[ WP ] A love story about a girl/boy who does n't want to be in love .

It was supposed to be a nice, quiet evening. I had just put a roast in the oven, left the cast iron frying pan in the sink to soak, kicked off my shoes, poured myself a cold screwdriver, and sunk into my nice leather chair when there was a knock at my door. Grumbling, I got up and opened it. 
 
 She stood there, blonde hair strewn wildly, eyes wide open, about ready to collapse from exhaustion. `` Please,'' she begged through heavy breaths, `` help me.'' 
 
 I looked at her, then looked behind her to see if anyone else was there. `` Get inside,'' I said. She did, and I closed and locked the door behind her. Instinctively I drew the curtains on the front windows shut, and as I did so she sat herself down in my chair and drank my screwdriver down. 
 
 `` Careful, that one's kinda strong,'' I said. 
 
 `` Yep,'' she said with a nod. `` I needed that. Thanks.'' 
 
 I turned around to get a better look at her. Her eyes were closed now, and the back of her hand was pressed to her forehead. She was trembling. 
 
 `` Who are you?'' I asked gently, sitting in another chair. 
 
 `` Daphne,'' she replied. 
 
 `` Daphne. That's a really pretty name, you know?'' 
 
 `` Thanks,'' she said with a smile. Her eyes remained closed. 
 
 `` What are you running from, Daphne?'' 
 
 At this, her eyes flew open. `` Him.'' 
 
 `` Him? Who's... him? An ex?'' 
 
 `` Not really. Look, it's really hard to explain --'' She was practically sobbing now. 
 
 `` No, no, I get it. A stalker?'' 
 
 `` Sort of, yeah.'' 
 
 I smiled. `` You're safe with me. I promise.'' 
 
 She stopped sobbing. `` Really?'' she asked quietly. 
 
 `` Yes.'' 
 
 She smiled as well. `` Thank y --'' 
 
 
 
 *BANG* 
 
 
 
 The door was nearly caved in. Daphne jumped and gave a little cry of terror. 
 
 `` Him?'' I asked. 
 
 `` Yes.'' 
 
 `` *I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE, BITCH! LET ME IN! *'' bellowed the man outside, setting the glassware ringing. He banged on the door again. The hinges could n't take much more of this. 
 
 `` Basement. Now,'' I said, and before I could blink she was gone. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I opened the door to confront the stalker. 
 
 In front of me stood a giant of a man with almost inhuman good looks. He had bronze skin and thick, soft curly hair, and his body looked as if he were carved from marble. He stared me down with fire in his eyes. 
 
 `` Who do you think you are,'' he growled, `` to stand up to Apollo like this?'' 
 
 `` Apollo?'' I asked. `` Is that your name?'' 
 
 `` *Duh*,'' he said. `` Is that not fuckin' obvious? Now let me in before I break you in half, mortal.'' With that, he shoved me to the side and let himself in. 
 
 `` What do you want?'' I demanded. He whipped around and glowered at me as if that too should have been fuckin' obvious. 
 
 `` That bitch,'' he said. 
 
 `` Who?'' 
 
 He towered over me, jabbing an exquisitely carved finger into my face. `` *Do n't play dumb with me, mortal. * I know you're hiding her.'' 
 
 `` Who?'' I asked again. He slapped me hard, sending me into a pile on the floor. 
 
 `` *DAPHNE! *'' he roared. `` *Where the fuck is she? *'' 
 
 `` Not here,'' I said, as defiantly as I could while peeling myself up. 
 
 `` Do n't pull that shit with me,'' Apollo growled. `` I'll get the truth from you if I have to break every bone in your body.'' 
 
 `` How about a drink?'' I said without fully realizing I had said anything. Apollo looked equally confused. 
 
 `` A drink?'' 
 
 `` Sure. Are you a whiskey man? Vodka? I've got a bottle of Grey Goose in the freezer. It's good stuff...'' 
 
 Apollo blinked. `` Um... vodka. Straight.'' 
 
 I clapped my hands. `` Coming right up!'' I said as I turned to go into the kitchen. Apollo followed me in, still not quite sure what was going on. 
 
 As I poured his drink, I asked innocently, `` So who is this Daphne, and why are you so anxious to see her?'' 
 
 He took a mighty pull from his drink and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. `` My love,'' he said. 
 
 `` Your love?'' 
 
 `` Yes. I love her. Completely. Truly. As no one has ever loved before. She is my true love.'' 
 
 `` How do you know?'' 
 
 `` I... look, I just *know*, all right? There's no explaining this shit. Why the fuck do you want to know, anyways?'' 
 
 Something clicked in my mind. 
 
 `` You're Apollo,'' I said. 
 
 `` Yes, we've established that.'' 
 
 `` And you're chasing Daphne.'' 
 
 `` Right. Your point...?'' 
 
 `` You're *the* Apollo.'' 
 
 `` What?'' 
 
 `` The Greek god. Apollo.'' 
 
 Apollo burst into laughter. `` Took you fuckin' long enough, did n't it, mortal!'' He stopped abruptly, ice forming in the air between us. `` Now where is she?'' 
 
 `` I do n't know.'' 
 
 He threw his glass to the ground, shattering it into pieces. `` Wrong *fucking* answer,'' he snarled as he rounded on me, ready to kill. Without thinking I took the frying pan from the sink and slammed it into his remarkable face. He stumbled backwards with a cry. 
 
 `` *HOW DARE YOU! *'' he bellowed. 
 
 `` Out. Now.'' Rage had taken control of me. I could tear this arrogant god limb from limb. 
 
 `` I AM A GO --'' He was cut off by a vicious blow to the side of the head. 
 
 `` *LEAVE! NOW! *'' I commanded. Again I struck. Shielding his head, Apollo broke for the front door. I followed close behind. 
 
 At the door he rounded on me once more. The fire in his eyes had become blazing stars. He spoke with a thousand voices, `` *I lay a curse upo -- *'' An edge to the teeth silenced him. He stumbled outside. 
 
 `` BY HEAVEN I CHARGE THEE, *GET THEE GONE! *'' I cried. A peal of thunder cracked the sky in half, and he got him gone. 
 
 After a few deep breaths, I went back inside. I made my way back to the kitchen to clean up the mess. As I washed the god-blood from the frying pan, I heard the soft creak of a door opening behind me. I turned around and saw Daphne, shaking like a leaf. 
 
 `` Are you all right?'' I asked gently. 
 
 She nodded. `` Why did you do that?'' 
 
 `` Do what?'' 
 
 `` Chase off Apollo. Why?'' 
 
 I shrugged. `` Because it was the right thing to do.'' 
 
 `` Not... out of... love?'' 
 
 I laughed. `` I should *hope* not. I'm an aro.'' 
 
 `` A *what? *'' 
 
 `` Aromantic. I do n't like the idea of love. It's just... not for me. No thanks, I'm good.'' 
 
 `` So long, I've been running from the very name of love...'' 
 
 `` Then stay here. As a friend.'' 
 
 `` And live without love?'' 
 
 `` Yes.'' 
 
 She smiled. 
 
 `` I'd like that.'' 
 
 The timer went off. The roast was done. 
 
 `` You hungry?'' I asked. 
 
 She embraced me and started to sob.
