Chapter 2- Zapped

   Athena couldn't believe she'd gotten distracted by a squirrel. Of course she hadn't chased it around the school like a dog but it had gotten lost in the hallways and had asked for her help.

How could she have said no to a squirrel?

  So she'd stopped to help the squirrel find its way out and rushed back to the venue for her first class. Luckily, the teacher wasn't in the class yet. She didn't need that kind of attention on her first day.

   Athena glanced around the class and noticed it was almost full. She blew out a breath before walking in and reaching out with her senses to any form of supernatural energy.

   Almost immediately, she zeroed in on a raven haired boy who had his headphones on and was looking down at his phone. On his right was a blonde guy with his head on his table and on his left was a bag. Athena had seen her fair share of beautiful people over her hundred years but this raven haired guy beat them all.

   Remembering that she was in front of the class, Athena walked up to Raven boy hoping the bag was his. As expected, silence fell on the whole class when they noticed a new face in their midst.

   The guys gawked and there was the occasional low whistle while some of the girls sneered and others simply stared.

   Athena read their emotions as she sauntered up to Raven boy and almost smirked when she got to the row three rows before his own. Someone was curious, feeling intimidated and she could bet her ass on the pretty brunette with the cold green eyes that were giving her the death glare.

   The image of a green eyed monster that popped into Athena's head almost made her burst into laughter, instead she smiled at the brunette and continued walking.

   When she got to the empty seat beside Raven boy, Athena tapped on his shoulder to get his attention and was shocked by the electric feeling when her hand made contact with his shoulder.

   Apparently, she wasn't the only one that felt it because he jerked and turned to look up at her.

   "Woah!" was Darren's first thought when he took off his headphones and turned to see who had disturbed him. He saw her lips moving but he couldn't hear what she was saying.

   How could someone's hair be so red?

   Her eyes were so blue he could have sworn they were purple. And then her lips that he noticed had stopped moving were full and painted crimson red. Darren had never been so captivated in his life. He honestly felt he could stare at her face for the rest of his life.

   Recognizing how creepy that sounded in his head, he mentally shook himself and snapped back to attention to see the gorgeous redhead smirking at him.

"Sorry, what did you say?" He asked, finally collecting himself.

"I asked if this seat was taken." She said and gestured to the chair where his bag sat.

"Oh. No. It's not. No one's here." Darren replied quickly and mentally face-palmed himself. He needed to get it together. He took his bag as she pulled out the chair and sat down.

   The simple action engulfed him in her heavenly scent and he was 60% sure he was drooling. Trying his best not to be too awkward, he hung his bag on the back of his chair.

   He cleared his throat, turned his phone off and said the first thing that came to his mind.

"So you're new?" He asked and face-palmed himself again. Of course she was new. How did that question even come out of his mouth.

"Yup..." She answered with a smile and Darren knew his heart had started misbehaving again. "...the name's Athena." She continued and pulled out her notebook and pen from her cute cat backpack.

   Then she turned and faced him, her eyes sparkling with mirth as if she knew what she was doing to him.

   He forced his brain to function and said "Darren." then subconsciously offered a hand for her to shake.

   Before he could withdraw the hand after realizing how weird it probably was, Athena just laughed and shook his hand. Her laugh was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard and then there was that electric feeling again when their hands touched. He wondered if she felt it too.

   Oh she'd felt it alright and before she could make anything of it, Athena withdrew her hand and hung her bag on the back of her chair like she'd seen Darren do.

Darren.

   Even his name sounded strange and familiar at the same time just like the supernatural waves he was unknowingly sending out. The voice of a middle aged man interrupted her thoughts and she looked up to see the teacher entering the class.

"Good morning class." Professor Philip said as he dropped his notes on the desk in front of the class.

   All the chattering stopped and Darren nudged Kyle who sat up with another groan.

   "Good morning sir." The class responded as the Professor picked up a piece of paper and adjusted his glasses.

   "I apologize for my tardiness, I had a mild emergency to take care of." He peered at the paper he was holding and said "Now, from what I see here, it appears we have a new student in class today." Then he looked up to scan the class.

"Athena Hall?"

"Yes sir." Athena answered and gave the professor a smile and a high wave from where she sat.

"Hmm...I see..." The professor looked at her and wrote something down in the paper he was still holding. "Well, welcome to Ives High. I am Professor Philip and I'll be taking you in Advance Calculus." He said and put down the paper he was holding to pick up one of his notes when Athena nodded.

"Now let's begin."

"Yo, dude." Kyle whispered as he nudged Darren.

"What?"

"I might be hallucinating because I sure as hell can't remember what I took at that party last night but is it just me or is Ariel's hotter twin sister actually sitting beside you?"

"You're probably hallucinating because Ariel's a fish." Darren whispered back.

Athena leaned towards them and whispered "I might have traded my tail for legs."

Kyle chuckled lightly while Darren blushed.

When the hell did I start blushing? He asked himself.

   Athena smiled and went back to listening to the professor. She also took down notes although she knew they were useless. She wasn't going to forget anything the professor was saying but she had to keep up with appearances.

***

After the class, Darren packed his things while wondering if he should offer to show Athena around the school. Would it make him seem like an eager beaver? He didn't want to scare her away but he also couldn't deny the effect she had on him.

Sensing his conflicting emotions, Athena smiled. It was quite flattering to have a younger man like Darren behaving the way he was.

"I was wondering...if you'd like to show me around the school later?" Athena asked Darren with the right amount of hestitation.

"Oh! Sure. Whenever you're ready. Maybe lunchtime or after school?" Darren asked and did a happy dance in his head.

"Lunchtime sounds good." Athena answered with a more confident smile and stood up. "So, I'll see you around?"

"Definitely. Meet me at door of the admin office and we'll start from there." Darren said with a smile of his own and Athena almost lost track of what she was going to say. Almost.

"Perfect. I have to get going now, my next class is in 10 minutes. Where's the music hall?" Athena asked as she moved out of her seat and wore her bag.

"Right down the hall, it's the second door on your left." Darren answered struggling with the urge to sweep his gaze over her.

"Okay, thanks. Bye." Athena said with a wave and a smile directed at both Darren and Kyle who had been staring at her the whole time.

"Bye." They chorused.

"Damn." Kyle said when she had walked out of earshot.

Darren was just staring at her retreating form and didn't even hear Kyle.

Immediately she left the class, the voices returned.