Icon of the Indecisive #3 of 3 (COMPLETE)

Chapter 1b - You're wearing red

"You're wearing red."

I loved that voice. Even when it was stating the obvious. I smiled as I stepped through the pedestrian entrance to Ford River College and said hi to Joaquin Apolinario, senior, graduating, captain of varsity basketball, also the being worshipped as the God of the Sun by my people, even if they don't know it.

"I meant to get my black shirt, not sure how this happened," I said. "We would have matched."

We would have. We'd be cute but totally solemn, and we'd look great together, if he were into me. All evidence was pointing to "no."

Sigh.

"What's up?" I asked, surprised that he fell into step beside me.

"Nothing."

I had a psych textbook with me and hugged it because I needed something to do with my suddenly-restless arms. Quin, I should say, wasn't a "nothing" sort of guy. He was always with purpose, very leaderly, and I didn't believe that he was just walking to my locker with me on Valentine's Day for nothing at all. Especially since the last time we really talked was right after I had defied one of his direct orders to stay away from someone.

"All right," Quin said. "It's not nothing. I want to help you today."

"With what?"

"It's your first February 14 as interim goddess. You might get overwhelmed with... feelings."

"You don't think I can handle it?"

He picked the book out of my arms in one easy movement, meaning to be helpful, but suddenly I had nowhere to hide. "It's not about what you can or can't do... I just want to help."

Without meaning to, I took the path that would cut across the open field, and we pretty much just walked right through the middle of the school. Quin, in black and jeans, most popular guy on campus, and me, in a Look At Me on Valentine's Day red top. Everyone turned to watch. They did that for him, because he was tall and popular and just so teen heartthrob handsome, but they were starting to do that for me, by association.

Walking through it was strange, in another way. I felt like I was walking through a noisy crowd, except the noise had texture to it too. Feelings, memories, love-related fears reaching out to me. Wanting to be noticed. Wanting the attention of the goddess.

"I didn't get to tell you," Quin was saying, "that you handled yourself very well, when you dealt with that guy."

When I nearly singlehandedly took care of a potential threat to the gods, he meant. My best friend Sol's then-boyfriend Neil had somehow developed the ability to command people—even gods—to follow his bidding. But I stopped him, despite being told by Quin to keep my distance.

"You're welcome," I said, letting a little giggle escape. "I didn't hear a 'sorry' by the way."

He smiled. It looked genuine, and he looked happy, or amused at least. "I'm so very, very sorry I doubted you, Hannah."

"I forgive you," I said. "I think I'm going to have a busy day today and I appreciate any help, Quin."

We stopped in front of my locker, and I heard a plea that I couldn't ignore.

I really miss him. This day sucks. I should have stayed at home.

I still looked at nearby people when I heard it, as if it had come from within earshot. But it didn't have to; my range for picking up these thoughts was growing, and it could have been from anywhere on campus.

Quin heard it too.

"What do you want her to do?" he asked me.

I paused. "I want her to remember that today is just another day, and she has friends who'd love to spend time with her tonight, and they'll have a blast."

That was how the Goddess of Love worked. Your heart's song summoned her, and she would tell it what to do and how to feel. I was still learning how to do it over distance and without actually seeing the person I was doing it to, but for veteran gods this was easy. Quin was training me to do it though, and training for Quin was a slow and tedious process that didn't allow for shortcuts.

But that moment, he very gently reached for my wrist, and the quick tap of his skin against mine sent my intentions right where they were supposed to go. His touch worked like a divine amplifier, and I didn't need to work so hard. Shortcut.

"Isn't that cheating?" I said.

"You're not on training today," he said. "Plus you know there will be more. Don't want you exhausted."

You're kidding me right?

I shook my head and basked in this rare show of care. "I really don't."