The Ocean Arrow

It's Happening Again

Percy

(ToA spoilers!)

I was staring at the clock on my cabin wall, watching the second hand tick by until one minute passed, then two minutes, then three, then four. I yawned before standing up, and walking out of my cabin and into the fields where the sun shone too brightly in my eyes, the sound the campers shrieking and laughing too loud in my ears, my mouth dry from dehydration.

I was distracted. My mind wouldn't stop thinking about Star City. Were my friends all right? Did they find Prometheus yet? It's only been two weeks since my mom dropped my off at Camp Half-Blood, but I'm still adjusting to camp life. It irritates me how much I've been thinking about Oliver. I normally love camp and can't wait to go, but my heart wasn't in it. My friends in Star City were who knows how many miles away. I wasn't supposed to be involved anymore. So how come I can't get them out of my thoughts?

I could tell my distancing bothered Annabeth, so I tried my best to take my mind off things. My friends helped a lot with that, because I can't help but laugh hysterically when I'm with them.

Annabeth had summoned me over to the volleyball nets, where Piper and Leo were going one-on-one, hitting the ball back and forth. With the harsh sun cremating the fields and forests, and causing the ground to nearly steam, Leo had just taken off his shirt to expose his bare chest, while Piper had already taken off her tank top to leave behind her sports bra. Even then, I could see the drops of sweat run down their bodies. There was a heatwave here in Long Island. I don't think I could handle another moment in the blazing sun.

I plopped down in the grass next to my girlfriend, where I felt the blades of grass stab my calves. I watched the game between Piper and Leo, and it wasn't very eventful. Leo kept missing the ball by miles, while Piper was the epitome of volleyball expert.

The game continued on in the same manner until Leo lit the ball on fire and thrusted it straight towards Piper. With her fast demigod instincts, she swiftly dodged to her side where she fell to the grass. Looking at Leo with a pout, she grumbled, "Cheater." She stood up, dusting herself off.

In response, Leo flashed her a pearly grin and skipped off.

••••

Unfortunately, our other friends, Frank and Hazel, were so busy with Praetor duties back at Camp Jupiter that they haven't had a chance to stop by and say hello. I'm sure they've been getting tons of new campers, such as we have, these past few months, so I can't blame either of them as they try to keep Camp Jupiter as organized as possible.

I tried to do stuff to keep my busy and occupied. I taught sword-fighting classes with Annabeth, I led the capture the flag games, and I helped show the new campers around on a tour, but what I was really looking forward to was a quest, as much as I hate to admit it. But there was no prophecy, no nothing.

So everytime I saw Rachel around came, which was pretty often, I'd always ask if she had anything regarding a quest. After awhile, I stopped saying hello and went straight towards the point. I know she was annoyed by my daily annoyance, but I couldn't help it. I was bored out of mind.

But lately, I've gotten better at making conversation with Rachel before asking her if she has any new prophecy stuff that she'd like to share with me. This results in less arm-punching.

During lunch at the mess hall, Rachel finally got a prophecy. Everyone crowded around her as she spoke the prophecy. But to my dismay, it was obviously meant for Leo and Calypso. So you can imagine the look on my face when they went on their merry ways in less than an hour. Leo did pat me on the back with a genuine look of sorry on his face.