“But also because you’re an asshole.”
I chuckled. “You’re not much better. You’re just good at making it seem innocent. I know what you had Theseus do to those girls who hurt Atalanta, and remember that girl you manipulated into giving you the turtle? That was a pretty dick move.”
“Those girls deserved it, and did you see Atalanta’s face? She loved that turtle.” He rolled his eyes and grabbed a carton of chicken tenders.
I gritted my teeth, thinking back to the attack on Atalanta.
“You aren’t wrong about that.” I admitted, grabbing my own carton of chicken tenders as well as a burger. “But you can’t deny that leading on that girl just to get a stuffed animal was a dick move. I may have my moments, but it’s never to screw with someone intentionally like you do.
Hip halted the line and turned to me. “Listen, you’re right.”
I blinked, surprised at his sudden admission.
He continued, “Will I stop being who I am to please you? Hell no. However, I can see you’re trying to be better for Atalanta’s sake, and for that, I accept your olive branch.
With a shit eating grin, Hip took everything that had been on his food tray and placed it on mine before stepping out of the line and walking away.
“Well, that was odd.” I mumbled and then looked around, realizing that every person in the line had listened to our entire conversation.
“Eavesdropping is rude.” I said to no one in particular.
I grabbed three bottles of juice, two cookies, a brownie, and a third helping of chicken tenders. With the tray overloaded with food, I quickly paid for everything and met up with Hip. I smiled at Brett and the swim team guys, avoiding the eyes of a group of freshmen girls who were ogling the two of us.
Several people tried to stop us by starting up conversations, but I just smiled and brushed them off as politely as possible.
Atalanta was laughing at something Davie had said when we came up with the food. I placed the heavy tray down and distributed the food between the three of us, then handed the two cookies over to Davie.
Davie took the cookies and looked at the giant chocolate chunks in it with reverence. “Bless your soul.”
“You really shouldn’t feed his sweet tooth,” Margo chastised.
“Sugar is the gift of the gods, Margo. How could I deprive him of their blessing?” I asked.
“Easily,” she snatched the cookies out of Davies hand.
The puppy pout Davie gave her was pathetic, but it certainly worked as she gave him back one cookie. Seeing the smile on Atalanta’s face as she watched the two of them bicker was like seeing a flicker of light in a dark cave, and it was contagious as my cheeks tightened from my own genuine smile.
Lunch was…nice. I had missed my friends, they always made me feel grounded. They were human with normal human problems. Most of the time I envied that, but it was also pleasant, pretending that the most important thing in my life right now was supposed to be my grades, and prom.
Or Atalanta stealing my brownie.
I looked at her in horror as she shoved the last of my brownie into her mouth. “Hey!”
“You left it unattended, therefore it was up for grabs.”
“You little sneak,” I lunged for her and began to tickle her sides.
Oh, God, her snorts were adorable, but she squirmed like an eel. With all her jerking, the two of us ended up tumbling off the bench in a fit of giggles.
“Jason!” Margo shouted in alarm as she rushed around the bench towards Atalanta. “You could have hurt her!”
Atalanta froze next to me at Margo’s quick approach. It was subtle and I probably wouldn’t have noticed it if I hadn’t been holding her, as within a split second she relaxed and grinned up at Margo.
“I’m okay. Remember, they gave me some very nice drugs.” Atalanta reassured her.
“He should still be careful with you.” Margo held out her hand for Atalanta to take.
She hesitated, staring at Margo’s hand, and I made the quick decision to distract from that hesitation by taking the outstretched hand for myself.
Hopping to my feet, I leaned down to scoop Atalanta into my arms. “You’re right, Margo. I must take care of my princess. Or better yet, a king must always see to his queen.”
“Oh, so now you’ve moved up the ladder of self-importance,” Hip snickered.
“Jason, I’m fine.” Atalanta insisted as she squirmed, trying to get out of my hold.
“Oh, I know you are,” I leaned in to whisper into her ear. “But let me do this, to appease Margo?”
She did a quick glance over to Margo who was staring back at us, clearly worried before looking back to me and rolling her eyes. “Fine. For Margo.”
“Thank you.”
We decided to head to class before the lunch bell rang to avoid the rush of students, me carrying my precious cargo the whole way. Atalanta surprised me by asking Margo and Davie directly about hanging out the next day. They agreed and Margo began to gush excitedly.
At the door to English class, Davie gave Margo a sweet kiss before leaving us for his own class but Hip lingered, his eyes locked onto Atalanta, no doubt not wanting to leave her once again.
“Can you get the door for us and help me get her into her seat?” I said.
He perked up a bit and opened the door for us. Walking into the classroom, it was empty as I expected beyond someone standing in front of the white board. A familiar someone who wasn’t Damon.
I nearly dropped Atalanta as my body froze, stomach sinking. “Uncle Calder.”
Calder turned from the white board, giving me a cheshiresque grin. “Why, Jason. I wasn’t aware that you would be in one of my classes.”
“What? Y-your classes? Where’s Damon?” I stammered.
“On sick leave. It’s a good thing I was in town to act as his substitute. No one knows the English language better than I.”
His gray eyes slithered over our group before landing on Atalanta.
Immediately, a shiver wracked Atalanta’s body. I looked down at her, her gaze locked onto my uncle. Her face slack, eyes haunted.
“Red…” She rasped out.
“Atalanta?” Hip said, his hand reaching out to stroke her cheek.
She blinked, light filtering back in as she shook her head as if dislodging cobwebs. “Yes? Sorry, I spaced out for a second.”
Looking back over to my uncle, Atalanta cautiously said, "It’s good to see you again, sir.”
“Likewise, child. How are you feeling?”
“I’m doing all right.”
“That is good, I assumed with the way my nephew was holding you, you might be having some trouble with your injury.” His eyes slid up to meet mine.
“Just a precaution. But I’m okay.” She tapped my shoulder, asking for me to put her down.
No.
I refused to put her down. Breaking eye contact with my uncle, I carried her over to her seat, waiting for Hip to pull out the chair before placing her into it and moving to a position that would block her from Calder’s burning gaze.
He couldn’t know.
She was Theseus’s cousin.
She had been in a boating accident and was here to recover.
I looked over to Hip and gave him a stern glare. That was the story we would be sticking with.
As the bell that signaled the end of first lunch rang, Hip looked even more reluctant to leave than before. He actually began to slide into a seat as if he belonged in the class.
Calder strolled over to his desk and lifted a clipboard. “I don’t believe you’re in this period, Mr. Clark. I wouldn’t want you to miss your own class.”