I'll be here forever

chapter 4

The tent was spacious, but not spacious enough for two people. It was most definitely designed for only one person to sleep in, which meant either Percy and I had to sleep on the same bed or one of us had to sleep outside. I flushed red at the thought.

It apparently hadn't even crossed Percy's mind, because he gently grabbed the backpack from me and started pulling things out of it. Clearly he was much more impatient than I was.

The contents just got weirder and weirder. Out came a lighter, a compass, a flashlight, superglue, a small notebook, a knife sharpener, a medical kit (along with a small manual), an actual extra-large space blanket, a metal water bottle filled with nectar, a couple packets of trail mix, a tupperware container of blue cookies (why were they blue? No idea), a thick book on greek mythology written in greek (which I snatched up immediately), two bright orange t-shirts with the same Camp Half Blood logo on them, a perfume-looking bottle that was simply labelled "Emergency Mist", a zip-loc bag of golden coins which I recognized as drachmas and another zip-loc bag filled with regular mortal cash, to go along with the tent, ambrosia, and yankee cap we pulled out earlier.

"Jeez, you'd almost think that backpack was bottomless. It's not even that big," Percy said, munching on one of the blue cookies.

"It's probably magic or something," I mumbled, turning the page in the book.

"Magic?"

"We got attacked by a half donkey demon cheerleader, and you're skeptical about magic?"

"...You've got a point," Percy nodded. He offered me a cookie, which I gladly took. While I was suspicious of the blue, it melted away as soon as I took a bite. They were easily the most delicious thing I'd ever eaten. Well, they were also the first thing I'd ever eaten, without my memories.

"Good, right?" he mumbled, his mouth full.

"Don't eat them all right now, dummy. We have to ration," I scolded him, closing up the container even though I longed to have another one myself. Percy sighed, placing the container back in the backpack. He fidgeted as I read, then decided to take a peek outside the tent.

"Hey, Daisy? The sun is setting."

I winced. That would mean we'd have to try and make it through the woods alive at night.

"Alright, we can use the north star to try and find some sort of civilization."

"How do you know how to- You know what? I won't question it," he shook his head and smiled slightly while starting to pack up the things to go in the backpack. He set everything back in there but the flashlight and the yankees cap.

"Here. In case your ears get cold. It's a little chilly," Percy handed the cap to me. My stomach tied itself up in knots as I quietly thanked him.

I set the book back in the backpack and tugged on the cap.

Percy looked up from shoving the two orange shirts in there. His eyes darted around the tent, like he couldn't see me.

"Where'd you-" he muttered.

"Daisy?" he asked, sounding scared. I waved a hand in front of his face. He didn't react, just kept looking around the tent.

"Daisy?" he said, louder, jumping to his feet.

"I'm right here," I said, confused. Percy froze.

"I can't see you," he said in a low voice. I stood to wave my hand in front of his face again, and realized; I couldn't see me either. Waving my hand in front of my own face, I couldn't see it. I looked down, and couldn't see my legs.

"I can't see me either," I said, almost as scared as he was.

"Where are you?" he asked, putting his pen back in his pocket. I hadn't even realized he'd taken it out. It made me feel cared about, that he was ready to run into battle to take on whatever thing he thought had taken me.

I placed my hand on his arm and he flinched.

"Is that you?" he asked, obviously trying not to freak out.

"Yeah. Why can't I see myself?" my voice was shaking. Percy reached up with his hand to grab my invisible one. It wasn't the time for it, but my heart went crazy, beating out of my chest. His hand was so warm, comforting. Percy holding my hand is what I imagined ambrosia would taste like.

"It's okay. I'm sorry I freaked out. I thought something had taken you," he said, soothing me. He pulled me back into a sitting position, his hand not letting go of mine. It was sweet that his first thought was that something had taken me, not that I had just left him.

"Now what happened before you went... invisible, I guess?"

"Um- I put on the... the hat," I realized. I reached my shaky free hand up to take off the yankees cap, and suddenly I could see myself again. I could see Percy's hand in mine.

Percy sighed in relief, letting go of my hand. I missed it, but tried to convince myself I didn't.

"Okay, note to self; do not put on the hat unless it is absolutely necessary," he laughed nervously.

"Yeah. Yeah, good plan. That was terrifying," I shook my head and shoved the cap into my sweatshirt pocket. As scary as it was, it could prove very useful.

Percy shook off the few seconds of terror that he'd just displayed and fell back into his easygoing manner. I knew we hardly knew each other, but I couldn't help but wonder what might've happened if something had actually taken me.

I wouldn't be surprised if he ripped them apart.