Chapter 17-Hephaestus: I Met Thalia Grace
Hephaestus' P.O.V.
I went down for a drink and didn't expect a life revelation.
It started when I was going downstairs. My hand skinning on top of the smooth wooden handrail. As I took the first three steps downstairs, I heard voices. And since I live in this house for almost two decades, I know it was Ares and Athena. At first, I was about to go upstairs again, maybe push out my thoughts of a coffee drink since I have a research paper on the run. Look, I'm not an eavesdropper but could you blame me if their conversation was...intriguing?
So instead of taking back a step, I just sat on the stair. My elbows on top of my knees and my palms supporting my cheeks. Their talk was not so loud but also audible in this area of the house. It was pretty quiet. Hermes either on detention or maybe on the high school track team. Apollo said he's having a practice in the Pop band (a club at school). Artemis, well, I don't know. Maybe with her friends? What's her name again? Nightshade, I think. One thing's for sure: She's going to wait for her twin.
Back with Athena and Ares' babbling.
They're in the living room, I think. I peeked at them, and my assumptions were correct. They're seating in the living room couch. Athena reading a book, another Percy Jackson I guess and Ares on the opposite couch, talking to Athena. His one leg is on top of the other, still wearing what he wore this morning to school. Leather jackets and ripped jeans. But Athena on the other hand, is already on her 'house' clothes. Which means, loose shirt and cotton shorts.
"So I met a girl named Emily Zhang." said Ares. That was the first thing I heard when I was trying to go down for a drink. And that's what also froze me to my tracks, made me sat down in the stair, listening to them. Plus, made me forget my drink.
I heard some clatter, and shift of movements. Presumably Athena. Placing her book on the center table and taking off her black square-rimmed eye glasses.
"Yes? I beg your pardon?" Athena asked.
"I got acquainted with a lady, named Emi." Ares repeated with a groan. More like he didn't want to say his words again.
"You? Ares? One that was diagnosed with Parthenophobia?" Athena sputtered, unbelieving of his statement.
"Aren't you facetious, Athena. Last time I remembered, my mind wasn't determinate with the psychological fear of chaste lasses." Ares stated. Damn, I'm starting to hate their conversations. They look like cool kids on the outside but were total nerds and geeks inside. Should I be offended? I know I'm like that too. Nevertheless, I can totally understand their way of conversing.
It's like in your mind there's a chip installed, like a software that automatically translates their inhuman words of Brown or Martin.
Now everybody doesn't understand me too.
And I don't care if I'm called a freak because one day I'm going to be an engineer!
(And that statement above doesn't make sense.)
"That may be veracious and bona fide but with how you act around my confidants, I can only cachinnate surreptitiously while articulating with them about our group assignment." Athena said. I placed my fingers on my forehead, slowly massaging the creased skin. My head is aching. The translations were slowing down like the Internet Explorer (no offense of Explorer users). They just use the ingenious, uneasily determined words.
"Mademoiselle Athena Minerva, I am now enunciating in an amicable conversation with Emily Zhang." Ares said. I heard some overly loud taps from a keyboard of an Android phone. Ares purposedly turned on the annoying loud tapping of the keys while typing so he could prove to Athena he was texting her.
"Well then, Monsieur Ares Mars, how did your discourse with Madame Emily Zhang went?" Athena playfully asked. I still hid frozen in the third step of the staircase. Eyes closing and hearing range widening. I am definitely lucky that Mom was on the grocery and Dad will meet her there. And also, Mom always fetch Dionysus after his classes so he's with her. All in all, Mom and Dad went shopping for groceries with Dion.
"It had resulted exceptionally. Of course, expected from an exceptional woman after all." Ares responded.
"I see the lack of vocabulary, Ares. Tired throttling your mind? Going haywire? Teeheehee, the redundancy." Athena chuckled and humored herself. Can't blame her, she likes books and words so hearing this coming from Ares gutters out an effect from her. Athena's good at everything: Math, English, Science, Physics, Calculus. Name your hardest subject, and she'll step down her foot on it.
"The colloquy was structurally affianced. No harm done, grammarnazi. The morphology of my sentence is still amiably precise and correct." Ares retorted. But his voice...seem distracted? Oh, right, he was texting the girl Emily. He finally found a girl...A girl that I hope would set things right.
I can never deny the thought of wanting to go back to the days where I could still talk to Ares normally and show him my true colors. It felt right, talking and knowing everything about my brother. He used to talk to me like the way he talks with Athena right now too. With that same deep, light gruff voice in his throat. Where thousands of emotions are swarming. Sometimes his tone is bored, sometimes excited. And usually, pretentious. He wanted to hide his own emotions that flows uncontrollably out of his voice.
We've been growing together, so yes, I got the knowledge about that part of him. He seemed so hard on the outside but he's an easy-to-read book. Let's just say he's a book with a hardcover. One that's expensive and worth-reading. And afraid to drop too, because dropping that book could either hurt the book and dent the floor where the book drop.
Sorry, Silena was into books. Ever since Beckendorf accidentally got her name in the 'Christmas exchange-gifts' thingy, and gave her the book that was entitled: The Fault In Our Stars. She's been hooked to books. I would say her reason is one: It came from Beckendorf, her freaking bestfriend/crush and two: the book was on the top list, at least in a classroom there's one or two people handling one.
Back to Ares' topic.
Subsequently thinking of Athena and Ares very intellectually induced discussion, I stumbled upon on the fact that Athena said Ares have Parthenophobia. Fear of young girls and virgins. Come to think of it, if Ares is actually scared of ladies...then why...why did he bully Aphrodite? How could he bully her when she's in reality, a girl. But maybe Ares only acts abnormally around ladies with the same age as him. I guess I'll never find out the reason.
Aphrodite.
Ares.
It's been two years since our issue happened. But the scars inside were still burning. I decided to avoid both of them. I never tried to seek out to Aphrodite after that, even if I could Skype her all the way to Asia. I just couldn't. But I also never tried to apologize to Ares after I punched him, after I made him feel worse of himself. I just couldn't.
I was stuck in between. Family and love. I know I couldn't choose between them and the most obvious answer is family but...somehow it doesn't feel right. Aphrodite...She has something I don't know and...she just couldn't be ignored or left. So for the sake of Aphrodite's scars on her wrists, I avoided Ares with all my might. And again, for the sake of Ares' reasoning, I didn't try to fix Aphrodite and I.
I was in the neutral line.
And call me a coward, but maybe I like the way how things are right now. The way I'm keeping balance between two sides. The symmetry of our scale.
Don't get me wrong, I love my family and my siblings...And I know (even if the Junior Batch doesn't know the reason why) that every member of the Jove family wanted Ares and I to reconcile. But this is how I can maintain peace between the both sides of me.
One side that was devoted to my family.
And the other side which my family could never grasped.
"Hey, Athena, how do you define love?" Ares queried out of the blue. Smacking me back to reality. They switched back to their 'normal' way of talking again. Yehey! No more mind-deranging quick translations of their not-so mimickable way of speaking. Wait, is there such a word mimickable? Ugh. Never mind, my grammarnazi instincts are acting up again.
And HOLD UP! Did Ares just ask the definition of love?
Ares. Love. Ares. Emily.
Damn.
"Excuse me?" Athena asked again. Her voice too distracted, as if she was doing something...Maybe she went back reading her book while I'm drowning in my thoughts. I wonder how Athena will describe love, in spite of her past and present. I wonder how...Though if you ask me what is love, it's having a deep, faithful connection with the other person full of trust and devotion to each other. Having that person right next to you complements you. The attributes you lack will be seen in him/hers and the personality he/she doesn't have is in you.
Now ask me again,
have I moved on from Aphrodite?
One answer: No.
I'll never move on from her. I tried it all, forgetting her, erasing every detail and call me again a whining child but I unfriended her in facebook. Sorry, I couldn't bear her posting her beautiful pictures...smiling and full of glee. It slaps me the whole truth that she's better off without me. She's happier without me in her life. I shouldn't have added myself to her equation. She's like a number with an exponent, she'll only unravel her heartwarming character by multiplying herself. Ugh, I've only proven more to myself that I'm not good at Mathematics.
The more I tried to forget Aphrodite, the more my insides jarred and crashed and boom. Again, I apologize, the topic of love and Aphrodite makes me blabber incoherent sentences. It's a side effect from her.
"What is love? Simple as that. I thought you're the walking thesaurus around the house." Ares said as if it was a matter of fact. He said it so...casual...The matter of love, I mean. It was scary because that coming from him is such a big...nonsensical absurdity. Him, Ares, the one who's going to be the chief police soon in NYPD (New York Police District). Ares, the one who's always known for rash, gory, abusive things. Ares, the one who destroyed my relationship with Aphrodite.
I erased the last thought, it was becoming...again, nonsensical.
"HAHAHA! EVERYONE SHOULD BE HERE DOWNSTAIRS! You gotta believe it! ARES IS ASKING ME WHAT IS LOVE! What blasphemy is this! Ares, did you drink too early? There's still hot water, I could make you a coffee. Oh my-"
"Shut it! Will you, Athena? You're so loud! Everyone upstairs is going to hear it!" Ares hissed. Athena laughing out loud in the background. Her shrills are grating to my skin. Goosebumps, I'm starting to feel it. I caressed my shoulders in an up and down motion. Lessening the nervous and anxious feeling inside me as I heard Athena let out her witch-like chortle.
"You know, I'm expecting at least one or two footsteps trudging down since I know your scream was out loud and everybody would have fucking heard." Ares said simply. Judging by his statement, he does not know I am the only living, breathing person upstairs. Did his analyzing skills begotten so low? How? Was it because of that Emi he kept talking about?
Ares...He's acting very weird.
And Athena kept laughing.
"Oh my! *gasp* I can't take this anymore! First! *something-that-sounded-similar-to-hiccuping-but-is-not* You! Ares! Asked me what love is then...*more boisterous laughter* You...just...YOU DON'T KNOW! HAHAHA!" Athena said in hysterics. In middle of forming coherent sentences and giggling and screaming like there's no tomorrow. But maybe if I am in Athena's position, I would be in the same state as her right now. Mad.
"Why? Did I do something wrong?!" Ares hastily asked. But then, the unsettling key-tapping had begun again. Texting Emi and dealing with crazy sister at the same time? Nice. I congratulate you, Ares. Such a wondrous accomplishment. Athena...finally got hold of her sanity and senses, stopped the freaking yelling and her own euphoric chuckling.
"Well, for starters, Dion is with Mom. And Mom is at the grocery. Then Dad will meet them there." Athena answered.
"I know that. And the others?" Ares asked.
"Hermes, on his trackfield team. Apollo with the pop band club. Artemis waiting for Apollo. You know you couldn't separate the two right?" Athena said, chuckling formally this time.
"I know that. But someone's missing..." Probably me.
"Guess. Maybe if you pry your eyes away from your mobile phone then you'll remember." Athena said, she already knew who's Ares is missing.
"Hephaestus. Where is he?" He asked. I felt my pulse ringing, the beat of my heart pounding. He...Ares remembered me. He said my full name. I couldn't explain the feeling of my internal haywire of emotions. I was ecstatic but somewhere along the lines, also afraid. The feeling was jumbled and I'm confused, at loss for describing this mixed of guilt and contented sentiment?
"Glad you asked, big brother. Upstairs. Said he had some research paper assignment so he went home early." Athena said nonchalantly, as if nothing has happened between Ares and I that wasn't fixed up till now. I heard the faint clank of something heavy metal to a glass, maybe a phone? Did Ares put his phone down as Athena instructed him to?
"I-I feel guilty. Talking to Emily and having Hephaestus coped up alone upstairs." Ares indignant voice cut through the halls, forming some kind of an eerie silence. I felt it too. Why was he feeling guilty?
"You should be. You're talking with a woman who's making you happy. And you took away the only lady making Heph happy." Athena seriously said. Unbeknownst to myself, I was already gripping, teetering my hair off. Why do I suddenly feel as if I'm invading somebody else's privacy? It was as if the feeling of eavesdropping was slowly consuming my body. Well, body, you reacted late. I should have felt this the moment I sat down in this third step and listened to their exchange.
"I-Athena..."
"Somehow, I feel disgusted...and I blame myself too. Because you bullied an innocent girl for me. For me, Ares." Athena emphasized, but I could hear the edges of her words cracking. There's this fragile vase hung around us. If I listened more, the vase will fall, presumably over my head. If Athena didn't pick her next words, the vase will fall on Ares' head. And if Ares didn't respond correctly, it could cause two vases falling. One on me, the other on Athena.
"Athena, please."
"Ares, we talked about this a lot of times. When will you try to reconcile?" Athena questioned, her voice unwavering and haughtily catching everything that seemed so broken from her tone. I'll describe it as something like a mirror trying to catch the falling pieces. I am clearly aware that I am speaking metaphorically and with too much embedded meanings lying underneath. I used the objects as something to replace for another thing. Like how I thought of the vase falling to head was Pain/Hurt. And the shattered parts of the mirror as Athena's true wishes/emotions.
"It is obvious you like the girl. But you can't go on being happy when there's someone sad because of the same reason you're happy now." Athena didn't let Ares reply to her. I barely caught the sensibility in Athena's words but I managed to catch her drift before I'm wholly loss at what she's saying. Athena can be confusing as hell like that. Like a math problem.
"I-I can't, Athena. It hurts too much looking at his eyes. Seeing it dead and not alive as it used to before. And do you know what his eyes were screaming?" Ares asked, his voice noticeably quivering and shaking. He's afraid.
"What?"
"'It's my fault.'" Ares answered the foreboding question. With some lazy groans laced after his saying.
I should have stand up, get back to my room and continue on with my research paper. I'm feeling the guilt now, too. I wouldn't finish it if I kept doing unrelated things to it. But why? Why when my knees buckled to lift myself up and my hand gripped the railing for support did Athena say the damn one-billion-dollar speech?
"Theoretically speaking, and to erase any blundering thoughts of me picking a side between you two...The two of you are at fault. You, Ares, took away the source of Heph's happiness. And he, Hephaestus, chose his love first before his own family, making him act rashly and blamed you for everything. But again, you're the reason why Aphrodite left Hephaestus, it's not much of a shocker that he did that."
Hearing and recognizing it was Athena, my own sister, letting out all of those things out of her mouth, struck a chord within me. All the time...it was Ares who blamed himself...for everything's that's happening. But in this case, Athena had slapped me and Ares the whole truth: It was also my fault. I was also at fault. Ares shouldn't be the only one to take the blame because I also partook in the situation of our relationship right now.
I followed the feeling in my gut, avoiding this emotional confrontation before my ears (I'm only listening, remember?). I stood up silently, obviously refraining from any creaking sounds that may form or anything that would turn their attention to here. I climbed the steps again.
2nd step.
"If you're given a chance to apologize to him, would you?" Athena's voice echoed loudly in my ears. Why can't they escape? I'm positioning myself further away from them but why am I hearing them clearly? Is this the punishment I deserve from gossiping/eavesdropping to their not-so-expected serious chattering?
At the moment, I put myself in Ares' shoes. And repeated the question to me: If Ares will apologize to you, will you forgive him?
I'm afraid, terrified and petrified.
Because my answer differs from Ares. And it pains me, not having this consensual/mutual feeling with Ares. I could see the confidence waving and dancing before my eyes as if taunting me. I took a step-up again.
1st step.
"Yes."
That was Ares' reply. Even without hearing it, I know it will still be his answer.
"No."
I whispered to myself. Walking to the ice-silent halls, I reached the end of the hall. My room. I touched the golden doorknob of my room. It was cold. It was January. Yet why did the metal under my palm felt so hot? Like it was searing my palm a brand. A brand that says in capital letters: runner.
"I'll start fixing everything. As soon as Aphrodite comes back." I said. It was the only way to maintain balance. Only I could tip the scales.
But we all know the truth,
Aphrodite will never come back.
The clutched doorknob at my hand twisted as I willed it to. I pushed the door open, entering the dark space, wiping some useless tear dripping from my cheek, thinking all the while:
I shouldn't have listened to them.
I should have calculated, analyzed and expected that this would be the result of me with yesterday's events.
Looking at the hand-mirror Silena begrudgingly held out for me, I almost gorged out the food I ate this morning and the burger I had just bitten. Black bags rimmed under my hazel brown eyes that I inherited from Mom. The stark white space in my eye sockets were sore red right now, obviously from the lack of sleep I had (and obliviously from the tears I shed last night). My puffy cheeks, in one span of a night, hollowed out inside my mouth (i.e. My cheeks thinned). I think I'm looking like one from the Walking Dead zombies or worse the White Walkers from Game of Thrones.
No, I'm exaggerating myself.
"You look bad, Heph. What happened?" Beckendorf says as he places his warm hand atop of my right shoulder. Currently, we're at the Goode High School Cafeteria. Eating lunch. Sitting at these white Monoblock chairs paired with the circular white Monoblock table. The position's the same, Beckendorf at my right side, beside him, Silena, but for now she's at my left side since she's holding the mirror for me while I checked out my disgusting state.
Aphrodite used to sit there.
Erase. Erase. Erase.
It's going to pain you again.
Okay. And beside again Silena's original place was where Drew seated. I saw her busily munching her chocolate-dipped doughnuts while glancing once in a while at my place.
"Had something to do with the freaking research paper." I mumbled. Silena put down her hand-mirror and my instant disgruntled face proved to her my displeasure at her sudden movement. Nonetheless, she forgot it and the next thing I knew, she's blabbering something...useful or full of advantage for me.
"For our Biotechnology class? Didn't Professor Oceanus posted on our schoolbook three days ago it's cancelled and instead doing a new one with partners this time. Since many students had requested it? Come to think of it-"
"W-Wait, WHAT?! I spent half of my sleeping time for that piece of shit! and-"
"-Today's also the day where we're going to drew lots for the partner picking." Silena finished. Rule no. 1 with hanging out with Silena Beauregard: Thy must let her finish her sentence first.
Information about the term/word: Schoolbook. It's actually a website also an application produced from the brilliant, ingenious, staffs and faculty in this school for announcements, what's going around the school, online tests and quizzes and etc. In other more understandable explanation, it's like a website for online schooling at Goode High. Teachers could post an announcement there, such as deadlines for projects, assignments and again, et cetera.
You see, Goode High is achieving a more advance kind of teaching techniques. Using the modern technologies. For example, most of our professors use a projector whilst in discussion. But of course, there are teachers, noticeably Math teachers, who still uses the glass board for teaching. Why? Because it's Math. And Math is hard and complicated. Dunno why my siblings were good at it.
There are even gossips where students will start using tablets in replacement for books. My opinion? Yeah, it's cool but the tuition fee in Goode High will gradually increase because of that. The lesser their students, the lesser their income. So maybe that's why it's just a rumor up till now.
"Heph? Hephaestus?" Silena asked worriedly, waving her polished hand in front of my face. I swished my head, turning my gaze in her eyes. For now, it's brown, like mine. But I am never sure and definite or Silena's eye color. The thing is, I don't know if it does magically change into colors. Or her surroundings were affecting her eye color. It depends. There were times her eyes are crystal blue, then sometimes bright green...and later on, like right now, honey brown.
One word for Silena's eyes: Kaleidoscope.
"Hephaestus? Are you checking Silena out?" Drew blurted unconsciously off topic. I know she's trying to get my attention since I'm daydreaming or dazing around but seriously, Drew? You had to pull that stunt out? In front of Beckendorf? Might as well say, it worked. Her words snapped me out of trance.
"N-NO! Why would I check Silena out?" I asked, glaring at Drew on the other side of the table. Being victimized in her dilly-dallying again. What's up her sleeve for now?
"Because she's single and you're single?" Drew stated with a hint of sophistication. Plus, a roll of her thick mascara-filled eyelashes. Made my eyes squint to be honest. I protested again, but this time being cut off by the one and only...*suspense*.
"Drew-"
"Tanaka, I don't think he's checking her out. Because I know Hephaestus, if he really likes Silena, he already made a move." Charles Beckendorf said, twitching mouth and eyes warily looking at every direction. The only thing his eyes won't meet? Our stare. He's completely avoiding it! Though Beckendorf may sound so simple in his words, I am aware and sensed the underlying venom with some words he stretched out and unconsciously emphasized.
The staring contest never wavered. Nobody spoke a word. The loud murmuring of the other students of Goode High sizzling hot in our ears. Beckendorf, noticing this, spoke again. In a much more fast pace that we could barely catch up. For the years I've been with Beckendorf, I managed to guess and correctly assume what his next actions would be. And with the way his eyes couldn't stop watching at every space of the canteen and the red tint forming on his ears, I could correctly guess Beckendorf will say something from his train of real thoughts that would eventually resulted in a life-changing situation.
"And besides! I won't let Hephaestus take Silena away."
Our scrutinizing gazes at Beckendorf, deepened. And the silence that was placed never left the four of us. Had he realized what he'd just said? In front of Silena Beauregard? His own best friend and crush? So what, are they a 'thing' now and Drew and I never knew? Was this some kind of secret relationship they never bothered to tell us? And to think Silena was beet red and tight-lipped, her eyes never meeting anyone's. Basically, only Drew and I were staring hotly at Beckendorf.
"I-I mean! He won't check her out because of Aphrodi-"
"Charles Beckendorf, shut up!" With that, Silena stood up and left the three of us. Mouths hanging and agape. I had two clerical and acceptable reasons why: A. IDIOT Beckendorf again, talked about our 'She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named' when all of us settled to never talk about her or even say her name one year ago since she left. Small explanation: The four of us could never move on with She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named because she just left without saying it to anyone. Found out I'm the only one who knew she's flying off to the Pacific Ocean.
So it kinda left some jitters around the group.
Who wouldn't feel abandoned and unfriended if that happened, right?
Moving on with Reason letter B. Silena left. As simple as that. She left us hanging, without any explanation just rightly telling Beckendorf to shut up. She didn't even say where she's going next. Which she usually does whenever leaving us. And that icy blue eyes she threw daggers at Beckendorf...Oh, things are getting complicated. And did I mention that this is the first time I heard Silena said his full name (in a gloating way)?
Approximately two minutes and 46 seconds later, did we wake up from our senses. Charles seemed abashed at first, then shock washing away his fears, he stood up too, leaving Drew and I with a simple wave of the hand and: "I'm fixing things."
Another 58 seconds of silence did Drew and I speak to each other again.
"Look at what you did, Drew! You tore them apart!" I said, palming my whole face as if this motion would return my jet lagged face back to normalcy. More loudly and emotional than I intended to. Instead of seeing her scared reaction, she chuckled. Then, took a sip from her Milk Magic carton.
"I didn't." Drew said normally.
"Then what did you do? Screw things up?" I asked.
"Honey, I'm making their bond stronger." She declared sweetly, like there were some pink fluffy love hearts forming in her head and also picking off some Nachos that Beckendorf left at our table.
"Wait, what?" I pardoned.
"They're best friends, right? And they got feelings for each other. So by saying out loud that I thought you were checking Silena out would make Beckendorf...slightly infuriated. Because he's practically jealous. When his jealousy started to act up and make him foolish, Silena will think of the opposite-"
"Why the opposite?"
"Because we're girls. Now shut up and let me continue."
"And will misunderstood Beckendorf, so she leaves. And Beckendorf, the sick love puppy, chases her because he wants to explain things and maintain their best-friend relationship. Hopefully, this drastic incident will push them to confess their feelings for each other. They'll ask each other why they're acting like shit and then stutter out confessions which leads to make out sessions in the janitor closet and then underage pregnancy where I'll be the fairest godmother of their baby boy."
"DREW!"
"What? It's a nice prediction! See? I'm the greatest harbinger of all time!" Drew said, waving her hands like an foolish bird, relishing the idea that she's one heck of a woman when she's totally a freaking bitch. And no, don't say that to her, I'll kill you because only I, Silena and Beckendorf could call her a bitch. Thinking of Drew's words a while ago, she's impractically right and I could never disagree to her small, tiny, speech. I just hope too that Beckendorf will take the reins of the situation and confess.
Cut out the making out part and the baby boy.
"How do you know it will be a boy?" I asked her. What? I was wondering! Don't blame me.
"I don't." Drew said. Fixing personal things in her Gucci. By personal things, I meant compact powders, lipstick, mascara and every shit that a girl uses to beautify themselves.
"Then why did you say their child's going to be a baby boy?" I interrogated. She left her seat, gathering the wastes and trash from the food we have eaten. Because even if Drew is a bitch, she's a clean freak. Not a total garbage added to the Earth's seven billion population. Drew's good, in unnoticeable ways.
"Because I want a baby boy whose name's going to be Leo Valdez! And he's going to be on FIRE! Like his hot mother." I crooked up a smile, thinking of Drew having a child as crazy as her.
"And how does that relate to my question?" I added. She flipped her head, walking away from our table, heels clanking, and black hair swishing. With her last words prancing in the noise-polluted air of the cafeteria. Leaving completely, utterly alone.
"It don't."
Feeling totally defeated and miserable, I trudged down to my next class. Biotechnology. I wasn't surprised seeing Silena sitting at a random chair in the room. She and I took this class because of our proceeding courses we will take after we graduated. She needs this to be a Biologist, and I need this to be an Engineer (don't ask how but I already looked it up and I definitely need this class). The seat beside her is empty, either she reserved it for me or it was accidentally left empty. For visible reasons that the woman (Silena) is impeccably furious with her table.
She looks like she could laser-eye the table and split it in half.
Being the friend of Silena, even if she's emanating the 'come-near-me-and-I'll-kill-you' aura, I sat beside her. Of course, that's what friends are for. I remained silent the whole time, getting my pen and papers out of my bag. Preparing myself for the class. Reviewing some notes and mentally frustrated about myself as I thought of what Silena said during lunch. About the research paper.
Thinking about it, why did I check my Schoolbook? It was necessary for us to check it! Teachers remind us every time to open it because they tend to post late announcements there. Talk about like teacher, like students. Students cramming because tomorrow is the deadline of project and teacher announcing late stuff in the internet. Speaking of teacher, Professor Oceanus, graduate B.S. Biology with a Master's Degree so he could teach, entered the murmuring room.
"Okay. Good Afternoon, class. Today, we have a new student." Sir Oceanus said in a bored, matter-of-fact tone. It was as if a new student were some old news. I don't know, I felt suddenly excited about the new student. It made me forget that I should ask Mr. Oceanus about the research paper, being accidentally doing it. And maybe if I could pass it and not join the partner-research shit he announced. I totally forgot that as soon as the new kid strolled inside the room.
Her boots made squeaking sounds as she walked, black spiky boyish hair tumbling. and electric blue eyes flashing. Her aura emitted this regal kind of leadership. Like she was born to be a leader, and great at it. Her entrance and air diminished the sizzling heat Silena had been grovelling for some time. Even she had averted her gaze (or glare) at her desk and stared up at the woman in front of us.
She wore clothes that I would describe as rock-punk. Leather jacket, surprisingly resembling Ares' with black ripped jeans. She has this black-and-white fashion statement, with shining silver bling-blings such as her Death skull earrings and spike protruded bangle. I could feel she hates Barbies, observing the white printed tank top adorning her stating: Death over Barbie. Plus, a picture of a dying Barbie.
"Introduce yourself, Ms. Grace." Professor Oceanus said, not looking up from his attendance sheet. His hand gesturing to do the introduce-yourself-shit. If I were her, I'll be pissed at the teacher thinking how ignorant of the teacher. And witnessing her next actions, she's irritated with her newly met Professor whom she's gonna spend an hour every week for about a half a year.
Rolling her bright eyes at the not-looking teacher, she crossed her arms and faced us. Her stance gliding a bit to the left. Eyes moving warily across the classroom, as if knowing each of our profiles by look. I expected some State-Of-The-Nation worth of introducing speech, but I guess, my standards got too high this time. Weaving her fingers through her black hair, she did as the Professor instructed her to.
"Thalia Grace. 18 years old. Transferred from Manhattan."
Her introductory speech. As simple as that.
"Anything else?" Oceanus asked.
"If you want to know something else, then go ask." Thalia said. Earning another roll of her blue marbles at the stupid, unwelcoming teacher.
"Never mind. Sit in the blank seat in front of Mr. Jove. Hephaestus, where are you?" The Professor never gave the class a glance, I had to raise my own hand for Thalia's guidance. She gave me a quick look, her eyes hinting...assurance. She probably thought I'm having some first impression about her being...bad. I can't say, I'm a jumble of wires inside and I couldn't decipher what this strange emotion I'm having seeing her and her personality. She took the seat in front of me, I never saw it empty until she took it.
What the hell's been going on? Am I losing my mind? First, I'm forgetting things. Then, second, I'm lacking to analyze everything around me. Third, I'm driven by my own emotions that my mind is going haywire and-
That's it. My feelings were dominating my perception.
"So as I remembered, I posted in your schoolbook that due to the insensible cramming of the students, being that only half of the class did the research paper during their vacation. Add the fact that it was still incomplete coming from my sources...Most of your classmates, begged and pleaded to me to just do some forge research. In other words, having partners and moving the deadline." Professor explained. Sitting at his own chair, scanning through his stack of papers. In the corner of my eyes, I even saw someone texting. How careless this Professor could be? But thinking of Sir again, made me doubt my words. He granted the other students' wishes: Have partners and move the deadline.
But anyway, relating to his topic...I should say I'm already completed in his research paper that he required.
"Sir?" I called, raising my hand. The other students glanced at me in query. Pondering what the hell would I ask to this undeserving teacher. For the first time in forever, Sir Oceanus turned away his papers and responded to my calling.
"Oh, yes, Hephaestus, you should partner up with Miss Thalia Grace. Her being new, you might be able to guide her." The words sprawled out of his mouth. Then returned his ever-defying gaze to his papers. Sucks to be a 'Jove', the teachers are expecting something from you. Great, now...I am torn between two. I could say I'm already finished and pass the research paper but seeing Thalia shook up my nerves. She's new, and if I left her...Oh, well.
I guess I should partner up with herand tell her we're finished and we can pass it on the new deadline so there's no suspicions. I'm assuming she will go to this plan since her attitude fits the: 'I'm-Too-Cool-For-That-But-Thanks'. Benefits are on her, you know. She didn't have to stay late up at night doing this paper. Since I've done this for the both of us. And I'm adding this on my good-deeds-for-the-week list.
"Everyone may discuss with their partners now."
Thalia swiveled her chair plus body to face me. Giving me a small smile, she took out her hand for a shake. I returned the welcoming gesture. Her hands...so callused. Her eyes were electrifying, hypnotizing and paralyzing my actions. As soon as our hands met in contact, it wasn't attraction I felt that I expected. I feel relieved. For a reason I don't know. Holding her hand feels so right, she's like a long-lost person I should've met.
But the feeling I felt wasn't the same emotion as I had accumulated with Aphrodite.
It's different.
"Hephaestus, right?" She asked. I nodded, letting out a smile.
"Yes. Heph, if you found my name long." I said, disentangling our hands. The gnawing feeling of loneliness crept up to me as our skin left each other.
"So...Research paper." She started. I twisted my pelvis to the right, reaching to my bag. Taking out the printed research paper, I handed it to her. While her eyes scanned the thick, stacked, stapled papers, I leaned in.
"Don't tell...anybody. We're finished." I whispered. She smirked, turning the pages.
"But...We're going to edit it." She said. Looking back at my eyes.
"Wait, why?" I asked flabbergasted. I thought she's alright with it! She's supposed to be happy since she's not doing anything for this research paper anymore!
"You did this in the night, didn't you? Last night, surely. About four hours." She claimed. My head slowly turned up-and-down, unsure. How does she know?
"H-How did you know?" I stuttered. Not cool, Heph. She knew the fact that I did the fucking research paper exactly last night in four hours. By just scanning the effing paper.
"Pretty easy. Some misspellings in the end, meaning you're dozing off in those parts. You didn't drink a coffee, did you? Explanations were straight to the point. As if you don't want to deal with it and move on. Explanations should be long and brief, for the readers/researchers to get the grasp of the experiment. I'm affirmed you know that fact already, but you're too tired to explain things. And..the paper...is that teardrop marks or beads of sweat? Your paper is soaked with raindrops." Damn. Straight to the point explanation, not to mention she knew every move in the paper.
She's not average. She has a keen skill and talent that I could only see among my family.
"What are we going to do about it?" I questioned her. Play it cool, Hephaestus. Thinking and prophesying what her next actions would be. She snapped fingers in front of my face and gave me her answer.
"We're going to your house."
I was thinking of putting an argument like "Why in my house? Can't it be at yours?" Or something like that and Thalia will be like: Dark face and "I don't want to." Leaving Heph to wonder that maybe Thalia doesn't like her 'home' and in fact, it's true. Because Thalia doesn't like going to her house, because it reminds her of Jennifer. But I didn't put it because at first, Hephaestus has no reason to argue. And it didn't suit his character to refuse.
I looked up to Percy Jackson Wikia. And I found out Thalia's mom is named Beryl Grace. I am sorry, I thought her mother's name wasn't mentioned so I made it up. I'm so sorry. Should've researched first before doing that.
I kind of made Thalia clever in this fic because first: She's a Jove. Her father is Zeus Jupiter Jove. A brilliant, genius man. Which means she's like the Jove siblings, having some incredible talent over mind. A reason why she knew how Hephaestus did on the paper. And Thalia's been working hard enough for herself. So she could graduate and have work with a salary that could make her mom leave prostitution. She loves her mom but at the same time, dislikes her. (A little background on Thalia)
Heph: REVIEW TIME!
Me: I know right!
Heph: First review, MeridaAtMidnight! *Hands the long paper with consecutive reviews coming from her*
Me: Woah, you flooded me. First off, thanks for the review again. Because it's long and I appreciate it so much. Yes, I'm checking my PMs. Sorry if I reply late, I'm more of devoted to Fanfiction than the other site. Thank you for the side stories, I'm having some problems around it too. Because some of the side stories were leaving loopholes and I needed to fix the loopholes in the next chapters. Yes, Morpheus, he's a Sadist Psychologist. Pretty ironic. YEAH I love Athena and Ares bickering. It's different from the twins. Hera and Rodriguez? No. She just sensed that the siblings were fighting so she cut it off before it gets worse. I LOVE EMILY TOO! Yes, about Phobos and Deimos, I wanted them to appear later on but since Ares does not want to see them because they're hella annoying and Phobos and Deimos are in different courses...I didn't. But thank you for saying that, I thought of a scene with Phobos, Deimos and Ares. Yes, Mars thingy. You're correct. As I've been saying, I'm looking at the HoO series for a while. And Emily fell in Mars so..yeah. Also, Phobos told Emily to call Ares...Mars Ares, mainly, to catch his attention because someone pronounced his name wrong. Moving on to the topic with the Graces...Just read, you'll see...I KNOW I KNOW, I'm telling you! I'm dropping hints! By the way, I read your 'Loop'. Good luck with your story!
Heph: Long reply too. Are you playing favorites?
Me: *blushes* No. I am not. Next review.
Heph: Guest..This one's a bit private.
Me: OMG, I'm sorry to hear that. if you want someone to talk to, I'm here.
Heph: From Lizzy Dane. Also long. *hands the paper*
Me: Oh, I'm honored and flattered but I like to talk about your offer in my Private Messages. Nice suggestion too. I like your ideas but I already have plans about the "Meeting." And this story's finished in the back of my mind. Thanks for the long review and talk to me in Private about your offer! I love to hear something about it.
Heph: Announcements?
Me: Yes. Well, I think if you'll look at the chapter list, everyone had a set of double chapters. Which means every character (except Dionysus) have two chapters. I am announcing that in the next chapters, it will be the last point of view you will see of them (sad right?) So say goodbye to your favorite characters. You might not see them again for a while. Target update again: Weekends.
Next chapter:
Apollo: Eyes That Should Never See
(This may be the last of Apollo's chapters. Or it depends)
-Mizz-Incezt. Reviews please!