love comes first

putting the basket back down, he nodded. “i guess, but i don’t know if everyone considers pancakes to be ‘proper’ meeting food. i always assumed everyone expected like..casual snacks.” he shrugged. “like pretzels, or i don’t know.”

at her question, he smiled and nodded. “just came back from italy, actually. which warrants at least a week visit to my mother. and yeah, she does have a right to that. she just worries so much, you know? like i’d fall off a yacht while sailing or something.”

     “ pretzels? that’s so boring though. “ she laughed. “ you could always come use my oven, we can bake brownies or something for the meeting instead-make it more interesting. “ however, raina realizes she just invited him over after avoiding him for the past few years, turning pink. 

          for the life of him, leon couldn’t remember which brand of essential oils alessia preferred. he knew that it was bergamot & he knew that it had a black label, but he hadn’t expected to see three differen’t brands with similar black labels. when a buzzing, much like a mosquito, stole away his attention, he had expected someone needing help finding the yogurt not this. sizing her up with a cautious glance, he could feel the mortality weaved throughout her.                “perhaps. do you need something?” 

“Don’t be like that! I’m having a really bad time here. You should be offering to give me a hand instead of trying to add to my suffering.” He spits out in between huffs as it’s nearly impossible to make any progress with his jeans. “You did this to me in the first place, you should at least help me out.”

though slightly blushing, he was relieved that his little slip up may have resolved even a sliver of tension from the air between them. at the mention of raina’s grandmother, he gave the first real smile he’s given anyone today. 

“i know the feeling. my momma says the same thing with me and my brother. gotta visit home from time to time.” 

he lifted the basket to her eye level. “do chips count? i’m no chef, you know that.” eddie joked.

   raina laughed, she looked over the chips with a very serious look before nodding at the selection. 

    “ i think those will do. but maybe next time, something besides snacks? i know you at least can make pancakes. “ 

     there was something about his slight blush that made her stomach drop, as if she had dropped off a rollercoaster. it was familiar but spooked her nonetheless. 

Zander only laughed and easily wiped the water off his face with his hand. “And here I thought you cared about me. I’m completely heartbroken I hope you’re happy.” He tries pouting, but he isn’t able to keep a straight face before he’s cracking up laughing once again. “Suppose I better join you,” he says as he to tries to shimmy out of his jeans.

Zander barely had enough time to get out of the way before Raina resurfaced where he’d been only seconds before. “Wow, that was a close call for me. Your big butt landing on top of me might have actually taken me out.” He laughs before walking over to her, only slightly hesitant that she would try to murder him for ruining her hair. “I wouldn’t really call it swimming since I can touch the bottom with no problem.”

eddie didn’t know how much could change when he walked into that one god club meeting. for years he thought that maybe him and raina were just..done. that maybe the only interaction they’ll have is through social media or ‘a friend of a friend saw her in that place’ and ‘isn’t she your ex?’ kind of questions from curious people. he switched the basket he was holding from his left hand to his right. he’d been thinking of what to talk about for the last few minutes, trying to find one that could maybe last more than a few answers. he was relieved when she spoke up first.

“yeah, cherries are great. gotta love that fruit.” he found himself answering, voice going up a slight pitch at fruit, silently cringing shortly after. really? gotta love that fruit?

“You’re threatening me with a good time, too bad I’m like the only person you probably wouldn’t be able to drown no matter how hard you tried.” He laughs and begins giving her leg gentle tugs in the hopes that she would lose her balance all on her own self and fall in with him. 

“I knew my dream of making the US Olympics team was still alive and breathing. Lucky for you I left it in my bag or you’d owe me a new phone.” He grins mischievously up at her and before she can pull away he takes a hold of her ankle. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t just pull you in here with me.”

“I know what you’re going to say, ‘But Zander it’s not skinny dipping if you don’t take your clothes off first’ to which I’ll just tell you ahead of time that I was trying to take my shoes off and I somehow ended up losing my balance and falling into the pool fully clothed. Don’t judge me, I’m sure it’s happened to other people before me.” He calls out wiping water out of his face so he can make out who’s judging him from the edge of the pool. 

[ NAOMI SCOTT, SHE/HER]  RAINA DAYY aka IRIS has been a member of the God Club for SEVEN YEARS. This time around they are TWENTY EIGHT years old and a/an PRESCHOOL TEACHER. They ARE NOT devoted to returning to Olympus because MORTALS ARE SO MUCH MORE FUN AND ACCEPTING. Currently they only possess the power of RAINBOW MANIPULATION.