Chapter One: Playing

A/n: So this is the beginning of the second part, which I will probably finish tommorow when I get back from exams. There will be three more chapters probably, and I may add one more tonight, I'm not quite sure. But I promise to try my hardest to finish it. PLEASE review!Becky

Theresa lay on a low-lying green couch in Chiron's study, her eyes closed, and breathing even as the centaur dressed her wound. Jay looked on, but he couldn't look into her face, feeling betrayed and angry since the night before. Herry was sad, staring down at the ground as though it could provide some answers as to how, and Archie was glaring at Theresa as she slept, rubbing his aching hand. Atlanta and Neil were arguing heatedly about something to keep their minds off their friend, and Odie just gazed around the room to avoid having anyone see his tears.

Hera stood beside Chiron, not saying a word, her guarded gaze enough to make Jay flinch. He knew it was his fault. He should have been easier on her, shouldn't have been so controlling that she was driven mad. But he couldn't… wouldn't be held responsible for Theresa's actions against the gods. He frowned at the ceiling. He wouldn't look at her, his hurt far too deep.

Suddenly her eyes fluttered open, green and unwavering. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes as though she were waking up on a usual Saturday morning. "Hello," she said brightly. "What's up?"

Then she gazed around at the despondent faces, and her demeanour changed to confused. "What… what's wrong, guys?"

Jay couldn't believe it. After everything she had done to them, she had the nerve to fake it? He glared at her this time, his eyes flashing and dangerous. "You know exactly, you little…" His words trailed off in surprise as her eyes suddenly flashed purple, and a rage so controlled that it only shone in her eyes reflected out at him.

"Yes, Jay?"

Then he knew she was feigning puzzlement. "You witch," he muttered, all the anger that had been boiling inside of his soul finally gushing out like a flood. She had hurt him badly. He had trusted her, cared for her, and she had thanked him by trying to kill the gods? He wanted to hurt her just as bead, see her cringe and cry, see her sob as he had sobbed in the confines of his room, the sails of boats flapping across the top of his head from the breeze.

"What did you say?" she asked lowly, her eyes narrowed.

"You witch!" he yelled. "You always thought of yourself before everyone else, didn't you? Why did you do this to us?"

"Oh-oh, this from the one who thought he could save the world by himself, thought all the pressure was on HIM to perform," she shot. "Did you ever think of the pressure on the rest of us that YOU administered? You were the one who never let us rest, always told me that I HAD to be better! You know what, I took your advice! And now look at me! I only ever tried to be your friend, be part of this team, but you made it so hard…" Theresa said nothing else for a while, letting her words soak in. Her fists were clenched, and she didn't look at any of the gods as they struggled in to surround her. Artemis glared at her accusingly, Athena stood stolidly, sword drawn in case of a fight, Hermes fluttered around nervously, and Ares looked as though he wanted to pummel her through the ground. Theresa suddenly laid her head back as though to rest, but her back was straight and stiff. Before anyone could tell what she was at, bolts of purple shot form her and engulfed each of the gods, sucking away their power and strength and drawing it into her.

Jay watched, flabbergasted as Theresa morphed into an archer, a scary-looking version of herself in armour, and a young woman with flying sandals. Hermes, Athena, Ares, and Artemis crumpled to the ground, splayed out like they were about to be whipped. Atlanta screamed and rushed to help her mentor, and Odie gasped, kneeling beside a weak Hermes. Archie shuffled forward timidly and checked to make sure Ares was still alive, although he looked like he was going to kill somebody soon.

Theresa bolted for the door, but this time Herry was ready. He grabbed her as she ran by, whirling and throwing her against the wall with a stomach-churning CRUNCH. Her head snapped back, and she slid to the ground, slumped over without any further incident.

Neil winced. "Ouch, that's gotta hurt." He laughed weakly, but nobody joined him. They just stared at their friend through sad eyes, wondering what to do. Finally Jay broke the silence. "I guess we can take her back to her dorm room, but there must always be one of us with her at all times so she can't go after Zeus. He may be able to do something to give all the gods their powers back."

The others nodded mutely, not trusting their mouths to speak. Herry didn't step forward to pick her up, looking at Jay to do the task. Jay glared at his friend. "What?"

"I thought…" Herry gulped nervously. "I thought you might want to carry her, since you liked her and all."

Jay's jaw dropped, and his face turned crimson with either embarrassment or fury, and he stalked out of the gym without another word. Herry shrugged and bent to pick her up, and then started when he realized how light she was. Odie would have been able to carry her without a struggle.

Her eyes fluttered open for a moment, and she stared at him dazedly. "Herry," she murmured, pupils unfocussed. "Help…" Then she sank back.

He blinked. "Theresa?"

She did not answer. "Jay!" he called. "Come quick!"

The leader arrived within seconds. "What is it Herry?" he asked calmly, his features even. It was a contradiction from his reaction a few moments before. Odie too trotted up, inquiry scrawled across his intelligent features.

"It's Theresa... she asked for help!"

Jay's face darkened, and he waved his hand dismissively. "She's probably just playing you, Herry. Probably trying to make you think she's innocent. Like she did with me. Ignore her. We're not her friends anymore… we're her enemies. Er, she's our enemy…" His voice broke, and Herry blinked in amazement.

"Jay… are you crying?" He had never seen Jay cry in front of them before. Atlanta and Archie stopped fussing over their mentors to stare at them, eyes wide in astonishment. Jay shook his head. "I'm not," he said shortly, and then pointed at Atlanta and Neil. "You two are going to watch Theresa first."

"Jay…" Odie began, about to reprimand that they had to stick by their friend, but Jay was done talking. He crossed his arms, firmly stating through body language that the case was closed for good.

Archie crossed his arms in annoyance. "Excuse me Jay, have I forgotten to mention that Atlanta and I are dating now?"

Jay met his glare with a blank stare. "So?"

"So? I WANT TO WORK WITH HER!"

"People don't always get what they want, Archie. Deal with it," Jay said tiredly, and then he strode from the room. Archie and Atlanta exchanged exasperated sighs and quickly hugged. She inhaled his scent of spice from his cologne and buried her face in his shoulder. Neil made kissy noises and was hushed with a glower from Archie. After a quick peck on the cheek that made Archie blush, her smile bashfully, and Neil giggle and point hysterically, she turned and made her way towards him. Swinging her fists playfully, she looked like she was going to punch him, and Neil promptly shut up.

Giggling slightly despite the atmosphere, she followed Neil and Herry out of the gym and to the dorm. The halls were bustling with students, so they took a back door to avoid being noticed by their inquisitive classmates. They crossed the back lawn and headed for the street, their feet crunching the green grass beneath them. Birds twittered noisily and cats prowled the street for a bite of bird to eat, and everything seemed perfectly normal.

Neil laughed at the thought. Since when was he normal? He was far too beautiful to be normal. He was already perfect. Other people's perfect was downright ugly compared to his perfect. Right? But when he glanced at Theresa, her eyes closed and her actions of before still fresh in his mind, Neil didn't have the appetite to brag about himself anymore. What good was bragging about himself if a friend he usually bragged to wasn't really their friend anymore?

"Now I'm giving myself a headache," he muttered to himself. "Shut up, Neil." That suddenly made him feel a whole lot better, although he wasn't sure why.

Along the way, Atlanta fancied she saw Jay following them, as if he had had a change of heart, but when she glanced back, nobody was there. Maybe I'm just wishing things were the same, that we're just taking a dozy friend back home, she thought. Everything's too different.

And Atlanta had the terrible gut feeling that nothing would ever be the same.