Goddess Fight

Her mother named her Athena. How presumptuous could you be about your kid? Being named after a goddess, what a legacy to live up to. At least, that's how this seventeen-year-old felt about it. Graduation was about three months away, and she was still fiddling with her senior project, but not putting too much effort into it. She was more focused on her plan of changing her name as soon as she became an adult in late June, then she'd move to Philly with her boyfriend.

She had it all figured out, except for one important thing: She had never mentioned this to anyone else, not even that she had a boyfriend. She knew she was wrong for this because she had no reason to escape anyone. She just liked having a quiet life without merging the two important factors, but now she found herself guilt-ridden and analyzing her options.

Her best friend was a girl in her grade who was also cursed with a goddess's name, but hers was Irish, and Athena could never articulate how jealous she was, because the name sounded normal compared to hers. Brigit greeted her friend with a big smile on this cold March morning. Her natural golden curls bounced freely, and her eyes were a mossy green. Comparably, she looked more like a goddess. Athena only had the nerdy aspects of her namesake; her hair was a pin-straight, shoulder-length brunette, and her eyes were cloudy blue.

"Hey, Theena." Brigit's nickname for her. She didn't think it was any better. Maybe she would keep a similar sound to her new name, like Thalia or Nathalie. She was ruminating again.

"Hey, Brigit? I need to tell you something."

"Yeah?" She smiled expectantly, and her button nose wrinkled. "Other than good morning?"

"I was just thinking," Athena crossed her arms, trying to figure out how to word it. "I've decided to change my name when I turn eighteen."

"Oh?" Her smile faded slightly, but she nodded with understanding, sending another wave of guilt down Athena's spine for everything else she hadn't said. "I know you've never truly connected with the name, so it makes sense, but you know I'll always think of you as Athena. You'd be an amazing strategist."

"Thank you." She smiled tightly at her friend. On one hand, she loved how supportive and kind Brigit was, but she knew the blonde never truly understood. "I think I like the name Nathalie."

"That would suit you, too."

They walked quietly to their first classes of the day. It seemed like Brigit was mad at her. That's the only time she's ever quiet for that long, or not looking at Athena, for that matter. Perhaps this would be a good thing. Maybe her friend could mull it over, then be okay with it. The next day, she could slowly mention the boyfriend issue. She mentally convinced herself that everything would be alright.

***

At the start of lunch break, or the end of her school day as a diligent senior, the brunette found a gorgeously written note on red parchment in her locker. It smelled like it was doused in strawberry body spray.

It read: 'Dearest Athena, I realize you've begun doubting your position as a Goddess Incarnate, but you're making a grave mistake. I know you don't understand much yet, and this note will be met with confusion, but you are the Goddess of Wisdom, and I am the Goddess of Hearth. We must fulfil our roles here on Earth. Please don't run away from your fate. Love, Brigit.' A heart was plastered at the end of her signature, like a cute love note, but Athena stared at it in horror, unsure of what to think.

Right when her mind started spiraling, her phone beeped once, then again shortly after, indicating someone messaged her. She breathed in deeply before wrestling her phone from her pocket and checking the lock screen. Her mother had asked what she was feeling like for dinner tonight, then asked if Brigit would be coming over for their usual Friday night sleepover.

She messaged back a half-hearted 'Spaghetti's fine, plans haven't changed,' then opened Brigit's messages. Athena studied the picture she had set as her best friend's contact photo. It was from last summer, but she adored this picture. The sun highlighted all the features on her face and captured exactly how beautiful she was, but now that was all tainted, because it appeared her friend was naive this entire time.

She quickly messaged 'hey,' hoping this was all an awful prank, believing it wouldn't be too hard to copy Brigit's handwriting, but after the message showed as read for a few minutes with no attempt at a reply, suspicion crept right back in. 'I received this note in my locker, and I really think we should discuss this. I'm worried.' A few more beats passed, then the reply dots appeared. She sighed in relief.

This went on for the next five minutes, but it felt like an eternity to Athena. She switched over to her boyfriend's messages. Twenty-year-old Rowan. He had a job, a car, and an apartment near Wyndmoor. It was perfect, and she'd already been spending every Saturday night and Sunday morning at his place. His beautiful face was etched into her mind, from his dark olive complexion to his amber eyes that bore into her soul.

She messaged him, 'I think Brigit's cracked. She left a note insisting I shouldn't change my name and something about goddesses and fate. I'm waiting for her to respond now.'

Just as she sent that message, Brigit finally responded. 'Meet me at my car. You have to understand.' As she headed out of the school building, checking out at the security box, Rowan messaged back. 'That sounds insane, honey. Please don't go with her alone. She could be dangerous.'

She sighed heavily, knowing his concern could be right, but it was Brigit. They had met in Kindergarten, and those blonde curls have bounced beside her ever since. Their moms had even clicked over the realization they'd both named their children after goddesses. She couldn't stay away from her.

Athena approached the car at an even stride, determined to get answers. She sat in the passenger seat, then turned to her friend, who was sobbing hard. All the uncertainty drained from her face. Her best friend was in tears right now, so nothing else mattered. She wrapped her arms tight around Brigit's soft frame, letting her cry for as long as needed.

When she stopped trembling, Athena squeezed her, then slowly released her grip. "Brigit, what's going on?" Tears were streaked down her cheeks, but she was still beautiful.

"I knew you had no idea, but after this morning, I knew you had to be speaking to someone trying to misdirect you," Brigit said when she regained control of her emotions. "Please believe me. I know it's a lot to take in, but you know by now I'd never lie to you."

Athena thought carefully before responding. She decided there was no reason to believe Brigit was crazy, and Rowan's quickness in warning her to stay away from her best friend was suspicious. "I'll hear you out, but the letter sounded insane."

"I know. I couldn't say it to your face, but it isn't too crazy on an earthly level." She smiled sheepishly. "My mother is an omnist. She believes in everything, and I'm inclined to believe her."

"I never knew that."

"She's private about it for a reason."

Athena understood that reason well, as many people here gave her side-eye when told her name.

"She named me this way on purpose, as she believes naming a child after a divine being is like blessing them with part of that being's soul. She also believes we were fated to meet."

Okay, it still sounded crazy to her, but that was a far better explanation than them just being goddesses. Her cloudy eyes seemed to clear up as she stared thoughtfully at her best friend, still unsure how to respond.

"I wasn't supposed to tell you yet." Brigit threw in when the silence stretched too long. "But mom had this vision, I guess. She sees these scary things about the future, but they're exaggerated."

"What did she see?" Athena wasn't sure she wanted the answer.

"A raven had carried you off and impaled you on Liberty Place."

She felt pale. "Is that right?"

"Theena, who is he? If someone's trying to take you away, please tell me. I promise I won't be mad at you."

"Bri, are you jealous?"

"What?"

"See, this is exactly why I never told you about him. You don't want me to have a boyfriend because you're scared he'll steal me from you."

"No, I..."

"Well, I'm sorry, but you're going to have to deal with the fact that he's in my life now." She abruptly climbed out of the car. "Cool off, then message me later. We can still have the sleepover if you can be rational." Without allowing Brigit to answer, she closed the door and stormed off, calling Rowan to pick her up.

***

Rowan pulled up in his blue metallic Mustang and made a show of climbing out to open her door. "My lady, your carriage awaits."

Athena couldn't help but giggle and took his outstretched hand. He kissed hers gingerly before allowing her to sit in the black velvet interior. He rushed back to the driver's side and started driving. She felt like royalty, but couldn't get her and Brigit's conversation off her mind. Something felt off to her now, and she was getting scared.

"Rowan?" She attempted a sweet smile.

"Yes, honey?" His voice was rich and tender.

"I was just wondering, why did you go for me?" She blurted out. "I mean, you're very handsome and successful. Why aren't you already with another girl? Someone who isn't finishing high school?"

"I've told you before, I've simply been waiting for the perfect one."

She tried to recall when they met, but the memories refused to surface. "And how was that like for you, finally finding me?" She asked subtly, hoping she only needed a memory jog.

"It was the greatest day of my life." He smiled warmly and continued to drive. That wasn't what she wanted.

"When was that again?"

"What do you mean?" His face didn't change.

"I don't remember our meeting."

"Really? I'm surprised."

"Yeah, and when did we start dating?"

"December. Our first kiss was under the mistletoe."

Okay, she could remember that, but where did he come from? She couldn't recall ever seeing him before that kiss, nor did she remember getting to know him; she just knew.

"Rowan, I don't remember falling in love with you."

"It was a whirlwind, honey." He said easily, but his grip tightened on the steering wheel. "How could either of us figure out where our feelings began, and our bodies finished?" He gave a quick wink, sure he had convinced her enough with that line.

But she was Athena. She sent a short message to Brigit. 'I made a mistake, I'm so sorry. I'm in Rowan's car, the metallic blue Mustang. Chestnut Hill. I love you.'

He turned the music on low for the rest of the drive. She wished the spell had been broken a half hour sooner, but her fake smile became real when they pulled into the apartment buildings, and two squad cars were waiting for them. Rowan got out and tried to speak with the officers peaceably, but they arrested him upon seeing the minor exit his passenger door.

Brigit had run up to her and they held each other tight. Her mom's car was parked off to the side. They prepared long before Athena sent the message, and she realized with absolute certainty, these were the people she was meant to trust. It may all sound mystifying to her, but there had to be some truth in these beliefs, because she truly felt like she embodied the spirit of wisdom and grace breaking herself from Rowan's lies.