Daphne And Apollo – A Modern Twist To Ovid, Book I

For those who do not know the original mythological version of Daphne And Apollo, here is a link to better understand: Daphne And Apollo. Enjoy. (:

When I was born, people said that I would turn heads forever. And they were right. Every time I walk down the halls of my high school, I do turn heads. But never for the right reasons. My father has always told me that when my mother died, she not only gave me her life, but her immaculate beauty. It’s just too bad that I don’t think of it as a gift, but a curse.

Every guy, and some girls, at school treat me with no respect. They think that they can do whatever they want with me and I’ll just be fine with it. But I’m not. Now that I think about it, I’m totally fine with the fact that I’m going to die as a virgin.

I love playing sports. I’m on many varsity sports team in my school. Softball, soccer and powder-puff football. I sometimes even dress like a guy. Okay, not so dramatic that my underwear is hanging out, but I do wear sweats and tee shirts everyday. My friends call me a tomboy, which they think is weird. They say with the beauty that I have, I should be a girly girl. But I don’t agree. If I dressed like a girly girl, more guys would be after me. My beauty is just a curse.

Today is the first day of my senior year and I can’t wait. This weekend’s soccer game is going to be awesome. When I walk into school I hear whispering and people staring at me. I look straight ahead, keep my head high, and be strong. I ignore the stares, the name calling, and the thoughts that I know pass through everyone’s minds when I walk by.

I reach my locker, where my best friend, Chloe, is already standing there waiting for me. Chloe has pixie blonde hair and long legs. She’s dressed in a frilly summer dress this morning. I compare my gym shorts and tank top outfit to hers and wonder why I get more attention from guys than her.

“Hey, Daphne. Did you see the new guy yet?” She asks me.

“Um, no. I just got here. Who is he?”

“His name is Apollo and he is really cute.”

“That’s nice.” I say, uninterested.

“Look, there he is now.” She points to a tall guy in a sky blue flannel tee shirt, jeans, and flip-flops.

He looks like a model right out of Hollister.

“I know right.” She agrees with me.

I guess I just said that out loud. Well, too bad I’m never going to talk to him. I start to walk right pass him with Chloe on our way to first period when he stops us.

“Hey, you pretty girls look like you know where you’re going. I’m pretty lost at the moment. Could you help me find this class?” Apollo asks us.

Chloe looks at his schedule as I stare at him. What is he up to?

“Oh, that’s where we’re going. Why don’t you follow us? I’m Chloe, by the way, and this is my friend Daphne.”

“Thanks, and I’m Apollo.”

Apollo follows us to our history class and sits down right next to me. Chloe gives me a wink and I roll my eyes at her. Throughout the day, Apollo sits with us whenever we share a class together. He also sits with our friends and us at lunch. I just can’t seem to get him to leave me, I mean us, alone.

The whole week, he hangs with us at school and by the end, it was really starting to bug me.

“Why does he bother you so much, Daph?” Chloe asks me over the phone as I drive to meet her at the mall.

Next Saturday is homecoming, so Chloe is dragging me to go dress shopping with her. I doubt I’ll buy myself anything.

“I don’t know, he just does. He seems just so… off.”

“I think he likes you. The way he stares at you, especially when you laugh, it’s like watching a kid fascinated by the first snowfall of the season.”

“Yeah, okay, Chloe. Because that’s so believable.” I speak, dripping with sarcasm.

“It’s true!” are they last words I hear before a piercing screech goes off in the distance and then something slams into my car.

The next thing I know is I’m waking up in a white room with a cast on my left arm. I lift my right arm to scratch my cheek, but then feel gauze in its place. I feel all over my face and the gauze is covering everything except for my lips, nostrils, and eyes. An oxygen mask is over my mouth and I take a deep breath to calm myself down and try to remember what happened.

Just as I try sitting up, a nurse walks in.

“Oh, sweetie, you’re awake! How are you feeling?” she asks.

“What happened?” I ask.

“You were in a car accident. But you’re okay now. You have a broken arm and your face has second-degree burns. Your car went on fire. I’m sorry sweetie.” The nurse explains to me.

I sit in shock as the nurse takes the oxygen mask off and gives me food.

A week passes and I can finally go home. Too bad awaiting me is a ton of homework. The doctor took the bandages off and I don’t look at myself in the mirror until I get home. My father says nothing to me, but I can tell that he doesn’t like what he sees. I wonder if all my wishing finally came true and all I needed to do was get into a car accident.

I walk into the bathroom and I slowly look up into the mirror. I see the beginnings of scarring across both my cheeks. The rest of my face looks the same, except for my cheeks. I touch them then pull away quickly as pain shoots up my face. Tears slowly run down my face. I’m not beautiful anymore.

A week goes by and my burns are finally healed. My dad drives me to school. As I walk, I hear gasps and whispering all around me. People stare now, but not for the same reasons. This is not better than being beautiful; I still get talked about and stared at, just for being ugly now.

I’m about to burst into tears and rush to the girls’ bathroom when I bump into Apollo.

“Daphne! Are you okay? What’s wrong?” He asks, concerned.

“What’s wrong? Are you seriously asking what’s wrong? I don’t have the time or patience for you, Apollo. So, just leave me alone.” I rant.

He cups his hands around my face and looks into my eyes, “Daphne, just because you have these scars does not make you less beautiful.”

Tears roll down my face, “But look at me, I’m hideous. And people are still talking about me. I don’t know why you’re talking to me anymore, anyway. Chloe said you only liked me because of my looks.”

“I like you for you, Daphne. Looks don’t matter. Believe me when I tell you this. You are beautiful no matter what, with or without these scars.”

“Yeah?” I ask him.

“Yes.”

And then he kisses me.

The End