Chapter Nine

"How come I'm the only one who can see you?" I asked Cupid as we walk to school.

It's a peaceful morning, the sun shining brightly and bird chirping sweetly. It is another day of attempting to make Luke Lewis believe in love in exchange for a lifetime with Finn

"When you were in the café, I ticked off some potion on your coffee," I nodded my head.

"So even if my accident didn't happen I would still see you?"

"Yeah," he was taking out an arrow from his bag, focusing his eyes on a woman who is walking with her poodle dog, cute, by the way.

And when he got the perfect angle he shoots the girl,  exactly on her heart. My eyes circled in shock, the girl didn't even react! That looked painful!

And the fact that I can see the arrows flying towards the heart, I can also hear the sound it makes after hitting it. It sounded as if I am in an archery competition. It breaks me! How could he be so heartless?!

"You're doing your job in front of my eyes if you don't know!" I yelled at him.

"Shut up, Carly. I'm doing my job," He said and pulled another arrow, placed it on his brow, and pointed it to the guy who is having a jog around the neighborhood, he's masculine, blonde and handsome, perfect match, and in just one blink, Cupid freed the arrow and now it's on the guy's heart.

"Can I have that job? Just shooting arrows on future couples and I won't need to go to school." I asked him.

He shook his head, "You're not a God."

"I can be a demigoddess or something! Introduce me to a God who is single in Mount Olympus and tell him I am your mortal assistant, tell good things about me and I'll do the rest," I winked at him.

"You have a crazy imagination, Carly. You need a Psych consult," He told me and walked ahead of me.

"After showing me how you shoot on other people's hearts now you're bailing on me!" I shouted that made an old woman carrying groceries look at me with confusion, probably thinking I'm crazy, so I walked faster.

"You wanted proof that I'm Cupid, I just gave you that." He winked and it didn't suit him at all.

I wonder how Psyche manages to love this man, he is well, rude, and annoying. He is also bossy. It was his fault and yet here I am doing his job, tsk. How ungodly!

"Stop insulting me with your thoughts, mortal. My wife loves me and it's not your business,"

"Sorry, I forgot you can hear my thoughts. Deafening right?"

He shrugged and didn't answer back. I held the strap of my backpack as we walk on the sidewalk as he talks.

"What are your plans on your mission for this day?" Cupid asks me.

"We're going to Chester's party, Lily will be there, I'll introduce them to each other and basically leave them." I smiled.

"Sounds like a plan," He says. "I'm going to pray and offer to the Gods that you won't fail," He added and smirked.

"Excuse me, have you seen me fail?!" I shouted again at him. He was covering his ears.

"Yeah, I've seen you fail on your relationship!" I was about to hit him and then he was gone.

Once I learn teleportation and magic I'm going to hit you so hard, Cupid!

**

I was in my history class, seated in the middle. Luke was seating by the window. In the middle of the discussion, everyone was having their own businesses.

The girls at the back were gossiping and I can hear from my seat that they are talking about Chester's party. And the guys were throwing crumpled paper with their letters inside it from the other side

"What are you doing in my class?!" Mr. Mark asked furiously when he finished writing on the board and looked back, he's fuming mad.

"You're throwing crumpled papers?! Gossiping?! My class is not a game, it's history!" He shouted so loud I can see his veins on his neck from where I am seating. The greens on his neck look like it's about to burst.

I looked at Luke seating inappropriately, trying not to laugh and he's turning red. Tsk, Luke Lewis is not really a good boy.

"Stop it! all of you, get out of this classroom!" Then we took our bags and left the room in a storm.

"You were holding your laughter," I whispered to Luke and nudged him on his waist when we left the room.

"He looked funny," he whispered back. "Cafeteria?" He asked.

"Yeah---" Someone bumped into me in the hallway, the scent smelled familiar.

"Hey, I'm sorry---" Good thing I didn't get on the floor or hit on something, or these bandages will stay on my skin or will be joined by more. 

It was Finn holding a rugby ball.

"Sorry, Carl," He says and helped me stand back on my feet.

"Yeah," I said.

Finn stared at me, "Did you hit your arms or head?" He asked with concern.

He was holding my arms examining if there's something wrong. I loosen his grip and stood up with confidence.

"Nope, am fine," I gave him a little smile and walked away even before he does.

Everyone was looking and I gave them what they wanted to see or something they don't expect to see.

Good job, Carly! You did great, after all, he made you look like a loser because he had broken up with you, you finally showed that you're doing just fine. Moving forward, but not really. You made a bargain with Cupid so you can live with him together and forever.

I missed his scent. Hugging him, cuddling. I miss him, so much.

"He calls you Carl?" Luke asked me on our way to the cafeteria.

"Yeah, it's a guy's name, I know," I said as we walk.

I haven't seen him in days and this is how we met again. I didn't avoid him, maybe he did. And later at Chester's, I hope I get to ask him why we really broke up, real closure right? Because he was stupid enough to tell it's not going to work, without me knowing the real reason behind it.

When we arrived at the cafeteria, we directly went to the counter and picked the food we're going to eat then paid for it and sat at the usual table where these people seat.

Nate was holding a camera and a gorilla pod and Jelly was laughing so hard. Nate focused the camera on her and zooming the lens in and out.

"You're a vlogger?" I asked in shock.

"He is," Luke answered it for me.

"Guys, this is Carly, the popular girl, added to the gang," Jelly introduced me into the camera and Nate focused it on me. And I waved, "Luke's here!" She added and Luke raised his brows with jolliness.

Nate stopped the recording, turned it off, and placed it down on the table and we started eating.

"You're a vlogger!" I said with amusement. "Didn't know," then I shrugged. "What contents do you do?" I asked.

"I do those Minecraft videos---" Jelly cut off what Nate was saying.

"And pranks!" And she laughed.

"Ever since Carly joined us here at this table, there has been a miracle, you're all jolly," Luke stated.

"Of course not," Jelly stopped laughing and composed herself.

"If you say so," Luke says as he bites on his hotdog and stares at Jelly who suddenly went silent.

"Maybe because I am a girl who can understand---" Jelly cut off my sentence even before I finish. 

"Cut it, Carly," she went good mood to the bad one.

"She's denial, most of the time," Jelly threw a glare and everyone continued eating when Nate spoke again, "Especially with girl best friends," he whispers.

I cracked the silence by asking Nate, "I want to make pranks," I said.

"We'll plan it," Nate says.

"So you guys are going later?" The two nodded except for Luke and I smirked with that.

Recess was over and we're going back to our own classrooms. The whole day was boring and I am looking forward to something that will make my day and that is going to Chester's.

**

"Are we going to a café?" Luke asks me as we walk, not knowing where we are headed to.

I shook my head, "Then where?" I pursed my lips and remained silent.

He kept nagging and asking where we will go. It was just three days, today is included, and I found Luke Lewis is a nagger.

Kidding aside, I actually don't know if this is going to work, I hope so. I'll get to his core and I will discover why he doesn't believe in love and I will make him.

"We're here!" I shouted with joy, I guess.

It's been a week since the last time I attended a party, football game after-party. Back then, I have a boyfriend. And now I am bringing a boyfriend.

"Chester's place, really?" He glared at me.

He's mad, I can sense. I guess I can try handling it. But he's not like Finn. I can't kiss him to reduce the madness inside him. Definitely a no.

It's getting dark because it is six in the evening with Luke Lewis' rage for me.

"We can skip tutor today, can we?" His brows met with his poker face, "Oh, we can't?" I frowned.

"Carly, I didn't sign up for this tutoring to party," He said coldly.

"I know, but," I sighed and tried to explain. "We've been studying for days---"

"Two days,"

"Yeah, we need to refresh!" I almost yelled.

It is dark and I think we are fighting, a friendly fight.

"Just admit that you want to party instead of studying," he said with calmness and coldness.

"Fine!" I rolled my eyes. "Thank me later!"

**

Red cups were already all over the place, it was chaotic.

There are a lot of people kissing and dancing in these dark places. Usually, the parties I go to are dim not really this dark.

But in the darkness, I saw Frida and her little witches, imagine that. She was dancing to the music like crazy.

When we entered the house, everyone was staring at me and the person being pulled by my hands. Luke.

Then I spotted Lily, hanging out by herself, with a red cup in her right hand. I walked towards her with Luke. Pulling the mission now!

"Hey!!!" I greeted her.

"Hey! Didn't knew you were coming!" She hugged me. "And you brought a friend!"

"Uh yes," I pulled Luke closer in the front, "This is Luke!" I saw Lily smile, "Luke this is Lily," I introduced them to each other.

Lily offered a hand to shake, so formal. And like what all matchmakers do, I made an excuse so I can leave, "I need to pee," Luke scowled.

"Can you accompany him for a while?" I implored. Lily gave a nod so I left them both in one corner.

Luke looked upset. He doesn't like parties anyway, but this one, I got it under control.

Lily's a kind person. She engages around people quite fast. If Luke won't cooperate then Lily can. 

I can make it before Valentine's.

I went over to the kitchen to get my own drink. I felt the urge to pee but since the bathrooms and comfort rooms are occupied by people who like to kiss, I will be holding it in for some time.

This is not how I party. I am on the dance floor all the time with my boyfriend or at the table where the football players are. But now, I need to hide from them. They can be really annoying, every time I see their faces I remember the time when Finn and I used to be together. Well, that will happen soon.

I want to be in place with silence. So I went to the pool at the back of the house. I was actually hoping I could find my ex-boyfriend so I could ask him about what happened.

It took me two days, apart from the five days I was in a coma to demand answers for my questions. I don't want to look pathetic. Though with what Cupid promised me in return for my work, I am pathetic.

Love can make you a fool, indeed.

I am sure that Finn is here.

I was holding my red cup as my eyes welled up. Not again, Carly!

I saw a nightmare in front of my eyes.

It was Finn kissing my best friend.

And I ran away.

This time, I made sure I won't cross the streets. Everyone was looking at me while I was running.

I just want to leave this place.

I want to be somewhere where my heart won't ache like this.

Was this the right thing to do? Should I keep him as my end of the bargain? Will my heart still ache if I finish this?

I halted to wipe my tears when someone pulled me.

Luke pulled me for a hug.