Disclaimer: Don't own Class of the Titans (or do I?)

Chapter 3:

As Theresa and Jay walked off of the Brownstone's apartments solid cement roof, they hardly looked at each other. Theresa had recently removed her hand from Jay's arm, but Jay could still feel the familiar warm tingle that he always gained at even the slightest touch she bestowed upon him.

He tried to shake off the warm, fuzzy feeling that he had felt so often before. But like usual, there was no stopping how his heart felt. And his body was making Jay endure Theresa's touch as though her hand was still entwined with his.

Jay knew that he would be savoring her touch in his mind, although he would never admit such a thing to anyone other then himself.

Theresa on the other hand, was hardly feeling anything towards Jay at that moment except for anger.

Who did he think he was?! Making up fable excuses like that! They all knew that Jay did not do it for them. He did it for the world. So that Cronus would be gone from their mortal planet once and for all.

But for some reason, even in her spur of anger towards the handsome brown haired teenager, she couldn't help but also fell a great sense of remorse.

What if Jay had actually spoken the truth? What if he actually meant what he said to her back on the rooftop the apartment building?

Theresa felt her heart fill with a large feeling of guilt. She had been so harsh with Jay back there, and she did not dare to think about the pain filled look that Jay must have given her when she said those dangerously cold words.

She bit her lip as she almost felt tears spring to her eyes. What was wrong with her? Jay was only, trying to tell her how much he cared about the team. He didn't mean anything offensive. And that was exactly what Theresa had made it seem like.

"Jay," she said in a small voice, pausing in the stairwell that led to the lower half of the apartment.

Jay stopped a few stairs below her and looked back at her with curious eyes. "Ya? What is it?"

"I am sorry if I was harsh before, you know. Back on the roof. It was really unnecessary. I was just, worried about you. You know?"

Jay just smiled at her with that charming smile that immediately forced her system to numb. Almost as if it was a rule, or a need. He held out his hand to her as a sign of an apology accepted.

"Don't worry." He said in a soft voice. "You have nothing to apologize for."

Theresa was about to open her mouth to protest against him, but thought that silly. She knew he would not listen to her protests anyway. Besides, why make an awkward situation even worse?

So instead of arguing any further, she simply nodded and allowed the boy to grasp her hand in a hand shake.

"Ok. If your sure." She said in a small voice, but she did not grasp the boy's hand and instead walked past him, too embarrassed to embrace him. Although she was feeling very happy that everything was sorted out between the two of them.

Together they walked down the remaining stairs and into the small kitchen that was still loaded with the dirty dishes from the dinner from the night before.

"I wonder where Athena went to?" Theresa said as she inspected the dirty kitchen. "This place is usually spotless because of her."

"All the gods were anxious when i left. Last night right before I left." Jay lied at the last part. "They were having a meeting or something. When i asked Ares he just said Hera would want to see us in the morning."

Theresa bit her lip. "Why would the gods be so anxious? They have never been like that before."

Jay shrugged slightly. "Dunno. I guess we will find out soon now wont we?"

They heard footsteps approching and they moved slightly farther apart then they were before, not wanting one of their friends getting the wrong impression.

"Hey guys what's up?" Atlanta said sleepily rubbing her tired eyes as she walked down the steps and into the kitchen. Her eyes widened as she saw the mess before her.

"Wow. What happened here?" Atlanta said loudly. "Doesnt Athena usually clean up messes like this?"

Theresa nodded. "Neither of us has seen her this morning. And Ares told Jay last night that Hera wanted to see us this morning."

"Why? She hasent called many of those meetings in a long time." Atlanta said curiously. Not bothering to mention that she heard Jay coming in a few hours before dawn which was most DEFINETLY not last night.

Theresa nodded. "I know, but Jay also said that the gods were exreamly anxious."

Atlanta shrugged and yawned before walking over to the fridge and pouring herself a glass of orange juice.

That was when Theresa noticed the bags under her younger friend's eyes.

"Gosh Lanta, where you up all last night?" Theresa said pointing out how tired her friends face looked while walking over to the toaster and putting a peice into the machine to warm it.

Atlanta grunted. "Archie and I betted that i would not be able to watch 6 horror movies in a row without puking. I won." she said smiling. "I only puked once."

Theresa laughed slightly. "Another long night with Archie eh? Not surprised. First love always starts out with friendship"

"Its not love!" Atlanta snapped yet smirking slightly. "I may like him, but it is never going to be love."

Theresa shrugged. "Thats what you say now, but wait till later. Pretty soon you will be doing more then just kissing if you know what i mean."

Atlanta stuck out her tounge childishly. "Your turning into a pervert Terri, didnt know you had it in you."

Theresa laughed some more and then walked to the toaster where she had cooked her toast during the time her and her friend were fighting. She reached into the cupboard and put on some jam and some butter before sitting down at the table with her food.

Only then did Theresa realise how Jay had not spoken during the entire time her and Atlanta were talking. Was Jay more worried about Athena and the gods then he had shown? Or was Theresa just imaging the small flicker of fear in her leader's eyes?

Once every one of the team members awoke, and ate breakfast they all made their way towards Olympia High. Hera had asked them all to meet her in Chiron's study. To most this was just an ordinary school, but to the group of friends, this was the most important place in the world. They slowly made their way through the silent school towards the janitors' closet where they could be transported to Mount Olympus, home of the Gods.

Once they were just outside of the door Jay lifted a hand to his neck. He took off the gold medallion that hung around his neck to open the door. He put it in its proper place on the door and the door swiftly opened. They all crowded into the small closet complaining the whole way.

"Odie you're steeping on my toe!" Jay exclaimed.

"Archie what the hell is your hand doing on my But!" Atlanta screamed smacking Archie square in the face.

"Opps sorry Atlanta." Archie said getting really embarrassed.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh! My hair is ruined!" Neil screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Neil will you stop complaining!" Odie asked him rudely.

"Not my fault that I have such perfect hair." Neil mumbled back angrily.

"Why does it have to be so crowded anyway?" Herry asked no one in particular.

"Theresa watch out! You almost stepped on my computer!" Odie screamed taking his computer of the floor.

"Herry, has anyone ever told you about your bad breath?" Neil said covering his nose, and taking out a breath mint and plucking it in Herry's mouth.

"Neil shut up. Just because you are the lucky one does not mean you can't have a bad accident." Herry replied angrily making a fist and spitting out the breath mint.

"Come on you guys! Stop fighting already this is getting ridiculous!" Theresa said trying to get some peace between the group.

"Everyone just be quiet! The portal will open soon enough." Jay screamed trying to calm everyone down.

And sure enough after everything that was said the whole group was evolved into a blue light as they stepped into it, glad to be out of the crowded room. Now they were all in the main hall, relieved that they were not squished anymore. Hera came around the corner holding a book not noticing they were there.

"Good morning to you all class." Hera said looking up from her book and walking over to greet them.

"Morning Miss. Hera," Theresa replied with a smile, "you wanted to see us didn't you?" Hera just nodded gravely and waved her hand towards Chiron's office.

The seven teens fallowed her into the study and all stood around Chiron's table.

"As you know, the seven of you have dome very well at keeping Cronus away from ruling the world." Chiron began, "but there is something that you all should know something that will put all your lives in greater danger then ever before."

"No need to get you worried of course." Hera said sending him a glare.

"Oh well thanks for your concern." Neil replied sarcastically. Everyone sent the glares at him this time.

"As I was saying, this will make a great affect on what we are trying to do. Cronus has his eye on a weapon, a powerful weapon that if used will endanger the lives of everyone. It is a special type of poison only found in the Mountain of the underworld."

"The Mountain of the Under World?" Jay asked curiously, "How come we have never heard of this place before?"

"Because," Hera said, "The Mountain of the Underworld was supposed to be kept a secret. When Hades first came to the underworld, he found a large mountain in the darkest depths of the underworld. The mountain was filled with crevices and caves that led to tunnels under the mountain and the rest of the underworld. As Hades explored the tunnels he found that deep in the cave there was a lake."

"A lake under the ground?" Archie said interrupting the goddess giving Atlanta a reason to hit him.

"This was not an ordinary lake Archie." She said, her worried look never leaving her face. "The lake was intoxicated with an unknown force."

"The lake had the poison of the underworld didn't it?" Jay said in a quiet voice, his eyes never leaving Hera, and his body never shifting from the wall.

Hera nodded slowly. "This poison can kill as many people as its beholder wishes and is extremely deadly. If we don't find the poison soon, the fate of the world will defiantly be a bad one. Cronus, with this poison could start an epidemic if he wanted to. And in minutes half the world's population could be dead and/or dying."

"And Cronus wants to use this poison to kill people?" Archie asked.

"No duh Archie! She just said that didn't she?" Atlanta said in a very impatient voice.

"More importantly," Chiron began, interrupting the fighting teenagers, "he already has it."

The group let out a collective groan.

Theresa bit her lip anxiously. If Cronus already had it, why didn't he mention anything about it in his dream?

"But if Cronus has it he could kill anyone he wanted any moment!" Jay gasped.

"That is exactly why you have to go and find it," Hera muttered wringing her hands in front of her nervously.

"The poison does not kill immediately" she said once more as soon as she had calmed herself. "And I am not sure what the effects of the poison are so you must all be careful. We can never truly tell if any one of you has been affected because we are not sure what would happen if one of you were infected. So all of you please be careful, I do not want to have any of you going to the underworld any time soon." She seemed to whisper the last part and the goddess's actions were frightening the children terribly.

"We will be careful Miss Hera doesn't worry." Theresa said reassuringly.

Hera sighed, "very well you are dismissed." The seven of them walked out of the study and made their way to the weapons room.

No doubt about it for this mission they will need to use everything they got. Hera was very scared for all of them, she knew that someone may get hurt but also new that no matter what they would protect each other with their lives.

"Don't worry Hera they will be fine." Chiron said placing one of his huge hands on her fragile shoulders which were sagging.

Hera sighed as she felt her heart pounding in her chest. "I hope you are right, but I still can't stand the thought of losing one of them. They don't seem to realize what might happen." Hera sighed once more and walked back towards her desk.

"Cronus has the poison of the Underworld. Now that he does, we have to be extremely careful with what we allow the young ones do." She said as she shuffled with some papers on her desk.

So what did u think? Sorry if there was almost no romance between Archie and Atlanta but I wanted to focus more on Jay and Theresa. Even though there was not much of that either .Yay the plot is starting! Review!!

Signed,

Spiritgirl of Japan