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[img]https://i.imgur.com/z0qC2gw.gif[/img] [img]https://68.media.tumblr.com/063be881586bcfd3f2d59f65681b03cb/tumblr_o2oqaw058J1u6cffmo5_r1_400.gif[/img]
[sub][color=slategray]Location: Mythology Class
Collab: [color=DC143C][b]Savannah[/b][/color] [@melissahart] and [color=6ecff6][b]Jacob[/b][/color] [@Legion02]
Mentions: [color=c66600][b]Trevor[/b][/color] [@Silent Observer][/color][/sub][/center]
[hr][hr]Savannah walked on air through the hallways; the redhead was in a fantastic mood and [i]nothing[/i] was going to ruin that. She had woken up early enough to have breakfast with her father before work, got a [i]great[/i] parking spot, had gotten a decent grade on her Calculus exam, and was even going on a date with Trevor tonight. All of those things piling on top of eachother made this Tuesday better than most. She thought nothing could top yesterday’s exciting events, but boy was she wrong.

Walking into Mythology, Sav greeted the teacher with a smile and wave and then proceeded to sit in her usual seat in the second row, third aisle. This course was one of her absolute favorites, as Mythology was writing based, and as most people knew, she [i]loved[/i] to write. Learning about different myths from greek and roman eras was fascinating to her, and she couldn’t wait to delve into today’s lesson, whatever it may be.

Jacob was heading towards class alone. After all his friends gave their less than educated opinions on his elective. He said he would just do Mythology for the easy A and appear deep towards the chicks. It somewhat satisfied the pack, who each went on their own paths. The truth was that he loved mythology a lot more. The heroic tales, the sorrowful tragedies. It was about beings greater than humanity itself. For the longest time, Jacob never understood how someone could believe in a god. Until he drove his bike through a thunderstorm. So for once he walked through the hallway with a smile.
 
One that vanished swiftly as Jacob saw one particular hair color. [color=6ecff6][b]“Shit.”[/b][/color] Was the only thing he said. Because, as fate would have it, Jacob came in last. Meaning there was only one more seat available. One right next to her. [i]Just ignore her. She can’t possibility know about yesterday already.[/i] He thought to himself as he walked past her and took his seat, keeping his eyes focused on the empty board. His smile was gone.

Savvy was so busy leafing through her textbook that she failed to notice the person who took the empty seat next to her. However, as the teacher began to speak, she looked up from her book and found her gaze shift to see who it was. And, [i]just her luck[/i], the one person she didn’t want to see in the slightest was situated at the desk directly to her left. Just seeing him seated there, not suspended after his actions yesterday, made the redhead’s blood boil. Detracting her attention from him, she directed her eyes to the teacher, who was beginning to assign the next assignment.

[b]“Your new project for the beginning of the term is to pick a myth- any myth- from your textbook, and analyze it with a partner-”[/b] The teacher, Ms. Langstrom, began to speak, but was interrupted by the student’s loud chatter- everyone was trying to find a peer to work with. The students always got incredibly excited at the promise of a group project, since that meant they would get to work with their friends. But, Ms. Langstrom shot down these hopes from the get go. [b]“Not so fast guys, [i]I[/i] will be selecting groups for this. You need to learn how to work with people other than your friends. And besides, by working with someone new, they may become a friend. Now let’s see… how about John and Kate, Rory and Erin...”[/b]

Savannah never got anxious about picking groups. She was a very amiable person, and got along with most everyone. But today, the redhead was praying to every single greek god that she would not end up with the boy sitting to her left as a partner. Closing her eyes in fear, she took a deep breath and hoped everything would be fine, but her heart dropped to the floor when Ms. Langstrom announced the next pairing. 

[b]“Savannah and Jacob.”[/b]

Jacob shot up from his chair. Jacob couldn’t care who he would be partnered up with. Half of the people here were freeloaders in his eyes. In the end, he’d have to make the report and do all the work. He was hoping the class was uneven. So he could just do it alone. Then he heard his name, combined with the girl next to him. Right then and there he wanted to jump up from his chair and just yell. But he stayed silent. It wouldn’t help. Ms. Langstrom was notoriously stubborn over her decisions, especially when it came down to groups.

So, surrendering to his cruel fate, he turned his desk a quarter to face Savannah. [color=6ecff6][b]“Guess the Moirai need to punish me.”[/b][/color] He somewhat mumbled.

Sav, begrudgingly turned her desk to face the blonde boy, giving him a look that could have cut through glass. [color=DC143C][b]“Yeah, I think they should.”[/b][/color] She replied coldly, opening up her textbook to the index in order to pick a myth for the assignment. [color=DC143C][b]“Let’s just get this over with so that we don’t need to talk to each other more than we have to.”[/b][/color] Sav looked back up at Jacob. [color=DC143C][b]“You got anything in mind, Hades?”[/b][/color]

Faking a pained face, he said: [color=6ecff6][b]“Oh, god of the underworld. That hurts.”[/b][/color] Though inwardly he took it more as a compliment. Hades was so much more than just the king below. He himself turned to his book as he threw it open on a random page. He wasn’t going to start having a discussion about which myth they’d take. There were hundreds, each with their obvious lessons and hidden teachings. Something he would love to do, just not with Savannah. [color=6ecff6][b]“What do you think, Hera.”[/b][/color] He rebutted then. [color=6ecff6][b]“The contest of Poseidon and Athena?”[/b][/color] The book had opened on that very myth. It looked short, but looks could deceive.

Savannah gave Jacob a fake smile at his nickname for her; she was more of an Athena than a Hera but beggars can’t be choosers. [color=DC143C][b]“Sure, that works.”[/b][/color] She stated, trying to get a glimpse of what page he was on, but couldn’t see for the fact she was trying to stay as far away from him as she could. [color=DC143C][b]“What page are you on? And don’t do it for me, I don’t want your punching hands all over my stuff.”[/b][/color]

Well, he could either mope and suffer, or he could make it a little more entertaining. He wouldn’t make a friend here anyway, so why even bother being nice? Instead of just telling her what page, he reached over and threw open the book, leafing through a few pages for her until he recognized the picture upside down. [color=6ecff6][b]“There, the page. Do you want me to read aloud for you as well or can you handle that?”[/b][/color] He said tauntingly. Yeah, this would keep him somewhat entertained. Though he still hated that he had to share the class he was looking forward to the most with someone that would ruin it for him if she could.

Sav glared at him, daggers even sharper than they were before. [color=DC143C][b]“Don’t, you, [i]dare[/i] put your hands anywhere near me.”[/b][/color] Noticing that Ms. Langstrom was making rounds, Sav jumped into character, pretending that she and Jacob were getting along famously. [color=DC143C][b]“So the myth goes that both Poseidon and Athena wanted to be the patron deity of a new city state, what we know today as Athens…”[/b][/color] As soon as Ms. Langstrom turned in the other direction towards different groups, Sav let the front disappear and spoke to Jacob as she was before. [color=DC143C][b]“I don’t know what the hell happened on the field yesterday, but I know that tackling someone like that during a tryout is[i] anything[/i] but normal.”[/b][/color]

Jacob only spotted Ms. Langstrom a second later. So Savannah suddenly talking all friendly confused him. Why was she suddenly so nice and focused on the myth? Then he saw the teacher nearing. Ah, well that explained. Jacob joined in, fake smiling as he read the story. Despite Savannah’s presence, he still wanted a good grade. That seemed to be an odd middle ground though. Then, when the teacher turned her back she shot her question about tryouts. Jacob’s smile vanished instantly. [color=6ecff6][b]“What do you even know about normal at a tryout?”[/b][/color] he dodged the question as he kept looking down at his book. He had to. If he gave an honest answer, he would just be digging his own grave. Once he liked Trevor. But the guy was in his way to so much more than just Captain.

[color=DC143C][b]“I know enough to realize that something was definitely off when you and Trevor started [i] attacking[/i] each other in the middle of the field.”[/b][/color] Savannah stated, raising an eyebrow in his direction. [color=DC143C][b]“What is your deal, Jacob?”[/b][/color] She begged the question as she began taking some notes on the myth, at least attempting to get some of the work done.

Jacob remained silent for a little too long, contemplating on what he should say. What he could say. [color=6ecff6][b]“Maybe Trevor couldn’t take a hit on his ego so he attacked me.”[/b][/color] Another deflection. But he was running out of them. [color=6ecff6][b]“Can we please get back to the damned myth?”[/b][/color] he asked a little more forceful than he wished. He still kept his head down, not looking Savannah in the eyes. Why would she just let it go? For once he didn't want to talk about football. It was just a means to an end. A way to get where he wanted to be. He couldn't deny liking the game. But he also liked the Greek myths and right now, he preferred to talk about them a lot more.

[color=DC143C][b]“I [i]highly[/i] doubt that.”[/b][/color] Sav replied, rolling her eyes when he demanded to get back to work on the myth. He started it, after all. Obliging, the redhead took a look at the text, not acknowledging the fact that her partner was refusing to make eye contact. He was hiding something for sure. [color=DC143C][b]“So in order to become the patron deity, Ceclops ordered both gods to present a gift that would be valuable to the new city.”[/b][/color] Sav glanced up- still no eye contact from Jacob. What was this guys deal?

[color=6ecff6][b]“Poseidon came first: he struck the earth powerfully and created a well with his trident. Immediately, streaming water shot forth, but the water turned out to be salty and not very useful for the population.”[/b][/color] Jacob continued reading the myth, trying to distract himself. She had a journalist's nose, or so he thought. She would try and try again to drill deeper. Like a pitbull, she seemed to be clamping down on it. Why does she even care? But that was a stupid question. It as obvious why she cared. The interview, her current ‘interrogation’. She had feelings for the Center player. The memory of the interview made him realize an uncomfortable truth. Damian and Trevor, they were nice, kind and well-liked. He would never have that. And that was part of why nobody would ever ask him for an interview. Not even if he became captain. He didn’t want to resent that reality but it still stung.

[color=DC143C][b]“Next, it was the turn of goddess Athena. Athena stepped forward, struck her spear into the ground and then she kneeled and planted an olive branch in it. This way she created an olive tree, as a symbolization of peace and prosperity on earth.”[/b][/color] Peace: something Jacob was clearly not well versed in. Sav was tired of his bullshit, so she didn’t say that out loud for him to hear, although she really, [b]really[/b] wanted to. Summarizing the last paragraphs, she looked up at Jacob, who was still avoiding her gaze. [color=DC143C][b]“Athena was made the patron deity since she was more impressive, and Poseidon was bitter and angry, so he cursed Athens and made it so they never got enough water again.”[/b][/color]

Jacob kept his eyes on the paper. He felt somewhat sad for Poseidon. Who just did what he could do. Peace, however, seemed just a thing weak people ask for. His father was a warrior and he felt like he was too. Peace, calm, it was good in small doses. But it makes people content, soft. [color=6ecff6][b]“You really want to know why?”[/b][/color] Jacob said, looking up from the book. His eyes burning with determination. [color=6ecff6][b]“Just put aside whatever you feel for Trevor.”[/b][/color] Well that was going to be impossible. Yet he could still try. [color=6ecff6][b]“He’s a nice guy.”[/b][/color] No argument against that. [color=6ecff6][b]“Do you really think that, after losing Damian, we need a nice guy as Captain?”[/b][/color] the defense team alone had a disproportionate amount of assholes. They were animals. [color=6ecff6][b] “He’s a good person but he’d make a terrible captain. So I need to be captain and he is in my way.”[/b][/color] While Jacob was many things: rude, harsh, inconsiderate. He was also spirited, confident and driven.

[color=DC143C][b]“A ‘nice’ guy as captain is much better than an asshole trying to be someone their not.”[/b][/color] Sav replied, brushing some of her hair out of her face. Yes, she liked Trevor, and that may make her a bit bias in Jacob’s eyes, but he certainly deserved the position much more than the boy in front of her did. [color=DC143C][b]“What kind of captain pushes down their teammates? A good leader supports their team and doesn’t bring them down- A concept that I don’t think you’re too familiar with.”[/b][/color] She stated coldly, looking back down at her textbook. 

[color=6ecff6][b]“Then educate me. What do you [i]think[/i] a captain should be?”[/b][/color] He said as he leaned back in his chair. Jacob felt like the girl had some really misguided ideas about leadership. It wasn’t all holding hands, making a trust circle and reading eachothers dairies. When you screwed up, you get yelled at. When you do good, you get a pat on the back. In sense she was right that a captain pulls them up. A real captain can make his team do things they themselves did not thought possible. But that did not mean it happened with a soft hand. It happens through tough training schedules, being pushed physically to the edge and to be willing to silence every voice in your head just so you can do what has to be done.

[color=DC143C][b]“Well,”[/b][/color] Savannah started, slamming the textbook shut since they weren’t even remotely discussing the gods anymore. [color=DC143C][b]“A captain needs to be someone who you feel comfortable going to. Someone who’s approachable, but constructive at the same time. They have to be nice enough to lead a group with compassion, but also strict enough to tell the team to buckle down and suck it up and-”[/b][/color] She would’ve kept going, but was interrupted by Ms. Langstrom walking over and beginning to speak to the pair. 

[b]“Savannah, Jacob, I would hope you two are staying on topic?”[/b] The elderly woman raised an eyebrow at the two of them.

[color=DC143C][b]“Of course ma’am, we’re discussing which of the gods should have been the rightful patron deity to Athens, based on the qualities they possess and the attributes they brought to the table.”[/b][/color] Savannah spun something up real quick, and it worked, as Ms. Langstrom walked away seemingly satisfied. 

Jacob couldn’t help but snort at ‘compassion’. Leading defense? With compassion? The defense brought the pain. Made the wall everyone broke themselves on. There was no compassion there.[color=6ecff6][b] “A captain also needs someone that can whip you into shape.”[/b][/color] Jacob added, as he picked up his book pretending to read. [color=6ecff6][b]“You think people will follow you because you’re compassionate? They will follow you because you’re the strongest.”[/b][/color] he turned a page, seeing the creation story of the Greeks. [color=6ecff6][b]“Even Zeus became the king of the gods because he was the strongest.”[/b][/color]