First Day (01)

Listening to Kaleena, because she siad I can call her that, talk makes me actually excited about art class. I mean, I was already. This is my plan, my career, my future. And sure, it's just a way to clean money that Knox might get other ways, but still, I want it to be good. And if it is good, maybe it can also be kind of legit too.

Starting with crayons and paper isn't exactly the high art I was hoping for, but I like Kaleena enough to give her a chance. I decide to represent value. I'm used to working in shades of gray, so I think I can incorporate that into my piece.

Quinn hums happily as he scribbles with a rainbow of crayons, while Bentley scowls at the paper as if it isn't telling him what to draw. Annika spends her time on her phone, ignoring the crayons, while Rafael furiously rubs his crayons down to nubs with something. "Teach" moves around the class, asking questions and making pleasant noises.

I find myself trying to draw quickly - and well - to have something impressive on the page by the time Kaleena comes around to me. I want her compliments, I guess. Maybe the reassurance that I can do this.

I'm working on this when she approaches:


I nod at her question. "Jules, yeah." I look down at my work again, then back at her, wanting to fish for more compliments but without making it sound like I'm fishing. "I...'ve always liked art."

I feel myself beam a little when she calls my work "strong." "Just in school," I answer with a shrug like it’s NBD. "And I’ve watched some tutorials on YouTube."

I don't answer right away. Honestly, I mostly signed up for this class so I wouldn't have to sign up for a class with homework I know I'd hate. Art I actually enjoy, so that was enough. But it doesn't seem like a real enough answer for her right now. I feel like I should have a bigger answer.

"I...I guess I'm hoping for...validation? My dad agreed that I could take a gap year after high school if I wanted to, instead of college. To see if I can make art work as a career. I think he just agreed to be, you know, nice. And avoid a fight. But maybe if I can do something here, he'll take it more seriously."

Normally I wouldn’t be super excited at the idea of more classes, even if they are art classes. But when Kaleena suggests it, I’m actually kind of curious. Are there people actually doing cool art in Leavenworth?

I return her smile before she leaves, then turn my attention back to my project. I spend the rest of class hunched over my paper, really trying, but in between concentration, I encourage Bentley to just go for it, that he should have fun with it and he can’t be wrong here.

"Was it?" I ask, surprised when he says it was fun. "You seemed like you were struggling." I turn my shoulders so I don't get bowled over by somebody passing in the hallway. I forgot how horrible navigating the hallways is. Does no one else even watch where they're going? "Today's been...eventful. How about you?"

I laugh. "Yeah, getting jostled around in the halls is a quintessential high school experience, right? Enjoy it while it lasts I guess." The thought crosses my mind momentarily that everyone should just get out of my way. I'm the daughter of Circe. They should part like the Red Sea for me. Then I wonder if Will expects as much (he probably does), and if he even knows why he feels that way (still a mystery to me).

"Hey, do you know Will Kalani at all?"

I huff a derisive little laugh at that. "Yeah, that makes sense I guess. He, ah, stole some stuff from me at a party at the end of the summer. And also...I think he's a demigod." I lower my voice a little at the last part, leaning closer to Bentley as I do. "Did you ever get that vibe from him?"

I decide not to tell Bentley it's more than just magical instincts in this case and instead just nod. "Maybe he'll come to the Weird Kids Club, but I need to find out if he even knows who he is first, so don't say anything to anyone, okay?"