Leftovers (Open)

I forked a pile of pierogies into my mouth, the sweet sensation of the cheese and potatoes melting into my mouth with every bit and sending electricity through my taste buds. I was hunched over with my shaggy hair draped over my eyes as shoveled more into my mouth.
I need to get a hair cut. I thought as I lifted my head back so they would stop curtaining my vision. My attention shifted when I heard a loud hiss against my ears. I looked over to the source of the noise and to my surprise I saw Brinley pouring water into the brazier. Other heads were turned and I could hear whispers throughout some tables as they glanced back at her. I smiled as I finished chewing my food and swallowed.
"That's not a half bad idea." I muttered out.
If Zeus took something away from me, then I deserve to pour hot water into his face. I stood up with my plate and my cup. The usual root beer that had been sitting in it turned translucent. The line up was short and when it was my turn, I tossed a pierogi half-heartedly in the flame, and then poured the cup of water in. It sizzled as it evaporated in the brazier and the air turned humid. I grinned and laughed in excitement.
"I think you created a trend." I titled my head over in Brinley's direction with a smile plastered on my face and my eyes fixed on the water vapour.

I looked over to meet Brinley's steely blue eyes.
"What are they going to do about it?" It seemed like a challenge, although I wasn't sure who that was directed to.
I took a deep breath. It was this type of thinking that got me into trouble on the last quest. Anger and Luke Fleming didn't mix well together, like a bad tasting cocktail.
"You're right. I should only mildly provoke them." I whispered apologetically to Brinley until I realized her attention was elsewhere.
I followed her gaze to the rest of the dining tables filled with demigods. Most of them averted eye contact and went back to their food, but others kept staring. I scrunched my nose up. I hated it when people stared at me in a negative light, it brought up too many bad memories from middle school. These were all people who I respected too, even the Ares cabin who were probably staring too hard. I stuck my tongue out at them and muttered 'butt faces,' under my breath like how a normal and mature person would handle this situation.
"Man I'll just eat out in the strawberry fields or something, you guys are making me uncomfortable." I mumbled in response to them, but in a low tone so they didn't have to hear me.

I shuffled away from the brazier to give more room to the line of campers scraping off their food to the gods. I noticed the look Anna gave me, either intentional or unintentional and decided my words needed a better explanation.
"Nah I'm serious. I'd rather just eat at the strawberry fields, if you want to come with." I offered.
I hated being alone at the Zeus cabin, and I'd find any excuse to eat with company, even if it meant losing my marshmallow privileges or being turned into a cactus or whatever Mr.D had up his tiger-print sleeve. Brinley's question made me think of Zeus. I'd have never met him in person, but once in a while I had visions. Sometimes he even felt a little bit more inclined to send out a messenger eagle, once he even sent a goddess over to me. I would have felt amazed that the great king of the gods took notice in his son, if it wasn't for the way he noticed me.
"The way Zeus just sends me signs or messengers." I spoke in a lower, hushed voice. "They're never hopeful or caring. He just makes sure to know how disappointing he is in me, as if I was supposed to want to meet the expectations of a father I never had. As if I owe him for just existing."
I tentatively looked at the sky, I wanted to yell at him for how lousy he was. To leave me alone just as he had been doing all my life previous to discovering I was a demigod. I wanted my blood to boil and my teeth to clench and my voice so loud it could be heard from the orphanage I had been put into back at New York City. Instead, a waved of exhaustion took over my body. Brinley was just asking a question, she didn't need a life story in return. I always talked too much about personal subjects and needed to learn how to cool it.
"How about you? What's your motivation for getting zapped out of the sky?" My eyes drifted back down towards Brinley's, eager to hear someone else's angst other than my own.
I grabbed a pierogie from the plate I was holding and brought it to my mouth, hoping Brinley didn't mind I ate while she talked.