My Secret Life

Chapter 2

The class gathered on the front steps of the museum, where we could watch the foot traffic along Fifth Avenue.

Overhead, a huge storm was brewing, with clouds blacker than I'd ever seen over the city. I figured maybe it was global warming or something, because the weather all across New York state had been weird since Christmas. We'd had massive snowstorms, flooding, wildfire from lightning strikes. I wouldn't have been surprised if this was a hurricane blowing in.

Hestia, Hera, and Demeter, turned to their two younger brothers with disapproving looks. Poseidon and Zeus observed the ceiling with fake interest, whilst ignoring the quiet snickering of Hades from beside them.

Nobody else seemed to notice. Some of the guys were pelting pigeons with Lunchables crackers.

Nancy Bobofit was trying to pickpocket something from a lady's purse, and, of course, Mrs. Dodds wasn't seeing a thing.

Grover and I sat on the edge of the fountain, away from the others.

"Detention?" Grover asked.

"No," I said. "Not from Mr. Brunner. I just wish he'd lay off me sometimes. I mean - I'm not perfect."

Grover didn't say anything for a while. Then, when I thought he was going to give me some deep philosophical comment to make me feel better, he said, "Can I have your apple?"

I didn't have much of an appetite, so I let him take it.

I watched the stream of cabs going down Fifth Avenue, and thought about my mom's house, only a little ways uptown from where we sat. I hadn't seen her since Christmas. I wanted so bad to jump in a taxi and head home. She'd hug me and be glad to see me, but she'd be disappointed, too. She'd send me right back to Yancy, remind me that I had to try harder, even if this was my sixth school in six years and I was probably going to be kicked out again. I wouldn't be able to stand that sad look she'd give me.

Mr. Brunner parked his wheelchair at the base of the handicapped ramp. He ate celery while he read a paperback novel. A red umbrella stuck up from the back of his chair, making it look like a motorized cafe table.

Leo pulled a few tools from his toolbelt, quickly gathering materials to start building a model of the motorized wheelchair. His fingers moved with practiced ease, the motion almost mechanical. He needed to keep his hands busy—fidgeting was better than sitting still with his thoughts.

"Wait, is that...?" Piper's voice trailed off as she looked between Daria, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"Yup." Daria's answer was simple, her expression as blank as ever.

" Grover and I took our sandwiches from our bags, while Grover was trying to cheer me up for Nancy's hard and offensive comments towards me.

'There are all sorts of schools of thought about what drives that kind of bullying,' Grover said, while unwrapping his sandwich, 'Childhood trauma, feelings of inadequacy...'"

"That was kind of you, Grover." Hestia smiled at Grover, glad that her niece was able to find at least one true friend. She needed those.

"I opened my sandwich in the meantime, stating, 'Look, I get that Nancy has issues-' I said, reaching over to take the burger from Grover's sandwich and giving him space to take the cheese from mine. "

"Aww!" Some girls, Piper and Aphrodite said, looking at them.

Aphrodite, being the Goddess of Love, loved all the kind of love. And platonic love, between a male and a female, was one of her favourite tropes.