“Yeah. He’s in—” My throat threatens to close up, but I clear my throat, determined to push past the sadness. Athena girls don’t wallow and—this bizarre detour to Aphrodite Hall not withstanding—I am an Athena girl. “Paris got into Athena.”
“Got in—you mean he’s a first year like you?” If possible, her eyes get even bigger. “Are you a twin?”
She says the word “twin” like it’s a combination of unlimited candy and straight A’s for life. Which, I can assure you, it isn’t. Especially not right now.
“Yeah. He’s three minutes older.”
“Oh my gosh! Twins are the coolest—I always wished I had one. What’s it like?”
Before I can answer, Arjun adds, “It’s kind of sad he got stuck in Athena, though. They’re so boring, he’s got to be jealous of you.”
“Right?” Fifi pretends to shudder. “Athena is the absolute worst!”
I stiffen. “I don’t think that’s fair. Hades—”
“Is the bomb! I almost wish I’d been chosen for that hall.” Arjun whispers it like he’s telling a secret—or making a confession.
Fifi has no such compunction when she answers, “Right? They’re the coolest, no doubt. Except who wants to wear black all the time?”
“Black isn’t a requirement—” Arjun counters, only to be interrupted by a snort from Fifi.
“It might as well be.” I nearly laugh because Fifi looks just like Levi when she waggles her brows. “I mean, have you seen the Hades boys?”
Because Ihaveseen the Hades boys, or at least, one particular Hades boy—it takes me a second to realize she’s directing that question to me.
“Um— I— They—” Suddenly I’m stumbling over my words without knowing why. It’s not like the Hades boy was anythingspecial. I mean, except for his stormy green eyes and—
Fifi laughs knowingly. “Oh, yeah. You’ve seen them. And believe me, I feel exactly the same way.”
“Do I seriously need to be here for this conversation?” Arjun runs a hand through his long bangs.
“Everyone should be here for this conversation,” someone comments from behind us.
I turn to see two older Aphrodites—probably fourth or fifth years—both of whom are wearing knowing smiles.
“Trust us,” the boy says. “Hades guys, and girls, are exactly as much trouble as you want them to be.”
Something uncomfortable ticks in my stomach as I think of the smirk the Hades boy in the forest was wearing. Like he had a secret he almost wanted to share.
Because there’s a part of me that wants to know what that secret is—and is embarrassed, because I’m still thinking about him even in the midst of this total and complete disaster—I sound more uptight than I mean to when I answer, “I don’t wantanytrouble, actually.”
The girl laughs as they walk past us, and Fifi knocks into her gently with her shoulder. “Leave her alone, Charlie.”
Oh, so this girl with the larger-than-life laugh is Fifi’s sister? I guess that tracks. “It’s nice to meet you,” I tell her, belatedly remembering my manners.
She laughs again. “Nice to meet you, too. As for the Hades kids, give it a few years. Pretty sure you’ll learn to like that kind of trouble.” She grins before taking off at a jog to catch up with her friend.
“We haven’t even met anyone from Hades yet,” Arjun quietly rebukes Fifi and me. “It’s not fair to judge all of them based on some ridiculous, outdated ideas about the Underworld.”
“I—” I start, then break off before I say something I’ll regret.
Except Fifi can apparently read minds—or maybe she’s somehow already gotten a gift like my dad’s, because she crows, “Oh my gods! You did meet a Hades boy! Is that why you were late?”
I can feel myself blushing, can feel the heat creeping up my neck to my cheeks until my whole face feels like it’s going up in flames. It’s one of the (many) curses of being a redhead. My too-pale skin showseverything.
Which means no matter how hard I sputter or try to explain that I didn’tmeeta Hades boy, I just talked to one for a few seconds, Fifi has already made up her mind.
“You have to tell me everything!” She casts a quick look at Arjun, then whispers, “Later!” Like that will keep him from hearing when he’s standing right next to us.
