The Doe peeked through her modern blinds and watched her One Love jog away from the apartment complex with the clouds drizzling above him. She stepped away from the window (above her desk) and swirled around giddily. She plopped herself on her bed and dug her face into her pillows. She giggled like an idiot.

She heard a familiar voice behind her, “I take the date went swell?” The Doe positioned herself upright, facing toward the Goddess of Love. The Doe spoke sincerely, “Yes, yes, it went very swell.” Aphrodite grinned softly while sitting in her computer chair, which was the same color as the Goddess’s polished fingernails, mint green.

Her attire was how she entered her bedroom the first time: elegant bathrobe, flowing hair and calming sandals.

She relaxed in the chair, “So?” The Doe gave a puzzled look, “So?” Aphrodite closed her eyes, shook her head and threw her hands in the air, “Tell me how the date went!” The Doe suddenly realized what she meant, “Oh...”

She lit up like a light-bulb, “Well when I arrived at the park, he was already standing right in front of me! I gave him the note and he looked at me in confusion, but that part doesn’t matter. He did recognize me for my ukulele playing in the school gardens, did you go there when you were visiting my school?” Aphrodite shook her head, the Doe continued, “You should really take a stroll through it, it’s quite lovely, but it’s sad that no one roams around in it. I mean, that’s good for me because it gives me a quiet place to practice with my ukulele.”

Aphrodite asked, “How come I didn’t see you with your ukulele today?” The Doe replied, “I sent it to a shop because I needed new strings for it.” Aphrodite nodded, “Alright, continue on then.”

The Doe continued ranting about the evening. She told the Goddess how they roamed the park, connecting with each other like Capulet and Montague. She explained how their hands touched and how it made her feel warm and safe.

She giggled, “I even sang a song for him on one of the park benches and he complimented my voice. Now he owes me a cup of coffee!” Aphrodite chuckled, “You two really hit off then, huh?” The Doe nodded and continued, “He offered to walk me home. It was a chilly night, so I was shivering a bit. I think he noticed it because he placed his denim jacket on my shoulders and I’ve never felt so much warmth...” she dozed off a bit.

Aphrodite looked at her with a puzzled look, “Did something happen when you arrived home?” The Doe flinched and nodded. She explained how she pecked him on the cheek, how soft his skin felt against her lips. “Ah that was so embarrassing! Maybe I shouldn’t have done that...” she paused and started biting her fingernail.

Aphrodite stretched, “It seems you acted on your heart at the moment, so maybe it was a good idea. You threw the fishing line, now it’s time for him to bite. If he bites, he’s yours.” The Doe felt anxious, “That’s good advice, but what will happen when I return to school on Monday? Will he talk to me? Oh gosh, what will he think of me now?”

The Goddess leaned forward in the chair, “First, take in a deep breath,” she paused as the Doe inhaled and exhaled, “Second, the next time you see him just remember to take a deep breath and keep your cool. Remember, be the best little rabbit you could ever be.” The Doe gave her a baffled look, “Little rabbit?” Aphrodite waved a hand at her, “Just a little something to give you confidence.” The Doe grinned at her, “Thanks for the confidence booster then.”

Aphrodite nodded, stood up from the computer chair and stretched, “I have other important matters to attend to, so if you’ll excuse me.” The Goddess pulled up the blinds of her window, opened the window and the sound of rain filled the room. The Doe reached out her hand, “Hey, what are you doing-” she stopped as soon as the Goddess jumped on her desk and out the window.

The Doe bolted from her bed, to her desk and looked out the window; only to see the Goddess of Love was nowhere to be found. An aroma of lilies filled the Doe’s nostrils this time. The Doe shook her head as she closed the window shut and pulled down the blinds. She plopped herself back onto her snug bed, closed her eyes and happily fell asleep.

⤄⤄

After jumping out the Doe’s window, Aphrodite quickly swooped toward the Fox’s apartment by following his energy waves; the same thing she did when she needed to find the Doe.

Aphrodite felt a large amount of jealousy toward the Doe. She figured it was because of the Fox, but it’s impossible for her to feel that way, she didn’t need to feel that way. She thought, “Maybe I’m jealous of how well they’re clicking with each other; maybe I’m jealous that I didn’t get to play with him while she did.” The more she thought about them together, the more her blood boiled like kettle on the stove.

While zooming through the rainfall, out of nowhere the God of Sleep appeared right before her. She bumped into him and both of them went swirling into the sky; eventually, they caught themselves and stopped. They both cradled in each other’s arms for a little longer than usual. Hypnos breathed in Aphrodite’s ear, “Do I hear a damsel in distress?” Aphrodite pushed him off and giggled, “Who let the cat out of the bag?” Hypnos smirked and bowed with the rainfall dampening his clothes. As he held the bow, the Goddess noticed his muscular body, which made her heart pitter-patter; she pushed the thoughts away.

“So, Fergus, what brings you here?” the Goddess said, only to tease him. Hypnos scolded her, “I’m not Fergus. I’m Hypnos, God of Sleep.” Aphrodite chuckled, “If you’re not going to answer my question then I’ll take my leave.” She floated around him, but Hypnos caught her wrist.

Hypnos turned bitter, “I know you went to the Doe’s home a couple of minutes ago. I know her date went swell with the Fox because when I put her to sleep, I saw them together in her memories and they were both pleased. My love, I know you are jealous of that animal, but if you do what I think you’re going to do then you will break her heart.” Aphrodite yanked his hand away, “So what if I am jealous? What if I am going to do what you think? I felt something blossom in that room and I really don’t think she deserves it.”

Hypnos roared toward her:How can you speak like that?! You’re the Goddess of Love! You’re supposed to help others fall in love with each other, not tear them apart! What kind of Goddess can you be if all you want is chaos instead of peace?!

The Goddess went aflame and buried her fingernails into her palms. She zoomed close to him and spoke in a hoarse tone, “I am the Goddess of Love. I will choose when to kill two birds with one stone and when to have two foxes playing in the snow. That Fox flirted with ME first, so it is I he will be with and not her.”

Hypnos looked down at her with his eyes watering, “I’m sorry for this spiel and I’m sorry for whatever consequences you will be faced with next, but you have been warned,” he closed his eyes, “Forgive me.” Aphrodite closed her eyes as well. She held him in her arms and breathed deeply, “I’m sorry as well, Hypnos. I will gladly face the consequences that come along with my actions. You have and always will be forgiven.” She looked up at him and smiled, Hypnos smiled back.

Aphrodite pulled away and playfully punched his arm, “Hey, I have to go speak with the Fox, I’ll catch up with you later?” Hypnos nodded and they both headed in opposite directions with the rain beating down on the both of them.

Aphrodite reached the Fox’s apartment complex and zoomed through the walls until she finally saw him relaxing on his bed, but only for a moment because she crashed into his dresser. Some of his collectables fell and bounced off her body. She rubbed her head, “Ow…” The Goddess looked up at the baffled Fox, standing above her. He spoke slowly, “What are you…” She finished him off, “Doing here?” The Fox nodded while Aphrodite stood, dusted herself off and sat in his beanbag chair, which was nearby his flannel covered bed.

The Fox picked up his collectables and placed them on the top of his dark oak dresser. Aphrodite squinted at him and pondered, “He’s not flirting with me…” The Fox sat on his bed and stared at Aphrodite, a silence grew.

The Goddess spoke sincerely, “I truly am sorry for not being able to accompany you tonight.” The Fox smiled softly, “It’s OK, I had a good time anyway.” The silence continued.

Aphrodite raised an eyebrow, at the Fox. He raised his eyebrows in sudden realization, “Oh! Do you want me to tell you what happened?” She nodded and waited for him to begin.

His words of clarity about the date with the Doe made Aphrodite’s blood boil. His words became white noise as he ranted how wonderful the night was. What really caught her attention was when the Fox spoke with determination, “Dying or being thrown away by a girl is easy, but living for one? Now that will be a journey.” Aphrodite straightened, “What makes you say that?” The Fox smiled with his eyes gleaming, “I want to live for her, I want to live with her and when I achieve that, I want to whisper in her ear: I love you, with all my heart. Aphrodite giggled, trying to hide her jealousy, “That sounds very poetic.” The Fox nodded, “Indeed.”

She tapped the beanbag chair and stood up, “Well I have other important matters to attend to. When you see her again, approach her and get her that cup of coffee.” The Fox smiled, “Gladly.”

Aphrodite opened the window and the smell of frost and silver entered her nostrils, and probably the room too. The Fox chuckled, “Exiting through a window? How dramatic.” Aphrodite rolled her eyes while climbing out, “I think it’s more practical than walking through a door,” she said while pushing herself off the ledge and doing a swan dive. At the very last moment, she glided her body toward the stars; if she didn’t, she could have splattered onto the concrete.

While shooting toward the night sky, she heard the Fox holler in the distance, “My, I must say this one looks like a perfect score!” Aphrodite shook her head, giggled and without turning around she shot back, “This is not a swim competition!”

As she floated off into the distance, she could tell the Fox was snickering at her bitter comment; she felt accomplished.