Chapter Text
Joel, Jimmy, and me had been best friends since the first grade. We lived on the same street and went to the same school. We were always getting in trouble and were known as the "bad boys" what a stupid name that was. I still hate middle school me for doubling down on the name.
Today was the last day of School and Joel was 10 minutes late to class. When he ran in the classroom door our teacher looked at him with a look of dispointment. This wasn't the first time he was late and I was sure it wouldn't be the last. He sat in his seat next to Lizze and ignored our teacher's heavy stare.
"Well thanks for Joining us Mr. Beans. Could you please share with us your excuse this time?" Joel shook his head. The teacher sighed and moved on with her lesson.
About halfway through the lesson I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. It was a text from Jimmy. He was in a different electives class that had mostly Juniors.
Timmy
Scott and Gem want to see
us after school
Tell them we'll meet them
at one of thier houses
Scott said we could
go to his
K tell him I'll be there
around 4
K
I put my phone just in time to hear that the teacher was picking up the homework.
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After school I walked over to Scott's, after all it wasn't that far from my house, and my mom wasn't home so I didn't have to explain where I was going. She worked so hard that if she got home from work before I got back, she probably wouldn't even notice I was gone.
When I reached Scott's house I knocked on the door. It took a moment for anyone to answer. Then Scott answered the door. He showed me do his dining room where Gem and Jimmy were sitting.
As I sat down I said hi to Gem who had just noticed I had walked in the room.
"So why did you want to see us Scott?" It was probably about Joel doing something stupid. He tended to be reckless and get us roped into the blame so he didn't take the full brunt of punishment.
"Its about your mom Grian." I was surprised. What could Scott have heard that I hadn't.
"She got a letter the mail yesterday that I think you might want to read." He pulled out a torn envolope that had tear stains still on it.
"Did you go snooping in my mailbox!" I shouted, slightly offended. Scott's eyes widened.
"No no no no, it was in the tree planter next to your mailbox, I picked it up thinking it was litter, then saw it was adressed to your mom, then I saw she looked upset later when she went to work this morning. I figured you'd want to read it, Gem saw the same thing so she's here. Also Jimmy's your best friend so I invited him incase it was bad."
I grabbed the letter and slid it into my pocket."Thanks guys, but I think I'll read this at home." Then I started my trek home.
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I sat in my bed with the unopened letter in my hand. Part of my couldn't bare to open it, there was only one thing that could make my mother this distressed. What I hadn't told my friends was this wasn't the first letter from him. I knew exactly who had sent it, I knew exactly what he wanted.
This was a letter from my father. I had never met him in person. He had never even bothered to call. Instead he sent letters. The only form of communication that wouldn't allow for immediate feedback from me or my mom. He never even bothered to sign them heck he even put a fake adress, which I didn't know how he got away with that but I never had the time to figure it out.
I didn't even need to open the letter to know every single word in it and at the bottom it be signed H.
I opened it,
Dear Grian and Charlotte,
I'm still sorry I couldn't vist for Grian's birthday last month but I do hope you enjoyed the letter. Anyways I just wanted to let you know the camp I told you about is still accepting applicants if you want to attend this summer. I would recommend that, and also I hear there are a lot of kids like you Grian if you want to tell them about it. I have a lot of work to get done so I must be off.
Sincerely, H
He always mentioned that weird summer camp. I didn't know what the name of it was but I didn't ask my mom,maybe she knew. After she got home from work I was going to ask her because this ended here and now.
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It was almost midnight by the time she got home. I sat in the kitchen waiting for her. When she walked into the kitchen she saw me and was shocked.
"Why are you up don't you have school tomorrow" she said as she sat down her purse.
"Its friday and also the last day of school."
"Oh yeah thats right. Well you can stay up late then." She started walking out of the kitchen.
"I saw the letter." She stopped walking and turned back to me. "I want you to tell me about the camp dad wants me to go to."
She sighed and sat down in the chair infront of me at the table. "Listen, I would love to tell you but its too dangerous."
"Well now I'm more intrigued then disinterested."
She let out a small laugh. "I knew you would be. Just let me get some sleep, I'm off tomorrow so we can talk about it then."
"But I'm supposed to hang out with Jimmy and Joel tomorrow."
She seemed to ponder for a moment, then an idea seemed to hit her.
"You know what I think thats perfect." Then she got up and walked off. Not knowing what she ment by that, I went up to bed.
_
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The next morning I woke up, got dressed, and headed straight to Joel's. I hadn't talked to my mom, but I figured I'd talk to her after I got home. When I got to his house I saw Jimmy's dad's car in the driveway, I figured Jimmy had borrowed it since he didn't like walking.
When I went inside I saw Jimmy's dad, Joel's dad and my mom all sitting in the living room. Jimmy and Joel sat together on a couch and looked over at me when I walked in the door. They patted for me to sit between them. I did. All three parents looked between us. Then Joel's dad started the conversation,
"We all have something to tell you guys, now we know you won't believe us when we tell you."
Me Jimmy and Joel shared a look between us. We were slightly worried for what was about to happen.
"The reason we all moved to this town was because it has a sort of aura that makes it a blind spot for the monsters hunting you."
We were dumbfounded yet he went on.
"You guys are not regular people, you are demigods."
No one spoke for a good 5 minutes. Then Joel broke the silence.
"Great our parents have gone insane!" Joel yelled, and started to get up, but his dad sat him back down.
"We know this all sounds crazy, but-"
"Crazy!? This sounds absolutely mad!! I think that you three have some how gotten into a shared delusion and are trying to rope us into it!!" I yelled.
My mother sighed and stood up.
"Listen we know this sounds insane, but don't you wonder why so many single parents live here? Or why your dad only ever sends letters."
I looked at her "I just assumed he was a shit dad!" I yelled back.
"No Grian your dad is Hermes! Thats why he sends letters!"
"What?" I said. My shock had calmed me down.
"Yes your dad is Hermes."
I stood there for a moment. Not knowing what to do.
"Prove it." I heard Jimmy say. We all looked over at him, most of us had forgotten he was there. Jimmy's dad looked over at the other parents.
"We have to take them to camp, its the only way they'll believe us." The parents seemed to debate it. Then they came to an agreement.
"Alright kids pack your bags we can leave tomorrow." Said my mom. I walked home with her and we were silent most of the way, till we could see the house. Then I had a question that needed an answer.
"Why didn't you tell me?" It went quiet for another moment.
"Because you wouldn't've believed me, like you just showed back there." I mean she was right, but she still should've told me.
When we got back I immediately ran upstairs to my room, and packed my bags.