An awkward silence instaured between the three of them, then Poseidon started to speak with Artemis in Catalan. She wondered if they were talking about her, what were they saying? Suddenly she felt a stranger, as if she was in another country. She fell on her tracks, leaving them in front of her. She would learn the language, she would try. Her mother had offered herself to teach her but she'd rejected. Why would she need it? They spoke Spanish as well, right? But they were used to speak Catalan between them, she'd seen it when they were playing volley and their Spanish was full of words that didn't sound like it. And suddenly she agreed with her teacher, the language was the last thing that was lost from a society and she was in one the regions more independents, she probably wouldn't be pointed badly if she tried. Maybe she'll never be able to speak it but understand it and write it wouldn't be so difficult she hoped…
- Hey, Athy. – Her head snapped up, they were waiting for her. – Would you like to join us? We'll probably go to Zeusy's pool. It's in the shade and it's too hot to stay outside, well that's my opinion. Eh, you don't mind, no, Arty? – Poseidon looked back at Artemis who shrugged.
- It's fine, while he doesn't push me inside I'm okay with it. So Athena, are you in? – Athena looked at them.
- You guys don't want to stay at the beach.
- We've spent the entire morning there. If you want we can come back at six, it will be more comfortable. – She thought of it, cold water, with friends, well new friends, and a shade to go under to, hide from the humidity of the air...
- All right, let's warm up that pool. – He laughed at her comment and said:
- I love this girl! She's…
- Pos! – A girl appeared out of nowhere and crashed on his arms. – Well done, champion. I'm so proud of you. – She kissed him in front of the two girls who stood there uncomfortably; Athena surprised herself half glaring at the girl. How could she believe he wouldn't be taken? Artemis coughed.
- Amphitrite, would you mind, next time, to bring with you some mammoths as well? – They broke apart and the girl turned to look at her, her hands on her hips.
- Oh, Arty, your problem is that you're jealous because I'm better looking and 'cause you would like to lose some weight to be like me. – Artemis just looked at her.
- Sure, but that weight that you say is what you need for your brain.
- Er, girls… - Poseidon tried to intervened, but his girlfriend snapped.
- Look who's talking, the girl that cut off with Zeus and that is dying to be with Pos.
- Look who's talking, the girl that can barely count to twenty.
- I can count to twenty! See, twenty!
- Yes. And what comes before?
- Hugh, Arty. Just shush it!
- Why would I shush it? You just don't want to admit that you're cheating on him!
- What? Pos, don't listen to her, she's just jealous.
- You think he hasn't notice how you hit on Zeus? We all saw you two leave together at the beach last night. – Amphitrite's mouth was a gap of disgust and hate. She turned to Poseidon who was trying to not meet her eyes.
- I…I can explain.
- Come on, Athena, let's go to that stupid swimming pool and leave those two arrange each other. – She nodded, but her eyes didn't want to leave her neighbor. Finally Artemis took her by her arm and they left the beach together.
- Is that true, what you said? – Artemis shrugged.
- Ampitrite has been playing on his back longer than what he knows. They've been together since May and they've both got tired of each other but they try to stay together because he really loves her, but she's not worth it. I've been telling him but he still believed they could be together. Last night was the last straw, we all saw them leave together and… - she showed her her two middle fingers and put them together.
- You mean that? (So all those that didn't saw me changing the rating for the language please cover your ears) Fuck up?
- It wouldn't surprise me coming from Zeus.
- You were together before?
- Yeah. Then he wasn't as jerk as he is now. That was last year, then a month ago he started hitting at me again and he's got a girlfriend, Hera and has, ejem, yesterday with Amphy, so. You understand I don't want to be with him anyway.
- And Pos.
- He's like a brother to me, so no, but. – She turned to look at her. – I bet you two will end up together. – Athena blushed furiously. – You like him, don't you?
- Well, I… I only know him since yesterday. – Artemis smirked. – I don't know him, Arty!
- I saw your face. – She sighed, turning away, was it her or was the sun crashing her with its hundreds of small arms against the wall, that wall was the eyes of the girl standing next to her.
- That means nothing. I hate people making out in public. I can't stand it. – Artemis smirk left her lips slowly.
- I hope Demeter is here.
- Who?
- Another girl from Barcelona. You'll be surprise of how much you're alike. Why don't you like it?
- Probably because I never got the chance to have a boyfriend. A real one. – They stayed in silence for a couple of minutes. Athena kept thinking in the conversation she had with her friend minutes ago. Suddenly she couldn't help but ask: - You think they'll break up?
- I hope so. I think… - Suddenly Artemis gasped as someone but his hands over her eyes, a wide smirk playing on his lips. – Ares! Stop it! – Athena recognized the guy from yesterday, his black hair seemed an aureole around his head and his black eyes, bright and joyful. Artemis managed to free herself from his hold while smiling mischievous. She turned as another person passed next to them and her eyes widened with anoyment. – Athy! Look out! – Someone slammed against her elbow, throwing her to the ground, she felt someone grab her bag but she pulled it to her. – Hermes! Let her go! – The two guys started laughing and the so-called Hermes let go her handbag.
- Nice to see you, Arty. – He said. – Oh, and hey, you're Athena, right? The new girl. – She looked angrily up at the medium guy that grinned at her as he offered his hand. He was probably son of immigrants from the north of Africa, his skin was the kind of tan you found in the south littoral of the Mediterranean, his black extremely curled black hair was cut short, (God, I feel racist, sorry :( ) which was the difference between he and Apollo and his brown eyes quick and joyful. – I'm Hermes. Nice to meet you.
- Nice way to say hello, Hermes. Do you always slam into people like this? – Athena stood up alone and glared at him. Hermes put his hands in the air.
- It was only a joke!
- Well, I have to say it was everything but funny.
- You two promised you were going to stop the pickpocket! – Artemis intervened.
- But we're training, Arty. You know that. – Ares intervened, grinning as well. She sighed.
- Well, attack the rich not the poor then!
- It wasn't for real! – They both protested.
- You guys are ridiculous.
- So Lads! – They turned to see Poseidon approaching. – You, stealing in friends? Where's the honor, Hermes?
- Hey Pos! – Ares ran up to him and clapped him on the back. – How are you man? You seriously look as if your dog had been run over.
- Almost, Ares, almost. – He looked at Artemis and gave her a significant glance, then he looked at Athena and managed a sad smile.
- Oh that bitch? Forget about her, Pos. She wasn't worth it.
- Yeah. – He sighed discouraged. – Hoped it would be better.
- So you're going to the pool? – Hermes intervened. Artemis nodded.
- I don't think I want to go anymore. You guys go ahead I'm going home. – Poseidon said.
- Pos, come on. You're not going to have a depression for Amphy. – Athena said. He looked up at her and she gave him a pleading look with a small gentle smile as she offered him her hand. What was wrong with her? He moved his head to the sides.
- I don't know…
- God sake, Pos! Where is the cheerboy of this morning? – Artemis took his arm and motioned Athena to do the same. Finding it funny she quickly grabbed his other arm. – Where's the player of Blanes? – He smiled.
- Yeah. – Said Ares, forcing himself to seem jealous. – All the girls love you. Even the newest. I'm so freaking jealous, man! – Poseidon's grin became a full smile and he opened his arms.
- Okay everyone come here! I'm the Blanes player! – Artemis laughed and pressed against his chest. – You guys as well, of course. Come Hermes, you're invited as well. – They laughed as they patted his back that's when they saw Zeus eyeing at them, Poseidon pressed the two girls against him. – See Zeusy, all the girls love me! Not like you, man. Because I'm the player! – Athena started to giggle again as Artemis decided to push everything a bit forward and kissed him on the cheek. He looked at his captain even from higher and screamed. – Ja! – Zeus smirked at them and continued walking. Laughing, the other five followed.
Zeus ended up joining the group after Poseidon ran a few times up to him and joked, finally he lost his grim expression and the two guys ended breaking the ice completely. Suddenly they seemed more brothers than rivals, as they kept one arm over each other's shoulders, which surprised Athena.
- They're rivals in matches, otherwise they're really good friends. Everyone knows that training and girls they're like two alpha wolves trying to take over a clan. – Artemis explained at her confused expression.
- So what will we do? – Asked Hermes, his hands on his pockets.
- Swim, throw each other and play cards or something? – Zeus proposed shrugging as he opened a portal and they entered the pool of the community. Before they had time to drop their bags the guys grabbed them and snatched their phones, dropping them on a chair next to their bags.
- ZEUS! LET ME GO! – Screamed Artemis while trashing around as Ares helped him carry her to the water. – WILL YOU STOP, IDIOT…? – The three of them disappeared on the water as Hermes jumped screaming:
- BOOOOOOMBAA! – Splashing brutally, some adults gave them crossed looks. Athena tried to break free from the grinning Poseidon. She let herself drop on the grass, scrashing her knees; she turned to face him as he fell over. He picked her up and Athena found herself falling in the water her back first. She fought to make surface. She felt him push her forward with him. She gasped, breathing hard, she took hold of the side as Poseidon didn't left her, still holding her by her waist.
- You okay? – She turned to look at him and slapped his cheek, almost affectively; he raised an eyebrow as his once serious face started to disappear. – What was that for?
- Idiot. – She mumbled as she turned around, she could almost feel his smile appearing again and her mouth slowly curled into one. He pressed her a bit more, suddenly she felt her skin tingle as if his touch was icy as it always happened when someone touched her. – Please, don't do that. – She moved away from him and he looked lost. – I-I can't, sorry. Don't know… – She blushed and left the pool, then she thought of it and offered him her hand to help him. He grabbed it. He kept looking at her. – Stop that.
- What's wrong?
- Nothing, I don't like when people touch me, not like that.
- Why?
- I just don't like it, okay? – Poseidon looked hurt.
- Excuse me. I didn't meant to… - She suddenly remembered how crest falling he was when they met in the street. She tried to think for a good explanation as a nervous sweat started to form on her back - I. I'm not really cozy. It's not you, sometimes even with my parents. Don't feel bad for it. – He nodded; she hoped he wouldn't hold any grudge against her.
- But at first…
- We were playing, that's different. At least for me. – She turned to look at him and smiled, trying to sound playfully. – Hey, come on. Let's join the others. – She took her shirt and his shorts off and abandoned them next to her bag. She turned to look at him and raised her eyebrow, her pounding heart was scared he would walk away, clearly telling her she had hurt him. He studied her, almost absently, then shrugged and left his wet shirt on the grass, managing a smile for her. They walked inside the pool again, Athena sighed in relieve and relaxed from a fear she didn't believe to be feeling.
They played for a long time until three other girls came and jumped inside. After half an hour of talking and looking the lads throw each other on the pool with the water that they had splashed out. She met the three new girls: Aphrodite and Demeter, from Barcelona and Hera, Zeus' girlfriend. Aphrodite was a tall blond haired girl with an easy smile that didn't speak a lot of Catalan, cautious about politics and less explosive than the others. Demeter was an extroversive girl, with brown, covered with blond natural strikes from the sun, her short hair went in every direction, also really tan and as was almost large as Zeus and Poseidon. She was also extremely fit, thought, not in the same way as Artemis. And who seemed to love to joke about herself. Also everyone, at least the guys, called her "L'afransesada" but she seemed oblivious to it, she seemed even proud of it. (Being called that (Thought it's quite an old insult that comes from ideology based on the ideals of the Lumières during the Napolieonian wars blablabla. It's used from time to time by my grandmother) still, it's quite an insult) When she asked her she looked at her, pride on her eyes, thought her voice kept it really low.
- My father's French and I'm in the French school, in other words it's the reality. Plus. – A small smirk appeared on her lips. – I wanted to be called like this so I used it on the windsurf competitions and there it stayed.
- So you're taking an insult for a namesake? – She shrugged nonchanaly.
- There comes the French influence, I play with the words I find it extremely fascinating. – She looked at her as Demeter started laughing loudly. And she turned around.
- So your mother is Spanish. – She nodded.
- Lleida. And you're from…
- Salamanca. – Demeter's eyes flashed with joy as a bright smile appeared on her face.
- I think that's one of my favourite cities.
- You've been there? – She nodded vigorously.
- I wanted to go back for the University, but now I don't know if I'll leave for France. – Her face lost its joy for nostalgia.
A few minutes later they left the pool to go play on the grass to a game of cards, animals. It wasn't a game she'd like, but seeing Poseidon trying all the sounds of the other animals before finding the correct as he waved his arms like a bird that can't fly was one of the funniest things she'd seen. And when only he and she were left as lasts, when she managed to defeat him for the umpteenth time he put his most annoyed face.
- How dare you beat me? You're all so cruel with me. But how dare you! – He jumped over to her and started to tickle her and she trashed around laughing like crazy.
- Stop that! Please Pos! – She managed to push him and fell over him, her arms extended at both sides of his head, his smile still playing over his lips. Athena suddenly felt lost on his eyes as something on the depths of her abdomen clinked brutally, warm and quick, fastly arriving to her throat, she suddenly felt as if the space for the air she inhaled became so thin, she could barely breathe. She stood away from him as her cheeks started burning red. She felt the eyes of Zeus like vultures over her head. The uncomfortable glance he gave her kept existing as the others talked to do a seventh play, which was when he phone biped. Her father…
"Where r u? W need u at home."
"Comin'." She stood up, grabbing her bag she started to range everything inside.
- Where are you going? – Poseidon asked standing next to her, trying to help her.
- My father's asking me to go back. He says he needs me.
- Okay. Do you mind if I accompany you back? – She looked at him and smiled, nodding. He winked at her again and stood. – Okay guys. We have to go. See you later.
They left in silence as the other started playing again. Athena saw he had forgotten completely about the incident in the pool. He started to whistle again, she listened trying to recognize the song but she didn't found the name of it.
- What are you singing? – She asked, curious.
- Toi et moi contre le monde entier, Demeter showed it do me. It reminds me my father.
- I don't know it.
- It's an old French song, those are the best.
- So you're an oldie?
- I do listen to the pop songs that appear, just that I prefer the oldies. – He smirked. Then he stopped in his tracks. She frowned.
- You're okay?
- Yeah. I just think we're going to go through the beach. I don't want to find her. – He turned on his heel and descended direction the port. Athena shook her head and followed.
- Won't she be there?
- No. At this time she's always at home helping her mother in the bar. – She bit her tongue, not whiling to break down his spirit again, but she couldn't help asking:
- Poseidon, you're all right, no? – He looked at her quizzically, then realization flashed over his face and he sighed.
- I did love her. I'm still realizing what she did and it hurts, you know. So no, I'm not okay. – He turned back at her and smile. – But thanks for your concern. – She smiled, she had the sudden urge to walk closer to him, lay her head on his shoulder but she restrained herself and slowly she found herself grabbing his hand. He looked at her surprised but said nothing, only smiled and held hers. Athena's heart jumped of joy, she was welcome.
Hey, so this is the first romance I write so it will probably be very cheesy, sometimes. Promise I'll do my best. Anyway thanks for reading everyone.
-Again, Aifos di Cambri, I know nothing about love.