Flowers in Hell Book 1: Raindrops on Roses

I’ve been laying on my bed for the whole day. I really should get up. But the internet. But the real world. I sit up, stretching my arms, tossing my phone to the side. Glancing over at the clock that reads 4:00 pm on my dresser, I slowly stumble from my bed to the bathroom. The bright lights that line my mirror blind me momentarily when I turn them on. Ugh. Why did I ever think that Broadway-style lights were a good idea?

I hear my phone chirp from the other room and rush to go see who texted me. Caitlin just texted asking where I am.

“What?” I reply.

“Remember? You promised to go to Stella’s birthday party tonight at 5:00,” she texts back in record time.

Oh. Right. On a day I spent doing nothing, I get invited to a party. I contemplate making up an excuse not to go, but then I remember that I owe Stella. So I throw on some comfy clothes, apply a light layer of makeup, and smooth my hair into a ponytail.

“I’ll be back at ten!” I yell to my dad, walking out to the garage to grab my bike.

“Don’t forget your helmet!”

It’s lightly sprinkling as I ride out into the damp street and I smile, glad for the cool comfort of the rain on my face. The rain is a reminder to me to just take a break from all of my stress and just cool down for a minute.

In ten minutes, I’m walking into Stella’s house, Luna, her little sister, having already run into my arms. Her dad tells me that Caitlin and Stella are upstairs, so I set Stella’s sister down with much protest and head up to her room. Stella’s room is lined with framed puzzles and there are at least three puzzles in progress on the ground. The only clear space is her bed. Caitlin is sprawled out on her back, with Stella on the ground working on one of the puzzles.

“Oh hi.”

“Hi Persie!”

God. I hate the nickname they gave me. I mean, it’s not any better than the name I was given at birth.

“I thought this was supposed to be a party. I wouldn’t have come if I had known if it was just us.”

Stella rolls her eyes, “How else was I supposed to get you here?”

I slip off my shoes and carefully hop my way across the room and sit lightly on the bed. Stella looks back down at her puzzle. Outside the house, a car engine roars to life, I glance out the window and watch Stella’s family leave. “Thank god, Luna was annoying me all day and I was worried that they’d never leave.”

I grin, and notice Stella’s kitten on the top of her bookshelf. I walk across the room to grab the cat, just barely reaching it, even on my tiptoes. Caitlin smirks and stands up to help me.

“You know, Stella, you should get a step-stool to keep in here.” Caitlin says over her shoulder as she hands me the cat.

“Hey!”

“Ha! Maybe I should! Or Persie could just carry one with her everywhere….”

“No fair, you can’t blame me for being short. You wouldn’t like it if you were my height.”

“Persie, you’re not just short, you’re tiny!” Caitlin says as she flops back down on Stella’s bed.

It’s true, though. I am tiny. There are a lot of things about me that aren’t normal. I’m 4’ 10” even though I’m 17. My hair grows super-fast, so I’ve given up on cutting it at this point. And sometimes I’ll wake up with small flowers in my hair in the morning. Caitlin makes some sort of growling noise behind me. She sits up suddenly with a look of realization.

“I forgot to tell my brother where I was going. Shit, shit, shit, shit. Where’s my phone?”

“Can’t you just text your mom?” Stella asks, not looking up from her puzzle.

“Just text my mom?” she says with a crazed look, “She’s out of the country, and it’s my BROTHER.”

Caitlin makes a good point. Her brother is a total douche bag and is way too protective of his little sister. It seems that Apollo makes it a goal in his life to beat up every boy that talks to Caitlin. Not that Caitlin cares about that, she’s asexual anyways. But he doesn’t know that, and he’s mean and an asshole. And just on cue, there’s a loud banging downstairs on the door. Caitlin pales instantly.

“Can you all come with me?” she asks, annoyed, yet nervous it seems.

“Sure, Caitlin.”

Stella nods silently and stands up. We accompany Caitlin as she tiptoes down the stairs. Stella pulls open the door to a very red, very menacing-looking Apollo.

“H-he-hey, Apollo. I was just about to c-c-call you.” Caitlin stammers.

“Where have you been?” He shouts.

“Apollo, don’t shout at your sister, for fuck’s sake,” Hermes, Apollo’s friend, and my best friend, chimes from behind Apollo.

“Fine. But you still should have texted me.” Apollo pushes his way into the house and flings himself onto the couch.

Hermes follows him and delicately sits cross-legged in a rocking chair. And just before Stella closes the door, one more boy slips in. He has blue hair and is very tall. He glances around the room apprehensively, his hands in his pockets.

“Um, who are you?” Caitlin asks, her power over her brother returning to her.

“Oh, yeah. That’s Hades.” Apollo grunts from the couch.