Canadian Chica: This is an idea that's been bouncing around my head for a while. Tell me if you want me to continue or what-not.
Skin Deep
"Okay, that's just weird" Neil's disgust was understandable. "I mean, Cronus putting on a beauty pageant? Creepy".
Sure enough a poster had appeared on the school's bulletin board, advertising a beauty pageant. Cronus' face was in the top corner, he was sponsoring it.
"Come one, come all. See who is more fair then any other. Who will take home the crown? Jay I don't like this, Cronus is up to something" Herry read the smaller print at the bottom of the paper.
"I agree, we need someone in that competition. Theresa? You up to it?" Jay was in his 'fearless leader mode', already delegating responsibilities to those most suited for the task.
"Sure, sounds like fun" Theresa blushed a little at the off-handed compliment Jay had just bestowed on her.
"Uh, that's not gonna fly Jay. It's a U16 pageant" Odie's voice of reason was peaking over the bulk that was Herry.
"That does pose a problem" Jay paused to think for a moment; with Theresa celebrating her 17th birthday a few months ago, who could they get in the pageant?
"Not it doesn't, I'll do it" Atlanta stuck her thumb into her chest, the other hand resting calmly on her hip.
A cricket chirped somewhere in the hallway, and then all her so-called friends started laughing. Some laughed hard, while others merely giggled, but all of them for some reason thought it was amusing that she said that. Atlanta handled it how she handled anything she didn't like, she confronted it head on.
"What's so funny?" she put both hands on her hips and tried to look as intimidating as possible in her petit frame.
"You… ha ha…. In… ha…in a dress!" Archie was leaning on a chortling Herry, tears in his eyes.
"Yah, you're not exactly pageant material" Herry stood up straight, allowing Archie to fall to the floor clutching his sides.
Atlanta suddenly felt very self-conscious. What was so funny about her in girl's clothes? Was she really that much of a guy? She didn't want her 'friends' to see how much their laughing upset her, but she did shrink a little. Theresa stopped giggling when she saw how upset they had made her, and was about to go apologize when someone else beat her to the punch.
"Actually…" Neil's voice was the one who broke through the laughter first. He struck a thoughtful pose, before he began to circle the younger girl. He 'hmm-ed' and 'haw-ed' a few times, obviously contemplating something.
"What?" the fire was back in Atlanta's voice, she was tired of being mocked.
"I think, with a bit of work of course, you would be fabulous pageant material!" Neil exclaimed the last part. All laughter stopped.
"Huh?" the other six heroes questioned Neil, eyebrows raised.
"Yah! You've got pretty good bone structure, and a great personality. All you need is a makeover and to learn how to act the part, and you'd totally be a contender for that crown!" Neil was making swooping motions with his hands, trying to emphasize his point.
"You really think so Neil?" Atlanta didn't expect Neil of all people to be the one to lift her spirits, but she was till glad all the same.
"Oh absolutely! Never quite as fabulous as me, don't get me wrong, but definitely still fabulous" he put an arm around her shoulder leading her away from the rest of their friends. "You'll need a new wardrobe, some fresh make up, a new hair style. Wow this might take some time. I bet we'd can get Aphrodite to help, she loves helping poor souls also be beautiful!" The two of them rounded the corner, on their way to the janitor's closet.
"Okay…what just happened there?" Archie stared after his secret crush and blonde friend.
"I'm not exactly sure. I don't know if I should rescue Atlanta, or what!" Herry scratched his head in puzzlement.
"I don't think it's be rescuing guys. I don't think Atlanta appreciated the humor in what she said earlier" Theresa felt a little sheepish about laughing. "C'mon, lets go wait for her to be done with her make over" she lead the way down the hallway, not sure what would come from this new development.
--
"What in the world is taking so long?" Archie lamented. He and the other guys minus Neil were waiting on the steps outside Aphrodite's room. Neil had come out hours ago, demanding that Theresa bring some of her 'girl clothes' back that would fit Atlanta. She was now in the room as well. All the guys could hear were the girlish giggles of the nymphs.
"Well, we know how long Neil takes to look his best in the morning, these things must take time" Odie was busying himself on his laptop, trying to determine what Cronus might be up to. He wasn't having any success.
"Man this is boring!" Herry had been bouncing a volley ball he had found, but one bounce too many and it had split an hour ago.
"C'mon guys, we really should support Atlanta in this. She's probably way out of her comfort zone" Jay tried to calm his pals down. "Neil did say that if we recognized her that he would each give us ten bucks each".
"Knowing Neil's luck he'll turn Atlanta into his clone!" Archie threw his hands in the air. He didn't want Atlanta to change, he liked her, really liked her for who she was.
"Ahem!" Neil finally had returned. "Presenting the new and improved Atlanta!" he stepped aside to reveal an absolute doll.
"Hi guys" Atlanta waved embarrassedly. Her socks and sneakers had been replaced with little strappy sandals. Her standard green capris and blue shirt were gone, and instead were a knee length pale green skirt and baby pink cami. Her hair no longer looked like it was perpetually blown back, but fell softly around her face, which was now accented with blush, eye shadow, and lipstick. She had bangles on her wrists, and a gold chain around her neck. Her nails were painted, and her skin was smooth. There were no scars, no bruises, no nothing that would suggest she enjoyed the sports she enjoyed or fought monsters on a daily biases.
The guys all had wide eyes and dropped jaws. This was not their Atlanta!
"At-lanta?" Jay found his first.
"Isn't she just a-DOR-able!" Aphrodite swung in behind the girl in question Theresa and her nymphs in tow. "The scars were a little harder to conceal, but take a look-sy! Atlanta-dear, do a twirl for everyone!" A light blush stained the huntress' face as she slowly turned on the spot for her friends. "Oh aren't you just PRECIOUS!" the goddess squealed.
"Thank you Aphrodite" Atlanta politely thanked her, and then turned to leave. Theresa and Neil followed her while laughing at the expressions left on the other male's faces. Again Jay broke through his trance first, heading after the girls. Odie and Herry followed calling after Atlanta, asking if she wanted one of them to carry her books or help her with her homework. Archie just continued to stare after the swishing green skirt, only snapping out of his trance when it disappeared behind a corner.
"Atlanta! Wait up!" the warrior tried to run to catch up with the pretty girl, but kept stumbling over nothing but air.
"Oh that poor boy. He doesn't even realize what kinda competition he's gonna have to deal with now" Aphrodite turned back into her room, she needed her own manicure now.
Canadian Chica: Tell me if you like it, and I'll continue