LUNACY; percy jackson

chapter 5

[act two; chapter five     -     tell me lies]

    She had, quite quickly, made her way to the Aphrodite cabin. Cracked the door and knelt before the bottom bunk of a bed, her hand reaching to rest against an arm. She scanned the room, searching, observing the sleeping bodies, the oblivious eyes.

    She whispered, "Eliza."

    The curly haired girl groaned, turning her head, rolling onto her side. Her eyes widened at the sight, then, of her girlfriend standing just feet from her bed. She scrambled out of her bed, hands grasping, always reaching, pulling Andromeda with her as she swiftly exited the cabin.

    "What are you doing? Are you trying to get in trouble? Tantalus will have your he—"

    "No, no." Andromeda shook her head, hands grasping onto Eliza's. "I—I just have something I have to do. I'll be gone for a few days, that's it. I promise."

    "It's him again."

    Andromeda seemed to stumble. Her mouth gaped. "What?"

    "Percy," she muttered bitterly. "It's always him. You always leave for him."

    "What—Eliza, what are you talking about?"

    The girl rolled her eyes, "You and risking your life again; having to go and do all this crazy shit for him!"

    Andromeda scoffed. Shook her head angrily, hands aching to pick and pull and tear her seams apart, to show Eliza what lay beneath her skin. "What's that supposed to mean?"

    "I mean how you always help him and Annabeth and Grover! How you so badly want to be the hero, the one everyone remembers and salutes after your showcase of bravery! You want to be the best Andromeda, you want everyone to know your name and what you've accomplished! You want to be this brave, go lucky, Greek hero!" She shook her head and spat, "To uphold your holy name."

    "No," Andromeda spoke lowly. "I don't!"

    She flinched, then, at Andromeda's tone. At her eyes, how they ignited with a fury that had been burned into her bones. At how her stance strengthened, how she stood unmovable. Unyielding. "I don't want to be some Greek hero. I don't want everyone to know who I am or what I've done. I don't want fame or power, I just want to live!" She subconsciously took a step forward. Her fists clenched against her side. She shook her head. Clenched her jaw."If that's what you believe, go ahead Elizabeth. I came here to tell you I'm leaving to help save the camp, our family, our friends, so that maybe I'll get to live to be fourteen. But it's not like you really care, right? I just wanted you to know, but I guess you just want to complain now that my attention isn't solely yours. So when I get back, when you realize how alone you feel, don't expect coddling or sympathy. You won't find any in me."