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It was because of a dream. Honestly, when was it not?
Melpomene apparently couldn't leave Genia alone, now that she'd finally found happiness, in a person who she knew wouldn't leave. No, it wasn't enough that her life started out like a Disney princess's, but she also had to have responsibilities now.
She and Thalia had gone down to Forsyth Park-- it was absolutely gorgeous, by the way-- in Georgia, nearly two thousand miles from California. It had been just about a year and a half since she and Thalia had met, and they both had celebrated at least one birthday on the road.
(When Genia turned fifteen, they went to see a movie in the theaters. For Thalia's fifteenth, they ate at a very fancy restaurant, and left before they had to pay the bill.)
But as they slept in a tree in Forsyth Park, close enough to see the fountain, Genia got a message.
Melpomene had appeared to her, in all of the goddess's six-foot tall, curly-haired glory, telling her that she needed to stop in a forest just outside Charleston, where she'd meet an enemy and an ally.
Did Genia have to do it? Probably. Did Genia want to do it? Absolutely not. Did Genia want to get smote-- smited? smitten?--? Also no.
So, she and Thalia made a plan. They'd stop in Charleston for resources, then head to the coordinates Melpomene so graciously provided. They'd put in minimal effort; just enough so that Genia could tell her mom, "Hey, I tried, at least."
They took a bus to Charleston, and the nearly five-hour-long drive passed by quickly, once Genia fell asleep on Thalia's shoulder. They'd been traveling together long enough to know the other's habits, and Thalia had been expecting it.
Genia blinked awake hours later, once their bus had pulled up to their stop. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and peeled a stuck piece of hair off of her face.
Thalia made sure she didn't stumble on the bus steps. This did not stop her from looking at Genia critically.
"That was a great nap," Genia groaned, stretching her arms above her head. "I feel dry, though. Like in my mouth and on my face, you know?"
