Come on, guys. We've been over this. I don't own PJO. If I did, Mark of Athena would've been out six months ago.

~Lucky

I sighed and pushed my geometry worksheet to the corner of my desk, burrying my head in my hands and groaning softly. After a moment of just sitting there, rubbing my eyes, I realized that if I sat like that any longer, I'd probably fall asleep. It would've been fine by me, but I don't think it would go very well on my record.

A's in all subjects, does volenteer work in the school office, is in the school's leadership staff... Oh, what's this? Fell asleep in class? Pft! We don't want her in

our college! Lazy child...

"Perhaps Miss Jackson would care to explain the problem to you, Mr. Carrie."

I lifted my head to glare at my geometry teacher, who was completely oblivious to my 'Freakin' really, Mr. Brunner?' look.

"Mr. Brunner..." I chose my words carefully, as not to curse at my teacher. "I'm afraid that I can not assist-"

I was cut off by the obnoxious screaming of the bell. The period was over. Kids sprang up from their chairs, grabbed their bags, and pushed their way out the door, into the ocean of kids that we call 'passing period'.

Before I could escape Mr. Brunner's stuffy classroom, I heard him call out to me.
"Miss Jackson?"

I turned, raising an eyebrow.

"May I see you after school, please? With your brother?"

It was Mr. Brunner's polite way of telling me that I would come to his classroom after school, and I would bring my brothers.

"Yes, sir," I sighed. "May I ask, however, why you want to see my brother, too?"

Mr. Brunner glanced at the clock, but I got the feeling he wasn't really checking the time. "I happen to know that your next class is History, and I also know that Ms. Lion's room is on the other side of the school. I think you should be on your way, Miss Jackson."

If there was one thing I knew about Mr. Brunner, it was that he wasn't a person you could argue with. It wasn't that he had an unmovable opinion or that he came up with unbeatable arguements- he was just to nice to argue with.

"Of course, Mr. Brunner. I'll see you after school."

When the clock struck three, I dove into the hall with the rest of seventh period. About halfway down the hall, I remembered my promise to meet Mr. Brunner in his classroom. With Tyler. Who just so happened to be on the other side of the school at that moment.

I cursed as I pushed my way through the overly crowded hallway (seriously, can't they widen these things or something?), trying to find my brother. Eventually, I did catch sight of him, struggling to push his books in his locker while trying to fend of Endrea Maticci, the head cheerleader and Tyler's not-so-secret admirer.

"Tyler."

My ever so fortunate twin beamed at me. Endrea scowled in distaste.

"Did you have to butt in, Chance?" she scrunched her nose. "We were a little busy."

"No!" Tyler grabbed my arm, probably terriffied that I'd leave him alone with the demonic little prep. As if I'd do that. Tyler was annoying, but I wouldn't set Endrea Maticci on my worst enemy (Who just so happened to be Endrea herself.).

"We have to walk home, don't we, Chance?" Tyler looked totally desperate. I was pleased. "Like, in a hurry."

"Actually," I smiled angelically. "We have to go see Mr. Brunner."

Tyler didn't even question it. He just stuffed the rest of his books in his locker and slammed it shut, nearly snapping off Endrea's manicured fingernails.

"Let's go." Tyler grabbed my arm and pulled me toward Mr. Brunner's room.

I shot a smug look over my shoulder at Endrea, like 'Ha! My brother loves me and not you!' I'd never say that out loud of course. That'd be way too immature.

Mr. Brunner was sitting in his wheelchair, grading what I assumed were yesterday's quizzes.

He smiled warmly when we stepped into the room, gesturing for us to take a seat in the front desks. He wheeled himself over to us.

"Ah, Chance, Tyler!" Mr. Brunner beamed at us like we were his star pupils (which we probably were, but it was still kind of unsettling). "Do you know why I called you here?"
"No," I said. "But can we hurry, please? I need to get home and do my science homewo-"

"Chance." Tyler hissed. "Be. Polite."

His gray eyes met mine in warning. We'd both taken after our father in appearance- black hair, gray eyes, easily tanned skin. If we were the same gender, I'm sure that we'd be identical. As for our personalities- well, we were polar oppisites. Usually, we couldn't stand each other for very long- even worse than your typical brother/sister relationship.

"Anyway," Mr. Brunner continued. "I'd like to tell you two a story."
My jaw fell open. "A story? Seriously? Mr. Brunner, with all due respect, we're fifteen. We have no interest in-"

Tyler's elbow met my ribs. I'd punch him in the face for that later.
"We'd love to hear it, Mr. Brunner," my brother ammended.

"You'll enjoy it," Mr. Brunner promised. "Now, make yourselves comfortable. It's a bit of a long story."

I sighed and leaned back in my chair, preparing myself for the worst.

"A long time ago," Mr. Brunner started. I internally groaned. A fairytale. Oh, joy. "-a young boy lived in New York. He was twelve years old; quite the troubled lad when it came to academics. But his grades were the least of his problems, for this child was the most unlucky boy that had ever lived..."

Mr. Brunner told about the boy and his best friend- a satyr who had been sent to protect him from monsters. He explained how the boy was claimed by the Greek god Poseidon. The boy met a girl, who dreamed of getting out of the demigod camp, where she'd lived for five years with her best friend. They went on a 'quest', because Zeus's lightening bolt had been stolen, and the boy was the main suspect. The story went on and on.

Eventually, Mr. Brunner finished his story and looked at Tyler and I for a response. Tyler, naturally, was the first to speak.
"That was very interesting, Mr. Brunner. But... May I ask, what does it have to do with us?"
"And where the hell'd you come up with it?" I quizzed.

Mr. Brunner smiled gently at Tyler. "Oh, you'll find out soon enough, my boy. And Chance, dear, please watch your language."

My brother sat up and stretched. "So what happened next? The kid turned sixteen and they won the war. That can't be the end."

"Oh, it's not," Mr. Brunner promised. "But I'd like to know, what do you think happened?"

"I don't know, Mr. Brunner, sir."

My teacher laughed softly. "Alright. What about you, Chance?"
I shrugged. "It's a fairytale. Obviously, the kid got a happy ending. Married the girl- the one he met at high school- and had kids and stuff. Lived happily ever after. The end."

"You're wrong, my dear."
I rasied an eyebrow. "How so?"
"He did not marry her. I suppose I left that part out. His friend became the Oracle of Delphi, meaning she couldn't marry. The boy married the other girl- the one he'd met years ago."

I sighed. Of course. Silly me.

"Can we leave, Mr. Brunner?" I asked. "Please?"

"I'm not finished," Mr. Brunner held up a hand. "The answer to your question, Tyler. Do either of you see any connection to the story and your life?"

I rolled my eyes. Tyler thought for a moment.

"The characters. They're kind of like us. The girl was short tempered and clever, like Chance. The guy was laid back and kinda dependent. Like me."

Mr. Brunner snapped his fingers. "There's one. I want you two to think about the story a bit more. I want you to tell me if you can think of any more similarities. Why don't you ask your parents? I'm sure they'd be quite helpful on this particular topic."

I rolled my eyes and stood up curtly. Tyler thanked Mr. Brunner and shook his hand politely.

"What do you think he meant by 'asking our parents'?" Tyler asked as we stepped off school campus.

I shrugged. "Who knows, and who cares? Bro, we're talking Brunner here. He's cool, yeah, but he's a little nutty, you know? Let's just get home."

Unfortunately, the names of Greek gods stuck in my head as we boarded the city bus. I realized something as we sat down on the gum-loaded seats.

Mr. Brunner never told us the character's names.

You know what'd be really awesome? Hitting that little 'review' button down there. Yeah... That one. Just click... Ah, that's a good reader!