-Artemis-
Artemis had left the main office, her new schedule in her hand. Normally, these things weren't done. You couldn't just switch a class two weeks into the term, but Artemis couldn't help herself. Mortals were easy to manipulate, and she made them switch a few of her classes. A quick manipulation using some of her divine powers was all it took. She wasn't going to change all of them. She didn't want to seem like a stalker. Her first class of the day would be with him. It was an art class, something she usually avoided. As she walked down the stairs, she tried to collect herself.
Artemis couldn't decide how she felt. She was positive it was him, or at least his body. A part of her felt alive, more so than she had in years. This flutter happened in her chest when she thought of him. She was almost…nervous. Yes, this must be what nerves felt like. She was worried that maybe it wasn't him, that perhaps it wasn't the boy who had stolen her heart so long ago. She just wanted to make sure. She didn't feel that way towards any boy anymore, despite her brother's musings. This had nothing to do with the boy, or at least that's what she told herself. She was simply too curious to let this go. It might be silly, but she had nothing better to do in this mortal hell hole, so she might as well investigate.
Artemis knocked on the door, letting herself into the classroom. Students were milling about, and the teacher, a kind looking older gentleman with a goatee, walked up to her. His hands were covered in mud-like substance, and there were spots of it on his nose and cheeks. Artemis scanned the room, her eyes fixing on Orion. Their eyes met, and he quickly looked down, getting some supplies from a crate. She noticed that smirk on his face. It was the same smirk he used to get when he would occasionally best her at something. He never would say anything; he knew better than to openly boast about being better than an immortal. Arachne stated that she was better than Athena at weaving, and look at what happened to her! But he would always get that smirk, almost an I-told-you-so thing, and it grated on her last nerve. The years hadn't changed that at all. The worst part was that back then, he knew it, so if she hit him he knew why. This time, she couldn't go thumping mortals who had no idea of what they were doing. Well, she could, but it would just make a big mess.
"Can I help you?" the teacher asked happily.
"Yes, I just got transferred into this class."
He indicated that she should hold up her transfer slip, and he narrowed his eyes as he read it. He raised his eyebrows, stealing a glance at her, but Artemis remained impassive. He shrugged his shoulders, a huge smile coming on his face.
"Great! Today is pottery day, so grab some clay, take a wheel, and make a creation. Vase, bowl, interpretive sculpture…whatever your heart desires! You make it, we bake it!"
He directed her towards the front of the room, to a wheel just two up from Orion's. He pointed to the bucket and the stack of aprons, and Artemis tied one on. She stuck her hands into the clay, getting a large scoop out. She set it on the middle of the wheel, sitting in the chair. She glanced around, watching what the others were doing. To be honest, she had no idea what in Hades was going on. She was a goddess, and goddesses do not make pottery. They are painted on them!
She flipped on the switch, and the mound of clay started to spin. Artemis tried to follow the motions of the others, but all she accomplished at first was slinging clay and water everywhere. Then, in her attempt to make a bowl, she just ended up making this wavy looking blob.
A laugh came from beside her, and Artemis glanced up. Orion had just set a perfectly made vase on the table to be baked. He was washing his hands, taking care to get all the caked on clay off.
"Are you just as bad at pottery as you are at recognizing people?"
How dare he? She had to remember that he was a mortal, and he didn't know any better. She could hear the teasing tone in his voice, and she tried to keep her face pleasant. This was the worst part of being stuck with people who didn't know you were a goddess, having them treat you as an equal. Then again, that was one of the things she liked about Orion when he was alive. He knew his place, but he challenged her in a way that didn't make her angry.
"It would seem so," she said dryly. Orion just smiled, setting a bowl of water beside her.
"Getting it centered will help," he offered. "See the way it's wobbling?"
She looked at it, and the mound did look like it was waving in the air. She cupped her hands around it, trying to get it in the middle. It looked a little better, and the teacher chose to walk by at that time.
"That is a beautiful piece! An abstract version of a plate perhaps?" he suggested helpfully.
"It's supposed to be a mug," she muttered petulantly.
"Oh… Well, carry on!"
Now she remembered why she hated art. What could be more beautiful than the perfect kill, than nature or the wild? She pounded her fists on the blob, and it now resembled a smashed, lumpy rock.
"Interesting approach," Orion said from above her. He knelt, switching off the table. He picked of the clay in his hands, shaping it back into a ball. He looked thoughtful, and then his lips turned up in a small smile. He set it back down, flipping the switch back on. Orion's face was level with hers, and she got to see it up close. His eyes were a rich, deep brown, both warm and inviting. They reminded her of the color of soil, freshly dug in the middle of the woods. "It's Artemis, right? You already know my name."
"Yeah."
She knew this was the time to apologize. She really did feel bad for acting so rash and crazy, but not for recognizing him. She trusted her gut, and her gut told her she was right.
"I'm sorry about yesterday. I thought you were someone I knew from Texas, and I didn't mean to act so…"
"Insane?" He offered with a smile. "School makes everyone crazy. It's cool, no big deal."
He sat down beside her, and a part of Artemis was relieved. He seemed to be over the whole thing, which surprised her.
"Have you ever done pottery before?"
"No," she replied grudgingly. "But I can figure it out on my own." Her pride was coming to bite her, but she couldn't help herself. She hadn't asked for any help from a mortal in years. She could handle herself. After all, what could she learn from a mortal? She wet her hands again, trying to get the thing centered. She concentrated on the spinning clay, but it did not want to co-operate. She was seriously considering just willing a pot into existence.
Suddenly a pair of arms came around hers, and warm hands guided her. Instinctually, she flinched in surprise, but he just chuckled behind her.
"Jeez, I'm not trying to tackle you. It's easier if I show you," Orion said.
Together, their hands centered the clay and began to shape it into a mug. He was describing what to do, but to be honest, Artemis wasn't listening to a word he was saying. Instead, she was focused on what his close proximity was doing to her. His chest was against her back, and she could feel the muscles in his arms. He was warm, in a good way. She could smell him, and oh gods, did he smell good. It was some kind of incense, wait, they called it cologne these days, and it was mixed in with the smell of clay and something earthy. His breath tickled her cheek, making her heart beat faster and faster. What the hell was this? He was just a mortal for gods sakes, and a boy at that! She shouldn't let him touch her, but every time she opened her mouth, the words were stuck in her throat. She didn't want him to stop, and she was surprised that she liked this. How could see like this!? She had found something that had been lost, but she had to remind herself that this might not be him. His hands left her, and that broke her out of her reverie.
"See, and now you have a mug!"
It wasn't half bad-looking, and he walked around, lifting it from the wheel. He set it with the others, and gave Artemis a small smile. He walked over to the sink, and Artemis followed him over there.
"So, what do you do besides school?" she asked. "Besides having girls freak out on you?" He laughed, shaking his head.
"That's not an everyday thing. I'm on the Archery team, and I work part-time at a vet," he said as he offered her the soap.
"Vet?"
"Yeah, veterinarian's office. You know, dogs, cats, horses, that kind of thing," he explained.
"Of course, I was just having a lapse in thought," she assured him. "I love archery." She made the comment hoping a spark of recognition, a memory from the past, would flare within him, but his face remained stoic.
"That so?"
"I hunt, you see," she tried. She was fishing, she knew it, but she had to know. Was there any part of the boy she knew in there? There was something there. She was strangely drawn to him, not only for his looks but for something else she couldn't quite pin down. It was like he was a magnet, pulling her closer and closer. It was impossible for her resist, and truth be told, she really didn't want to.
"Me too! My foster parents own a bunch of land outside of the city. It's nice and quiet there, and sometimes, I just go to get away."
"Foster parents?"
The bell rang, and everyone began gathering their things. He waited as Artemis dried her hands, and they went to grab their stuff from their seats. He patiently waited as she grabbed her bag, the smile never leaving his face. Artemis couldn't help but smile as well. Things were going a lot more smoothly than she expected.
"Yeah, I was adopted when I was five. I've got four adopted siblings. My parents are an older couple, absolutely loaded, but couldn't have any kids so they took us in. They are the best people I know."
They walked towards the door, making their way to their lockers. The hallway was pretty crowded, so they had to stay reasonably close to one another. Orion's arm brushed her own, sending a shock through her.
"Are you any good with a bow?" he asked her. Artemis blinked, trying to collect her thoughts.
"I'm exceptional," she said without hesitation.
"You should come to the range sometime, test those skills out. See if you can best the best," he replied with a playful wink.
"You will lose," she told him with a sigh. She wasn't going to let some mortal best her at her greatest talent, even if he was kind of attractive… for a boy.
They had made it to her locker, and Artemis noticed a new drawing on there. Someone had drawn a heart with an arrow through it, and she ground her teeth. Apollo! She knew he would take advantage, teasing her about this supposed crush she had, but Artemis didn't have a crush. This was just an experiment.
"I guess I'll see you around?" he said running his hand through his hair.
Artemis nodded her head. Once Orion was out of view, she quickly glanced around, and then waved her hand over the locker. The drawing vanished, and she got her books for the next class. She began walking down the hall, not really paying attention to those around her. She noticed she had gotten a little clay on her shirt, but she didn't mind. She had a habit of being covered in dirt and mud. Someone fell in step beside her, and she recognized the blonde hair out of the corner of her eye.
"You look happy," Aphrodite observed as she walked up.
"It's the middle of the week, which means this one is almost over."
"So eager to get out of school so soon, my niece?"
Artemis stopped raising her eyebrows at her Aunt. Aphrodite just looked innocently back at her, but Artemis knew better.
"Did you want something or was it your intention to annoy me?"
"No," Aphrodite said carefully. "I just wanted to get a look at my favorite niece."
With that Aphrodite flounced off, winking as she left.
A/N: Sorry it's been over a week! I may not update as often as I want. I'm not abandoning this, no worries, I just have a lot of school work to do, so it may take me a little longer than normal. I'm also wrapping up my other story, Fighting Fate, and then I'll have more time to work on this one.
I'm in class, so I apologize for any typos I've probably missed!
Please leave a review!