The Life I'm Running From

6\ Bow Down to the Master of Trivia

"You all are in luck," Mr. Bluffe said, standing in front of his world map. "Because today we are going to deviate from the American Revolution."

The entire classroom went silent, including the people in the back who can't shut their faces. Everyone was excited about the idea of doing something fun today. We all were fooling ourselves, I knew. This was still a high school History class. There's only so much fun teachers are permitted to have.

Mr. Bluffe rolled up the world map. "Today we're going to do a little trivia. On Greek Mythology."

I jolted, and since I had been drinking water, I spilled it all down the front of my shirt. It left a noticeable stain down my chest. Greek Mythology? My father was Poseidon, I lived Greek Mythology. This was going to be a piece of cake.

Mr. Bluffe turned on his Smart Board, which was connected to his computer. On the screen was some sort of trivia website. After making sure that was ready, he drew a chart on the chalkboard. Team 1 and Team 2 were the headings.

"This half of the room is Team 1," he gestured to the left side of the room, "and this side is Team 2." I was on Team 2, along with the students in the back who couldn't stop talking. But for once, I didn't care. This was my time to shine.

Mr. Bluffe rubbed his hands together. "If you know the answer, put your hand up. I will call on the first person with their hand up, and if they're right, I'll give a point to their team. Wrong and it goes to the other team who has a chance to answer."

A girl in front of me put her hand up. "Is this for marks?"

"If you don't try it will be." Mr. Bluffe raised his eyebrows. "Any other questions? No? Let's get started."

He clicked something on his computer and the first question appeared on the board. Who was Hercules's father? I smirked. Too easy. As Percy had said, Hercules was basically the Starbucks of Ancient Greece.

I put my hand up, but wasn't the only one to do so. I must've been first though, because Mr. Bluffe pointed to me. "Zeus is—was Hercules's father," I said confidently. No one seemed to notice my tense mix-up, luckily.

Mr. Bluffe nodded. "Correct. First point goes to Team 2."

The next question rolled across the screen. Who is the god of the ocean?

Again, my hand shot up, but someone beat me to it. I felt a little angry at myself for that—I was the daughter of the god of water after all—but I quickly got over it when I answered the next six questions in a row right.

Mr. Bluffe scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Miss Bradden, you seem to really know your mythology."

How do you respond to that? I shrugged, and focused back on the screen. Before the question appeared, I heard someone saying they were glad they got the "smart girl" on their team. That was a new one. I had never been referred to as the smart one before.

I was so distracted I almost missed the next question. What is Demeter the goddess of? Unfortunately I didn't gain my bearings in time for me to put my hand up first. Someone on the side of Team 1 answered.

"Beauty and love," the girl answered. She looked smug about the answer. Ha, that was an easy question, and she hadn't even answered it correctly!

"Wrong, I'm afraid," Mr. Bluffe said. "Who on Team 2 would like to take the question?"

A boy wearing a Yankee's sweater almost raised his hand, but one of the football players swatted his hand down. "McKinnley will answer it," the jock said. There was murmurings around the right side of the room, all confirming what he had said.