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Apollo let out an exhausted sigh as he stepped out of his math class and into the school hallways.
Three tests in one day is absurd. On a Friday, as well! This school is horrific.
Apollo continued to complain in thought, then realized that the week was over. He might as well treat himself to something sweet.
He walked through the crowded hallways and past “friends,” who were all greeting him. He wanted to consider them friends, but deep down he knew it was all an act. They just wanted to be acquainted with the only Ixian in the school, who also happened to be the royal successor of the country. For some reason that was an achievement to them.
It annoyed him.
They’re all fake. None of those people actually care about me. None of them actually want to get to know the real me. They just want the popularity status of being friends with royal blood!
Losing his focus and himself in his thoughts, Apollo forgot to pay attention to where he was going and accidentally walked right into someone.
The light impact and sound of a soft thud snapped him back to reality.
“Ah, shit! Are you alright?” He asked before realizing who had even bumped into.
”What the hell, Apollo??” A pale girl with white hair steadied herself and turned to the Ixian.
Ah. It was Graves. Darcy Graves. The one person that was actually real with Apollo. The only girl at the school he truly found beautiful, both physically and personality-wise. She always argued and got mad at him, just like now, but that’s what got him to like her over time. She never faked being nice to get Apollo to like her, unlike everyone else. Darcy was also the only person to never actively seek out his attention. She always earned it.
Funny enough, she was his only real friend. At least he considered her to be.
”Oh, Darcy. I guess you just couldn’t resist being apart from me.” Apollo smirked as he joined her in leaving campus.
Graves sneered at him, still upset at him for walking into her. “That was really cringey.”
Apollo chuckled nervously, “Aha… Anyways, I was planning on going to the ice cream place down broadway right now. Would you like to come with me? It’ll be my treat, and an apology for walking into you.”
”And who’s-“
”It’ll just be us. I didn’t invite anyone else.” He knew what she’d ask and answered early.
Graves raised her eyebrow, “So, you’re only inviting me to go out with you. Just the two of us. Alone?”
”Ah, w-well, we’re just going out together as friends!” He stumbled on his words.
“Sure.” She said after a brief moment of thought.
Apollo felt like an idiot, smiling and feeling so happy that she had agreed.
The two began walking to the plaza the shop was at. The store had a sign showing it was just called ‘ICE CREAM.’ Fitting.
The place was quite empty, with only one person in there, not including the only worker.
”Hiiii! What can I get for you two?” A friendly looking gargoyle asked.
Graves recognized the woman immediately, ”Aren’t you the Savior of Spanish Harlem? Ivy, right?”
”Well, that’s what they call me. I prefer Ivy, though!”
“What are you doing here?”
”This is my part time job!” She sounded happy to work.
”Isn’t this pretty far from Spanish Harlem?”
”One of the perks of having wings.” Ivy said as she flashed them. “Now then, what can I get for you guys?”
Graves looked at the menu for a short bit before realizing she didn’t have that much of an appetite and didn’t want to waste any food.
“Um… I actually don’t think I want my own thing. Do you think we could maybe order a something like a milkshake and share?” She asked her companion.
Although his skin was already a deep red, there was a very visible blush on his cheeks. Sharing a drink was kind of romantic, was it not?
”Uh… well, yeah. Sure.”
“Is strawberry ok with you?”
He nodded and pulled out his wallet as Graves ordered a large strawberry milkshake.
“You know, you don’t actually owe me anything. I can help pay for this.”
”No, I insist. It’s not that much, anyway.” He said as he handed over two quarters toward the register.
”You guys can sit down. It’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
The pair found a seat near the large window the establishment had. Graves took off her school jacket and put on a more comfortable green hoodie. Apollo also decided to take off his uniform coat since it was a hot day, and was left in his white button up.
On the opposite side of the store, a very gruff looking lady that also had white hair, similar to Graves, was sitting alone with her head on the table. It had multiple glasses of empty root beer floats on it. She had wolf ears and a tail, which were limp. Maybe she also had a really rough day.
Graves noticed something more peculiar than the werewolf, though. A little black blob with a beak, in what seemed to be blue pajamas, was tugging its hardest on the woman’s jacket. She pushed it away with her legs and the tiny creature let out an audible whine.
”You’re mean!” It said as it began walking away from the woman and toward the two students. ”Do you guys have anything I can use a blanket?”
Graves’ eyes lit up as she leaned over to get a better look at the creature, fawning over him.
”What on Earth are you?” Apollo asked
”I’m Rem! Do you have a blanket?”
”I can give you my jacket, little guy.”
Graves opened up her bag and pulled out her school jacket, placing it onto the table beside them. She then lifted Rem up and also put him on the table, where he put down his pillow, pulled the jacket over himself, and fell asleep.
”This city is so strange…” Apollo said.
”You inviting me out on a date is even weirder.” Graves smirked.
”It is not a date!”
Graves laughed at his outburst. She loved seeing him flustered. It was even better when it was by her own hand.
Ivy walked over to the two and set down their strawberry milkshake, along with two straws.
”Enjoy, you guys!”
“So, is strawberry your favorite?” Apollo asked as he bit on his straw.
”Nah. I just like it because the color reminds me of you. I think it’s pretty.” Graves smiled and stared at him while going in for a sip of the drink. She was obviously joking and trying to mess with him, and it was working.
His mouth gaped slightly at the comment, and he was at a loss for words. After composing himself, he decided not to question anything and change the subject.
”Are you doing anything this weekend?”
”Aside from going to the cemetery and helping out the dead, not really.”
The prince picked off the cherry that topped the drink to eat it, but was halted by Graves.
”Hey, I wanted to eat that.” She pouted.
He looked at her and let out a deep sigh.
How can I say no to that face..?
Still pinching the stem of the cherry, Apollo moved it towards Graves for her to grab it. Instead, she bit the cherry off as he was holding it, so it looked as if he was feeding her.
“Thanks.” She smirked at him.
Apollo’s heartrate sped up and his cheeks began to feel hot. She was really teasing him today. Surely she’s not throwing him any signals, right? That’d be crazy.
Apollo took a sip of the milkshake, thinking of what else to say. Sharing a drink with her gave him butterflies in his stomach. It didn’t help that he was staring right at her beautiful face.
He let out another long sigh, as his mind drifted off to the stressful day he just had right before going out with Graves.
”Thank you.” He said out of the blue.
”Hm?” She looked up at him.
”Ah, sorry. It’s just that I’ve had a long week and today was especially stressful. Your company is… comforting to me. Thank you. For going out with me.”
”I mean, anything for free food.”
Apollo scoffed and smiled at the sarcastic comment.
”…Do you wanna talk about it? What’s been stressing you out?” She asked with an affectionate concern in her tone.
”Maybe another time.”
They finished their milkshake and Ivy came over to their table to collect the glass.
”You know, you guys are a really cute couple.” The gargoyle commented.
The both of them looked at her in shock.
”Ah- N-no, you’re mistaken! She’s not my girlfriend.”
”We… we’re not dating.” The two said simultaneously.
”Oh! Perdón… You guys just looked so cute together. Sorry for getting it mixed up.” She scratched the back of her head.
”Don’t worry about it. Thank you for your service.” Apollo said, pulling out a five dollar bill from his wallet and handing it to Ivy. “A tip.”
”What? No… I can’t. This is way too much!”
”I insist. You’re a kind and hardworking person. You deserve it.”
”Thank you…” She gave them a toothy grin as they put on their backpacks and left the store.
“Come again soon!”
Rem had decided to follow them since he was woken up by Graves grabbing her jacket. Apollo was against it, but Graves convinced him in letting Rem take a walk with them in the park nearby.
”Hey, Rem. Where is your home?” Apollo asked with concern.
”I don’t know how to get there. I’m lost…” The little familiar responded with sadness.
”You don’t have a place to stay?”
”No. I was sleeping in the ice cream place and eating candy.”
The two teens looked at each other with a sense of responsibility. Graves decided she’d be the one to take it up.
”How about you come stay with me for a bit until we find a way to get you home?”
”Ok! You can be my big sisterrr…”
”Graves.”
”My big sis, Graves! And you can be my big brother.”
”That’s Apollo.”
His little beak formed a smile, finally finding friendly companions and a place to stay until he was able to get home.
Rem told them that he was tired and they compromised by letting him sleep in Graves’ backpack. They continued to walk down the park path, taking in the scenery.
”Darcy, I’ve got to ask. How is it that you’re wearing a hoodie? It feels like 80 degrees right now.”
”I’m just really cold all of the time. Sometimes I’m like a walking corpse with how cold my body gets. Here, feel.” She reached out her hand toward Apollo’s, which he grabbed reluctantly.
Although it disturbed him at how eerily cold her palm felt, it was also soft and delicate. He became hyper focused on the contact of their hands, gently rubbing his thumb in a circle on her palm.
”Uhm… Apollo?”
”Ah- sorry!” He quickly let go of her hand, which returned to his side.
After a few steps in silence, Darcy slowly slipped her fingers into Apollo’s hand.
”I liked the warmth…”
Apollo gulped and nodded. He carefully gripped her palm and began rubbing his thumb again, trying to warm her hand with his own body heat.
Both were silent trying to appreciate the intimacy, but also out of embarrassment. There were unspoken, mutual feelings between them both, and neither of them were brave enough to talk about it.
”Would you like to hang out tomorrow?” The Ixian asked.
”Yeah. How about the graveyard tomorrow night? You can help me out.”
”That sounds a bit creepy, but alright.”
”You scared?”
”Of course not! I am a fearless warrior with responsibility. I have no time to be afraid of ghosts.” There was a shakiness in his voice that hinted he was lying.
”It’ll be ok. The spirits there are nice, and I’ll be sure to hold your hand the entire time.” She joked.
It wasn’t really that far-fetched though, since she briefly squeezed his palm that she was holding onto at that very moment.
Apollo, flustered, looked away to hide his blush and embarrassment.
After a little while, Apollo decided to walk Graves home. They chatted a bit more on the way, talking about random things, such as animals and hobbies. They also discussed on what they were going to do with Rem.
Apollo nodded to her as a goodbye when they reached the entrance of the building Graves lived in. As he turned around to leave, Graves called for him.
”Wait, Apollo.”
He turned around to see Graves hesitating in thought. After a moment of delay, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his cheek.
”See you tomorrow…” She turned and swiftly entered the building, leaving Apollo standing alone in shock.
”See you tomorrow.” He whispered to himself.
He’d have her company tomorrow.