Chapter Six
Jane
I eye the kid studying across the classroom from me, black hair, dark eyes and a broken expression on his face. Yup, he definitely fits the criteria for a troubled, yet very powerful demigod. Let's see if my instincts are right.
…
"But since they're not a god or monster, our job is done right?" I asked Artemis, yesterday. I couldn't prevent the pleading note in my voice, and luckily, she missed it. She smiled pitifully at me, and I hated her for it in that moment.
"No, if they're this powerful, and I've noticed, monsters have too. They're in danger and they might not even know that they're demigods yet. It's our responsibility to help them, especially if they're a maiden." She reminds me, her soft expression quickly morphing into the strong determined Artemis we all know and love. I bit my lip, knowing I was showing every single sign of really not wanting to do something. Artemis smiled a little. "I'm so glad you accepted this honor Jane." I know for a fact that she just threw in the word honor to guilt me into it, but I couldn't help but nod and agree with her.
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Marcus
In Study Hall, Jane suddenly stands up and joins Andrew at his table. Andrew's a bit of an odd duck. No one really knows anything about him, except for the fact that his parents are ridiculously rich. Still, the kid dresses like a slob and is constantly hiding. I tried to talk to him once, but he just kept doodling skulls on his Trig text-book. I never really understood kids like that, the kind who've had everything handed to them and still choose to slum it and whine about life. Though, he seems exactly like the kind of kid Jane gravitates towards. I get the distinct feeling that she'd prefer to not be seen, as if I could stop looking at her. I watch as Andrew mutters something to her, and she just nods before returning to her work. I watch as she squints down at her Math homework and tilts her head. Her chocolate-brown hair sways around her face, flowing over her shoulders. She's wearing jeans again, comfy looking jeans, not the tight kind, and a purple sweater that wouldn't surprise me if it were eight sizes too big. I can't imagine Jane has anything she'd need to hide, but she's hiding it anyways, and I doubt she'd want my advice.
….
Zach
Jane's laugh rings out, and it's always amazed me how light-hearted and happy she is. I don't think I've ever seen her truly down, even though she's been my support system for as long as I've known her, way before we were dating. I watch as she stretches out on the pool chair beside me. Water drips off her long brown hair and the moisture hides the sun caused highlights that I love to death. She glares up at me, green eyes flashing dangerously. I've learned to both fear and respect that look simultaneously.
"I can't believe you just did that." She huffs, and crosses her arms over her bikini covered chest. Jane is modest to a fault, and I almost had a heart attack when she strutted out earlier. Her only response to my shocked stupor was that she wanted to work on her tan. I enjoyed the view very much. The freedom of summer is a drug, completely addictive and as it winds down, I've been clinging to every single moment, trying to cram a billion things into these last few weeks. Jane thinks I'm going overboard and need to learn how to relax, so our compromise was this, a day dedicated to just hanging out at my house, enjoying the warm weather and the pool.
Currently, Jane's complaining because I flung her into the water, despite her protests about not wanting to get wet. Now she's soaked, and boiling mad, but I just grin down at her, knowing my girlfriend wouldn't hurt a fly. I hand her a towel good-naturedly, and she wraps it around herself. Her glare doesn't falter for a moment and neither does my grin.
"Zachary, I'm going to book club, but your father's home." My mother announces, sticking her head out for just long enough to look scathingly at Jane. Something flashes in Jane's eyes but she just smiles at my mother's retreating form. I should probably correct that statement, my adoptive mother. My real mom disappeared long before I could remember her; both of my parents are adoptive, they raised me, but they're not my blood, they don't get me. As soon as the sound of the heavy oak door closing reaches us, Jane gets up and joins me on my chair. She slides close to my and doesn't say a word, she doesn't have to. I hold her tight, never wanting to let her go. She knows I hate it when my mother acts like that, treating her like scum, but she never seems hurt by it: even though it's a constant thorn in my side. Jane hates confrontation, even other people's and she doesn't want me fighting with my mother over her. I gently stroke her hair as she closes her eyes. After a moment, she shakes her hair a little, showering me with droplets of water before grinning, without ever opening her eyes. I laugh and relax back on the chair, content to just hold her for a little while. She looks up at me with those big innocent eyes and I lean in closer to her...
"While sleep is important to the human body, I'd rather you not catch up during my class." My bio teacher chides, bringing me out of my dream. I scramble upwards and rub my eyes. I hadn't gotten any sleep last night, there were too many thoughts fighting for attention in my brain. I hadn't been able to stop thinking of Jane and how much she's changed. I forgave myself for the mistake I made a long time ago. I was in love with Jane, but I was angry she couldn't even find time to come to my going away party, so I got drunk, and I got stupid. Still, seeing the anger radiating from her, put me right back where I started. I thought we'd never see each other again, I mean what were the chances of her showing up here? Apparently, not as small as I thought they were.