Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

As I walked through the halls of Ithaca High School that morning, I contemplated the meaning of life and all its forms. I had a feeling something monumental would happen that day, November 13th.

Yeah, no, fuck that. I’ll be honest, the only thing I “contemplated” that morning was how many people would miss me if I jumped off the school roof to miss advanced algebra and why our school had the budget for a whole new set of pickleball rackets, balls and nets, but nothing to fix the paint literally peeling off the walls. Hell, I don’t even remember the exact date. This is what I do remember from that day onwards, though.

- “YO DIO!” I said, walking into my aforementioned algebra class, spotting my best friend sitting by the window.

- “Keep it down, Laertiades,” scolded Hephaestus, my teacher.

- “Sorry, I didn’t realize I was shouting”

That much was true, however I will admit that I loved getting on his nerves, just the tiniest bit. Enough to get him mildly annoyed, just for the fun of it. Simply not calling him sir was enough to rile him up usually, but he seemed calmer today.

I arrived at Diomedes’ desk, pointing out:

- “Isn’t this my spot?”

- “Are you deaf dude? He said outright last class he would be changing the seating chart because we were ‘too disruptive’,” he replied.

- “Our last algebra class was first period. Do you honestly think I listened to word that annoying-ass teacher said?” I shot back.

- “Sorry, I forgot you were just so effortlessly intelligent,” he said sarcastically. “I’m Odysseus and I think I’m sooooo cool, but really I’m a huge nerd”

- “Hey there, I don’t appreciate that insulting tone,” I joked, giving my best Sheldon Cooper impression.

The bell rang, just as Helenus slotted himself into the seat next to Diomedes’. Hephaestus called out:

- “Laertiades, please sit down so I can begin teaching”

- “I’m sorry, but I don’t know where I should sit, given that you’ve changed everyone’s desks”

- “Well then, you should’ve asked before class, eh?” That earned a few chuckles from some of the students who tried to be best friends with the teachers for extra credit, like Helenus and Cassandra. “It seems you are sitting next to... Penelope Icaria” He pointed her out to me as if I wouldn’t know what my crush looked like, though obviously he couldn’t have known I liked her. As I went and sat down next to her, I tried my best not to turn beet red.

- “Hey”, she said, not looking at me.

- “Um, hi,” I replied, trying to sound less stressed than I was.

Throughout the next excruciating 75 minutes, I took notes next to her, hiding my grin every time I glanced over and saw her beautiful warm brown hair framing her face while she scribbled formulas furiously. At the sound of the bell, I grabbed my stuff, eager to rush out of the class and shit talk the teacher’s pet in my class who had complimented Hephaestus’ new and worse haircut, when I heard a voice that I would recognize anywhere say just one word, very softly: Wait!

Chapter Text

I turned around to see none other than Penelope reaching her hand out as if trying to tap my shoulder. She looked mildly flustered, as if it had taken all her energy to simply call out to me.
-“So I know this is obviously incredibly strange, especially since we barely even talk, but I have this project for photography class, just, like, doing a simple photoshoot representing an emotion. I was wondering if you’d be my subject?”
Suspicious, I asked: “Why don’t you ask one of your friends to do it?”
-“Well, um,” she looked taken aback, disappointed even, “None of them wanted me to take photos of them. I already asked them all”
So she was only asked me because all of her friends already declined. Great. Absolutely fantastic.
-“Sure, I guess I’ll do it then. What do I need to do”? I replied dejectedly.
-“Ok, so, I have to capture an emotion by taking photos of a person without them doing drastic facial expressions. Basically, the composition of the image, as in the backdrop and editing, has to convey the feeling.” She nervously adjusted her books in the crook of her elbow. “All you have to do is meet me at a certain place and wear what I tell you. Get it?”
I’ll be honest, the whole time Penelope was speaking, I only heard half of what she said. I was too busy admiring the clever words she used. I mean, who even says “drastic”? Man, she was out of my league. But I wasn’t about to turn down an opportunity to spend time with the one and only girl of my dreams, so I obviously said enthusiastically: “Sounds great!” and left the classroom, buzzing with adrenaline from having a (mini) conversation with Penelope.

Arriving at my lunch table one class later, I sat down while slamming my hand on the table, causing Achilles to roll his eyes from the other end of the table.
-“What big unimportant announcement do you have for us now, Laertides?”
-“You’ll be pleased to know, Achilles, that this news is one of the most life altering things to ever occur in the history of my short and sad life.”
-“Go on then, don’t keep us waiting on the edge of our seats, tell us,” urged Patroclus excitedly.
-“Well, I’ll have you all know that I’ve been enlisted by the wonderful, amazing, talented and beautiful Penelope Icaria to be her model for photography class,” I announced dramatically.
A few guys fake-gasped, then went back to their own conversations, being uninterested by my love life. However, Diomedes and Patroclus’ jaw actually dropped down to the floor, though I noticed the former seemed to have a sad look in his eye. A second later, it was gone, replaced by a mischievous one.
-“I was wondering why you took so long to leave Hephaestus’ classroom. I was waiting for you, you know. Are you finally gonna make a move on her, man?” Diomedes said.
-“Nah, dude, it’s way too early to ask her out. I don’t want to scare her off or make her uncomfy around me if she doesn’t feel the same,” I countered.
-“Well, don’t be too mad when another guy swoops out and steals her from you,”
-“I think Odysseus is partly right. He wouldn’t want to make Penelope feel forced to reciprocate,” Patroclus commented thoughtfully, “However, it is telling that she would ask you out of all people to do this with her”
-“It’s not like that. She said none of her friends wanted to do it. I was her last resort,” I replied, sounding a bit whiny.

Suddenly, a new voice rose up from the din, speaking directly to us.
-“Guys, I don’t want to freak you out, but Helen is definitely listening in on everything. She’s right there,” whispered Menelaus, pointing to Penelope’s cousin at the lunch table adjacent to ours.
-“Shit. She’s such a dramaholic, I’m sure she’s trying to gather intel on you to pair you with Penelope,” added Diomedes, not at all calming down my elevating heartrate.
-“Shit shit shit. I cannot have her telling this to Penelope. I’d rather die than have her cousin set us up,”
-“Guys she’s not that bad. I’m sure she won’t say anything to Penelope, Helen’s very thoughtful,” interjected Menelaus quickly, a dreamy look appearing in his eyes when he finished his sentence.
-“You’re just saying that because you’re completely head over heels for her,” said Diomedes, “You’re almost as down bad for her as Ody is for Penelope,”
-“Hey!” Menelaus and I cried out in unison.
-“He is simply stating true facts, fellas,” said Patroclus.
-“Don’t talk, gayass,” The harsh words flew from my mouth. I meant them jokingly, but I immediately saw the hurt in Pat's eyes and mentally kicked myself for my dumbass-ness.

Patroclus stood up immediately, saying he was "done eating” and hurried away, Achilles at his heel. Before leaving though, he shot me a dirty look before whispering something in Patroclus’ ear than made him half-heartedly smile

Chapter Text

DIO-MEAD

[22:27] Ody: yo, not gonna lie I'm not sure I should do this thing with shelf

DIO-MEAD: you mean Penelope?

Ody: bro we need to use code-words, you never know when my sister is reading my texts over my shoulder

DIO-MEAD: sounds like trust issues to me, but anyways why don’t you wanna do something one-on-one with her? she’s the only thing you’ve been talking about for months now, you gotta make a move at some point.

[22:28] Ody: but what if she’s uncomfortable with me or I say the wrong thing? I need some1 else with me our first meetups to like, help me have a conversation without being flustered

DIO-MEAD: imagined getting this worked up over a random girl

Ody: I bet I could get you all worked up

Ody: and she’s not “some girl”, she’s beautiful, talented and great Penelope Icaria

DIO-MEAD: first off AYO why so freaky?? also I could point out how much of a simp you are, but it would be redundant

[22:29] Ody: since when do you even know the word redundant?

DIO-MEAD: since Athena told me I got it from Chat-GPT when I wrote it in a BS essay (I did) and I had to bullshit its definition to prove my innocence

Ody: and you got it right?? Holy shit my boy is moving up the social ranks of intelligence

DIO-MEAD: soon I’ll be a mathlete kid

Ody: hahaha, can you imagine you in their stupid little jerseys

[22:30] DIO-MEAD: HELL NAH, I would never wear such ugly clothing

[22:34] Ody: you do every day though…

[22:36] DIO-MEAD: stfu goth boy

*Dio-MEAD changed your name to Goth boy*

[22:40] Goth boy: bruh

Pat

[22:40] Ody: Yo Pat, do I look goth to you?

[22:45] Pat: Nah, you would need more eyeliner for that.

Ody: I don’t wear eyeliner but thanks

Pat: Of course you don’t.

DIO-MEAD

[22:46] Goth boy: *screenshot*

DIO-MEAD: fine, I’ll change it

*Dio-MEAD changed your name to Simp*

[22:47] Simp: fuck you

The next day, I walked into class with a little extra pep in my step. I didn’t have any classes with Penelope that day, but for once, that wouldn’t stop me from subtly interacting with her.
Patroclus happened to be in my second period class, history, so I confided my master plan to him:

- “Ok, get this, I’ll bump into her in the hallway before her Spanish class, say ‘Sorry, didn’t see you there’ and then smile at her, then sprint to my side of the building for economics”

- “Seems like a lot of effort for minimal interaction. Also, do you have her schedule memorized?” he asked with a quizzical expression.

- “Hey, a guys gotta do what a guys gotta do to get a girl to notice him, eh?” I elbowed him in the ribs playfully.

- “Yeah…” he chuckled awkwardly, looking towards his unfinished homework. “Hey, what did you get for number 6, I didn’t get it”

- “Um, you mean ‘In what way did the Renaissance change views about human rights?’”

- “Yeah, I have no idea, and my notes really didn’t help,” he said apologetically.

- “It's chill, the answer is (…)”

We chatted throughout class when our teacher took a break from endlessly spilling information to cough or draw something on the chalk board. For some reason, I felt like Patroclus was acting much more uptight with me than usual, prompting me to ask:

- “Hey man, are you feeling alright,” He jumped a bit at the question.

- “Huh? No, I-I, I’m doing just fine. Great even. Don’t worry about me,” he stammered, faking a smile.

I was going to ask a follow-up question, because he clearly was not okay, but the teacher started droning on about artistic reforms again. I just whispered a complain about his shitty teaching strategy to Pat, who was already furiously scribbling notes onto a paper blackened by swirling doodles, seemingly formed by words written on top of each other continually.

An eternity later, the bell rang, releasing me from my prison to get my books for economics class. Of course, I hadn’t forgotten my plan to surreptitiously intercept Penelope in the hall with grace and charm. I grabbed my things and speedwalked to the Spanish classroom. Thankfully, Achilles took Spanish and was friendly with Penelope, allowing me the perfect in to talk to her…

DIO-MEAD

[11:00] Simp: Dio

Simp: Dio

Simp: DIOMEDES

Simp: I just suffered absolute public humiliation in front of Penelope

Simp: I’ll never recover

Simp: stop being a studious little shit and pick up your phone

[11:04] DIO-MEAD: sorry some people actually have to listen in class to understand.

Simp: well, I'm in economics, so it's too easy

DIO-MEAD: wait, isn't the teacher super strict about phones in class?

Simp: Poseidon's just taking attendance, he won't notice

DIO-MEAD: fine, tell me what happened.