My seat, I realize, as I swipe my still wet and now wildly wavy hair off my forehead. It’s waiting for me—I just have to claim it. Soaking wet and messy haired isn’t exactly the look I’d planned on when I finally got to join Athena Hall, butafter everything I’ve been through today, I’ll take it any way I can get. I just need to figure out what to—
“Eduardo Garcia.” The name rings through the amphitheater in Dr. Themis’s bell-like tones. “Please step forward.”
I watch as Eduardo—a short kid with black hair and a skinned knee who has been standing a few feet away from me this whole time—walks to the front of the orchestra, where Dr. Themis is standing next to what looks like…a giant gumball machine?
That can’t be right. Surely this sacred selection process—the process that determines what hall we will be in for the next six years—isn’t determined by what color gumball we get, is it?
And if so, how did I miss it? The thing is bright red and massive and sitting directly in the center of the orchestra area, right next to the flameless cauldron.
That’s it. I’m blaming it on the hair in my eyes—and my laser focus on Athena Hall.
Eduardo’s steps get smaller and slower the closer he gets to the gumball machine. I can’t help but notice that it’s almost empty—just three lonely gumballs rest at the bottom of the machine’s huge glass globe. Obviously one of them belongs to Eduardo and one belongs to me. But who does the third one belong to?
I glance around, trying to figure out if there’s another student I missed. But there’s no one around who I can see. Then again, I did miss the giant gumball machine directly in the middle of the orchestra, so I’m not exactly counting on my observational skills at the moment.
Or maybe—and this maybe fills me with a giddy combination of glee and relief—I’m not actually the last student to make it to the amphitheater this time. Maybe, just maybe, there’s someone else who had even more trouble getting their coin than I did.
While I hate to wish what I just went through on anyone—I can still feel the water slamming into my lungs, choking me—I’d be lying if I said I’m not hoping there’s someone else who is even later. Someone else who can take the heat off me, considering that awful woman I encountered earlier is once again glaring at me.
The amphitheater grows quiet as Eduardo’s shaky hand reaches up to slide his coin into the slot in the machine. His back is to me, but video of the moment is being streamed onto a screen next to the stage, so I get to watch in perfect detail as he convulsively swallows before reaching for the lever on the front of the machine.
He turns it once, twice, three times, until it finally clicks. As it does, one of the gumballs—the bright orange one—disappears from the clear globe at the top. Seconds later, Eduardo bends down and opens the little metal door beneath the lever and the orange gumball rolls out and into the palm of his hand.
Except, as he holds it up, I realize it’s not actually a gumball at all. It’s a plastic sphere that splits right down the middle. Eduardo holds his breath—and so do I—as he twists the ball open and a tiny gold owl falls into his palm.
“Athena Hall, please give a warm round of applauseto your newest member!” Dr. Themis trills into the microphone.
Dignified clapping—what else would you expect from Athena—follows her announcement, and I watch in horror as Eduardo walks over to the open spot at the front of the Athena section and sits down.
In my seat!
Desperation claws through me as I scan the bleachers, looking for another opening. Any other opening. There has to be one—there just has to be—and I finally spot a tiny sliver of space next to a boy with shaggy red hair. Paris! Of course he got Athena Hall too. And of course he saved a seat for me. I’d do the same for him.
“Students, thank you so much for your participation in today’s assembly,” Dr. Themis continues after a few moments. “Not to mention your patience as we sorted all the new students into their halls. We have a few more things to discuss before the grand finale—”
She breaks off as the Athena woman with the pinched mouth and narrowed eyes steps forward to speak to her. She whispers in Dr. Themis’s ear so no one can hear what she’s saying. But considering she’s staring in my direction while she does, I’m pretty sure the message is about me.
Sure enough, Dr. Themis whirls around, her bright amber eyes wide with shock. “We’ve missed someone? How is that possible?”
A surprised murmur works its way through the stands as her gaze collides with me. “Well, well, it looks like you arecorrect, Ms. Beetlemeyer. Somehow, we’ve missed Penelope Weaver.”
She beckons me forward, a welcoming smile on her face despite the confusion still visible in her eyes. Of course, that could be because—as far as I can tell—I’m the only student in the entire amphitheater who’s currently soaking wet.
Which isn’t awkward at all.
Since there’s nothing I can do about that fact until I get assigned to Athena Hall and can unpack and change my clothes—not to mention get some new hair ties—I do the only thing I can do right now. I follow Dr. Themis’s instructions and walk straight toward her and the gumball machine.
Of course, my waterlogged shoes squelch and belch with every step I take. Which would be embarrassing under normal circumstances—with the entire amphitheater looking on, it’s completely and totally humiliating.
On the plus side—if there is a plus side—at least they aren’t muddy anymore. Turns out old PT was right about one thing after all.
I start to duck my head, to let the wild mess of my hair fall in my face in an effort to hide my burning cheeks. Of course, every move I make is being broadcast on the giant screen so that everyone in the entire place can see, so something tells me a little hair isn’t going to cover anything up.
Besides, Athena girls don’t hide.
The reminder has me straightening my shoulders and lifting my head as I finally reach Dr. Themis and the gumball machine.
“Do you have your coin?” she asks, a little doubtfully.
