First Day (01)

His second text makes me smile at my phone. I text back:

Of course I have other problems going on. Always. But happy to include yours as one of them.

Then I add:
Not that I think you need the help.

Then:
Hey, we should go to the park and draw together sometime.

The class continues for a bit, but it's less stressful now that Red is handling things. Eventually, Kastor texts back:
I'd like that. Let me know when.

I do try to take a few notes while I wait for a reply, but as soon as I feel my phone buzz, I check it.

I write back:
How about after school tomorrow? Meet in the parking lot?

It's weird, making plans with Kastor again. It feels...not like the first time when I was all nervous and tripping over myself at how completely hot he is. And not like when we were together, when it was natural and easy, and also still super hot. It feels...a bit strange, a bit exciting, a bit like I'm not really even sure what I'm doing, just that I wish we could go back to being friends again at least and maybe this is the only open door I'm going to get. And him being hot doesn't hurt, even if I don't expect anything to happen.

Kastor replies rather quickly - it's almost the end of the period.
Sure, sounds good.

After making plans with Kastor, Kinsley's tease feels even more like an accusation. Or maybe it's jealousy? Adoration?

I give her an unbothered smile. If only she knew what Vincent and I have done together. "My summer was good enough that I'm definitely wishing it wasn't over," I answer her. "How about you?" I ignore her question about Vincent.

I raise an eyebrow. I don't know if I'd call STEM camp and a geek cruise thrilling. For a second, I'm sure I misheard and she said "Greek cruise" and I catch myself wondering which god decided to get followers by putting everyone on a boat for some vacation indoctrination, but no, she definitely said Geek cruise.

Still, whatever kind of cruise it was, it still went to... "Hawaii. Damn, I miss the beaches there." Knox took me over the summer, of course. More than once. But I still miss it. I miss it the second I'm gone.

I try to resist rolling my eyes when she mentions the luau and grass skirt. Such a tourist. Not that I haven't enjoyed a luau or two myself. Maybe it bugs me because she clearly doesn't love the Island as much as I do. "Yeah. I grew up in Honolulu."

When she asks about broken hearts on the island, I don't even try to resist rolling my eyes, I just do. "Only one or two," I answer, even though I know Theo is in the Underworld and Ted's heart isn't broken. I do miss them though. Sometimes I still think about when I went to visit and we went swimming at that waterfall, when we coupled together in the cave. It was...one of my happiest moments.

"Why? Did you leave a lover there yourself?"

As we hit the hall and she tells me about her experience in Hawaii, I give her an incredulous look, but then she asks who I left behind and I look away again.

"Well, friends, of course. Everyone I knew, basically. But..." I think of Theo. How if he had just stayed in Hawaii instead of coming here, maybe he'd still be alive on this planet. I clear my throat. "A few special friends too." I try to change the subject with, "I can't believe you went to a place full of hot surfer dudes in board shorts with six-pack abs and all you did was hang out online with people. How is that even possible?"

I make a face at the idea. "Ew. Gross. Well, sucks that you missed out." I lift a hand in a half-wave, not really sure why Kinsley followed me out, but definitely ready to be done feeling like I'm missing my old life, my mortal life. I'm not that anymore, and I wouldn't trade it for hanging on the beach with the guys and playing Under Realm. I wouldn't. "Well, guess I'll see you around then."

Kinsley slows down and lets you move ahead with Axel. Axel chats with you as you navigate the hallway until you reach the newest building that contains the Food and Nutrition class:


You see both Fee and her mom, your BFF Soph, here. They've chosen different tables, on opposite sides of the class. Obviously, they both want you to sit with them. Axel grabs a seat by Elena. Where do you sit?

I give Axel's arm a little squeeze of gratitude before he heads to his table in the classroom. He definitely helped me out there with Kinsley.

As I survey the room and notice Soph and JS there, I hesitate. I don't want to offend Soph, and I don't want to hurt JS. Frell, why couldn't they just sit together and not make this weird? But of course, JS wouldn't want that. She's way too cool to hang out with her mom at school, even if no one else knows it's her mom.

Really, it comes down to who I can get to forgive me more easily, and I'm already on thin ice with Soph after this morning. I give JS a wave, but head over to Soph's table.

"Mind if I join?"

"Heyyyy Jay, you always have a spot with me," she greets you warmly. A glance over to her daughter, "JS wouldn't sit with me. Thanks for offering to sit with me. I'm sure someone will grab a seat at her table. How's your day going? Like your classes?"

I settle into my seat. "Let's be real, Soph. You wouldn't sit with you if you were her." I give her a little smile, teasing, then sigh heavily at her question. "Honestly, today has been super overwhelming. There's so much homework and it all looks freaking endless. I don't know how I'm supposed to keep up with everything."

Soph snickers at your predicament. "Poor baby, don't worry. I can help you study, no problem. Jay, I won't let you fail. This AP stuff will give you a boost into college."