Today was one of the worst days of my life!

Okay, maybe not entirely true. But. I'm an angsty teenage girl who doesn't fit in on many different levels. The ADHD, the dyslexia, the fact I'm a demigod, and also, I'm deaf and mute. So yes today had been the worst!

It started off, with Percy and I having to fight off a pack of Hell hounds in the subway even before we got to school! And then the morning was full of bullies, a failed math test, more bullies, a half snake human monster who thought she could get me when I went to the bathroom during history class, and when I vaporized it I was caught for smoking in the bathroom. The mist makes mortals see things that aren't monsters- like in stead of me vaporizing the monster making the smoke alarm go off, the principal thought I was smoking in the bathroom, whatever helps their mortal minds process the mythical world... And, oh did I mention the bullies? 

Now I sat in the dark quiet art class trying to hide from the terrible day I had been having. Mr Miles, the art teacher had said it was fine, even though it was his spare, he always let me stay in the class. He was a good art teacher, even if he wasn't really an art teacher. He was a Satyr, he was actually a protector. My protector to be precise. He had kept an eye on me all through out my grade 7 and 8 years and now my grade 9 year. See, I'm not a normal mortal kid. I'm a demigod. All those myths and stories about Greek gods and monsters and stuff...ya its all real. That's my life, and right now life sucked. 

I tried my best at Goode High. But with two extremely powerful half bloods in one place...Percy and I attracted a lot of unwanted attention.

Dad, Sally, Mr Miles, Chiron, Percy and I sat down over Christmas and decided it would be best if we went to separate schools. Which was fine, I had no friends there and Percy had made the swim team. (And by made the swim team, I mean he carried the team on his back- almost literally. See, he's the the very powerful son of the sea god, Poseidon. So it kinda seemed like cheating, but what the mortals don't know wont kill them, they just think he's some Michael Phelps up and comer.) So it made sense for me to switch schools. Mr Miles came with me to the new school, Chiron seemed to think it was best I had an extra pare of eyes. Dad did his best to help Percy, he was starting to see through the mist, not very well, but Dad was at Goode and Chiron seemed to think that was enough, while I needed A fully licensed Protector Satyr with me. 

I had been at this school for a while now and it  had proven to be just as bad as all of my other schools, if not worse. The girls were horrible. They seemed to think because I was deaf, I was stupid. I didn't fit their standards, so I became their main target- which was normal, but these girls seemed even worse, nastier and more vindictive. I had asked Mr Miles if these girls were monsters shrouded in mist. But nope, just regular horrible mortals. I sat at the back of art class with my headphones on, the music blasting. 

You remember how I said I was deaf? Ya, I was cursed by Aphrodite last year when I cussed her out and told her she was an idiot, and told her to F off and stay out of my life. She didn't like that much. See, the gods are temperamental. They make a lot of mistakes but don't like to admit it. Because they live forever and have cool super powers and half kids with mortals they think we're their personal play things or servants. Which...by my standards isn't cool. I don't like being manipulated or told what to do, and I certainly don't like when people I love and care about are part of their schemes. So she got a wee bit mad when I said something, and she cursed me. I didn't get the full curse, my godly parent and Aunt stepped in, so I'm only deaf and mut.

I had learned how to cope, but music was still one of the biggest things I missed, but if I cranked the music and bass I could feel the vibrations, which was as close as  I would get to hearing music. The girls in the school thought it was stupid and liked to rip them off my head and toss them around. It had been a horrible morning so far, I had struggled in English, my brain just couldn't process Romeo and Juliet, if it was written in Ancient Greek it would have been easier, but with the dyslexia, I struggled in English class, not just because I couldn't physically read out loud, but because I actually couldn't read the words, the words would get all jumbled together. My translator would get frustrated, and throw her hands into the air, and I would just leave class. 

I had to leave the class before I combusted into flames. And now I used the paints to express my anger. More flames and fires and a Phoenix. The bass of the headphones and the paint brush in my hands helped ease the stress. I got lost in the swirls of colours, and the emotions I threw into the brush strokes. The world around me stopped, and I was hyper focused on the canvas in from of me.  Someone tapped my shoulder and I jumped sky high. I dropped my paint brush and knocked over the water cup. 

Steve, the student council leader was standing behind me his hands up. He tried talking to me. I just rolled my eyes and signed even though he had no idea what I was saying. I could read his lips with no problem, but I never bothered to tell the kids here I knew what they were saying about me, it wouldn't make a difference.  He was trying to ask me out again. I don't know why he kept this up I turned him down constantly, the "I have a boy friend" doesn't penetrate his thick skull. I cleaned up as he stood and watched, which didn't exactly improve my mood. 

"I have a boyfriend." I signed. 

Steve looked at me blankly. I rolled my eyes and grabbed a paper and struggled to write, much to my frustration and embracement, but I wrote, I have a boyfriend. Stop asking me out. I handed him the note and finished cleaning up the glass from the cup. This guy still didn't understand and stepped closer and handed my the note back, he had written something else down. 

Really? Never seen him. You're always alone. It's okay to be nervous your first time. 

I looked at him in disgust. This guy was serious. I packed my stuff up as quick as I could and put my canvas in Mr Miles office and tried to escape this creep. I'd take a hellhound right now over this weirdo. He slid in front of me, blocking my path. I narrowed my eyes and my hands formed fists. Grinding my teeth I signed or him to move. He just smirked at me. 

"Oh come on sweetheart." I read his lips. "Just one date." 

"Move." I signed. 

"I promise I'll make it worth your while." He stepped closer.

"Last chance. M-O-V-E." I signed. 

He stepped closer and tried to lay a hand on me. My fist swung into his face. Blood sprouted from his nose, I could see he had cried out, just as Mr Miles and the principle came down the hall. They observed the scene and Mr Miles raised an eye brow and signed. 

"What happened." 

"Dude was being a creep. tried to touch me." 

Mr Miles sighed and tried to press his lip together. The principal however seemed to think I committed some violent gang act. There wasn't much Mr Miles could for me. I was escorted to the office. I groaned internally and ended up sitting in his office for the rest of the afternoon being reprimanded through my interpreter by the principal. They made a big fuss over Steve's broken nose. The school was finally done and I couldn't wait to get home. Today had been awful. I slammed my locker door shut and I saw the crowd of Barbies waiting to make their move. News of me breaking Steve's nose but the story was twisted. Some other guy I had never seen before appeared in front of me, he grinned down at me. He spoke and I understood his words from reading his lips. 

I paused, there was something slightly sinister about this guy, especially when he used my full name. "Eleanora Blofis." 

I paused for a brief second, taken aback by how he said my name, and why he would use my full name. I shook my head, I was making things up. I already had two monsters attack me today. They were getting more desperate, now that Kronos was back, their monster attacks were getting bolder. I pushed passed him, desperate to leave this school. I shoved and elbowed my way through the students that crowded the hall. Much to my annoyance, there was a larger crowd then usual outside the front door of the school. I glanced around and people were whispering and girls were giggling. I focused on a few of their mouths, I caught a few words. I tried to slid through the crowd, but kept getting pushed around. Heads all turned in my direction. 

Looking around confused, why would everyone be looking at me. Some girls were looking at me hoping I would drop dead and others were looking at me in complete shook. The crowded started to part. Girls were still fawning all over the place, but the guy at the bottom of the stares, leaning on his motorcycle, clad in black leather, holding a black helmet, his signature dark broody wolf stare, his huge tattooed muscled arms folded. Girls were flinging their hair and batting their eyelashes. But Raphael Marino didn't give them the time of day. His dark intense gaze fixed on me. 

I stopped frozen for a second. I didn't know he was coming to school today. His gaze softened and his broody wolf look melted into a smug smirk and I swear a few girls fainted. I then squealed- if I could make noise- and launched myself down the stairs and into his arms. This surprise made this horrible day better, just his cocky smirk made all my frustrations melt away. His arms wrapped around me tightly and lifted me off my feet for a second. He buried his face into my hair and neck making me giggle for a second. He placed me down and looked at me, his dark beautiful intense eyes flicked over my face. 

"Sunshine." he signed, his smirk grew even bigger.

I smiled up at him, "Hot Head." I signed back.

"Happy Birthday." He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine quickly, his hand held my jaw gently. He pulled away, his dark eyes never leaving my face. 

I wrinkled my nose and sighed, "Eww that's today?" 

He nodded. "Happy 16th birthday. And you didn't destroy the world. Good job!"

"Don't rush me, there's still time." I winked. 

He laughed. "Ready to get out of here?" I loved how no one in the school bothered to learn sign, and they all watched in disbelief that I had a really hot boyfriend, who could sign with me fluently. Especially the boys who where pushing me for a date- and didn't believe me when I said I had one, and the girls who told me I would never get a boy who would bother with me because I was deaf and mute. Ha. Jokes on them. 

"Yes. Please. Today has been awful!" 

I saw a frown and concern flash in his eyes. But I shook my head, clearly not wanting to talk about it. He followed my led and turned to his bike, but only now seemed to notice the kids crowded around the front steps watching. I swear a few girls were crying and Steve looked shocked and angry, his red and swollen nose with his black eyes, he looked ready to murder me. Raph glanced down at me, and then signed, "What's everyone's problem?" 

"I'm not exactly...popular. And from the reactions the girls are jealous and the boys didn't think you were real, a few were persistent on getting a date." 

His eyes flashed in anger, "How persistent?" If I could hear, I swear it was a growl, and my stomach backflipped. 

"I broke a nose today." 

He smirked, pulling me into his chest again and kissed my forehead, despite how angry and jealous his eyes still looked. He looked down at me with one hand he signed quickly, "That's my girl." 

I smirked even bigger up at him. He pulled me to his bike, which was parked in front of the school. "Didn't have time to wrap it." He held up a helmet that was solid black, black reflective visor that cute cat ears. 

I squealed and did a little happy dance. "Raph! It's so cute!" Now I didn't have to use his old one.

He smirked, his dark eyes full of amusement at my little happy dance. He also held up a black leather jacket. I held it for me as I slipped it on, spun me around and zipped it up for me. He ran his nose along my cheek and his intense eyes stared into my soul from about two inches from my face. I smirked and closed the distance, kissing him quickly. He chuckled and handed me my helmet, as he put his on. I slipped the helmet on, tipping my head back, and stepped closer, indicating I needed help with the strap. I could do it myself, but Raph enjoyed doing it. I slid my hands around him, I could feel his heart rate pick up as I ran my hands up and down his sides. He paused and looked  down at me, his eyebrow raised. I smirked at him. He smirked back and went back to doing the strap, but now was a little more rough, which only made me tease him a bit more. He grabbed my throat, and pressed his helmet to mine, the intense eye contact made my knees weak. He didn't do anything other then place his hand on my throat, to hold me in place. When I couldn't handle the eye contact, my heart was going to beat out of my chest I stepped back and slapped his visor down. 

I giggled, but he gabbed me with his demigod reflexes, holding onto the chin of my helmet and pulled me closer, I couldn't quite see his eyes through the visor, but I knew his dark broody eyes were alit with amusement and an intense yet gentle desire. He finally let me go  signed, "brat."

I smirked, "I'm little. And cute. So it's alright."

"It's a good thing."

"You love me."

He grabbed the chin of my helmet, his tattooed arms flexed, and tapped his helmet with mine. He let go and climbed onto his bike and held a hand out for me to climb on. I wrapped my arms around his waist and he speed away from the school. I didn't care where we were going, just away for a bit. The adrenaline rush of being on the back of the bike was amazing. Raph zig zagged in and out of traffic, and I felt the tension from today melt away. 

🔆