Luke and I got along well. We spend the next week getting to know each other. I remember that we used to spend time lying down on the floor of my bedroom, looking at the ceiling. We'd talk for hours about our lives. We'd talk about what we had in common, we both love Italian food, we're the only child in the family, we both loved reading, we both can speak French fluently and we both loved animals. Sometimes, we'd talk about our future. What we wanted to be when we're grown up. He said he wanted to be a car mechanic because of his love for cars. He always asked me what I wanted to be but I never had an answer for him.
One day, we were in his room this time. We lay on the floor talking about Greek Mythology. We enjoyed talking about it since we found out we were both descendants of Greeks. We spent hours talking until Herman barged into the room.
"Kids, lunch is ready—what are you two doing?" A wide cheeky grin was spread on his face. I could never forget that face, it was too irresistible.
"Talking about Greek Mythology," said Luke as he casually got up. I was still lying down. It felt really awkward when you're lying down on the floor in an eagle spread style with two guys in the same room so I quickly got up.
"Ah, talking about our ancestors, eyh?" he wiggled his eyebrows.
"Yeap, and you said that lunch is ready?" Luke asked and gave that same mischievous grin as Herman. "Oh yeah! Yes, it's ready."
"So, Herman said you two were talking about Greek Mythology in the room?" May asked Luke while pouring the drinks. I wished I had a mother (or parent) that can cook as well as her. Her pesto was just simple and nice and her salad was season perfectly. I don't know if it was too early but the adults drank wine and the kids got kool-aid.
"Yeah," Luke and I said at the same time. We grinned and jinxed each other. It wasn't so hard to reach him, he was sitting on the opposite of me. "Hey, hey. Dehlia, table manners. Where are they?" my dad said in a slightly harshed tone, "Sorry." Was all I could say.
"So what were you two talking about for Ancient Greek?" Herman asked. "Oh, you know. Perseus, the son of Zeus who slaughtered Medusa and Theseus, the son of…Poseidon who came out of the Labrynth alive and left Ariadne on that island and Dionysus came to the rescue. Stuff like that," it felt awkward saying my dad's name, especially Theseus.
After lunch, Luke asked if I wanted to see his "Moonlace". I had no idea what a Moonlace was but it sounded interesting as he described it. He said it was some sort of flower that shimmers during night time like the moonlight. He found it in some forest.
"Every afternoon on the weekends, my mom and I start gardening. Funny, huh? A boy who enjoys gardening, that's just weird," he ended with a sigh, "I don't think that's weird. It's cool that some boys garden, at least they care about nature." I patted his shoulder, he smiled at me.
He inserted the key in the hole and turned it. The door opened to the sight of colourful flowers. Different types of them. Size, shape, colour. There were rows of them and I was sure the shed looked small on the outside but it was so spacious. Luke led me to the back of the shed. Halfway there, I yelped because a giant butterfly flew right through me.
"Are you okay?" he stopped to check on me, "Yeah, I'm just…uh…I have fears for insects, that's why I yelped," he smiled, "It's okay, I'm here." From that smile he gave, I felt my cheek and neck reddened. My ears were burning. He saw that I was blushing and he gave me a wicked grin. This 10 year old boy has got the charm of his father and the looks of his mother. Freakin' kid had to make me blush.
"Here we are," we stopped at the back of the shed. There were not much flowers at the back but I saw one that caught my eye. A shimmering flower that glowed bright enough to light a whole room. It was beautiful. "I can see why it's called a Moonlace," I told him. "Well, it had no specific name and I've seen this type anywhere so that's why I named it Moonlace." He said hesitantly.
"Moonlace. A nice name for a beautiful flower," I turned towards him.
It was really annoying being in the shed, I was itching everywhere. I guess Luke got the hint that I was itchy. "Wanna go out now?" I just nodded.
As we got out, I saw a path that led inside the forest. "Where does that lead to?" I asked. "Umm, I don't really now. Dad didn't let me go in there when I was younger." He replied. "Younger, now you're older. Wanna go check it out?" I knew I was getting into trouble for this but daredevil is always a daredevil. "Uhh.." he looked back at the house and gave me a hesitant look. "I don't know…" he said in a small voice. "Oh! Come on!" I pulled his arm and ran towards the path.
He stopped with his heel from running. "Wait, I don't want to get in trouble." I can hear worry in his voice. "Well, don't tell anyone. I promise, there won't be any trouble. 'Kay?" he shook his head. I held out my hand, "Come on, I'll be right with you." He took my hand hesitantly.
We stopped halfway through the path when I saw a swinging rope above the river. It was hanging on a big tree. On the other side of the river was a forest that looked like it was in Autumn season. "I'll swing first," I said. "Wait, no! I don't want you to get hurt." He gave me that puppy dog look. No, even though it was cute it didn't effect on me. "I'm a New Yorker, we don't get fallen for puppy dog looks." I winked at him.
I knew I couldn't reach the rope so I looked for something to grab it. The closest thing I got was a long stick where it's end was curved, "This will do," I said to myself. I successfully grabbed on the rope with the stick. I looked back at Luke and all I saw was worry written on his face. I turned back and swung.
I couldn't help but grinned at the feeling of the summer breeze that blew to my face while I was swinging. Sunlight streaming my face and the sound of the river flowing below. I safely got to the other side. "That was fun! Come on! You gotta try it Luke!" I shouted to the other side. "Just grab the stick if you can't reach the rope!" again he gave me the hesitant look. I finally said what I had to say, "It's okay, I'll catch you!" and with that he grabbed the stick, successfully got hold of the rope—he really gripped it tightly—and swing.
I saw a smile on his face. I knew his fear was gone but at the moment he was about to land on the other side, his left foot slipped the landing. He was about to fall but I quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him towards me. I felt my face reddened when he lied right on top of me. "I told I'd catch you," I told him and we both chuckled.
We walked through the forest for 15 minutes, just looking around. I stopped at the sight of a tree house. I nudged Luke in the elbow. "Hey, look!" he looked at where I pointed and his eyes widened. "Whoa! It's a freakin' tree house!" he said with excitement.
We went towards the tree house but we stopped 4 feet away, just to be safe. "What if something attack us?" he asked me, I just shrugged. I went on first to the tree house and once I was up there, I was amazed at my sight. Cool little collections of small cars, a box with silver objects, forks and spoons decorated as wind chimes, unfinished puzzles and a book about mythologies. It was awesome to be up there. "Is it safe?" I heard Luke's voice, "Yeah, come on up!" he took time climbing up but he eventually got up there. And without no doubt, he gasp at the sight of the tree house. "Cool, huh?" he nodded. As I was looking around, I realized he wasn't behind me anymore. Then I heard him call me, "Dehlia, come up here! You gotta see this."
"Oh, whoa." I said surprisingly, "It's the whole forest." He said. I hear no worry in his voice. I was glad he felt comfortable. Then, I got an idea. "Why not, we make this our place?"
"What do you mean?" he asked in a confused tone.
"Make this whole forest ours."
"How?" again in a confused tone.
"Use your imagination, silly!" I nudged him on the shoulders. "Oh." Was all he could say.
"Why not make this…umm…"
"Olympus!" he answered quickly.
You know, like our obsession with Greek Mythology. You see," he started pointing towards places in the forests, "That could be Greek City, and there could be the Naiads' home. The place where the satyrs are, and that would be Camp Half-Blood, you know for those demigods. That would be the way towards the Underworld and," he pointed to the top of the hill, "that would be Mount Olympus." He turned towards me with a smile. It took me a while for me to realize that his arm was around my shoulder. "We need armour and protection," I blurted out, "What?" he stopped grinning, "Oh yeah! Protection and defense. Umm…" he was thinking of something alright. Then I remembered something, "I remember reading in history class about the Golden Fleece. It's this magical protection for a camp guard or even a kingdom. It's only activated when it's hung on a tree. Why not this tree house would be the starter of Olympus and the holder of the Golden Fleece for protection? And all we need is a dragon to guard the tree from any danger!" I was waiting for him to approve. "Great idea but where do we get a dragon?" he asked. "Imagination!" he chuckled.
He looked back at our newly called kingdom "Olympus". I stared into his beautiful face while he was admiring the view. His blonde sandy hair that doesn't disturb his face. His blue eyes shimmering and his long blonde eyelashes fluttering above his eyelids. A grinned was spread on his face and he turned to me and held my hand.
"Will you be honoured to be my Queen and partner for the ruling of Olympus?" he asked formally.
"Isn't that Zeus' job—" he cut me off.
"As I said, will you be my—"
"Yeah, yeah I will."
"Great!" but he was still looking at me for an answer.
"Uhh, will you be my King and partner for the ruling of Olympus?" I asked hesitantly.
"Hell yeah! I mean," he cleared his throat, "I do."
"So, we're rulers of Olympus now?" I asked.
"Yeap! Now let's head back, I don't want our parents to know."
We ran back towards the river. Swung and successfully landed to the other side.
"Hey, Luke" I asked while walking back to the Castellan household.
"Yeah?" he looked at me.
"Let's keep this as our secret. No one shall ever now. No one but someone who is trustworthy and respectful of our kingdom and the use of imagination." I took held out my pinky.
"I promise," and he pinky swore me.
"Great. Okay then, last one to the house is Dionysus!" I said while running.
"Not fair!" He shouted behind. I won the race.
"Where did you two go?" Asked Poseidon. "Oh, just walking around, looking for stones."
"Well, we'd better get going. Zeus and his kids are coming tomorrow, better get some rest. See you, Hermes. Thank you for that lovely lunch, May," he smiled at May. "Don't get in trouble kiddo," he ruffled Luke's hair. "I won't of course." Luke replied my dad.
We bid our goodbyes and head of home.
"So what you guys do just now?" Asked my dad, "I told you just now, looking for stones."
"Found any good ones?" he asked, "Nope." I answered quickly.
"Well, get some rest. Goodnight, Spud," he kissed my forehead, "G'night, dad." He turned off the lights and closed the door. I didn't sleep that night until 3 o'clock in the morning. Instead, I read the mythology book I took from the tree house.
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