Chapter Text
AUGUST
CREW OF IDIOTS - (Odysseus, Eurylochus, and Polites)
[6:30] Odysseus: I wanna die lmfaooo
[6:30] Eurylochus: Bro it's 6:30 school doesn't even start fr until 8
[6:30] Odysseus: Why tf are you up then
[6:31] Eurylochus: Well in case you actually want to die I gotta be up so I keep a loud ass thunder sfx as an alarm for this chat
[6:32] Odysseus: .........bro how many times have we kept you up at night during the school year? Like we pulled all nighters and you're telling me you have a LOUD ASS THUNDER SOUND EFFECT THAT COULD BEEP AT 3 AM
[6:32] Eurylochus: its ok can't leave my bro hanging like that
[6:33] Polites: Why do you wanna die Odysseus? Who am I gonna have breakfast pancakes with then?
[6:33] Odysseus: Polites I'm not gonna actually die. Also u literally sleep in a bed thats like 2 feet away from me I think you would hear me.
[6:33] Odysseus: But yeah I wanna die cause I don't wanna freaking do school with Mr. Poseidon teaching all the hard classes. It's senior year you'd think Principal Zeus would give me a break after giving me mfing Ms. Scylla for math last year. Unit 6 killed me fuck ts.
[6:34] Polites: Odysseus it'll be fineee. Besides, we'll be able to have fun since we are seniors. You want me to preach about greeting the world with open arms again?
[6:34]: Odysseus: Save it for December man I'm begging you.
[6:35]: Eurylochus: Polites you'll probably have to give us the speech by September with Ody's attitude
[6:35]: Odysseus: Frick you Eury
Two hours passed and within that time Odysseus managed to find the strength to get out of bed and drag himself -- with his sister Ctimene and his brother Polites in tow -- all the way to Achaean High.
Odysseus hated school -- a fair complaint considering it was his twelfth year. Twelve long years of school without the certainty of making it to an amazing college. Objectively speaking, Odysseus was book smart. Give him an AP test and he'd get a 5 while sleeping through nearly every lecture. However, the senioritis was already starting to hit him like a truck and he was frankly exhausted. Sure, he loved some classes like Philosophy with Ms. Athena and he enjoyed debate with Ms. Athena....ok maybe his only enjoyment from school was when Ms. Athena was leading anything but the point still stands. At least this year, Ms. Athena was teaching AP Government so he'd be able to knock out another AP while enjoying a required class. And luckily enough for him, all his friends were in that class as well. Diomedes, Eurylochus, Polites, Menelaus, Achilles, Patroclus. All there to help make class more entertaining.
"Odysseus Laertiades! It's the first day of school and you're already late," Athena said sternly, her eyes peering at him like an owl ready to pick apart its prey.
"Sorry Ms. Athena, bad weather and traffic on the way here," Odysseus sheepishly replied. This was a great start for him.
"It's August."
"Not in my neighborhood, I guess."
"Well this the 4th year you've done this so at this point I'm barely surprised. Just take your seat. It's at the table over in the back left corner. Your left, for the record. Eurylochus, Polites, you're sitting over in the back right corner. Doesn't matter which chair you take, there's only two."
As Odysseus passed through the aisles of seats, he attempted to make small talk with all his friends who were scattered across the classroom. A fist bump to Diomedes, two middle fingers for Achilles and Patroclus, a handshake with Menelaus.
"Yo, Ody," Menelaus whispered, "We got a stacked roster for this class amirite."
"No kidding Mene, the whole gang is here."
"ODYSSEUS!" exclaimed an exasperated Athena.
"Sorry ma'am!" Odysseus stammered, remembering that he was tardy so this wasn't doing him favors, regardless of how Athena favored him in past years.
Odysseus finally took a seat in a surprisingly brand new swivel chair. Getting settled in, he placed his black backpack to his right, pulled out his computer that he was definitely not going to play games on (screw the school's web filtering extensions), and finally began to focus until-
"Odysseus, right?" asked the person sitting to the left of Odysseus, a girl that Odysseus somehow neglected to notice.
"Uh," Odysseus began, clearly startled, "Yeah that's me. And you are?"
"Penelope."
"N-nice to meet you."
Paying closer attention now, Odysseus found himself strangely at a loss for words. This girl, with her raven hair in an updo hairstyle, just captivated him. He brushed it aside, though, summarizing it as "she looks nice, but I don't know her well".
"Alright class," Athena started, "Since we just started, why don't you all chat a bit with your new tablemates while I pull up the slideshow?"
Still dazed from the morning, Odysseus sat in his seat completely tuned out. He heard "chat" but couldn't find himself able to start a conversation. How odd.
"Ok, I'm gonna start since sitting here is not what I need after waking up at 6:30." Penelope sighed. Unbeknownst to Odysseus, she was hanging on only by the thread that was a shit ton of caffeine in a cup. "What'd you do for the summer? Basic, I know, I'm sorry."
"Oh, it's no problem." Odysseus said a bit too fast. Great, my brain and mouth are shifting from comatosed idiot to hyperactive moron. "Uh, just hung out with friends, took care of my dog Argos, and practiced for debate-"
"You do debate?!?" Penelope asked, noticeably intrigued.
"Uh, yeah. W-why do you ask?" Odysseus was back to stammering.
"Well, I do it too. It's my favorite extracurricular!"
"Really? What format?"
"World Schools."
Now the conversation was getting interesting.
"Wait, same here!" Odysseus regained his confidence that was strangely missing. "Which speaker are you usually?"
Penelope began to grin now, happy that she could nerd out about a topic few would fully understand. "I'm usually second speaker because I love countering the points of the first speaker. You?"
Odysseus began to form a small smile as well. "Ha! I'm usually first speaker. I want to get the first couple of points and hopefully leave my opponent disoriented so that I can basically run away with the free victory."
"...How come I haven't seen you in the debate team?" Penelope now asked. She was invested in the conversation now but couldn't get over this point.
"Uh, I have Athena coach me outside of school."
"Ohhh....well why don't you join?"
"I kind of prefer working on my own. Saves trouble."
Penelope paused for a moment, nodding to confirm she heard Odysseus but obviously lost in thought. "Well, why don't you join? It sounds like you'd fit right in!"
"Uh..." Odysseus froze now. No one's asked me before...why don't I? Odysseus' mouth hung a little open. Not noticeable enough to anyone besides him but wide enough that Odysseus instinctively shut his jaw hard out of embarrassment.
"Odysseus, you ok?" Penelope leaned forward, mildly concerned for him.
"Y-yeah! Sorry, Penelope." Odysseus recovered his train of thought. "Um...nobody ever asked me before but yeah...if you'll have me. I'll join!"
"Oh! That's great!. Ok, last I checked with Mr. Apollo, our team's coach, you can start...next week. Is that ok?" Penelope was beaming with joy at this point.
"Yeah, sure." Odysseus said shyly.
Odysseus attempted to start a new topic of conversation but was interrupted by Athena, who had pulled up the lesson plans for that day. The rest of the day zoomed by, much to Odysseus' shock. When he got home, however, the reality slapped him across the face. This Penelope...she was undeniably captivating. Even recalling their conversation, how she effortlessly made small talk and how she radiated confidence and intelligence, made Odysseus turn mildly red. Polites and Eurylochus were too distracted to notice, they were busy eating some beef that Ctimene cooked while Odysseus laid on the couch.
Penelope...how have I never met this girl before? She was so sweet and relaxed during class...oh gods she was amazing.
Odysseus dramatically put his hands over his face, groaning quietly. Penelope was someone special and Odysseus couldn't deny that. Lords have mercy.