Chapter 30 : Cellphone

"Alright, it's been a long day today," Tekos announced to the class, "but we've finally come to the end of this topic. Please go through your textbook notes because this will definitely be a part of your final exam."

The bell went off and Persephone quickly began to put her books away. The entire day she could feel the eyes of her classmates practically borrowing holes in the back of her head, and didn't help that Tekos kept asking her to answer questions the entire time.

She quickly threw her bag over her shoulder and exited the classroom, walked quickly through the hallway, and out through the doors of the building to the outside. And just as she was about to turn towards Eris' class, he called to her.

"Persephone!"

The red haired goddess stopped and sighed. She really didn't want people thinking Tekos and her were a thing, her mother would go ballistic if she found out. And besides, being the center of attention because everyone thought she had bagged the hottest student lecturer on campus was really not what she wanted.

Tekos did a little jog towards Persephone and smiled brightly when she turned to face him. It was like she got prettier and prettier everyday.

"Hey Persephone," the satyr spoke while trying to catch his breath. "Wow you really move quick, have you ever thought about running track."

Persephone giggle nervously and hid her face behind her hair from the passerbys who were smiling at them as they talked.

"Sorry about that Tekos," she muttered. "I'm actually in a bit of a rush right now, I was supposed to meet up with Eris after school."

"Really? I thought Eris' class got off a while ago?"

Damn it! That's right, Eris always got off class an hour early on Mondays.

"Yes!" The redhead responded, "I mean I have to meet up with her at home, we have plans this evening."

"Alright," Tekos pulled his bike keys out of his pocket and dangled them in front of the goddess. "Need a ride?"

"No!….umm I mean no thank you," she mumbled nervously while practically sinking into her voluminous hair. "I already have a ride today."

Tekos arched an eyebrow at the blue eyed goddess, "you do? With who?"

"With who? Oh, you don't know this being who most definitely exists, who I'm obviously not making up on the spot…"

Tekos smiled slightly, was Persephone feeling a little shy? "Oh really? Does this being have a name?"

"Pshh of course this being has a name," Persephone responded with an eye roll. "A very good name as a matter of fact."

Tekos took one step forward and flashed his perfectly aligned teeth at the redhead. And here he thought she couldn't get any more adorable.

"Care to share it with me then?"

Persephone took a step back and smiled sheepishly. "Yes, the name.."

"Mmh hmm?" Tekos inquired with a smirk.

Persephone looked around trying to come up with a fake name, but in the process of searching, her eyes caught sight of a black car she had become all too familiar with.

"Hades?!"

Tekos furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Hades?"

"I'm sorry Tekos I've got to run," the goddess apologized with an awkward shoulder pat. "I'll see you tomorrow!"

Tekos watched Persephone jog towards a fancy black car where an incredibly tall man covered in a trench coat, a hat and sunglasses stepped out and began talking to her.

Was that Hades? Thee Hades, god of the underworld? What was he doing at OU? And how did he and Persephone know each other?

Persephone tilted her head trying to recognize the man standing before her. "Hades is that you? Why are you dressed like that? It's a hundred degrees out."

The man pulled down his sunglasses slightly and gave her a big smile. "Surprise! Couldn't tell it was me right? Not only am I the god of the underworld, but I am also a master of stealth."

"Yeah because a sports car and a thousand dollar coat in the middle of summer is very stealthy," Persephone chuckled. "What are you doing here anyway? Do you have some work to do?" The goddess narrowed her eyes suspiciously and drilled a finger into Hades' chest. "Are you preying on college students?"

The man put on a fake sinister smile and leaned back on his car. "As a matter of fact I am, collage students are young, naive, and excitable. How could an old scoundrel like me possibly resist?"

Persephone chuckled and flicked the blue god's nose playfully.

Hades rubbed the tip of his nose before grabbing Persephone's wrist and grinning at her. "And just for that, you will be my first victim…"

He walked to the passenger side and opened the car door, "you can come with me willingly or…. Well you can only come with me willingly, anything else would be a crime I'm afraid."

Persephone chuckled some more before getting into the car. Hades closed the door and joined her a few moments later.

"So are you going to tell me what you're really doing here?" Persephone asked the god a second time.

Hades took off his hat and glasses, and nervously scratched the top part of his lip. "Well I just wanted to make sure you're recovering adequately. I mean you haven't been in contact all day, so I was rather concerned about your well being."

Lies! He just shamelessly missed her.

"Oh.." Persephone smiled and looked towards the windshield. "Well as you can see I'm fully recovered, I appreciate you checking up on me."

"It's the least I can do after what transpired the other day," Hades responded awkwardly.

She didn't know why, but Persephone felt somewhat disappointed with his reason for coming, it would have been nice if he maybe missed her a little.

"Persephone?"

"Yes!" The goddess blurted out, had she drifted off into thought.

"Are you alright? Your face is all red and you have red flowers popping out all over your hair."

The goddess covered her face with her hair and looked away. "Ha ha ha it's nothing! Is it just me, or is it a little warm in here?!"

"Oh sorry about that, I'll turn up the AC.."

The cool air now blowing on the goddess' face did actually help with her burning cheeks. Good Gaia, she had to get a hold of herself, she couldn't be crushing on Hades, he was a king, and probably had hundreds of women far more beautiful, more classy, and more experienced at his disposal. Why would he be interested in a farm girl like her?

"I'm sorry I couldn't contact you, I just-"

"You don't have a cellphone right?" Hades finished Persephone's statement.

The red on her cheeks returned, she was actually going to say 'she had been a little busy', but it seemed Hades already knew the truth, how embarrassing!

"I mean its just a guess," Hades added on after seeing the uncomfortable face Persephone was making. "There was no traceable contact under your name so I figured… umm anyway," the god cleared his throat before pulling out a small paper bag and handed it to the goddess. "I'm not familiar with the gadgets women like so I purchased whatever the lady in the store recommended."

Persephone took the paper bag and pulled out a thin black box. When she opened the box she was surprised to see a brand new phone within.

"A cellphone?" Persephone closed the box and placed it back in the bag. "Hades I can't accept this! It's too much!"

"Consider it as a thank you gift for not filing a lawsuit after I almost ran you over," the god teased. "Besides, it barely put a scratch on my wallet so don't worry about it. I bet your mother would love to hear from you more often than just once a week, this will make things easier."

Hades took the paper bag and removed the phone from its box.

"I already have everything set up for you, your phone plan is active and your number is registered under your name," Hades explained while placing the phone in the goddess' hand. "You are good to go."

Persephone looked at the device in her hands, this was the second gift she had ever received from anyone other than her mother.

"Thank you," she mumbled.

"Don't mention it…"

"So now people can just give me their numbers and I can call them on their cellphones?"

Hades smiled at the girl, one would think she had never owned a phone before. "Yes," he responded. "Petty neat huh?"

The blue god's eyes widened a little when Persephone handed him the phone.

"Is it okay if I get your phone number?" Persephone asked Hades with a shy smile.

Hades was having a tough time suppressing his excitement. He couldn't believe the first phone number Persephone wanted was his! I mean it was only logical since he was the closest being to her in proximity at the moment, also common courtesy dictated that she ask for his number considering he was the one who purchased the phone to begin with, but still! She had asked for his number, and that in itself was worth getting a little giddy over.

The god took the phone, dialed in his number and gave the phone back to Persephone. She quickly pressed the call button and seconds later, Hades' phone buzzed to life.

"Hello..?" He answered awkwardly.

"Hello am I speaking to Hades, king of the underworld?" Persephone asked the man though the phone, as if he was not seating right next to her.

"Yes this is he.." the god responded with an amused scoff.

"This is Persephone, goddess of spring," she added on. "Do save my number, and call me anytime."

Hades could have sworn he saw Persephone wink, and for a minute he felt what could be mistaken for a heartbeat within his chest.

"I most definitely will, thank you for your call miss Persephone…"