greek gods in new york

16

The next night, a restaurant in Los Angeles.

"Three, two, one—"

With a bang, the Coca-Cola that had been shaken in advance was opened directly, and a full amount of carbon dioxide was ejected.

Hermes was wearing an expensive suit, but he was standing on the dining table, grabbing Coca-Cola, and "shooting" in our direction.

Everyone cheered together.

"It's not loud enough, boys," Hermes whistled, "We're celebrating our victory!"

Yes, celebrate the win.

Coke was spilled everywhere, even on our clothes, but no one cared.

I came out today to book the venue, just to celebrate.

we won!

In the impromptu speech in the last session, the judges gave me a higher score.

Because of Rocky's previous episode, the judges for the final are all new.The lady sitting in the middle is a bigwig in the education industry, and it is said that she has a good relationship with Athena.

"Both contestants delivered very good speeches," the judges concluded, "but personally, I prefer Miss Hawke's theme. It's safe to be conservative, but—"

She looked at me approvingly.

"I hope this year's and future contestants understand that you are standing on this stage not because you are disciplined or clever, but because you are capable and thoughtful, representing the most positive and daring side of young people .

"Please don't be afraid to speak your mind, even if it will bring controversy, opposition and abuse. Anyone can choose to act conservatively, but I believe that since you choose to participate in such a competition, it proves that you are courageous people.

"So this time, I will give Miss Hawke a higher score."

It is difficult to say whether there will be Athena's handwriting in it.

But no matter what, when the final score showed that we won Tianen Middle School by one point, the audience burst into applause.

There's even been a little turmoil on the Internet again, this time in a positive way, of course.

"Come here."

Pandora held the tablet and sat directly next to me: "Your speech video has been uploaded to Youtube, Nicole, look at how handsome you were at that time!"

"Don't, don't, don't!"

I quickly covered my face and hid aside: "Don't play it, please!"

Pandora: "Then let's hear how the comments praise you—"

Now I only hate that I don't have two hands long enough to cover my ears by the way.

Help, I'm going to be so embarrassed that I will ascend to heaven on the spot!

During yesterday's game, relying on my energy and enthusiasm, I didn't have much nervousness or embarrassment when I went on the court.

But getting off the stage is another story.

On the stage, he was aggressive, but off the stage, he was full of thoughts about what he hadn't done well.

Unsteady pronunciation lines, subtle speech pauses, and perhaps poor expression management, all of which were played back and forth in my mind.

Even after winning the game, I still can't help the thought of "I might lose face" from time to time.

Want to watch a video of your speech?

kill me!

"OK OK."

In the end, Artemis smiled and helped me out: "If I want to look back at the video of my speeches in the early years, I can't wait to destroy the materials on the spot. Let her go, we are here to celebrate the victory today, not to interrogate Nicole."

Huh, it's better to be an aunt, it's much more heart-warming than those cheap uncles, isn't it!

To celebrate our victory, Apollo and Artemis also took time out of their busy schedules to come.

Especially Apollo, it is said that he is still filming, but fortunately this time the set is in Los Angeles.

"Just go to the stage a few more times," Apollo added, "you'll get used to it."

It is better not to have this habit, I thought silently in my heart.

While teenagers can dream, my biggest dream was to be a football player.

What kind of strong woman who often speaks, or even a big Hollywood star, I didn't think about it at all, okay!

"If you want to let Nicole go..."

Pandora suddenly reacted: "Apo——I said Mickey, you send me some autographed photos, and I'm going to sell them at school."

Apollo smiled wryly: "What do you think of me, a cheating variety show actor?"

Pandora: "Ms. Adele's is also very valuable, and the signed photo of the Olympic champion is also very valuable."

Artemis didn't mind, she teased happily: "Did your adoptive father treat you badly in terms of pocket money?"

Everyone was talking and laughing, lively and laughing together.

Taking advantage of the chance that Pandora and the Apollo brothers and sisters asked for autographed photos, Rocky jumped out of nowhere and sat next to me.

"You're doing well," he scooped up a bag of potato chips from the table, "I knew you were fine."

I:"……"

After yesterday's game, Rocky didn't know where he went.

It is also because he is amazing that he can find the restaurant directly after losing contact for 24 hours.

"Still angry?" I asked.

Loki opened the bag of potato chips, still with that indifferent expression.

"I'm not angry, dear Nicole," he said. "After all these years, I despise my righteous relatives, but I won't turn my face at the moment of meeting."

"Blakey probably doesn't think so."

"That's him finding fault first."

Rocky delivered the potato chips to his mouth: "I never refuse a door-to-door delivery."

Me: "I haven't considered agreeing to Odin."

Rocky: "I love to think about it or not."

Me: "True. You're hiding something from me, yes, but if I want to know, I'm more inclined to find the answer myself, or you tell me."

This is the truth.

And I boast that I am frank and sincere, showing my most honest attitude.

Even if Loki wasn't moved, he wouldn't be indifferent, right?

In fact, he was indeed not indifferent, but he also did not pretend to be touched or want to show his true feelings to me as I expected.

The Nordic god of lies turned his head.

The light in the dining room was warm, and the warm light coated his dark blue cold eyes with a layer of gentleness that should not exist.

However, under this gentleness is undisguised examination and inquiry.

Loki looked me up and down for a moment, as if to make sure I wasn't saying polite words.

"Okay, Nicole."

He hooked the corner of his mouth: "Speaking like this, I have a somewhat responsible appearance."

Me: "Don't be poor with me."

Rocky hugged the bag of potato chips and leaned back on the sofa: "I don't. For so many years, no matter who I tell the truth, no matter what I say, no one believes it."

I:"……"

"It's okay, just promise Odin."

He smiled quite complacently: "Don't worry about my thoughts - then again, you are still not cruel enough."

"what?"

"Odin tricks you, and you can trick him too."

As Loki spoke, he suddenly became interested.He turned sideways, looking expectant.

"Pretend to agree to him first, and get the information you want," Loki said quickly, "When you need you, just say that divine power can't restore the effect of the golden apple, and he can't do anything about you, right?"

If Odin hadn't used Loki's motives to trick me into acting, his rhetoric would still be somewhat feasible.

I found out that Loki, er, this god, really has a TrustIssue.

Probably the more you lack something, the more you care about it.

Loki in Norse mythology is cunning and cunning. He has deceived countless gods and people, so when it comes to himself, he pays special attention to the word trust.

Even if it is obvious that he concealed it first.

"I do consider helping Odin," I said.

Rocky still looked indifferent, and brought the potato chips to his mouth.

He squinted his eyes and pretended to agree: "Of course! If you don't take advantage of it, don't take it for nothing."

Me: "But I won't ask for anything about you. He revealed the question to me, which is already paid in advance."

Loki: "..."

I smile.

"Let's be honest," I said, "you're just pretending to be silly because you really care about me, don't you?"

"Oh--"

Rocky just bit into the potato chips.

He chewed slowly, as if puffed food is a high-end delicacy worth tasting.

"Needless to say, my dear Nicole," Rocky responded with an exclamation tone, "I must care about you, we are the best couple on campus!"

Just pretend to be garlic!

I don't expect Loki to utter any truth.

Counting on the god of deception to reveal his true feelings?I might as well count on him to reverse Ragnarok.

It doesn't matter.

Anyway, I'm telling the truth.

Anyway, Rocky helped me a lot.

He must have his own motives, but I also benefit from it when acting towards the goal.

This is enough.

Even if his real purpose is to make a big deal, let's talk about it after he makes a deal.

Maybe it was because the teasing and running smile on my face was too obvious. Loki ate a few more potato chips and pretended that he couldn't hold it any longer, so he changed the subject nonchalantly: "Where's Meryl? How long have I been sitting down? Why didn't I see her?"

Pandora interjected in time: "Go to the bathroom, that's right, she hasn't come out for a long time."

Me: "Stomach upset?"

Pandora lowered her voice and came close to my ear: "Don't be on your period."

I thought about it and stood up: "I'll go and have a look."

It really could have been a special case, since we both dated very close together.

Thinking of this, I also dug out the tampons from the bag.

Bypassing the noisy restaurant, I walked to the bathroom door.

"Meme?"

I knocked on the door: "Are you okay? Do you need a tampon?"

There was no response from the door.

I knocked again.

After knocking on the door for the second time, there was some movement in the door.It seemed that Meryl said something in a low voice, but I didn't catch it.

Me: "Meme?"

Meryl: "——I'm sorry."

what?

what did she say?

I thought it was through the wooden door, but I still couldn't hear clearly.

However, when I raised my hand and was about to knock on the door for the third time, an inexplicable feeling rushed from my lumbar spine to my forehead.

Something is wrong.

I seem to have heard similar words somewhere.

It must be said that...

My heart sank.

"You didn't lock the door," I said nervously. "I'm coming in, Meryl."

As I said that, I unscrewed the handle of the bathroom.

The moment the door was pushed open, the familiar energy belonging to "that thing" rushed towards him.

I didn't feel Meryl's breath in the bathroom.

But she stands in it.

She didn't turn around until I opened the door and froze in place.

Meryl was still Meryl, she adjusted the mirror frame in a daze: "Nicole, what's wrong?"

I could only feel a chill starting to grow on my back.

The breath of "that thing" spread from Meryl's body, and after she turned to look at me, it disappeared without a trace.

A dreadful fact struck me:

Like the mother I never met, Meryl is a human possessed by "that thing".