Chapter Text
Track practice was dull when you finish long before everyone else. This included the adult who was supposed to be leading the members.
Luckily, Achilles, who was unofficially nominated most valuable runner on Olympus High’s track team for the last two years, knew the course like the back of his own hand. Not that this course was complicated; start at school, run straight for a mile, reach the checkpoint, say hi to Ms. Chase, run back to school.
Achilles raised his arms over his head and stretched, relishing the September air as it cooled down his sore muscles. God, he had missed running. During the summer, his parents had dragged him to London and, because of the busy streets and an equally busy schedule, he was rarely able to find the opportunity to run.
Idly scraping the bottom of his running shoe against the field’s grass, Achilles inspected his surroundings. It was still early, track team practices were held at the most unbelievable time of day. He was alone on the field and from experience, it would be about ten minutes before the rest of the team arrived.
“At least I can relax for a while”, he mumbled as he sat down on the soft grass.
The grass blades tickled the exposed skin not covered by his shorts. But Achilles didn’t bother moving. He liked the feeling. It reminded him of bright summer days when he was much younger. Of rolling in the field and not caring that mom would be mad because he got his clothes dirty. It reminded him of a laugh. His pleasant laugh as he reached over and brushed the blades of grass off Achilles's blonde hair. The feeling of his fingers running through his hair and the way he said his name, “Achilles,-”
“Achilles, hey Achilles”, a familiar voice said, breaking through his train of thought.
“What?”, Achilles turned to asked a slightly breathless and sweaty Odysseus plopping down on the grass next to him.
“Jeez”, Odysseus coughed, “I have no idea how you managed to convinced me to join track”.
“You like Penelope, she likes guys on the track team”, Achilles grinned, “and I wanted someone to run with me. This way everyone wins!”
“And by ‘run with me’,” Odysseus dryly said, “you actually mean someone to lag behind you while you speed ahead of everyone else?”
“Exactly”, Achilles cheered and Odysseus rolled his eyes at his friend’s grin.
Someone else used to roll his eyes at me a lot, Achilles thought. Couldn’t blame him though, I was a complete brat. He’d try to hold back his smile while scorning me, but he was always such an open book. I always knew he loved it when I teased, when I grinned, when I joked or-
A small burst of pain dragged him out of his thoughts, Achilles turned to glare at his friend.
“What was that for?”, he asked as he rubbed the sore part of his thigh his ex-best friend had pinched.
“You were doing that thing again”, Odysseus shrugged.
“What thing?”, Achilles asked. Irritation disappearing as confusion took over.
“You know, when you blink out and think about your little childhood crush”, he said mockingly.
“I was not!”, Achilles said defensively. His friend just looked at him with amusement.
“Okay maybe I was, just a little bit”, Achilles admitted, “So what?”
Odysseus signed, “I’m only telling you this because unlike you, I actually care about your love life”. Achilles looked confused at his friend’s statement but continued to listen, “I think you have to move on”.
Achilles looked like he was about to get defensive again but the other boy continued talking. “Just hear me out. You knew him for how long?”
“A summer”, Achilles mumbled.
“Exactly. You’re still pining for a guy you met nine years ago at summer camp”, Odysseus stated.
“You don’t understand, it was love at first sight”, he declared. “I swear, we’re soulmates”.
“You might not love what he is now, nine years is a lot of time to change”. Odysseus leaned forward, his tone getting serious, “You need to forget about the past and move on. Date other people, find a new person”.
“What are you talking about, I date!”
Odysseus rolled his eyes, “One night stands and drunk porking at parties don’t count Achilles”
“I took Briseis to the Winter Dance last year”
“That was completely platonic and only done to get your fanclub off your back”
“Alright fine”, Achilles said, sighing in defeat, “I’m a sad, lonely loser who’s going to grow old living with 50 cats unless I follow your ever so effective dating advice. Happy?”
“Yep”, Odysseus grinned and started to get up, “Now let’s go shower before the change rooms get crowded”.
First period music was the same as always. Achilles, while forced by his parent, took guitar lessons since he was 10. Therefore, taking Musical Strings was a no brainer, getting tested on theory was a bitch though. Music class had always involved most people playing badly, some pretty well, and Orpheus outshining everyone by being a music prodigy.
Second period gym was pretty chill. The boys went outside, ran some laps, goofed around. Since Briseis’ second period Math Class was located on the second floor facing the field-and she always sat next to the window-, Achilles and Odysseus could waved and jumped until they got her attention. Always getting a wave and a smile back before her attention returned to the lesson.
However, today third period History was when real shit happened.
“There was a new student in my math class today, he’s also got history with us”, Briseis said a bit too casually as she took her seat between the window and Achilles, “and he was pretty cute”.
“Oh no”, Achilles groaned, “not you too”. He turned to his best friend, who sat on his other side and glared. Odysseus widened his eyes in a purposely bad attempt to feign innocence.
The seating plan in history was pretty great, it allowed the trio to sit together at the back of the room. There were three rows on both sides of the classroom, with four desks per row. This provided 24 desks for the 23 students in the class and a little walkway to go through.
Achilles looked at the desk located on the end of their row. It was currently holding Odysseus’ bag.
“Well I kinda feel sorry for him”, Achilles said to Odysseus, “he’ll have to deal with you for the rest of the semester”.
“Excuse you”, he said, faking offence, “he’s going to be grateful when I shield him from your bad breath”
Before Achilles could reply, the two teens were interrupted by a shy “excuse me”.
Achilles looked up and gaped in surprise. Holy shit. It was him.
He had changed over the nine years, had grown taller, had shorter hair, had filled out slightly. Yet he was still so similar to how Achilles imaged him now. He had that beautiful array of freckles splattered across his nose and cheeks, the same dark complexion that reminded Achilles of warm chocolate, the same breath taking hazel eyes that were currently staring at the ground while he nervously spoke.
“Sorry to bother you”, Patroclus said, tightening his hold on the books he was carrying against his chest, “this is the only empty desk left so…” He motioned to Odysseus’ bag.
“Oh no problem”, Achilles said before his friend could even make a move towards his bag. “Odysseus here was just moving”, he said as he pushed Odysseus towards the empty seat.
“I was?”, he ask, a combination of surprise and confusion on his face.
“Yes you were”, Achilles replied. Odysseus grumbled but moved regardless, giving Achilles a look that said he would expect an explanation later.
Patroclus opened his mouth as if he were ready to say something but decided against it. The teen set down his books and timidly took his seat between two of the school’s most adored boys.
Briseis smirked at Achilles, probably excited that her friend was showing interest in someone “new”.
“Hello, welcome to our little island. I’m Briseis but you already knew that. This is Achilles, and yes he’s always an asshole”, she said pointing her thumb Achilles and ignored the ‘hey’ cried from outrage, “and the guy who just got betrayed by his best friend is Odysseus but don’t worry he’s an asshole too so it doesn’t matter”.
“Why must you all wound me today”, Odysseus said as he proceeded to dramatically pretend cry.
Patroclus smiled at the antics befores introducing himself to Achilles and Odysseus. Then he turned to the blond he sat next to, “er, sorry this might sound creepy but, did you go to a summer camp when you were eight?”
“Yeah”, Achilles grinned, delighted at the fact that he still remembered, “How can I forget the person I spent the entire summer with”. The person I fell in love with.
Over Patroclus’ shoulder, Achilles could see that Odysseus’ eyes widening to the size of quarters from shock. Behind him, Briseis stilled, probably freaking out in a similar way.