Author's Note: I don't own the Titans are anything else in this story except Athena and some other people you may not recognize. Have fun reading this.
My Note: Sorry it took so long guys, I lost my notebook so I had to find and everything but I finished all this today. ENJOY! Sarah
Sunshine, Sunshine
It didn't take long for Gerry to get his John Brown hind parts in gear and talk to Julius. There weren't any more three a days but there was a lot of tension. From the sidelines Athena saw this along with Sheryl.
"You know, I really don't think Ray likes the idea of playing ball with Boone, or any of the other guys." Athena said under her breath as she watched him fail to block for Rev again.
"No really were did you get that bright idea." Sheryl said looking up at Athena.
Athena just grinned and patted Sheryl on the shoulder saying, "Why I do declare that Ms. Sheryl is getting testy, what ever shall I do." With a southern accent and fanning herself in the face.
Off in the distance Gerry and the rest if the guys just grinned, it had taken them awhile to get used to Athena's antintics but now they found them very entertaining except for Ray, who said, "Normal girls shouldn't act like that in public."
Sheryl trying to hide a grin said," You are weird anyone ever tell you that."
"All the time love, all the time." Athena just said with a chuckle.
About that time Athena turned around to see Gerry get in Ray's face and tell him to start blocking for Rev or else he'd give him anew haircut. For some reason Athena thought this funny was because she knew Gerry was trying to think of something macho to say but it didn't quite come out that way. After Ju knocked Pete away Gerry went over towards Julius and did something no one expected him to do. And that was hit Julius saying left side, so Julius picking up the theme said strong side. They did for a couple of more times surprising everyone on the team, especially Athena and Sheryl.
Athena just looked at the guys saying, "Well now I guess they are finally a team."
"Why I do believe you are right, Athena dear." Sheryl said mimicking what Athena had done a few minutes ago.
That next day at practice while filling up cups of water with Sheryl, Athena noticed a red car pull up with an army guy and some boy with long blonde hair get out.
While the guys were on their way to get the cups she heard Gerry say, "Hey, y'all look at that fruitcake."
Athena couldn't stand anyone calling someone a derogatory name no matter what it was so she looked at Gerry and said, "Jeez, maybe he just like his hair long, and besides I think he looks kind of cute like that."
"Figures Hippie girl would go for some guy like that." Ray said walking by.
"Well in my experience with those of a male gender and I have found that hippies treat girls better than some redneck jocks, who think they own the earth but are really just a waste of oxygen." Athena said looking at Ray very sweet like.
This caused the guys around them to start laughing, Alan with tears in eyes looked at Ray and said, "Buds, why do you even try to get 'Athena mad you know it's just not going to work cause she'll beat every time."
And with a huff Ray stomped off towards the locker room. "Oh, just go throw a temper tantrum like a three year old." Athena yelled after him.
"'Athena you really should lay off Ray, he can't help it if he acts the way the way he does, and children are the reflection of their parents." Rev said looking at her.
"Yeah, I guess you are right but he just makes so easy sometimes, plus I can't stay him." About that time Athena saw a football fly through the air and hit Gerry in the back of the neck. Causing everyone around him to either laugh or smile.
Athena walked over and placed her arm around his shoulder, "Well, Superman, I really don't think that he is a fruitcake now is he? So maybe you need to stop and think before you speak sometimes."
That next day it turned out that the new guy's name was Ronnie Bass and Pete had taken to calling him, Sunshine. So being the curious person Athena was she was determined to find out why and what exactly went on between Gerry and Sunshine in the locker room.
"Come on Rev tell me, I want to know. Please." Athena asked with a pout while she was walking beside him towards the locker room.
"Sorry 'Athena, but what stays in the locker room stays there." He said with a grin.
"Fine, keep your secrets, but I will find out one day, I will." She said in a whisper.
Before heading off towards the dinning hall. So at lunch Athena sat with Alan and some of the other guys on defense. "You know, I really would like to know what went on between the two of you, since I am the manger and all I have right." Athena said to no one in particular.
"Look Athena, I heard that you wanted to know, but if you want to know you'll have to ask Sunshine." Gerry said taking another bite of fruit.
About that time Ray came over and wanted to sit down but Gerry had told him that it was the defensive table. When Ray had something about Athena sitting there.
Athena looked up at him from her plate and said, "Well, since I'm not on the team just a manger then I can sit where ever I want to unlike some people." When Ray just glared at her she just smiled and said, "See you later Dean." Causing Julius to chuckle.
To add to the humor she added, "Jerry, how do you feel about losing your partner or have you gained another, because our viewers and your fans would love to know." She said holding her spoon like a microphone over to Gerry.
Gerry just gave her a funny look before saying, "I gained a brother, Big Ju Campbell."
"And how do you feel about this Big Ju?" she added holding her spoon over towards Julius.
"I say, let's try and see anyone try to break up Big Ju and Superman." Julius said with a grin.
"Thank you gentle man and now back to you, Bob." Athena said to an imaginary camera.
"Ok, 'Athena, what is wrong with your head." Julius said while knocking on her hers.
"Well, you see it's like this Ju, I figure that it's probably because I'm an only child and I pretty much had to keep myself entertained or I'm just plain crazy." She said with a smile, and then added, "What's wrong with your head Big Ju? Cause you seem to have gotten a little but of an ego." She said with a grin.
From across the room she heard Pete yell, "Don't mess, with my mind."
Athena smiled and looked at the Gerry and the others, "Looks like I'm going to find out after all, excuse me guys. I shall be back so don't miss me to much." She said adding a wink at the end.
Gerry watched her walk off towards Pete but first she stopped by Blue, Rev, and Louie giving them each a hug and one of her smiles. His thoughts went out of his head when he felt a hand hit him on his back. "Hey, Superman remember Emma." Julius told him.
"What I can look but I just can't touch." Gerry said giving the guys a smile.
"And not touching will be the hard the part." Alan said with a little laugh.
But it wasn't too hard to see why most of the guys liked Athena, brotherly or in any other way. She was like a breath of fresh air compared to the girls around Alexandria. Many were to afraid to say what they were feeling or anything at all of what was on their mind, but Athena wasn't like that she'd tell you in a heart beat how she felt about you or something else and in the process make you feel very ignorant. It was hard to explain but there was just something about how she acted that made you think of an innocent angel but then you could see every so often her horns.
When she got over to Sunshine and Pete, Athena with a little smile on her face barked, "Jones, how many feet in mile. How many feet in mile son?" She said smacking him on the head.
Pete jumped up and said, "5,280 feet Coach."
When he turned around he looked like that he was either pissed or amused. "Why do you get pleasure out of scaring me, 'Athena?"
"Well, because Pete dear you make it so easy for me." Athena said giving him a hug and taking a set next to Pete. "Aww, Pete I'm sorry, I promise I won't do it, you have my word." She said looking over at Pete.
"You said that the last time, so don't think I'm going to fall for it again." Pete said giving her a smile.
"So, I'm Athena Taylor, 'Athena to some, or loud mouth to others. And you are Ronnie Bass or Sunshine though I haven't figured out that nickname yet." She said giving Ronnie a smile.
"Sunshine is fine. Yeah, Pete filled me in on you." He said smiling back at her.
"Well, it's all true depending on what he told you, but I'm from California as well, but we moved around a lot so you could say I'm from every where." Athena just kept on talking but Sunshine was to busy daydreaming that he didn't even hear a word.
From what Pete and some of the other guys said he instantly liked her. They liked the same music, books and food. She wasn't like some of the girls he had known in California but there was something about her that seemed different. It was probably the way her smile lit up a room when she walked into a room, or maybe it was how at any moment she could just bash you with words and from what he had seen she did it a lot to Ray.
From just begin at camp one day Sunshine could see that he wasn't the only one who possibly had a crush on Athena, from the looks of things he could tell that Pete, Gerry and some of the others all liked her. So he was going to have some tough competition.
"Hey, boyo are you still here because I've been talking for five minutes and you are like in another world. So where are you from in California?" Athena said sending a grape towards Sunshine's head.
Sunshine gave a little smile before saying, "Oh, right well my family just here from Huntington Beach, how about you?"
Athena started to say Silicon Valley but she was sure that the guys would have no clue what that was, so she thought of some other city and she lived in, "Fresno."
"That's cool, so did you do much surfing?" Sunshine asked.
"Nope not really, I'm more of your bookworm type person, the nerd that's on her beach towel writing or reading. I used to play soccer and volleyball but not any more." She said with a smile.
"Yeah, "Athena girl here is our house nerd, so if you have a question about anything just ask her and she'll deliver." Pete said placing an arm around her shoulder. In which Athena removed quickly.
"I'd rather be a nerd than an ignorant male who is interested in girls when he has a girlfriend, like some people at this table." Athena said to no one in particular.
"What do you mean by that "Athena?" Pete asked looking over at her.
"Oh, you know what I mean." She said with a grin. "So, Sunshine. Tell me how did you get that name from Pete?" She said changing the subject
"Well, you see. After I got my haircut, I kept looking in the mirror and that's when Pete started calling, "Sunshine." Ronnie said with a smile.
"Well, I see that since you have blonde hair and from California, but why wont Gerry came near you?" Athena asked. Pete choked on his fruit at that statement.
"Why do you want to know?" Sunshine asked.
"Well, because you did something to one of my friends and I want to know." Athena said staring back at him.
"If you really want to know, then you will meet me after practice tomorrow." Sunshine getting up for some more food.
"As God as my witness, I will find out why." Athena said holding her spoon out in her fist.
"'Athena girl, you are just weird." Pete said laughing.
"This I do know Pete." Athena said with a chuckle.
At the Coaches table, Sheryl had just come back from spending a week with her mother, who would soon be moving up North with her new husband. "Hey Coach." Sheryl said walking up to them.
"Hey, how was your week with your mother." Yoast asked.
After that was out of the way Sheryl turned to Coach Boone and said, "Coach Boone, you did a good job up here and ran a tough camp from what I can see."
"Well, I'm glad I have the approval of a five year old." Boone said.
"I'm eight and a half thank you very much." Sheryl said.
After a few minutes Athena walked up and said, " Hey, welcome back small fry. Uncle Yoast, would you mind if I borrowed Sheryl for a minute?" She said very sweetly with mischief in her eyes.
"Sure, just don't cause any trouble, you hear." Yoast said.
"Oh we won't Coach, yeah Dad we won't." Sheryl said, with a smile.
After they walked away Sheryl asked, "So what are we going to do?"
"Well, you know how Ray rooms with Rev right?" Athena said.
"Yeah, but we aren't supposed to go in the guys rooms." Sheryl pointed out.
"I know that, which is why Blue and Pete are helping us." Athena said walking up the stairs.
Once they reached Rev's room. They saw Blue and Pete in the doorway with a bucket.
"Are we going to?" Sheryl said.
"Yes."
"But won't he be."
" Yes, very." Athena said finishing Sheryl's sentences for her with a grin.
After a few near misses the four of them finally got everything settled. "Ok, now Sheryl remember act like there is something going on in his room, lay it on thick, you know." Athena said getting excited.
"Yeah, I now what to do, you told me like fifteen times already." Sheryl said walking down the hall.
" Now boys we wait." Athena said gleefully rubbing her hands together, waiting in Pete's room that was across the hall.
A few minutes later Ray and Sheryl rushed down the hall.
"Are you sure, you heard something?" Ray looking down at Sheryl.
"Yes, I'm sure now go and get it." Sheryl said running down the hall.
"What the HELL!" Ray said as the ice cold water hit him.
Athena and the boys came out laughing. "There now maybe you will cool off." Athena said grinning.
But all grins were wiped off when they noticed that Ray was actually ticked off.
"Why you little." Ray said advancing on her.
Athena's eyes got wide as she watched him get closer and closer to her.
"RAY! You lay a hand on her, and we will tear you limb from limb." Gerry said walking in front of him with Alan, Rev, Louie, Sunshine and Julius.
"Guess, you'll have to be faster, Ray." Athena said sweetly.
Causing Ray to walk in a huff that soaking wet.
But her triumph was torn in two when she heard another voice say, " Athena Jade Taylor in your room NOW." She turned to see Coach with Sheryl she said a quite good bye and thank you to her friends and followed Coach down the hall to another wing.
That night Athena was getting a lecture from Coach; Sheryl had already received hers. "You realize that the stunt you pulled could have started a fight." He said pacing the room.
"Yes sir, but it was in fun." Athena said looking up at him.
"Well, next time think before you act." Coach said stopping.
"Yes, sir I'll try to remember that next time." Athena said looking down, feeling like she was three.
"Now, for your punishment. You will not sit with any of the boys at lunch tomorrow; you will sit by yourself and not talk or look at any of the others. And if one of them speaks you will remain silent. Maybe this will help to think before you open your mouth." Coach said before exiting her room.
So that next day at lunch, when Athena walked into the dinning room. She walked past the guys, who kept asking her what was wrong and if she was feeling ok. What hurt her was the fact that she had to ignore Sunshine, who had asked, "So are we still going to meet after practice today?" All she could do was stop and turn around then walked away.
"Well I wonder what is the matter with her." Pete said looking after Athena.
"Didn't you hear, oh wait you are probably deaf." Ray said coming up behind them.
"What is the matter with Athena then, Mr. Know-it-all." Sunshine said with a glare.
"Your little hippie girl got in trouble last night for that little stunt she pulled on me. So fruitcake she has to sit by herself and not talk o anyone." Ray said with a cocky grin.
Athena was having herself a very nice lunch, just looking out the windows. Until that to went out the window when she heard a voice say, " Not so tough are you now hippie girl. Can't talk now or anything." Ray said and just kept on going.
But she just sat eating her food trying to show that it didn't bother her, even though it took every ounce of her being to keep from turning around and elbowing him in the crouch. She tried looking for Coach to see what she should do but all she got was he's back and a sympathetic look from Sheryl. So since she couldn't talk now, she got up form her table and started to take her try to the wash line.
But Ray being the jerk he was stuck his foot out in front of her, making her trip and fall with her face in her food. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Now, maybe you will think twice before messing with me." This caused every one of the guys to stop and look to see what would happen next.
Athena just laid there until she was helped up by Sunshine who got a quite, "Thank you," from her.
And that was enough to make her snap. Standing up she wiped the food off her, and clenching her fists she marched right to Rays face and said, "What have I done to you besides dump water on you." Athena said poking a finger in his chest.
"Athena Jade, what did I tell you last night." Coach called out to her.
She started to say something but was stopped when Coach Boone said, " It's not her fault Coach, she has taking a lot from Ray and I'm actually surprised she lasted this long, just because it's her. So Budds you will be running extra laps after practice today to help keep your mouth under control." Boone said in a stern voice.
After practice it was the same routine, the guys would turn in before getting their cups of water. Athena just smiled and waved as she watched Ray run by them. "Hey, 'Athena, I think that Sunshine likes you." Sheryl said looking over at her.
"Naw, I think he just wants to be friends, and what would you know, you are only nine." Athena said over to Sheryl.
"I notice a lot of things, like the way Gerry, Pete, and Sunshine along with some other guys on the team look at you." Sheryl said filling up more water cups.
But before Athena say anything she let out a little scream as Gerry and Julius picked her up and started to run around with her like the usually do. "You guys out me down, you're sweaty and stinky, so go take showers." She said laughing. After the guys got their showers, Sunshine meet her at the steps of the library.
"So what did you do to Superman?" Athena asked.
"Well, I kissed him." He said simply.
"You kissed him." She said stopping. "Why?" She asked.
"Cause he called me a fruitcake." He said sitting down.
"So you thought that you would play with his mind." Athena said with a smile.
"Yep, I did." Sunshine said with a grin. "But don't tell Pete." He said with a wink.
"Your secret is safe with me." Athena said with a grin.
Last few days of camp passed by in the hurry. Pretty soon everyone was on the buses singing or talking nothing like it was the first day camp. Once they arrived back in Alexandria all the parents were looking at them like they were aliens. Once Athena got off the bus, she decided to make her rounds and say good bye to the guys.
So first she ran over to Louie and jumped on his back, "Hi ho Sliver and away! So, you are coming to Charlie's Thursday?" She asked getting off his back.
"Oh, opps sorry I'm Athena Taylor manger and niece of Coach Yoast." She said when she finally that his parents were standing there giving her weird looks.
"Yeah, 'Athena I'll be there." Louie said giving her a smile.
"Well, it was nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Lastik. You better be there Louie." Athena said making her way over the Rev and his family.
"Well, what a colorful young lady." Mrs. Lastik said to her son.
"Yeah, 'Athena is colorful but she is cool."
"Hey Jerry, is it still alright if I come to services at your Church on Sunday?" She asked walking up to him.
"Yes, it sure is and this is my family." Rev said pointing at his family.
"Nice to meet you, sir and mamma." Athena said shaking their hands.
"Well, it was nice to meet you all and I shall see Rev on Sunday if not before." Athena said with a smile after giving Rev a hug.
"Well, she was polite.' His parents said.
"Yeah, Athena is different but she is definitely I good person." Rev said as he watched as Athena gave Julius a hug and Pete.
She walked over to Blue and his dad, "Hey, Blue see you Thursday right?"
"You know I wouldn't miss it 'Athena gal." Blue said giving her a hug before getting the car and leaving.
"HEY, Alan we still on for Mighty Mouse Saturday morning!" She yelled after him as he was getting in his dad car.
"You bet, see you Saturday!" Alan called back.
"Hey, Superman." Athena said running and tackling Gerry from behind.
"Hey, 'Athena gal, we still on for Wednesday?" Gerry asked giving her a hug back.
"You bet, wouldn't miss it for the world. Oh, is this your mom, it's nice to meet you, Gerry was talking about you all the time up at Camp, I'm Athena Taylor Coach Yoast's niece from California." Athena said holding out her hand.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Athena." Gerry's mom said taking her hand.
Once Athena said good bye to them Gerry's mom looked at him and said, "I don't want you seeing her anymore."
"Well, that leaves one more person. "Hey, Sunshine. We still on for Friday?" She asked walking to where he was standing with his mom and dad.
"Yeah we still are that's if you think you can beat me." Sunshine said with a grin. "Oh, I'll beat then I'll do it again for good measure." Athena answered with a smile.
"Umm, so Ronnie who is your friend?" He's mother asked.
"Oh, this is Athena Taylor, Coach Yoast's niece. She is from California also. Athena, this is my Dad, Col. Bass and my mom." Ronnie said.
"Well, it's nice to meet you both." Athena said with a smile.
"It's nice to meet you also, but we better be heading home, I have a roast in the oven. Feel free to stop by anytime, I'd love to talk about California." Ronnie's mom said.
"Thank you. I will do that." Athena said before walking off to join Coach and Sheryl.
Off in the distance Ray stood with his parents, "So that's her the one that is giving my baby all the trouble." Mrs., Budds said babying her son.
"Figures a coon lover like her would, like that hippie boy, looks like we are just going to have to show her that she isn't welcome here in Alexandria." His father said glaring at Athena as she said hi to Coach Boone's family.
"Don't worry, Dad I'll take care of it." Ray said as they walked towards the car.