  “I saw,” he pauses, watching me. I turn to him and narrow my eyes. He sighs. “You know, if Athena is Cinder Wolf, then they’re right,” he says. He knows I’ve thought about this since we first took her to the hospital. He doesn’t need to bring it up again. I yell out and punch the wall.

  “Ugh!” I groan. God, I need to stop doing that.

  “I know! You think I haven’t agonized over the idea I’m the reason she’s in the hospital; that I’m the reason she almost died?” I spit. It’s been a constant thought in my mind, in my sleep, and every minute between. He takes a step back, holding his hands up in surrender like I’d fight him next. Truthfully, I might if he keeps getting on my nerves.

  I don’t know what to do, so I turn back to the wall and rest my forehead against the stone. I need to stop blowing up on my friends. It’ll only make things worse. After a second, I push away from the wall and turn to the guys. “I’m leaving. I’ll see you at the hospital,” I tell them and leave as fast as I can.

  It doesn’t take long to get to my car and speed out of the driveway. Okay, Drake, calm down. I pull the image of her dancing around her room to the front of my mind. It he
lps me calm down- her awkward movements; her glasses slipping down, almost falling off her nose; her shocked, open-mouthed expression when she saw me watching her. It all calms me.

  It also makes me think about the gifts I wanted to give her. Making a U-turn, I drive back down Main Street. Flower shop... there! I pull into the small flower shop lot and park. I head inside and find a little old woman behind the counter. She looks up at me and smiles.

  “Hello, young man. What can I help you with?” She runs her eyes over my arms, noticing my tattoos. Most people don’t see an eighteen-year-old with tattoos covering every inch of his skin. It’s unusual, but I’ve gotten used to the stares over the last several years.

  I look around, unsure what lilies look like, then look back at her. She’s a cute little woman with gray hair twisted in two braids and a flower-printed dress. “I’m looking for some flowers.” Her smile is friendly. I can imagine Ross snickering and making a joke about telling a flower shop worker I want flowers. Of course, that’s what I’m there for. “Um, do you have blue lilies?”

  She walks out from behind the counter with a bright smile. “Follow me,” she instructs, hooking her fingers gently around my arm, and I follow without protest. “I don’t get many young men coming into my shop,” she babbles as she walks to the back of the store. “I’ve got so many flowers, and most of my customers come in without a clue, but you, young man. Oh, so smart. You know just what you want.” Her rambling is cute, like she doesn’t get to talk to people often, and she’s taking her only chance.

  In the corner sits a section of blue flowers in between the green and purple areas. She carefully picks up a bouquet and turns to me. “Are these okay?”

  “They’re beautiful.” Like Athena.

  “Are they for a special girl? A girlfriend?” She asks, a curious lilt to her voice as she leads me back to the counter. A smile comes to my face at the thought of Athena as my girlfriend. If things go my way, she will be.

  “Maybe… hopefully,” I reply, and she rings them up. She pauses, her movements freezing in the middle of bagging the flowers. I notice her watching something behind me, so I glance back. A man dressed in black stands outside the shop, watching through the window. I turn to the lady, look down at her, and ask, “Is he bothering you?” She peers up at me with a worried expression.

  “There were a few robberies in the area. I was just thinking that man out there doesn’t look too friendly,” she says, holding the flowers with a small smile. I turn and study the man again. He’s staring through the glass into the store, and I glare at him. His eyes widen when he sees me, and he promptly walks away.

  “Um, by any chance, are you hiring?” I ask the lady when I turn to face her. She peers at me with wide eyes and nods.

  “Yes, actually. Would you be searching for a job?” She asks hopefully. “I need someone who can lift heavy objects like soil or potted plants. I know young men don’t want to work at flower shops because it’s too girly,” she tells me, hope sparking in her eyes. How many guys turned her down or didn’t bother to hear her out?

  She’s such a sweet old lady, reminding me of a grandmother. I don’t remember my grandmother if I had one, but I’d like to imagine she’d be like this woman. I smile as she hands me the flowers.

  “When do you want me to start?” I ask.

  “Can you start tomorrow afternoon?” She asks, hope filling her eyes. Who am I to crush an old lady’s hope? I nod. She walks around the counter, hugging me when she gets close. I’m shocked for a second but can’t speak before she pulls away. I snatch a piece of paper off the counter and jot my name and number down.

  “Call me if you need anything, okay?”

  She looks at the paper with interest. “Thank you, Drake. I feel ashamed to say this, but when you walked in, I was afraid. I know now I have nothing to worry about. You’re a sweet boy,” she tells me with a big smile, patting my arm. I nod and wave as I head out the door. For some reason, that felt great. I climb back in the car and gently lay the flowers in the passenger seat. Okay. Stuffed elephant. Where would I get one of those?

  I pull out of the parking lot and go a block down to Walmart. When I park, I jump out and run inside. I head towards the kids’ section, stopping when I find the stuffed animals shoved onto two shelves. I search through them and grab a giant, soft elephant. Holding it up, I measure it against my body, from the floor up to right above my hips.

  “More for her to cuddle with,” I mutter. I hadn’t planned to get one this big, but it’ll be a pleasant surprise. I hope.

  People send weird looks my way as I walk to the register, but I don’t care. I pay for the animal and rush to my car. I pick up the flowers and put them on top of the elephant since there’s no extra space in the seat. It’s a pretty big plush. I hope she likes it.

  Soon, I’m pulling into the hospital parking lot and gathering Athena’s gifts in my arms. It’s harder than I expected, not seeing the ground due to the enormous elephant. I didn’t forget where her room was, so I jog upstairs and stop for a breath in front of her door. I knock, but there’s no answer, so I quietly open it. As I step in, I hear Mason. “I think you like him,” he says, and jealousy bubbles through my blood.

  “You like who?” They both raise their heads, eyes wide when I speak.

  Chapter 11

  Athena

  My eyes widen at the sight in front of me. Drake, dark colors and tattooed glory, stands in the doorway with an enormous elephant in one arm and a bouquet of blue lilies in the other. I keep staring at him, at the things in his hands. Mason says something, but all I can focus on is the intimidating, tattooed guy holding a giant stuffed elephant.

  And when I say giant, I mean ginormous. He’s got it on his hip like he’s carrying a toddler. The elephant's head reaches above his head, and the tail and legs hang past his waist. It’s huge, and ridiculous, and incredible. Also, it’s my favorite. I look at the beautiful blue lilies next. My favorite again.

  Drake found you.

  Mason’s words ring in my head, and I remind myself to thank him. Why does he have the elephant and flowers? Is he trying to bribe me into liking him? Is it working?

  I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have more friends. I mean, all four of the guys hang around me anyway, and I can’t even get rid of them with threats.

  “Athena,” Mason says, breaking me out of my thoughts. I look up at Drake’s worried eyes. Oh, God. I was staring. How long was I staring? I probably looked like an idiot.

  My heart speeds up as he stares back at me, making the heart monitor beep faster. I blink twice and motion to the end of the bed. Drake raises his eyebrow as if asking if I’m sure. I smile. I wouldn’t have motioned for him to sit if I didn’t want it. He takes that as permission and sits.

  “Thank you,” I whisper, looking into his blue eyes. He looks confused, his eyebrows pulling together for a second, before I continue, “For finding me. If you hadn’t found me... I-“

  “You don’t have to thank me.”

  Warmth spreads through my hand and up my arm when he touches me. He laces his fingers with mine, so I look down at them. Our hands, I mean. I don’t mind the touch like I thought I would.

  However, I frown when I notice the bruises and scrapes on his knuckles. They’re more than what happened at our fights. The purple bruises under the red cuts look painful, so I brush my fingers over the injuries. He’d wrapped his hands, like I did, for the fights. These were from something far more painful.

  “What happened?” I ask softly, lifting his hand to examine it.

  “Nothing,” he mutters, then tries to pull his hand away. I don’t let him; instead, I tighten my hold on his hands and whisk my fingers over the damage again. He sucks in a breath, and I look up. Did I hurt him?

  “What did you do?” I ask again, more sternly this time.

  Drake sighs and looks away as if he’s ashamed. “Lucas spread rumors about how I beat you because you wouldn’t… because you wouldn’t sleep with me,” he mumbl
es. That little bastard. Anger and shock duel inside me.

  “Really? God, he just doesn’t stop, does he? He deserves a good beating to knock some sense into him,” I blurt. I quickly shut my mouth and turn away, embarrassed by my outburst. Drake chuckles and uses his fingers under my chin to lift my eyes.

  “That’s exactly what I did, Flower,” he tells me, making my stomach flutter.

  “You can get suspended for fighting in school!” I cry, and he has the decency to look guilty. “No! You got suspended, didn’t you?” I ask, but I know the answer. Our school has a zero-tolerance policy on fighting. The Principal wouldn’t let Drake off even if he were defending himself or someone else.

  “Yeah, but it was worth it,” he tells me, looking into my eyes. I see the truth in his eyes, and I smile a little. I was kind of hoping I’d be the one to kick Lucas’s butt, but this works too. Drake shifts his hand in mine, so our fingers lace together again. “Anyway, forget about that. I got these to brighten your day,” he smiles, passing me the elephant. Mason takes the flowers to put them in some water.

  Without thinking about it, I squeal and hug the soft, squishy animal to me. “It’s so big and soft!” I bury my face in the furry animal and squeal again. I hear both laughs, but I can’t do anything but lift my head and smile. “Thank you, but how’d you know?”

  “That’s my fault,” Mason says, sheepishly raising his hand. I laugh, not mad at all.

  I turn back to Drake with a severe expression. “So, how long did you get suspended for?” I ask, and he groans, his chin dropping and touching his chest. I narrow my eyes at him and tug at his hand that’s still holding mine.

  “Fine, the rest of the week,” he caves.

  “That’s not bad. It’s Tuesday, so you only have three days,” I muse, even though he already knows that. He’s about to say something, but there’s a knock at the door, and Ross runs in, nearly running my brother over.

  “Button!” He exclaims, throwing his arms around me. He lets go when I wince, pat his back, and smile. Alec walks in next, straightening his glasses and holding a familiar book in his hands. He hugs me and tells me he’s glad I’m okay before skillfully walking to the couch beside my bed while reading and sits down. He didn’t even look up. I totally would’ve tripped or run into something.