"Hello? John, are you home?" Mom said, she sounded sad yet angry. What did he do this time? I quickly dressed in something fresh and rushed down.
"Hey mom, what happened?"
"Do you remember George's boss, Candice?"
"I do; I'll get you some coffee, and then you can tell me all about what Dad did this time."
"Thanks, sweety," she sighed and dropped her heels and coat, letting them settle on the floor.
Usually, she was very particular about being neat and clean, so whatever dad did, it was really bad. Coffee was ready, and I poured her a cup.
"Now, Mom, what happened?"
"So we had the Christmas party just now, you remember right?" I nodded, noticing a shimmer above her head. "That bitch was all over him, he, of course, took it all in feeling like the fucking king of the world I'm sure-"
Man, she is pissed, and rightfully so! That shimmering--what does it say?
"And then... Do I have something in my hair?" She quickly turned to the mirror. " oh god I'm a mess"
"No, mom, you look beautiful," the shimmering brightened. 'Arthealia' it said.
"Arthealia," I said under my breath, letting it roll off my tongue. Time seemed to freeze as she was mid-gesture. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was enough to notice.
"Anyway, she took his hand to get more privacy. We both know what the fuck that is..."
"Arthealia, calm down," I said on instinct; time froze, and I could see her posture change.
"Needless to say, he will come here only to collect his things, and then I never want to see him again." almost completely calm, though there was still hurt in her voice. The shimmering brightened.
"Mom, you are better off without him anyway."
"You shouldn't say that about your dad, young man! But thank you," she said with a little hint of humor in her voice. "I'm going to bed," she continued.
"Me too, I have an exam tomorrow," I replied.
My mind was spinning. What was going on? But as soon as I touched the bed, I went into a deep sleep, waking at 5 a.m. full of energy. There was no way I was falling back asleep, so after half an hour of tossing and turning, I instead grabbed my running shoes and got dressed. It was still dark out when I went out the door, noticing a big moving truck next door. I didn't mind it much and started jogging.
"And I thought I was the only early bird in this neighborhood," the melodic voice next to me said, scaring me enough to almost make me trip.
"Oh... Hey...I'm... Not usually.... Up.... This early.." I said between heavy breathing. Before I look to my side, and almost trip again.
There she was, slender, maybe of Asian mixed descent, a little shorter than him with what I guessed was 178 cm. Packed in a tight sports top were a set of B cup boobs. Her eyes, golden brown, and she had a massive black bun of hair with hints of bright blue leaking out.
"Careful there, haha, I'm Cleo, I want to extend my hand, but I'm afraid to trip you up." She giggled a friendly giggle.
"I'm John... Nice... to meet... you," I breathed. Well done me, fucking things up already.
"Nice to meet you. How about we race up the little hill here? If you win, I'll take you out, deal?"
"Sure... let's do... it" I breathed and started running as hard as I could, the hill wasn't big but pretty steep.
"You cheater, " she says as she passes me with ease, stopping at the top to jog in place. I wasn't even halfway yet, but I didn't let up. Once I reached the top I sank down to the floor. I was completely exhausted.
" Come on... You slowpoke.." Cleo breathed, only just beginning to sweat. "not done already... Are you?"
"No... I... am... com... pletly out... of... energy.." I was barely able to talk at this point. That's when I looked back the way we came and threw myself to the grass. "I didn't... even... make... it out... of... the street." I pointed about 1500 meters down the road just past the moving truck. "See that house... just past the... moving truck?"
"No way!" she said, surprised, and stopped jogging. I expected her to laugh. But she instead sat down next to me. "That means we are neighbors. Too bad you lost; I would've loved to take you out."
"Yeah, rub it in" I half-laughed. We sat and chatted a bit more, you know the basic chit-chat.
Cleo is an accountant, and she's pretty successful too if she can afford that house at her age. She blames it on a "lucky" investment. I wasn't buying it, but why didn't she have the shimmering? Was that just a dream? No, it was too real. Then how does it work? I guess I was deep in thought and didn't notice her working her way into my arm as she sat next to me.
"What are you dreaming about?" she said sweetly, scaring the shit out of me, "see? Completely off the planet" she giggled, and I turned completely red.
I'm a bit slow, she was snuggling me like she was my girlfriend. I mean, if she was, I wouldn't complain, but it is a bit sudden. Besides, blood was rushing to my crotch, making it a bit awkward. So I rushed out of there.
Rushing home with only 30 minutes left for a shower and only a little else--what? I like long showers and need to calm down. I ran downstairs while putting on a jacket.
"There you are! You are going to be late!" Mom said the letters were still shimmering a bit brighter than yesterday.
"I know, Mom, thanks!" I answered while stealing her toast.
"You little shit!" she tried saying sternly, but amusement ruined her intention.
On the way to class, most people I had run into before had some sort of symbol above their heads. Very few of them are readable. Until he saw Marie, her letters were bright and clearly readable.
"You look like a mess, dude!" She said, using her best surfer impression--there was nothing I could do but giggle.
"That is what I get for running in the morning, I guess," I simply replied.
"You.... running? Are you okay?" Making us both laugh on our way to class.
First on the list was art history with Miss Callsworth. She is young, beautiful, and someone I might visit later in this story. Before I could even think of drooling about the history teacher, Marie dumped her elbow gently into mine.
"Honestly, I am a little jealous that you just got up and ran. I have been trying to get my ass into gear for years." She whispered.
I knew she had been trying it was her number one complaint, but maybe... "Arthelum" time seemed to freeze.
"You will find it rewarding to go and exercise, so it is way easier to just do it," and time unfroze. Then I said, "just give it a shot tomorrow morning, it actually isn't as bad as I thought. Even though I didn't make it only up the hill."
"Isn't that like 300 meters or something?" Marie burst into laughter, inviting a very stern look from Miss Callsworth in our direction. Her shimmering brightened ever so slightly, and only for a moment.
Time would tell if it worked, and the classes weren't super interesting for me; I already knew most of the art history. So I always kind of did my thing by moving the pencil on the paper. Others call it drawing, but for me, it is more like meditation.
I was making marks, but it was more without thinking. You know, those moments where you just let the pen do its thing and only later realize what it became, and sometimes you are ashamed of your creation, but that doesn't matter much. well, to me... *flash*
That all-too-familiar cellphone flash and click broke my meditative movements to see Shirley, the popular bitchy type that loved to boss everyone around, especially the nerds. I had been afraid of this day since I realized who she was. Aside from being almost white-blond, perfectly (fake) tanned skin, and having an athletic build with a nice ass, she could be a monster, especially if you didn't do as she told you, like I did most of the time. This time I looked at what I drew, and it was Mrs. Callsworth, tied up and naked, being fucked by me.
I should've known better than to let my guard down when she was close. It wasn't my best drawing, but it's still shameful to have it leaked. I turned around and noticed a very faint reddish shimmer that I wasn't able to read. Well shit! This is it. My life is over if I don't do as she tells me. Fuck!
But there was maybe a shimmer of hope with this new name thing, though it doesn't seem to be super powerful. I guess I should go ask Gwen after school if I live long enough.
Later in the hall, Shirley grabbed his arm and dragged him away. Everyone around them knew what time it was and shot looks of pity at me. The moment we are alone, she pulls out her phone and shows me my creation of Sexy Miss Callsworth on her knees, naked with a collar around her neck, her curves drenched in sweat and folds dripping.