The Gate

He smiled at me. Gosh, his smile warmed my heart. ''Well,'' I started, '' my dad. How could I say this? He is a… uncommunicative person. Particularly with me. He just says good evening and goodnight. Yeah. That's basically it. Well I don't remember the last time we had a two sentence conversation, but he gives me money on my birthday. I think that kinda counts.'' I made my life sound miserable, I thought. Man, it is miserable. I grimaced.

Alex looked at me, and said, ''in some way I think we're the same. Except that Plutus, the God of Wealth, blessed me with a fat bank account which I can only take ten dollars a day and a hundred on my birthday. Until I'm eighteen I think it'll be fifty per day.''

''Really?'' This was unbelievable. Please, someone wake me up.

''Yeah. Once I prayed hard enough and sacrificed an old T- shirt he let me take seventy out.'' We laughed together. I was laughing at his madness. He was laughing well, I think at his life. He was rich.

A demi dude. Definitely older than me, has a fat bank account and I have a penny in my piggy bank. Grow up Eleanor please, I thought.

''Alex,'' I said. He turned around attentively looking in my eyes. I tried to hold eye contact, but he was too gorgeous it's impossible. '' What should I do now?'' He continued staring with his dreamy eyes. ''I mean. Gods. Like they're real. Right?'' He nodded. ''How does their religion work?'' He laughed at me. Ain't no man gonna laugh at me even though they hot, I thought. ''Excuse me? Did I miss something?'' I felt offended.

He shook his head. ''No. I'm sorry,'' He straightened his tone. ''Eleanor. Gods don't have a religion. You just pray or ask. There is Zeus, King of All Gods. He doesn't answer prayers much even rarely to his kids. You can pray to him or you can pray for the god of the element you want. He or she will probably answer shortly. If you need it so bad you can sacrifice something that you truly love or they truly love. Simple.''

''They love things?''

He nodded. ''They love human creations. Plutus loves fashion. Aphrodite loves make up. Ares loves weapons. You get the point.'' I nodded.

''I shouldn't tell anyone about this right?'' I foolishly asked. I wish I could take that back. Who is the god of regret? I need him please. I'm starting to believe that this real. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Someone has got to call the church.

''No Eleanor. This is the riskiest thing I've done in my life. You can never tell anyone ever. Because, one, they'll put you in an institution. Two, if you tell them my name their going to put me there too. And I really need to keep a low profile in my life. Please, Eleanor, please. I trust you.'' I nodded. ''I think it's better for you to forget all this.''

I jumped,'' No. No. I swear on that guy. The king. Zeus something. Yeah, I swear on him I'll never tell. I'm trust worthy. And I'm a geek like I have no one to tell.'' I didn't know how to act to convince a guy that barely knows me that I'm trust worthy.

I stumbled off the ground, stood up, and said, ''Alex Kane, I cross my heart and hope to die if I ever tell anyone about the existence of gods.'' I crossed my right hand over my chest. I would never risk losing this information. If I sacrifice something to Plutus and he gives me twenty bucks. I'll fly straight to heaven. If that even existed. Plus, I'm curious about Alex. I feel that there is more to him than meets the eye.

His warm smile appeared on his angelic face. ''Okay. Okay.'' He jumped off the ground and stood up. ''Can we go now?''

I nodded. ''But please slow down a bit.''

He smiled at me and offered me his hand. ''If you want me to keep up, you should probably hold my hand.'' I stared into his eyes. Should I take it? It's just a hand I'm sure it won't bite. His palm was bigger than mine. I hesitated. You know what, I thought, screw it. I want this guy. I took his offering. His hand was warm and mine was cold. ''Are your hands always cold?'' He asked. I nodded shyly. ''Then I should get used to it.''

My mind screamed. My heart fainted. Is he flirting? He is definitely flirting. I turned pink and nodded with my eyes in the ground. My hand was so small in his. It was warm now. I was burning hot from top to bottom. We were moving past the trees and bushes. His grasp was delicate and soft.

Holding hands, we were walking past the trees. My heart pounded in my throat. Our veins met in our hands. I can feel his soft heart beats in my veins. We were walking side to side. Our wrists were touching lightly. He was talking about something in this forest and something about Ares. I couldn't focus. My mind was running with thoughts.

How can he be so cool about holding hands with a girl he barely knows? Does he do this often? Is he an F-boy? Player, I mean. Isn't that illegal for a demigod? I thought. Anyways, I wouldn't let him play with my feelings. I started to slide my hand away. Alex noticed. He smiled and let my hand go.

It was awkward again. I think he noticed that I wasn't paying attention to his words. Stupid Eleanor. My face could never hide a thing.

''Are we close?'' I asked coldly.

He nodded. ''Just a few more minutes.''

''Alex,'' I said. ''Can I ask you something?'' The summer breeze was lightly touching my face.

''Yeah. Anything,'' He replied. His tone was kind and sweet, I thought. Is he really a threat? Isn't that what F-boys do? Try and enchant you with their beauty use you and then throw you away.

'' Who is the god of pathways?''

Alex smiled at me. ''Janus,'' he said. ''He looks after pathways, choices, beginning and endings.''

''You've memorized all the Greek gods?''

He nodded with a grin. ''Since I was five Ares made me memorize each and every one of them with their abilities and blessings.'' He sounded so down to earth, like that was a thing anyone could do.

''That is pretty impressive.'' When I was five I didn't remember which color was red, I thought. '' So, what blessing did Janus give you?''

'' I would have a happy beginning and happy ending in every new choice I make in my life.'' He was staring at the fresh soil.

''That is a really great blessing,'' I was trying to be friendly. Just to break the ice, but I'm not really good at that. He nodded. Man, that dude has a perfect and secure life. Why do I feel that he's not happy about that?

He stopped. The trees were narrow, but I could see it right there! There was home. Finally, thank god I'm here. I was overwhelmed with happiness. I started jumping a little. I couldn't keep hold of my excitement.

''Here is a gate,'' He said.

''What gate?'' There was no gate. All I could see was trees and little bushes.

'' Oh I forgot,'' he said.'' I forgot that no one can see it except for me. Here….'' He was making a gate shape with his hands,'' Here is the only way in. It's a pitch black gate with wide bars. Now I'll open it and all you have to do is to activate your emotions.''

''Okay,'' I nodded. He took a step toward a tree that was blocking our way. He passed right through it. ''Whoa,'' I said. Alex was on the other side waving at me. He was moving his lips, but I couldn't hear a thing. His hands were gesturing me to come.

I closed my eyes, and had a simple thought. Home. I stepped forward eyes closed. Heat instantly shook my brain. Something was pressing my chest hard. I felt that my ribs were on the verge of cracking. I screamed. My body was burning with heat. I pushed through as hard as I could. I could hear Alex yelling my name. Just one more push.

I thought of grandma. Her warm smile. It's similar to Alex's, I thought. Her eyes were honey too. What a coincidence.

Alex's voice cut my thoughts. I felt heat on my forehead. I opened my eyes. The blue sky struck my face. I was lying on the grass of our field yard. I felt like kissing the earth. I was home.

Alex was on top of me, shaking my shoulders. The pain was gone. ''Eleanor. Eleanor can you hear me?'' I nodded. ''Can you stand up?'' Gradually, with Alex's support, I stood. I felt dizzy and knelt on him. ''It's okay,'' He calmly said. ''You're home now.''

''I'm home?'' I asked.

''Yes. Yes you are. I'm right here with you.'' His tone made me feel safe. This guy is really good with his voice, I thought. We walked a little towards the house until I could walk on my own. As we were walking quietly towards the house, Alex said, ''you won't feel anything for the rest of the day. The magic's effect is gone.''

I nodded and said, ''Thanks.'' Curiosity was building up my chest. I couldn't bear to ask this one question,'' Janus made this?''

Alex smiled at me with a nod. '' Hephaestus, God of smiths, he forged the gate. Janus laid a spell on it.''

''Its hella powerful.'' I noted. Now were on my door step. ''I think it's time to say goodbye.''

''Is it goodbye, like forever?'' Alex was lightly kicking the soil. My mind let out a little whimper. Is it? What do you want? Eleanor decide, now. The boy is waiting. He is a demigod for heaven's sake!

''No,'' I quickly said. ''It shouldn't. I guess.'' I swear I could hear his heart thumping.

He pursed his lips and said, ''you have a number?'' I nodded. 'Do you have a pen too? Cause I can't take my phone to practice. Ares rules.'' I nodded with a smile.

I searched my pockets for the keys. I unlocked the door. As usual no one was home. I rushed to my pencil case in my room. I was walking to the front door thoughts seared through my head. Is this what I really want? I asked myself. My heart screamed hell yeah! My mind was quiet.

I inhaled, stood on the door step, and carved my number on his soft wrist. He gave me a small smile. I swear I could see his honey eyes sparkle.

We said our goodbyes. I closed the door and looked through the peephole. Alex jumped and said, ''Yes!'' He turned his back and ran towards the street.

I laughed hard. It felt like the first laugh I had in millennia.