Forever Young
Greek Mythology Fanfiction
Modern Era
The New Girl in Town
Odysseus
Most people in my 1st period biology class thought that learning about what their brain does was the most boring thing in the world. I, however, had quickly decided that this was a cure for what troubled me. I needed a distraction from the fact that my relationship with Penelope was really not working. It wasn't that she was cheating or anything, it's just that I didn't love her in that way anymore. I sighed. I had no idea what I was going to do about that, so I tuned that out to the relaxing sounds of my teacher, Mr Carson, talking about 'what brain does'. 15 minutes of class had passed and I can see that all of my Year 11 classmates have switched off for the hour. I'm the only one who answers the questions anyway. Whatever. I like it that way. They all looked up, however, when they hear the purposeful knock at the door that announces the arrival of our school secretary. I personally find it annoying, as she's interrupting my 'what brain does' lesson.
"I have your new student, Mr Carson." Mrs Ross says with a smile.
Wow, a new student. Never had one of those before, I think sarcastically.
"Excellent! We were just talking about her!" Mr Carson beams slightly nervously.
Sure we were. Oh, but wait, I seem to recall you teaching to only one student. You have twenty-six, now twenty-seven, pupils in your class and only one wants to learn. But wait, the only available seat in the class is next to me. Brilliant. The only thing students want from me is to copy my homework and test answers.
I lean towards my best friend, Apollo Delos, and say, "A new student, how about we set her straight right away?"
"Count me in. I'll write you a song about it." Apollo grins. True to his name, he loves music above all else. I'm just about to reply when I see the new student I'm setting straight. I think my jaw hits the floor, and I know everyone else's does too. She's stunning. I mean, Aphrodite stunning, and our friend is gorgeous. This girl has shoulder length black hair and creamy skin. She's tall and slender, with a proud look on her face and her naturally cherry red lips are set in determination. What strikes me most though, are her eyes. They're pale grey, like the colour of the sky after a light rainfall, and they look old. For her sixteen year old face, they look eternal, as though they know and have seen everything. They completely captivate me.
"What's your name?" Mr Carson asks her warmly.
"Athena Halliwell." The girl, Athena, replies somewhat stiffly.
"Well, Athena, why don't you take a seat next to Odysseus?" Mr Carson indicates me and I begrudgingly move my bag and grey school blazer. Olympus Academy uniform consists of a grey school blazer for boys and girls, white shirt, pale blue jumper and grey trousers for boys; whereas girls have a pale blue and grey check pleated skirt. Athena looks stunning in her uniform. No! No thinking like that, Odysseus! You, my friend, are in a relationship. Athena sits down and I smell cherries and limes. Oh Gods. I'm screwed. Mr Carson gets back to his lesson and I decide to set Athena straight.
"Look, if you think you can get test and homework answers from me, you're dead wrong. Do your own work because I'm not your slave."
I see something in Athena's grey eyes, but it is gone before I really place it.
"Understood." She says coldly. We pass the rest of the lesson in silence. I leave class ahead of Athena and see my friends Aphrodite, Ares, Dionysus, Hermes, Hephaestus, Persephone, Hades and Artemis, who is also Apollo's twin sister, outside. Apollo and I wonder up to them and I join hands with Penelope, who I had not seen.
"Odysseus showed some new girl who's boss!" Apollo says enthusiastically.
"Nice one, did she bow before you?" Ares smirks.
"No, I –" I start to reply, but am cut off by Athena.
"Odysseus!" She calls.
"Yeah?" I say in a bored tone. I'm one of the most popular guys in school and I do not have to take this.
Her eyes flash with fury and I am taken aback by how angry she is.
"How dare you? You think I need answers from you? Next time you choose to insult my intellect, maybe you should consider that I might have a mind of own that actually works!" She shouts, grey eyes stormy and icy cold. All I can do is stand there gaping like a fish at her. She whirls around, slapping me across the face with her dark, lime and cherry scented curls as she leaves. I am transfixed by her. I like her and I'm really screwed but I also couldn't care less.
