"Annabeth! Percy! Over here!"I spot my friends across the lunch room and call out to them.
They look around for a second, searching for the source of their names before their eyes land on me. Skillfully, they manage to maneuver through the groups of people scattered around the room and finally reach the table our group is sitting out.
"Hey Reese! What's up?" Percy asks as him and Annabeth sit down.
"Oh you know, the usual: homework, homework, and more homework," I reply with a shrug.
"Well while you're busy doing homework tonight, I will be watching a movie with my amazing girlfriend, right?" He looks over at Annabeth with those big puppy eyes that seem impossible to refuse, yet somehow she does.
"No I will be watching a movie while you catch up on the work that was due last week," she retorts, rolling her eyes.
"But Annabeth-"
She cuts off his whining, "Honestly Percy, what with your kelp for brains and missing work, I don't know how you manage not to fail all of your classes."
"That's why I have such a smart, beautiful, amazing girlfriend who'll help me with my homework so we can watch the movie together, right?"
She just rolls her eyes again, "We'll see."
I just watch the back and forth banter with amused eyes. It's cute how they seem to be complete opposites, but then they act like an old married couple. But I know that even if Percy does get Annabeth to help him, they won't be doing much homework or movie watching. Suddenly I have a brilliant idea.
"Hey, I have an idea!" I say, cutting into their ongoing conversation of Percy begging for Annabeth's help.
"Yeah?"
"Well... we all know that whatever ends up happening tonight, Percy's work is not gonna be finished and y'all won't be watching a movie."
Annabeth opens her mouth to protest but quickly snaps it shut again. I think I see a slight blush on Percy's face.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Annabeth decide to go ahead and ask the question.
"You know. Either you two will end up fighting or making out before anything gets finished, probably both." I add that last part with a smirk. Their faces get redder. "Anyways... I propose a solution that will be fun for everyone. Y'all can come to our," I gesture to couple other people sitting at our table, "YOUTH GROUP!"
They look confused.
"Um, what's a youth group?" Percy asks.
"You know... on Wednesday nights... at church... you get into small groups and talk about the Bible... there's games and dinner before... usually some singing?"
"Church? As in Christian church?"
Annabeth elbows him an whispers something like "what kind of question is that?" to him. I can't help but agree, that is a weird question.
"Um, what Percy meant to say," Annabeth begins, "is that we would love to come, but we don't really go to church. We don't exactly believe in that god."
I'm surprised. I mean, I had never really thought about it, but I guess I had just assumed. But she said they don't believe in "that god", so that eliminates Christian and Jewish. I wonder what they are then.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't know. If you don't mind me asking, what are you then?"
"Well... we are, um-"
Percy cuts her off and blurts out, "Pagans!"
Annabeth gives him a death glare.
He holds up his hands in defense, "what I panicked!" He whisper shouts.
I'm stunned. That would have been my last guess. What does that even mean?
"If you're going to say we're pagans, at least say the full name seaweed brain! We're Hellenic pagans," Annabeth corrects.
"I'm sorry, okay? It was the first thing that popped into my head!"
"Sorry, what does that mean?" I'm confused now. I've never heard of that religion before.
"It means we're polytheistic. We believe in the, um, Greek gods," she mumbles the last part and I'm not sure I heard her correctly.
"Did you say Greek gods? As in Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades?"
"Among others yeah."
They keep glancing up at the ceiling the more questions they answer. I'm not really sure what to say now, so I take a page from Percy's book and say the first thing that comes to mind.
"I didn't realize people still worshipped them. So are y'all Greek or something?"
"Yeah, half Greek."
"We can even speak Greek!" Percy chimes in.
"Really? That's so cool!"
Annabeth elbows him again.
We just sit there in an awkward silence after that. I mean, I knew there was something different about Percy and Annabeth, but that was not what I'd expected. Sure, I've heard them say "gods" as in plural, but I always just figured I was hearing them wrong or it was just one of the things some people say. I guess not.
Lunch had never felt so long. I'm relieved when the bell finally rings and I can leave the awkwardness behind.
"I guess I won't be seeing you two at youth tonight?" I try for a smile as we walk towards the doors.
"I'll let you know what ends up happening this summer, but if something big happens again, I may just have to convert," Percy says with a grimace.
I have no idea what that means, but Annabeth looks at him pointedly before they both shoot a final a worried glance at the ceiling and walk through the lunch room doors.
They are definitely hiding something else, but after that conversation, I'm not sure I want to know what it is.
Hey! So what did y'all think? I know it's kind of weird, but it was fun to write. Oh and for anyone wondering, the other story I was talking about at the top is called "sorry, not sorry" and it's a mortal has a crush on Annabeth story. I would love it if you checked it out!
Anyways, don't forget to review! Please?