Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Lexia is glaring at me, even though I have no idea why. It's annoying, because it's like I've done something completely wrong without knowing it.
Jean asked to meet up, so I'm here, and she brought her best friend along too because they stick together. Jean's been pretty much glaring at me the entire time too but I can understand that. I've been so distracted, it's surprising I can get that distracted.
I can't help the smirk that crosses my face at the thought of what would happen if I got that distracted during a meeting. Oh, wait... I always get that distracted during meetings. Never mind.
Jean's disappeared somewhere - I think she's getting something for her and Lexia to eat - so I have time to think since Lexia doesn't want to talk anyway. Thank the gods because, though she'd talked almost non-stop a week ago in the club, she'd completely clammed up today and only responded in either 'yes', 'no' or silence. Wow, she's been talking a lot today.
A scowl crosses Lexia's face as she looks at my grin before she looks away, obviously irritated. What is up with her? I haven't annoyed her in any possible way like I accidentally do with Artemis, but she's looking at me like I completely stuffed something up. Mortals.
I'm assuming that Jean's lost in the long line at the cafe we're at. I'm pretty sure the food's going to run out by the time she reaches the front, but I decided not to tell her that when she left.
In a bright light - that is of course not brighter than mine - Hermes appears in front of me - er, us. Lexia shouldn't notice much, probably just assuming he walked up to us, so I raise an eyebrow at Hermes.
"What?" I ask, confused at his appearance. Since the Titan War - which, admittedly - was about nine years ago, Hermes hasn't been much pleasant company and prefers to be alone. He gets snappish easily now and often has a scowl on his face - like now.
He's currently wearing a scowl worthy of Artemis - now that's saying something - as he sits on a chair, before he looks at Lexia and, obviously unimpressed, asks, "Is that her?"
"Is that who?" I repeat, blankly, "What in the name of Hades are you talking about Hermes?"
Hermes talks to me as if he's talking to a five year old, which is pretty insulting, "Well, maybe we have a meeting today, and you were supposed to bring the girl you'd prefer to get married to."
I stare at him, my mind not piecing together what he meant.
"What girl?"
"You've got to be kidding," he groans and proceeds to explain the meeting I'd completely forgotten about.
About a month ago, Hera had brought up the subject of getting me married. I don't know if every guy feels like strangling his step-mother when she brings that up, but I was - and am - at the verge of it. Marriage is like the unspeakable thing for me. You don't speak of it ever.
I swear under my breath. I have 30 minutes to find someone willing to put on an act for some time until I convince Hera out of this idea. Shit. I am so screwed.
I wrack my brains, trying to think of something and think that maybe it would have been better for the Titans to attack again. Least I wouldn't have to put up with this. I scan the crowd of people going by the street, trying to think of some inspiration.
Accidentally, I look at Lexia and she has a mixture of expressions on her face ranging from confusion to an expression that can't be named.
"What the fuck is going on?" she ends up saying. Very direct. "How did that guy - " she points to Hermes, " - appear out of no where?! What the hell's going on?!"
Hermes and I exchange a glance. So she's either a demigod or she can see through the Mist. Huh. Weird.
In the background, Lexia's rattling off about a billion questions, as if expecting us to answer every single one, but one of them makes me think twice.
"Why the hell does - Hermes, you said? Why the hell does Hermes look so much like my dad?" Lexia exclaims.
"Shut up," I say, crossly, "Stop shouting. Or do you want the world to know about the existence of the Gods?"
She scoffs.
"Gods. Yeah, sure. There's so a bunch of people sitting up there controlling our lives. If there were, then I'd love to - "
I clear my throat, trying not to look amused at the list that she says off the top of her head about exactly what she'd say to them. I should be offended, but she looks hilarious when in a temper, so I end up almost laughing instead. Hermes on the other hand looks distracted.
"What's your last name?" he questions her.
"Urm, isn't there this thing about not telling strangers about you?" she replies. I resist rolling my eyes. This girl asks too many questions for her own good.
"Troyan," she says after a few seconds of silence.
Hermes scrutinizes as her as if to check if she's lying. I try to figure out what he's thinking, and, well, fail. Lexia looks like she's doing the same thing and also seems to end up failing.
And that's when the best - and worst - idea in the world hits me.
"Lexia... you wouldn't happen to need any help with... er... college funds, would you know?" I look at her, hoping she does. It may seem odd, but I've got good reasoning for it.
Lexia just glares at me, so I guess that she does.
"Well... if you help me, I could help you..." I suggest. This causes Hermes to look at me and then groan again.
"You have got to be kidding Apollo. You can't be serious..." he murmurs, and I glare at him to shut up. It could work. Maybe. Hopefully. Perhaps.
Lexia looks between the two of us, obviously trying to guess what we're talking about, but I can safely assume that she has no idea.
"Okay, so, you probably heard that Hera - my step-mother - " I start, but she holds up a finger as if telling me to be quiet. I'm not particularly happy with being told to be quiet, but I let her talk.
"All these Greek terms... you won't joking, were you?" she says, looking at Hermes and I as if we've turned into aliens (which is pretty insulting). "There's actually gods. Greek gods, and you're two of them."
"Well done on working that out," I say, exasperated by her slowness, and currently pleased that Jean hasn't come back yet because I'm a hundred percent sure she can't see through the Mist - or so I hope.
"Now, can I continue? Hera's trying to get me, er, married off because she insists it'd be good for me and would 'make me more mature'."
I make a face at this, since I'm perfectly fine with not being completely mature.
Lexia looks like she's still trying to catch up with the idea of the Greek gods being real. I wonder what would happen if I told her that we had Roman aspects and that the Egyptian gods were real too. If she's this surprised at the Greek gods being real, then if she found out about the others she'd probably go insane.
For some reason, insanity and Lexia Troyan don't sit well in my mind together, but I can't think of why. I decide to push it out of my mind and address the problem at hand first before making any theories about anything else. If this works, then I'll be perfectly fine. If not... I would shudder at the possibilities.
"Unfortunately, pretty much everyone, including Hermes, decided they liked the idea. They gave me a month to find a girl before they found one, and I don't want to even think about who they'd choose. Maybe some girl like Nemesis or someone."
Lexia shakes her head as if trying to pay attention.
"Sorry, what?" she says. I roll my eyes and repeat what I said.
"...is that the goddess of revenge or magic?" Lexia questions. She looks as if she's remembered something she didn't want to.
"Revenge," I reply, "She's freaky. Every time I look at her, I see Hera - probably because I hate that cow - but, still, she's weird. I mean, if she was like Aphrodite turned hot then maybe..."
Lexia looks disgusted at this. "You're just like the guys at high school and college! Are looks all you care about? I mean, you guys are gods. Shouldn't you be more mature or something?"
I pointedly ignore this and continue, "So, I need help. If you could - "
"No," Lexia intersects me, shaking her head, "No, no, no! Sorry, but I can't act. You could ask Jean to, but no, not me."
I glower at her before trying to work out what could get her to help. I can't believe that just because one stupid, annoying, useless, good for nothing cow - erm, because my kind, wonderful, amazing step-mother - decided that I needed to get married I have to beg someone to help. It's more annoying then anything.
"Listen, I swear on the River Styx I'll pay all your freaking college fees I have to, just help!" I plead, which is a new low for me, but unless I want to end up with Nemesis, I'm perfectly fine with it. Kind of.
She eyes me cautiously. "All the college fees?" she asks.
"All of them," I confirm, starting to relax. Maybe it'll be easy after all.
"...you pay college fees and both Jean and my flight to San Francisco - in business class - and I'll think about it," Lexia decides. I glare at her. Hades she's annoying.
I try to think of something to confirm that she'll help.
"I'll pay your college fees and get you and Jean a flight to San Francisco... in first class," I offer. By the glint in her eye, I know she's hooked. She looks a lot like Hermes does - well, did - when he liked the offer he was getting.
Lexia bites her lip and seems to weigh up her options.
"How long is this for again?" she questions, and I respond impatiently.
"Just until I can convince Hera it's a bad idea."
She brushes her brown hair back, off her face and her face is grim as if she thinks it's a bad idea but is going to go ahead with it anyway.
"Fine," she mutters finally, causing me to sink back in my chair and finally relax, "I'll help. But only for a while." Her voice has an edge to it and warning in it as if a while should only be a very short time.
"Thank Zeus," I mumble, and look at Hermes looks partially amused by this. "It's alright. I'm not going to end up with anyone horrible."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Lexia muses, and I shoot her a grin. Unfortunately, she doesn't respond to it other than to look in another direction.
Thankfully it's Hermes and not me that has to remind her that we've got to act like a couple of a sort. I can already tell it's going to be tricky.
"Let me do the talking," I say, "You... just shut up and smile the whole time."
A sour expression is on her face as she nods.
"How about Jean though?" she asks, and I freeze. Now that's an issue as well. Damn it. She just has pile on problem after problem, doesn't she?
"You'll - we'll - just have to make sure she doesn't find out about it." I try not to show that I know the idea is really stupid because otherwise I have no other way to get around it. Maybe it would be better just to let them choose... no. No. No. No chance of that happening. Ever.
"I suppose..." Lexia looks unsure of the idea.
"We'd better get going." Hermes glances at his Rolex. "The meeting starts soon."
He looks at Lexia distastefully. "She'd better come along too."
"To a meeting?" Lexia's voice is barely a squeak and she looks pretty terrified at the thought. "With the gods? All of them? I can't come along..."
"You'll be fine," I say, "Don't worry."
She shoots me a nasty look and shakes her head as if I don't get it.
"Now would be a really good time to go," Hermes adds, "Unless you want some of our wonderful family to yell at us."
Both Hermes and I get up and Lexia looks at the two of us.
"I'm going to regret this aren't I?" she grumbles. "Fine, let's get this over with."
Another chapter done :)
It's wonderful what you can do when you have an idea in your head :)
And... here's a question: can we get to the same reviews we were at for the previous story (200) before or at the same amount of chapters?
Read and review? :)
- kissing flames
P.S. Finally changed my pen name for good :)