Rhythm of The Night -2- (Percy Jackson FanFic)

-_Chapter Eight_-

A huge thump on the table I was working a in the library made me jump, immediately turning my attention to the stack of papers that now sat beside me.  My eyes widened at the size of the mound, wondering what in Hades they were for.

A familiar face sat beside me, the chair creaking with his weight.  "Gods, Brock," I began, setting down my pen to poke the stack of papers to make sure they were real.  "What are you doing to me now?"

The boy arched an eyebrow.  "Did you really just say 'gods', as in plural?" he countered.

I licked my lips, mentally smacking myself for letting that slip.  "Yeah, super religious Mom.  It's a habit I got into to avoid using the Big Man's actual name." I lied easily, covering myself.  Demigod habits were a lot harder to catch around mortals when you're not used to them.

"Huh." Brock acknowledged.  "Not the weirdest thing I've heard from you, but close to it."

I gestured to the papers, eager to move past the subject.  "Care to explain?  You're keeping me from my Lit homework, and this is study hall after all." I said.

"This," Brock stated proudly, "is all the research I've conducted about all five Robins.  This will prove my argument that Tim Drake was the best Robin, and you're going to help me prove it."  He placed a hand on top of the stack, as if permanently claiming his victory.

I stared at him for a moment, before breaking out into laughter.  "Really, Brock?  That's what you've been doing for the past half-hour of study hall?" I asked.

"And yesterday's study hall, if you remember correctly." he added excitedly.

I shook my head, turning back to my nearly completed Lit homework.  "And you say that I'm the weird one."

"That's not even an argument." Brock snapped teasingly.  "You are the weird one, and you know it."

I considered for a moment.  "Alright, point taken.  But seriously, I need to get this done while I have the focus."

"What, don't tell me you had ADHD or something, because then you could never argue your weirdness level with me again!" Brock exclaimed.

I didn't glance up at him, but continued writing.  "And if I do?" I asked.

He didn't give me a reply right away, so then I looked up.  I expected to see him looking surprised and maybe even a little embarrassed, but instead he was holding his fist out for a fist bump.  "Then join the club.  You can't argue weirdness-level, because now we're even." he said with a grin.

Now I was the one looking surprised.  "You, ADHD?" I questioned, meeting his fist bump.  

He shrugged.  "It comes and goes.  My mom tried to have me medicated, but no dice.  I wouldn't let her." he explained.

I nodded in agreement.  "Understandable."

"It just wouldn't feel right, you know?  I would feel like I wasn't being...myself." Brock continued.  "Does that make any sense?"

Well, Brock, since suppressing my battle-ready reflexes isn't in my best interest as a partial god who frequently has monsters chasing me, yes, it makes perfect sense.  "I suppose.  I haven't really thought about it, honestly." I told him.

A few moments of silence went by.  I sighed, finally finishing the last bit of homework I had managed to get today.  The rhythm of school had picked up quickly, and already the days were beginning to blur together.  Death had so graciously come for another visit two days after the last attack, which left me feigning sickness in the middle of class and having my Mom show up during lunch to check on me.  I had wanted to scream in frustration, but I somehow kept it inside.  It gave me hope that Nico would come to check on me, but he didn't show.  I tried really hard to seem nonchalant about it, but it sort of chewed me up on the inside.