Before she walks away, Dr. Dione reaches over and pats my shoulder in what I’m pretty sure she means to be a comforting gesture. But I’m too busy feeling like my whole world is imploding to appreciate it.
Is she telling the truth? Did I do such a poor job in the coin chase that Athena decided she wanted nothing to do with me? Was I such a mess that the only god who would take me is Aphrodite, who is known for being kind even when it isn’t deserved?
The thought shatters me, has my chest aching and tears building up behind my eyes. Was I such a total failure that Athena thought I was useless? That she went against generations of tradition and chose not to claim me?
Probably because I messed up so much to begin with. From the moment I stepped in that mud puddle and gave Paris the chance to eat almost all the donut holes, I’ve made mistake after mistake after mistake. If I had thought things through better, if I had formulated a more cohesive plan, maybe none of this would have happened.
Maybe I’d be over at Athena, with Paris, where I belong.
I just didn’t work hard enough, that’s all. I didn’t do as well as I could have on anything having to do with Anaximander’s so far.
But I can change that.
I just have to come up with a plan that will show Athena that I’m worthy of being in her hall after all. I just have to prove to her that I won’t be a disappointment if she claims me.
“Hey, are you okay?” Arjun asks as he appears next to me. He’s got a red backpack on his back and the handle to a red suitcase in either hand, both of which have stickers of giant birds all over them—swallows, doves, sparrows.
He may like Hades Hall, but I think it’s pretty obvious that he ended up exactly where he wanted to be. And so did Fifi, who is dragging three giant bags and two backpacks with heart stickers all over them.
Now I just have to figure out how to get whereIwant to be.
“Are you two going to stand there all day?” she calls as she blows right past us without stopping. Then again, those suitcases look heavy. Maybe if she does stop, she’ll never get started again.
“We’re coming!” Arjun calls back. But he doesn’t movefrom his spot next to me, his big dark eyes searching mine like he’s trying to figure out if I’m okay.
I’m not, but I’m going to be, which is practically the same thing.
“Come on, let’s catch up!” I answer Arjun, and I even manage a smile while I say it.
Ten minutes of luggage pulling later, I’ve lost my smile and close to the last of my energy. Everyone around me is bright-eyed and ready for whatever comes next, but they didn’t have to run all over campus and fight a waterfall already today. Not to mention, my wet clothes are chafing in some places that shouldneverbe chafed.
On the plus side, I’ve gotten a much better look at the Stoa and the planetarium and a bunch of the other classroom buildings, since they’re all on the path we’re taking. I just wish I had a clue where on campus Aphrodite Hall is so I’d know how much farther it is to get there.
As we round another corner, the ground begins to slope upward. I groan before I can stop myself.
“What’s wrong?” Fifi asks, looking concerned.
Which makes me feel bad all over again. Not to self: These Aphrodites are way more concerned about people than my home full of Athenas ever has been. My parents tend to be super involved in their thoughts, so much that they rarely notice if Paris and I are unhappy. We have to need stitches or at least have a broken bone or two for them to actually be concerned about our angst.
Despite the fact that my Vans are shrinking as they dry—and rubbing blisters into both of my heels with each step I take—I do my best to pretend I’m fine.
Athena girls don’t complain about things. They fix them.
“Nothing,” I answer with a shrug. “I just didn’t expect it to be such a hike to get from the classes to our hall.”
“On the plus side, that means it probably won’t be nearly so bad tomorrow,” she tells me.
I shoot her a confused look. “How could it not be? It’s not like the path back to the classrooms is going to get any easier anytime soon.”
“What do you mean? Of course it is!” Now she looks confused too.
And so does Arjun. “Did your parents really not tell you anything about Anaximander’s?”
“Not a lot, no. Just the basics. They wanted the rest to be a surprise for Paris and me.”
“Well, then, this isdefinitelygoing to be a surprise.” Arjun shakes his head as he gives a little rueful laugh.
Before I can ask what he means, Fifi bounces up onto her toes with obvious excitement. “The whole campus moves! It’s part of the curriculum—using logic and math to figure out where everything is.”
