Finding Athena

Dreamboat Boy

I was hurrying back down the corridor to try and find Artemis when I ran into someone while turning a corner

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed, looking at the floor and blushing

“It’s no problem at all Athena, I was just looking for you” said a very sexy voice. A voice that I already had imprinted on my brain

“Hi Apollo” I grinned sheepishly, looking up at his face, very conscious of my very red one. Way to make a good impression and look great in front of your crush Tory. Ava would be so proud. I wondered what Apollo’s real name was. It was confusing being called something you’re not, and calling other people by names which weren’t theirs, but not knowing what their real names were. “I was with Hephaestus, and I lost all sense of time”

“Yeah, being there with Heph does that. Is your new armour good? He doesn’t let us see a newbie’s armour until after class”

“It’s amazing, everything he does is. How badly does it suck that he has to love Aphrodite? I mean, he deserves someone better than her. He needs someone who will always appreciate him. How does that work by the way? I mean, I thought things didn’t have to be certain ways just because of our parents?”

“Some things are set in stone Athena. That is one of those things.” Then Apollo grinned, looking me up and down “others, I’m glad to tell you, aren’t”

I blushed from the tip of my toes to the roots of my hair, which I suddenly wanted to hide behind. “Oh, that’s good then. Because I’m nothing like my Mum, I don't think. We didn’t exactly get a heart to heart before she rushed off and abandoned me for the second time in 17 years”

“Yeah, My Dad – Apollo, not my other Dad, barely said a word to me. Thankfully Zeus could fill me in on everything my Dad didn’t say.” Apollo said bitterly, looking at the wall over my shoulder

“I’m sorry Apollo, I didn’t mean –” I began, but he cut me off saying

“Don't worry about it Athena, it’s not your fault my God-Father is an ass. I prefer my Dad. I mean, don't you agree? Our parents we grew up 17 years with, they’re better than these one’s that have just launched into our lives and thrown all this stuff about Gods and balance and stuff, right?”

“I... I wouldn’t know. My parents died when I was about 6” I looked at my feet, embarrassed. I’d gotten used to people knowing at school, so it hadn’t occurred to me that people here wouldn’t know. Or wouldn’t like their ‘God-Parents’ as they seemed to be known around here. Okay, Athena hadn’t exactly stayed long, but she still meant I had more family than I’d had yesterday.

“Oh, shit. Ah crap. I’m so sorry Athena. I didn’t know... That really sucks.” Apollo genuinely looked ashamed and probably about as embarrassed about bringing it up

“Its fine, I forget that people here won't know. So yeah, Athena is the only family I have here. Apparently I can’t see my Grandparents now I’m here. What are your parents like?”

“Boring, honest” Apollo laughed “you’re probably lucky in the one aspect that parents change when you get older and you’re not cute anymore. My mum’s the editor of the local newspaper and dad’s an accountant for a law firm. Yawn, I know. I was never home, always at my best friend’s house. My parents were boring and were always stressing at me. What about your Grandparents Athena? What are they like?”

“I sound like I come from a hippy family compared to you” I laughed “Gran does hypnotherapy and aromatherapy and stuff like that in a tepee in our garden, and Grandpa is a freelance illustrator. My parents were pretty boring though. Mum was a teacher and Dad was a mechanic. I grew up under Gran’s crazy remedies and stuff. So I think I probably can handle this place” I winked at him, and then looked down the corridor. “Hey, weren’t we supposed to be in a lesson? You were meant to be walking me to class”