Valhalla High (A Magnus Chase Fanfic)

What's Our Status?

December 2

    I spent way too much time reliving the kiss. I thought about at night before at dinner and in the morning at breakfast. I couldn't even fall asleep without imagining what a second one might feel like. I analyzed it so much that I swore I could write an essay on it. I guess you could say I had a major crush on Alex Fierro.

    The more I thought about it, though, the more I wondered. Alex had kissed me — yes, but what if it was only because I was crying? I wasn't sure if a pity kiss counted as a first kiss. I even called up my cousin. "Why'd you ask?" she asked.

     "For a friend," I invented, "who got kissed when he told his crush he got diagnosed with stage four brain cancer."

    I could practically see Annabeth's raised eyebrows over the phone. "Indeed. A very specific situation."

    "You know me and specifics," I said.

    Annabeth laughed. "Magnus, you're not fooling me."

   I sighed. "Fine, do you want to hear the story?"

    I told her how I'd reacted to a joke badly and how Alex had comforted me. Annabeth asked more questions about Alex. "I don't think Alex kissed you out of pity," Annabeth said. "I think she really likes you."

     "You do?" I said, pulling my knees closer to my chest.

    Annabeth sighed. "Oh come. You're just like Percy. Are all boys dense when it comes to romance? Of course I'm serious, but why don't you ask her yourself?"

     "But what if it was a pity kiss?" I asked.

       "I highly doubt that," Annabeth said. "Most people don't kiss people because they pity them — they kiss them because they like them. Now go on Romeo."

     "Didn't he die?" I asked. "I'd rather not compared to a guy who died."

Annabeth laughed freely. "What else do you remember about Romeo?"

"Is this a pop quiz?" I asked as I dimly recalled reading the play freshman year. "Oh, he flirts badly. Juliet tells him to not swear by the inconsistent moon. Is that what you're implying, that I'm a bad flirt?"

Annabeth sighed. "No. I was just making a joke and you're overthinking it — just like you're overthinking the kiss. Go. Call. Alex."

"Alright, cousin," I said. "I'll update you on it later."

"Great," Annabeth said. "I'd love to hear how it went."

I hung up and then took a few moments to just sit in bed and do nothing. The idea of asking Alex about our kiss freaked me out. I didn't like being too vulnerable. This is why I had a love/hate relationship with weekends. The free-time could be liberating, but sometimes I needed something to distract myself from my own mind.

I finally decided to get up and get dressed. It was past ten, but I hadn't done that yet. I changed into some dark grey jeans and a t-shirt that said "My Other Ride is Sleipnir." After a quick breakfast and brushing my teeth, I decided to call Alex. "Hey," Alex said, sounding a little tired.