A Forgotten Maiden

Chapter 8

The next morning started out like any other. Percy and Calypso grabbed breakfast, exchanged a few words with Sally, and headed off to school. But today, Percy had a slightly better feeling. They were about to head into Greek class, the one place in Goode High that Percy figured Calypso might actually feel at home.

As they walked through the hallways, Percy noticed how the other students seemed to part for them, some whispering, others casting curious glances their way. It was like being back at camp with the way everyone always watched him. But this wasn't Camp Half-Blood, and that made it all feel a little more unsettling.

"Is it always like this?" Calypso asked, her voice low as she leaned toward Percy.

"Pretty much," Percy admitted, giving her a sheepish smile. "I guess we stand out."

Calypso smiled, but Percy could see the tension in her eyes. She was trying hard to adjust, but this world was so different from anything she was used to. He reached out, giving her hand a quick squeeze. "You'll get the hang of it."

"I hope so," she murmured.

When they finally made it to the Greek class, Percy pushed open the door, and they were greeted by the soft hum of conversation and the faint scent of coffee. The classroom was a bit different from the others. There were Greek posters and artifacts lining the walls—replicas, obviously, but Percy could tell Calypso was instantly at ease seeing them.

"Wow," she breathed, her eyes wide as she took in the room. "It's... comforting."

"Figured you'd like it," Percy said with a grin. "It's probably the closest thing you'll get to a slice of home."

They took seats near the back, and Percy noticed a few other students glancing their way. Most of them seemed more curious than anything else, which was a relief. If there was one class where they might avoid the usual high school drama, it would be this one. At least, that's what Percy hoped.

The teacher, Mr. Matthews, was a balding man in his late forties with an enthusiastic smile. He greeted the class in fluent Greek, and Calypso responded without missing a beat. Percy was fluent in Greek yet was never that keen to show it off, but Calypso was practically glowing as she replied. She looked more confident, more at ease than he'd seen her in days.

As the class went on, Mr. Matthews talked about the influence of Greek language on modern English, how certain words and phrases had roots in ancient times. Percy listened, but he was more focused on how Calypso was reacting. She was engaged, nodding along, and when Mr. Matthews called on her to read a passage from the Odyssey, she recited it with such grace that the whole class fell silent.

When she finished, Mr. Matthews beamed. "Excellent pronunciation, Calypso! It's rare to hear a student with such fluency."

Calypso smiled, a genuine one this time. "Thank you. I've had a lot of practice."

As the class continued, Percy noticed that one of the girls sitting near the front, a tall brunette named Melissa, kept glancing back at them. At first, he thought she was just curious, but the more he observed, the more he realized there was something more going on. Melissa's glances were sharp, and when Calypso answered another question in flawless Greek, Percy saw Melissa's eyes narrow.

Great, Percy thought.

When class finally ended, Percy and Calypso gathered their things, but before they could leave, Melissa approached them. She had a friendly enough smile on her face, but Percy had seen enough of these kinds of interactions to know when someone was faking it.

"Hey, Calypso, right?" Melissa said, her tone sugary sweet.

Calypso nodded, a little wary. "Yes."

"You were amazing in class today," Melissa continued, her smile never wavering. "You speak Greek so well! I'm struggling just to keep up."