The Stolen Jewel of Hecate

Chapter 9

Yesterday was awesome. I saved my town, I'm finally appreciated for something, the girl that has sworn to not like me says she's my biggest fan. Never thought I'd see the day come. I get out of my daydream and my bed and get ready to start the day. I get dressed in a red hoodie and red sweatpants. I head downstairs when I see Hephaestus reading one of my books. A personal favorite of mine. " Reading The Selection? Excellent choice. Read that series multiple times." I say with approval. He turns to look at me. " This is so frustrating it's not even funny. He loves her but he pushes her away." He says in frustration. I giggle. I know what happens and hopefully, he will be less frustrated. I walk to the fridge and get something to drink. "Hey Hephaestus," I asked. I think it's time to apologize. He hums in response. "Look, I'm really sorry about what I said earlier. I was just frustrated and I took my anger out on you." I said lowering my head. " Look, Kid, I get it, it was a lot. I already forgave you when you said you could do it." He said. I gave him a warm smile, and he smiled back. I guess he did understand. Tough love, I guess. I finish my drink and pack my bag. I put my books and everything in and make sure to save a spot of Hephaestus. " Well, time to go. Get in the bag." I say. He fake faints in the middle of the room. "You are going to kidnap me and put me in a bag?" he fake questions with a hand over his heart. I roll my eyes and gesture for him to get in the bag. He got in and I was on my way. I walk down to the bus stop to see Ellie waiting for me. Ellie getting here before me means one thing. She has lots of drama to fill me in on. Could be good, could be bad. I walk up to her and she is ecstatic. " Sam, I need to tell you what happened yesterday. Since you freaking missed it. So you get that there were four heroes and stuff but the girl for sure is the best. She took that thing down by herself. I kind of wish more danger comes so I can see her again, maybe even get her superhero name. I bet it's something cool, like flames or burns, or something cool like that." Ellie is way too excited about her, well me. I giggle at her shenanigans. " Ellie you shouldn't wish for more beasts to show up. I get that you think she's great but you will see her eventually, I doubt that was the only thing to come." I say with a small chuckle and pretending I haven't met this hero. " I know Sam, I'm just really excited to see her again. I want a front-row seat with her next monster takedown. At a safe distance to ease your over-worried mind." Ellie said rolling her eyes at my normal worriedness. " OK, no need to make it seem like a bad thing. Besides the girl, what did you think of the other three heroes? Were they cool?" I said with fake interest. Sure the boys were............interesting but I already met them. She took that into deep thought. " Well, I think they have really cool powers and stuff. I think Cyclone is the cutest. Don't tell anyone I said that. Especially Steven." She said, worried someone heard her. I laughed and nodded in agreement. That annoying yellow bus came and we got on the bus. The fight yesterday was the main topic of everyone's conversation. I felt kind of proud. "So Sam. Who do you think is the best, and cutest?" Ellie asked with a raised brow. I laughed. " I don't know. I didn't see them. I only saw them on T.V at work." I stated matter of factly. "Well, if you saw them, who was the cutest?" She said, wiggling her brows. I gave her a disgusted glare. " None of the above. I couldn't care less about what they looked like. As long as they save our city I think they are alright." I said crossing my arms at the fact she would ask such a ridiculous question. Ellie laughed at my childless and we continued to talk on the bus. We chatted all the way to school and we went our separate ways. I walked to my locker and saw Steven waiting for me. I smiled at him and he smiled back and then he turned serious. So unlike Steven. "What's wrong Steven? It's not like you to be serious." I ask worriedly like I always do. He sighed and looked at me. "Life is stressing me out. You are someone who puts me straight when life turns to crap." He said rubbing the back of his neck. I smile. "What's bothering you?" I asked opening my locker. "Just, I really want to ask Ellie out and everything, then that thing attacked the school yesterday. It's stressful, you know." I gave him a small smile. "Don't worry Steven.Those heroes I have heard so much about, they are going to protect you, along with everyone here. I believe in them, you should too." I said. He smiled at me. "Thanks, Sam." Then I gave him a look. "Now that your safety problem is out of the way, how about the you and Ellie problem? Steven, she likes you. All you gotta do is waltz up to her and ask her out." I say annoyed at his shyness to ask her out. "Are you crazy. I can't do that. How would I do it? Where would we go? I don't have a clue what step two is if she says yes. I'll be a wreck." he says holding his head in his hands. I sigh. One day he will learn how stupid he is being. One day. That definitely isn't today though. I gather my things and start walking and Steven follows me. " Well you should start planning on asking her out. Before someone steals her." I say almost fake warning him. " What are you talking about? You said she likes me then why would I worry?" He asked with pleading in his eyes. This is going to be good. "Well, she told me she found one of those new heroes cute. I believe it was the Cyclone guy." I say with a smirk. He slightly blushed. " I wouldn't tell her you know. She'll think you're stalking her or something." I say with a chuckle. "Now, I got to get to Math. Keep thinking about a plan lover boy." I say waving over my shoulder leaving him be. I get to math. I decided to let Ellie get here on her own. Everyday Steven passes her locker so maybe he will ask her out then. I mean I hope anyway. I get in and sit in our 'new' seats and wait for Ellie. I go to my bag to grab my notebook and pencil and see Hephaestus eating the apple I brought for lunch. I stared at him, annoyed he was eating my food. I glared at him, then closed my bag. I opened my book to have it immediately closed again by another hand. I look up to see the owner of the hand and see Emma with her dumb minions behind her. I look up at her wondering what she wants. " Glad you helped me yesterday Sam!" Emma yelled in my face. Did she know? She couldn't, I was extra careful. I started turning red by the second. I looked down ready for her to expose me. " I can't believe you weren't there to help the most popular in school. Didn't even show up to support me with the trauma I experienced. Honestly, how rude. Logan isn't going to hear the end of this." She stated. That was a close one. " Yeah, you tell him." I said in a bored tone and rolled my eyes. Emma huffed and walked off while her minions stayed. They always follow her around. What could they possibly want? " We see you talking shit about her. We see you do it again, you're in for it." said Penelope. Darcy snickered at the threat knowing that it wasn't just a threat, but a promise. With that, they walked off to sit with Emma when Logan, the jerk himself walked in. He seemed different. He smiled more than usual when he saw Emma, and he didn't give me his daily death glare. Why am I analyzing him to the point I notice those small things? He's a giant jerk. He doesn't deserve the time of day. To break me out of the argument with myself, and well myself Ellie came in flustered. "Sam, I saw Steven in the halls, and I felt butterflies. I heard he was going after another girl, I need to get rid of this crush." Ellie said, desperate to get rid of the feeling. "No! You can't do that. He likes you. Those are just stupid rumors. Ask him out." I said desperate to get her to keep liking him. I really want this to work out. "Are you crazy. I can't do that. Where would we go? How would do it? I don't have a clue what step two is if Steven says yes. I'll be a wreck." That sounds way too familiar. " Look, just focus on step one. Figure it out as you go. It will be easy." I say with confidence. She shys away from my gaze, but then gets a smirk. " Says the one who took forever to ask out Evan two years ago. It was clear he liked you and yet you took forever." She says with confidence she got me back. My smile fades. I promised to never talk, or think about him after what happened. I didn't tell anyone, and I plan to keep it that way. I gave a nervous chuckle when the teacher came in. We started the lesson with my head in the clouds. Storm clouds. My mind went back to what happened a few years ago, and my head went down a rabbit hole of memories. Memories I don't wish to relive.

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Authors note:

If you know what book I'm talking about you are my new best friend.