Mortals Meet Demigods

Maggie Karmount

[continuation of Marcus Lucien chapter]

I stood in the instrument room, carefully constructing my bassoon. It was an odd instrument, but I chose it because I thought it was cool. I'm pretty good at it now.

Yesterday was the day I had met a crazy guy named Apollo, and I also told my crush that I like him. He liked me back, which I was excited about.

I finished putting my instrument together and walked out to the actual band room. I sat in my usual seat.

I had band with my whole group of friends. Alina played the flute. Michaela played the alto sax. Ken and Marcus played tenor sax.

In the concert formation, the alto saxes were at the same spot as me but on the other side. The tenor saxes were next to them.

I glanced over at Marcus with a smile, and he replied with a grin.

I scanned the room. Ken was still on the storage room, putting his tenor together. Michaela was putting her reed on her mouthpiece. Alina was talking to another flute player, probably about MCR. Alina was a typical emo, so it's not too hard or weird to guess that.

I noticed someone familiar yet unfamiliar, which is confusing, yes, but still. They had a trumpet in their hand.

"I'm changing things up today." Mr. Vernal, the band teacher, announced. "Tenor saxes, instead of being next to the altos, you go next to the bassoon. Baritones, to their right. Trumpets, between the alto saxes and baritones."

Everyone moved to their new spots, and Marcus and I grinned at each other. Unknowingly, Mr. Vernal had put us next to each other.

"Now, onto other business." Mr. Vernal said. "We have a new student. His name is Lester and he plays the trumpet."

I turn my head, and see Apollo.

Right on cue, he corrects the teacher. "I go by Apollo."

"Sure." Mr. Vernal replied, rolling his eyes. "Go sit next to the other trumpets."

Apollo had a look of anger on his face, but gripped his trumpet and walked over to his seat.

This new kid, Apollo, seemed to have a pretty big ego. Luckily, he was with some of the people with the biggest egos at my school, the trumpet section. I know not every trumpet in the world was like that, but our trumpets definitely fit that stereotype.

I giggled a little bit.

"Listen." Mr. Vernal announced. "We've got 3 songs we've got to get done. When we do them all, we can be done and you guys can have free time. All you have to do is cooperate with me and play correctly. Got it?"

There was a light cheer from the class, me and Marcus included.

We played our through our first song really well, even with the new kid Apollo.

"Nice job, new kid." I heard another trumpet player say.

"He's already better than you." A flute player said to the trumpet player who'd said that.

Mr. Vernal chuckled, and the rest of the class joined in.

He started the next song, and barely into it, there's a bunch of coughing from the back of the room, near the trumpet section.

"Apollo?" The flute player questions.

"Nope." Apollo says, then points to the trumpet player.

"Why's he coughing so much?" A tuba player asks.

Apollo shrugs.

"Go in the hallway and get some water." Mr. Vernal says, rolling his eyes. "We'll work on the piece while you're calming down your coughing."

Marcus and I glance over at Apollo, who winks in our direction.

"What's that about?" I ask Marcus.

Marcus shrugs. "Yesterday he said he was smart and there was a random thunder crash or something like that. Probably something paranormal."

"Really?" I question him.

"Nah." Marcus says. "Just really weird coincidences."

"If you say so." I say, rolling my eyes.

"You're cute when you're sarcastic." Marcus replies. "Did you know that?"

I blush.

"Let's get this started." Mr. Vernal interrupts.

He starts the second song, and everything goes smoothly.

The trumpet player finally comes back from the hallway, not coughing anymore.

We play through the last one, mostly good.

"And..." Mr. Vernal exclaims. "We're done!"

Everyone sighs in relief.

"I'll be in my office." Mr. Vernal announces. "Put away your instruments, stack some stands and chairs, and you can have free time. Just don't die. That's too much paperwork."

A few chuckles were heard throughout the room.

Soon enough, everyone was sitting around the room in groups, having done everything Mr. Vernal had asked.

I was sitting on the floor in the corner of the band room with Alina, Michaela, Ken, and of course, Marcus. We were talking about how we were nervous about upcoming tests we had.

"Yo, can I sit with you guys?" A voice asks.

We look over to see Apollo, standing behind Alina.

"Sure." I say.

He sits between Michaela and Alina, who were annoyed but scooted over.

"Wanna play cards?" Marcus asks, pulling a deck of cards out of his pocket.

"Do you just keep those in that pocket?" Alina asks. "This is the second time I've seen you do that."

Marcus shrugs, causing me to chuckle.

"Let's play Go Fish!" Ken exclaims.

Everyone laughs, but we end up playing.

"Apollo, do you have any threes?" I question at the end of the game.

He flips me off, but forks them over.

Thunder is heard by us all, and Apollo is the only one scared of it.

"Yikes, Apollo." Michaela says.

"Is it your dad again?" Marcus jokes.

Before anything else happens, the bell rings.

Marcus offers me his hand. "You've got math next, I've got science. Your classroom is on the way to mine."

I blush, taking his hand. "Let's go!"

Hey guys! I feel like crap from not updating as much as I hope. I'm very sorry about it!

Anyways, tell me what you think of this chapter and the last. Do you want more of this group? Do you want more Apollo as a mortal? Do you like the ship of Maggie and Marcus?

Leave me some suggestions!

Let's play Go Fish!

-Meg