Chapter Seven

"Why do I need to make him believe in Love? I could just do your job and make him fall in love for Lily," I told Cupid who is leaning on my opened comfort room door while I brush my teeth.

I know!! He's invading my privacy and acts like my Dad. I saw him smirk and it looks bad on him, ack! I almost spit out the toothpaste on my uniform.

"He can't fall in love when he doesn't believe in love, that's the first step," He told me.

I put my toothbrush down and asked, "I can do it both at the same time," I said in a proud way. I raised my eyebrow at him, "Oh, you don't believe me!"

He smirked.

"Doesn't your wife look for you?" I wondered.

"She knows my job very well. And I go home every night. I need rest like you mortals," He answered.

I went down the stairs to get some breakfast with my parents. Cupid was just standing by the window looking outside. I had toast and milk.

"Did you put ointment on your stitches?" Mom asked me.

I gave her a nod, "Yeah,"

"You and your tutor is going to stay here?" Dad asked and my eyes squinted at Mom, "Mom told me," he said and continued drinking his coffee.

"I forgot to tell him, I'll tell him later, text you if we're coming," I finished my milk.

"Don't forget, Carly. I'll make pasta." She reminded me.

Dad can't drive me to school, we are going ina complete opposite direction. Mom has to meet up with a high school friend of hers so she can't drive for me either.

I picked up my bag, kissed my lovely parents before leaving the house. Mom reminded me about the antibiotic ointment for my stitches and I left.

Cupid walked me to school, "If I make Luke believe in Love, the arrow in my heart," I paused and pointed my chest, "Will it go away? Dissolve or something?"

"It won't," my eyes circled with his answer. We are walking by the sidewalk and I am glad there are only a few people around who do their chores in the morning and can't notice me talking to myself when I am actually talking to the God of Love.

"Then what's the point of this mission?!" I yelled at him.

"Aside from the golden arrows I have, you mortals have that red string on your pinky finger," my eyes narrowed.

This is getting even more complicated.

"That's true?!" He nodded while I was freaking out, cannot believe that those red strings myth were actually true. , "Thought it was just some myth," I told him.

"It's true," I had an amusing look plastered on my face.

"Then what happens? What's the red string for, really?" I asked.

"Like in the stories, it connects two people that are meant to be. Luke's red string doesn't extend because he doesn't believe in Love. Lily's on the other hand, is extending. If you make Luke believe in Love, their strings will meet halfway,"

I nodded as he explained. I didn't know those things were true until today. My Grandmother was not kidding, this is all real!

"What about the arrow?" I asked again. This arrow on my chest is really distracting. I need to find a way to take this out of my chest.

"It will stay in your heart, but I will shoot another on Lily's heart once their red string meets,"

"Can't you shoot at her now? Like right now?" He rolled his eyes with what I asked.

"Didn't you heard me?! When their red string meets I can do it when it does! For now, shut up and focus on your mission," He said in an agitated tone, he is easily impatient and irritated and sarcastic for a God. Those are all bad qualities, why did Zeus make him one anyway?

This God of Love doesn't act godly, he's always grumpy! And he is rude! I hate him!

"Don't be mad! Between the two of us, I should be the mad one, you don't want me to ask questions when I am the one who does all the job here!" I yelled. "I wonder why Psyche loved you," told him with a hint of disdain in my tone.

"Didn't you read about our love story?"

I remember it was tackled for a whole day, my teacher even extended her class. There was a debate and our teacher asked us to make a reflection about it.

"Yeah, we did, tenth grade. Corny love," I told him and I gave him a dismissive blink that made me feel like an insect

"She loves me because I am a great lover, Carly,"

And with that, I rolled my eyes.

**

"Hey," Vanessa placed her arms around my shoulder. I left the classroom, my class just finished.

"Hey!" I tried to sound cheerful.

"You want to come by at Chester's? His parents are out of the country, it's a three-day party!" She told me excitedly. Her smile was like a ray of sunshine but it doesn't hide the fact that she ignored me for six days now, not telling me about the substitute cheerleader thing and now she's hugging me. 

"Uhm," I shook my head, "I need to catch up for the things I missed," I told her.

"Teachers are not rushing you, you've been in a coma!" She said. "And besides, I am one of  the things you missed!" She hugged me.

"I'm really sorry, I have this tutoring thing as well, don't worry I'll make it to you once I finish all my stuff," I told her.

"Okay, I understand," She said with sad eyes. "I can't change your mind?" she gave me puppy eyes to convince me but I shook my head.

She started talking again, "Is your tutor hot enough to mend your broken heart? Finn is an ass! I punched him when the news of your break up reached me," Vanessa sounded like the most concerned best friend but my mind flew to the time when she didn't act like one to me.

"He's cool and kind," I said with a tiny smile on my face.

"And hot?" I nodded a little when she asked me that. "Who is he?" She asked.

"Luke Lewis," I answered.

"Oh, he's hot," She said, "I'm going, meeting the squad, you should come," I shook my head and said that I really have to do my stuff and I will come by once I have the time and she walked away.

I went straight to the cafeteria, I am hungry. My class was boring and I need food.

"Don't tell me you're going to sit with us every lunch!" Jelly exclaimed when I placed my tray on their table.

"Kind of," I mumbled and sat beside Luke. Nate and Jelly were seating on the same side.

"Where's your fake friend?" She asked.

I shrugged, "Off to meet the squad,"

"Ah, the substitute cheerleader. Why?" Jelly being her curious self asked, again.

Munching on his food, Nate stared at me waiting for an answer

"What, why?" I asked with confusion.

"Why does she need to be the substitute cheerleader when you're here already?" She cleared her throat and drink her fruit juice.

"I can't do physical kinds of stuff, it will tire me. I need rest and I am waiting for my wounds to heal." They all nodded with my answer, satisfied.

I faced Luke, "Hey, my Mom suggested we could study in my house, she'll make pasta," I continued eating after I told him that.

I lift my sight to Nate and Jelly who was staring at me as I chomped my food, "What?" I asked.

"Meet the parents already?" Nate said.

"She's really hitting on Luke," Jelly commented.

"Look, I am not hitting on him, he's not my type!" I defended myself. I am definitely doing the complete opposite if you only knew about the negotiation Cupid and I had. And if only your friend doesn't have this issue with Love, I wouldn't seat at this table with two more ordinary people.

"You can come," I told Nate and Jelly.

"What kind of pasta is your Mom cooking?" Jelly asked, suddenly curious about the pasta, eh?

"She's vegan," Nate said on the side while he eats his burger.

"White sauce, I think. But if you like Pesto, I can text her. My aunt is also vegan so Mom knows how to cook vegan pesto," I told Jelly.

"I'm good, and I'm going to Chester's later," Jelly said while nibbling on the straw of her fruit juice.

"Me too," Nate said.

"Luke, if you're going to Chester's you can just give me notes or your book and I can do it by myself," I told him.

"Nope," he says and shakes his head.

"What, nope?" I asked with confusion.

These people are very confusing.

"Is she really a smart ass? Did you lose your brain when you had the accident?" Jelly giggled a little.

"Offensive," Nate commented.

"He doesn't go to parties that often," Jelly explained. "And you won't come?" She asked me.

"Been in a coma, can't," I replied and shrugged. 

"You're always present in parties, are you kidding me?! now what's is stopping you?" She yelled, "Chester's big time, man, all seniors are invited, everyone!" Jelly added.

"You are alive, Carly! Let's celebrate!" Nate sounded like a close friend when in fact this is the second day I hang out with them.

"Nate, celebrate? At Chester's? Really?" Jelly's sarcasm filled our space then she rolled her eyes.

"Maybe tomorrow," I winked at Jelly.

Tomorrow, I'm sure Lily's going to be there. The last days of parties are the biggest hit so everyone will come. Luke needs refreshments.

I have a plan. An evil grin was plastered on my face.