Godlings: The Godlings, #1

One

Rachel chewed on the end of her pencil and stared out her classroom window. Mr. Randolph droned on about Britain’s influence in India in the 1800s, but she did not care.

She took her pencil out of her mouth and glanced at the whiteboard.

Lilly leaned over toward her and made a goofy face.

Mr. Randolph turned back around to address the class and caught Rachel in mid-giggle.

Is there something funny that you’d like to share with the rest of the class? He twirled the black dry erase marker in his hand and waited for her to respond.

Several of her classmates turned around to look at her, and within moments, all eyes were on her. Definitely not what she wanted.

No. She let her response tumble out like she had a mouth full of marbles.

I’m sorry. I didn’t hear that. Can you speak up for the whole class to hear you? Mr. Randolph tapped his foot and waited patiently.

No, there’s nothing funny. Rachel slouched in her seat and wanted to slink away to the back of the room and then vanish into the shadows.

Then sit up, pay attention and focus. Mr. Randolph pointed back at the whiteboard. You might not care about what happened so long ago, but understanding the past will allow you to make sense of the present. He dropped his teacher’s voice for a moment and smiled. I know that some of this might sound boring, but history really is important. Everything is based on the past. Wars, treaties, cultural revolutions, all of it happens in context within the bigger picture.

Rachel swallowed the lump in her throat. I’m sorry, Mr. Randolph.

He smiled at her and turned back to the white board and started to teach again.

Lilly breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, I’m sorry.

The rest of the class turned back around, and Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. She banished her thoughts from outside school from her head and focused.

Mr. Randolph wrote on the board and underlined his words. The Sepoy Mutiny took place in 1857 and it marked —

The fire alarm went off suddenly and cut him off.

Most of the students looked startled and confused about what to do. Rachel gathered her books, put them into her school bag, and went for her phone.

Listen everyone. I’m going to check to see if it’s a false alarm. Mr. Randolph headed out into the hallway and the rest of the class all started talking at once.

We’ll get to miss the rest of world civ, if we get to head out. Lilly leaned over to Rachel and spoke up to be heard over the chatter in the room.

Johnny and his friend Matt acted out how they were going to crush the Bulldogs in tonight’s football game.

Rachel looked past them at Liam, who sat alone in the back. He had not bothered to look up. His long brown hair fell over the side of his face as he leaned forward and sketched something with a pencil on a piece of paper. He stopped a moment to take in his picture and then used his index finger to smear the graphite.

Rach, hello! Lilly snapped her fingers in front of her friend’s face. What’s up with you?

Nothing. I just didn’t get much sleep last night. She sighed and faced her friend.

You weren’t up dreaming of Johnny and Matt, were you? Lilly elbowed Rachel in the side.

Ew, of course not. That’s disgusting. Rachel pushed Lilly away and frowned.

Several loud pops came from the hallway and Mr. Randolph rushed back inside.

His face, ashen, he grabbed the doorknob to slam the door shut, but his hand slipped from the knob.

Screams emanated from right outside the classroom.

A string of rapid fire pops went off again. Mr. Randolph fell forward, riddled with bullets.

In the span of a few short seconds, the students nearest to the doorway turned to run, but bullets pierced through them. Blood, more screams, and chaos erupted in the classroom.

A boy that Rachel did not recognize stood in the doorframe aiming a high powered assault weapon into the classroom. He squeezed the trigger and time seemed to stop.

Bullets whizzed into the room, ripping through skin, muscle, and shattering bone. Cries, terror and more blood filled Rachel’s field of view.

Lilly tried to move, but someone had pushed a desk out of the way and it hit her in the legs and knocked her into the path of the bullets.

Rachel leaned forward and screamed. No.

The cries of her classmates drowned her out. The shooter had already turned away from the classroom and fired at someone else. Everything had turned to pandemonium. Except Liam. Inexplicably, he had moved next to Rachel and made eye contact with her.

She locked eyes with him and he vanished.

With no time to process what had happened, Rachel turned to her friend. Lilly had fallen against Mr. Randolph’s desk. At 17-years old, her life would soon be over. All she had to live for, all they joked about—everything would be over in a few short seconds.

Rachel reached her hand toward Lily and all went black.

Are you going to eat the rest of that? Lilly twirled a lock of her hair and stared at the ice cream cone in Rachel’s hand.

Disoriented, Rachel looked down at the cone in her hand and licked a dripping bit of ice cream. Yes, I am. If you want another one, go on and get it.

They stood off to the side of the ice cream shop. Cars went by on the street and the parking lot was full. About ten people waited in line, mostly teenagers, talking and laughing.

The red and blue neon lights for the store lit up the night.

Off in the distance, the moon ducked behind some clouds.

I don’t have any money left. I don’t get paid until next week. Lilly sighed, and the conversation drifted off.

Rachel took another lick of her ice cream. The black raspberry flavor, matched with rainbow sprinkles, satisfied her with just the right amount of flavor and crunchy texture.

I keep thinking that I’m forgetting something really important. Ever feel that way? She relented and handed over her ice cream cone to Lilly.

Yeah, I do. Lilly took a big bite out of the ice cream, along with some of the sugar cone, and tried her best to not let it drip down her chin. I’m trying not to forget that dream I had of Matt the other night. She mumbled out the words while still chewing.

You’re disgusting. Rachel pulled the ice cream cone away from her friend and shook her head in pretend outrage.

Don’t yuck my yum. Lilly wiped her chin and then licked her fingers. I’m not saying that I’d want to be in a relationship with him, but he’s pretty.

I’m just surprised that you find him attractive. He’s a jock. You like theater and he can barely string two sentences together.

Lilly took a napkin from Rachel’s hand and dabbed the corner of her friend’s mouth. You had some ice cream there. Crumbling up the napkin, she tossed it into the trash can next to them. Look, what I do in my private fantasies, and who I do in those intimate moments before I drift off to sleep each night, is my right and choice. He’s got no brain, but he’s pretty fine.

Rachel laughed and almost dropped the rest of her ice cream. She recovered and took another lick to stem the dripping on the far side. It’s like you’re the opposite of a sapiosexual. What do you think that would be called?

Lilly twirled her index finger in the air. Cone maintenance. She pointed to some serious ice cream drippage. You’re horrible at that. Come on, this is serious stuff.

Rachel turned the cone around and stopped the dripping. Damn, now it’s all over my hand. She handed the cone to Lilly. Here you take it. I have to get some more napkins.

Lilly took the cone and took another big bite. Maybe you could say I’m physiosexual. I just like hot bodies. She giggled and had some more ice cream.

Well, looks like you’re in for a nice surprise. Here comes Matt and Liam. Rachel motioned over to the far side of the parking lot.

Who’s Liam? Lilly asked.

What? Rachel wiped her hands clean of the sticky ice cream.

You just said that Matt and Liam are here. Lilly turned herself ever so slightly to get a better view of the parking lot.

I said Johnny and Matt. I don’t know a Liam.

Well, you just did some sort of Freudian slip because you just said that Liam is here. Happy with her cone maintenance, Lilly took a moment to stop eating. Is he some boy from the volunteer work you’re doing for the National Honors society?

No, I wish I’d met some handsome Irish boy named Liam. She caught herself and said, But it’s not really important what someone looks like. What matters more is if they treat you right and if they’re a good person.

You sound like you’re reading that off of a health class brochure. Lilly snickered and then coughed. Oh crap, they’re coming over here.

Johnny and Matt walked toward them and Lilly smiled and flickered her hair to the side. She stood up straight, puffed her chest out and leaned in to Rachel and laughed.

Go along with me like I just told you the most hysterical joke you’ve ever heard.

Rachel leaned in toward her friend and whispered, Like you’re mental right now and everything we stand for about female power has just been thrown out the window because some guy with muscles is walking toward us?

Lilly kept her smile and didn’t respond to Rachel. She threw her hair back again and laughed louder as the two boys came right up to them. How are you boys doing this evening?

Deep in conversation, the two boys ignored her and went right past them without even making eye contact. They crossed the parking lot and two tall and thin blondes jumped into each of their arms. Matt gave a decidedly passionate kiss to the girl in his arms and Johnny spun around the girl in his.

That looked like right out of a shampoo commercial. Rachel motioned with her still sticky fingers. Did you see the bounce in their hair? Perfect, I tell you.

Shut up. Lilly crossed her arms and turned away.

I mean really, if you look around there has to be someone who was filming that. It just was too perfect.

Not in the mood for her usual antics, Lilly turned away and shut down, walking toward her car.

Oh, come on, you got to laugh a bit about it. It’s not like either of us would ever have a shot with either of them. We’re not even in the same solar system as the two of them. They’re at the top and we’re like lepers to them. Rachel licked her fingers and wiped them on her pants.

You’re not helping. Lilly fumed.

It’s a beautiful Friday night. It’s still warm, we have the weekend ahead of us and we’re both young and healthy. Rachel could see that she was getting nowhere with her friend. She changed tactics and snuck up behind her friend and put her arms around her. Come on, let’s cheer up. You still up for going over to my house and watching a few episodes of Riverdale?

Lilly extricated herself from Rachel’s hug and pulled away. I think I need some time to be alone.

Don’t let them pull you down. We have the whole rest of the night and we survived the first month of school. Rachel did her best to convince Lilly but was getting nowhere.

I changed my mind. I’m going to drop you off and just want to go home. It’s been a hard week and I’ll feel better in the morning after I’ve gotten some sleep.

Lil, don’t do this. Rachel grabbed her friend’s hand. They’re not worth it.

Lilly pulled away and opened the car door. Just stop, okay?

No, I’m not going to let you spiral down like this. Everything was fine before they came and now you’re going to let two dimwits ruin your weekend? Rachel tugged on Lilly’s arm. Come on, if you don’t want to watch TV, we can go do something else. Just don’t let them win.

I already told you that I changed my mind. Now back off. Lilly pulled away from Rachel and jumped into the driver’s seat. If you want a ride, get in.

Why are you taking this out on me? Rachel asked. I didn’t do anything wrong.

Yes, you did. Lilly took her hands off the steering wheel and confronted her friend. I want you to back off. But you keep pushing and treating this like a joke. Do you think it’s easy for me to always be ignored? Have you ever thought that maybe I might like to have a boy I could go out with on a Friday night instead of sitting home watching TV reruns?

I didn’t mean— Rachel began, but Lilly cut her off.

You always keep pushing and pushing when you don’t get your way. Lilly banged the steering wheel. They didn’t even glance at us. It was like we didn’t even exist and that hurts. I just want to go home, curl up in my bed and end this day. Now, do you want a ride or not?

Rachel bit her tongue before she said something that she regretted and spun around. She marched over to the ice cream line and a haze of anger descended over her.

Lilly yelled something after her, but she didn’t hear what she said.

She had only one thing on her mind and she went up to the line for ice cream. Matt had his arm around a girl, and they were deep in conversation.

Rachel tapped Matt’s shoulder, and he glanced back at her.

Hey pretty boy, do you have a moment? Rached had crossed her arms and didn’t even wait for him to respond. When you passed my friend and I back there, you could have acknowledged we existed.

What? Matt asked.

I said that when you and Johnny walked by us, you could have said hello. Rachel raised her voice and pointed at him. But instead, you passed us like lepers. We’ve been in the same classes for years.

Sorry. He mumbled the word and turned back to the girl on his arm.

Rachel grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him back. My friend is a mess right now because of how crappy you treated us. You could be a bit more decent than treating us like trash.

The girl on Matt’s arm turned back to eye up Rachel like a cat preparing to pounce on a mouse. She didn’t say anything, but her facial expression exhibited volumes.

I said I was sorry. Now can you go back and crawl back under your rock and leave us alone? Matt smirked and turned away to crack a joke with the girl on his arm.

Rachel clenched her fists at her side and did not back down. Do you even care?

Matt ignored her, but the girl with him asked, Are you trying to start something here? She pulled away from Matt and rolled up her sleeve.

The next set of teenagers waiting in line for ice cream ignored the commotion behind them and stared at a goofy video on one of their phones.

Rachel eyed the girl up. Your boyfriend doesn’t have to be so dismissive. He could be more empathetic toward a fellow classmate.

Dressed in white shorts, a stylish shirt with her hair braided, the girl gave a wicked smile. You better step off or tonight’s going to get way more interesting.

Matt had lost interest in Rachel and leaned forward to watch the replay of the viral video.

Her heart pounded and a rush of adrenaline surged through her, but she stayed her ground. I’m not afraid of you.

Maybe you should be. The girl raised her fist, adorned with two gold rings, and leaned forward.

Rachel did not flinch, but was pulled away by Lilly. Why don’t you come with me back to my car?

The girl relaxed and lowered her arms. Your friend has the right idea. Why don’t you leave us alone?

Lilly put her hand over Rachel’s mouth and dragged her friend away. Hope you have a good evening. Thank you.

Rachel allowed herself to be pulled back to the car and her heart rate slowly returned to normal.

What were you thinking? Lilly pushed Rachel into her beat up Honda Civic. The faded blue paint on the car’s ceiling showed its age.

I was ready to fight for your honor. Rachel gave herself a light slap on the face and shook her head. What was I thinking?

She could have beat you like scrambled eggs. Lilly laughed and rested her head on the steering wheel.

They shouldn’t have treated you the way they did. Rachel glanced out past Lilly to the other side of the parking lot. Matt had moved closer to ordering ice cream and had already forgotten them. The girl on his arm pressed herself close to him as he watched the viral video a third time.

A lot of things shouldn’t be treating us the way they do, but that’s life, isn’t it? Lilly shrugged and searched for the keys in her purse.

Don’t get all philosophical on me. That’s not what I meant. Just because they’re popular doesn’t mean that they have the right to treat us badly. Rachel pulled down the visor above her and looked at herself in the mirror. A bit sweaty, but she didn’t think she looked too bad.

Look, I do want to go home tonight. I’m not angry at you. I’m not just trying to hide away from the world. I just want to be alone tonight. It’s been a rough week for me and I want to call it a night. She started the car, and the radio blared some old-time rock-n-roll song. She turned the volume dial down and looked over at her friend. Okay?

Rachel bit her tongue and tried to find the right words to say. She took a chance and said, I understand, but I’m still disappointed. I wanted to have a fun night tonight, and I was looking forward to hanging. It’s a Friday night, and I was looking forward to spending it with you. She paused for a bit, but then pushed onward. I shouldn’t be selfish. You changed your mind and I’m okay with that. Or at least I will be tomorrow after I’ve had some time.

Lilly pressed her lips together. I’m⁠— She almost apologized, but caught herself. I’m happy that you’re cool with me changing my mind.

Rached leaned forward and gave Lilly a hug. You’re my best friend.

And you’re mine. Lilly hugged her back. Now let me drop you off at your house and then I’ll be on my way.

Rachel disentangled herself from Lilly and reached over to put her seat belt on.

Outside, the neon lights to the ice cream shop flickered. The line had grown even longer and Matt now ordered for him and his girlfriend. Looking away from the shop, Rachel spied a solitary figure standing alone at the edge of the parking lot. He wore long pants, a battered t-shirt, and he seemed to be staring right at her. He leaned against a pole and had his hands in his pockets. With longish, wavy brown hair, he seemed confident in his looks.

Lilly put the car in drive and put a bit too much pressure on the gas pedal. The front wheels spun a bit and then the car lurched forward. She reached over to turn the music back up and started singing along to the song on the radio.

A few teenagers at the end of the line turned to look at them as they sped away, but they quickly lost interest.

Rachel still stared at the boy, who looked at her. They drove right by and he gave her a big smile and then saluted.

She twisted her body full around to continue watching him, but he had already turned away.

Do you see Liam back there? Rachel pointed out the back window.

Unable to hear her over the loud music, Lilly asked, What?

Rachel lowered the music a bit. Did you see that boy back there?

What boy? Lilly didn’t take her eyes off the road and kept both her hands firmly on the steering wheel.

It was just some boy who looked familiar, that’s all. Rachel shrugged, turned the music back up, and then sang along with her friend.

They both sang out of tune, but neither cared. Rachel pretended to play a guitar solo and shook her head to cause her long, curly