Daughter of Aphrodite

Chapter One: Perfectly Perfect

I woke up feeling wonderful. As usual.

I bounded out of bed and to the mirror, checking my brown hair. The waves created by the previous night's braids came out as I expected, falling around my head like they wanted; a natural part sending a thicker section of hair to fall over my eyes.

Even though I didn't need to, I put mascara on my dark lashes after accomplishing an eyeliner job that beauty gurus could only dream of. My smiling purple eyes blinked at me with a happy glimmer, always full of hope. I threw my waves behind my shoulder and skipped to my closet. Though the tight black yoga pants and light green sweatshirt I wore to bed were adorable on me, I opted for light wash jeans and a pink cotton crop top that brushed against my navel. Sliding on some bejeweled sandals, I picked up my cream Micheal Kors bag. Making sure I had my phone, I started downstairs to get breakfast.

I smiled when I saw my dad's stocks, which were up as always. He was testing a new missile prototype in three days, and I was excited to see how that would turn out. I made sure to finish breakfast quickly so that I wouldn't keep my best friend waiting.

I jumped out the door as the clunky red Chevy Lumina pulled up, growling at its driver. I couldn't help but laugh as I slid into the passenger seat. "Morning, Pear," I said, holding out a ripe pear for him.

Paris chuckled, too long strands of brown hair falling into his chocolate eyes. "Thanks, Charlie, but I already ate."

While he shifted the car into reverse to get away from my mansion of a home, I glared at him, pear still out for him. "Trent, your metabolism isn't going to last forever, you can't survive off of just your mom's doughnuts."

"And I will have you know, Maine, that my mother's doughnuts are delicious."

"They are," I agreed with him, "but they'll slow you down eventually. And when they do, say goodbye to your track record."

"That's why you're here to help me keep up my strength," he replied, taking the pear from me and taking a bite of it. "This is good. Percy's been going nuts about fruit. She wants a whole orchard in our yard."

I smiled at the thought of his little freshman, and how small their yard was. "She can always plant some trees in my yard if there isn't enough room for what she wants. Reggie misses seeing her around the house."

"I'll keep that in mind," Paris smiled as his car started to make clunking noises. "Oh, come on," he growled, leaning against the steering wheel.

"Come on, baby, come on," I uttered, rubbing the dashboard. The Lumina purred in reply and sped forward, the clunking forgotten to the old thing.

Paris laughed. "I think my car likes you more than it likes me."

"That's because everyone likes me," I joked.

His laugh trickled away. "Char, what would you do if you ever met someone who didn't like you?"

I paused in thought as we pulled into the school. "I haven't met anyone like that yet," I admitted.

This set Paris into another round of giggles. "Of course you haven't. Because the only way-"

"Is Maine's way," we finished together with a laugh while Paris turned off the dead beat car.