Fluorescence ♛ tw/pjo au

IX

Everyone was herding to the dining hall when Scott awoke from his nap. His mind was filled with spiraling memories of his dream. Fire singed the edges of his thoughts, but it felt like smoke was clouding his eyesight. He jumped from his bed and threw on his tennis shoes and orange hoodie, before stepping from the cabin in a hurry. Being late to supper was actually a transgression and could be punished with dishes duty, which Scott in no way wanted. As he jogged to the hall, he saw Stiles and he sped up to reach his best friend.

"Hey, man, haven't seen you for three days, anything going on?" Stiles said as he saw Scott come up next to him. There was a shadow of dark circles under his eyes that worried Stiles.

"Kira and I broke up." Scott said bluntly. He glanced at Stiles reaction to see his friend take in a haphazard breath.

"What happened, are you okay?" Stiles asked cautiously. His eyes were framed with worry, but something else. It seemed as if Scott's friend was getting less sleep than he was. His fingers were tapping his leg and as the two were coming closer to the dining hall, his eyes were darting around.

"I'm fine, it's just a three year relationship down the drain. Why are you so hyper?" Scott furrowed his eyebrows at Stiles.

Stiles turned his head back towards Scott with a start,"What? No, I'm uh fine dude. You better take a seat, I'm pretty sure Chiron and Finstock are delivering some news." Stiles started to walk away towards his own table. "Come catch up with me like tomorrow," and with that he jogged to his almost empty table.

Scott shrugged to himself as he walked to his own, and it seemed that once he sat down, a booming voice began speaking.

"Children, quiet down please." Chiron's voice could be heard evenly throughout the hall as he spoke. "As some of you may have heard, we have received the next big prophecy." A collection of murmurs and gasps travelled around the tables. "Please, quiet down. We know that this prophecy will most likely be accompanied with a quest and a large battle, so we must prepare. Tomorrow morning at 7:30, I'm asking all house leaders and the three new campers to come to a mandatory camp meeting to discuss our course of action." He began to sit down, as best a half-horse person could do, as Finstock stood from his chair next to him.

"Listen up. We begin more advanced training tomorrow. There have been casualties in the past due to lack of proper training. I'm also going to send word to Camp Jupiter, see if they can help in any way. We need to be ready for this, and we need to triumph." He raised his fist as three cheers rang out through the campers. "Now please, go back to your meals, and don't bother us." He sat down and began to eat his ribs.

The general volume of the campers rose as the talked while eating. Allison and Lydia were sat next to each other and Lydia noticed her friend poking at her food, rather than eating it.

"What's wrong, Alli." She spoke softly so only the two of them could hear each other. "You've been like this for two days, and it's deterring."

"I'm a home wrecker, Lyds." She ran a hand through her straightened, dark hair and wrung her fingers out in her lap.

"What do you mean?" Lydia abandoned her food and grabbed Allison's hand from her lap. She squeezed and smiled at the girl.

"Scott and Kira broke up," she let out a sight. "and it was my fault." She looked up to Lydia with her eyes filled with utter disappointment.

"Whatever happened, it was most certainly not your fault Alli. Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Lydia wrapped her arm around her best friend's shoulders and nodded her head at another camper who offered to take the test of her food to the bonfire.

There were only a few people left at their table, and smoke from the fire willowed up towards the sky. Allison's voice became a small whisper. "I kissed Scott." She said with a soft whimper. Her eyes drooped.

"Allison, it was an impulse action, and who knows, it might turn out okay. Just.. Calm down for a few days, it'll blow over. I swear Al." Lydia's voice was soothing as she placed a soft kiss on Allison's temple. Lydia didn't know what her life would be like without her best friend, and she wouldn't trade her for anything.

"I love you Lyds. You're the best friend anyone could ever ask for." Allison hugged Lydia from the side, smiling small.

At the Poseidon table, Percy, Annabeth, their two children, and Stiles sat. Percy and Annabeth were permitted to sit wherever, as they weren't technically campers anymore, and considering the lack of Poseidon children, they decided to sit with Stiles.

"Annabeth, don't you think we look alike?" Percy gestured between him and Stiles. "We must get it from Dad." He turned his head back to look at Stiles.

"I do see a resemblance." She chuckled then noticing Charles trying to put his food onto Aria's plate, she as distracted from the conversation.

"You know, you're the cabin leader of Poseidon, considering you're the only one, so you're gonna have to come to the meeting." Stiles took a sip from his blue colored Sprite, then continued. "Plus you're a new camper so you're double required to come."

Stiles rolled his eyes and looked annoyingly at his older brother. "You have a habit of telling me things I already know."

Percy chuckled. "I guess humor comes from dad too." He laughed sitting across from him and then Annabeth turned and told the two they needed to sacrifice to the fire.

Stiles begrudgingly stood and as he walked to the fire and scraped his portion off, he saw Lydia with a grim face as she stood from her table and began to walk away from the Hall. Admittedly, he had been searching for her bright hair among the crowd, but worry coursed through his veins as he silently left to follow her. He passed a slightly down Allison, but decided he should go after Lydia.

-

Lydia heard footsteps echoing behind her as she walked to the big house. She turned her head to see Stiles catching up to her, a few meters back.

As he fell into step with her he spoke. "What are you doing?" He asked with curious eyes searching her face.

"Nothing. Why are you following me?" She asked, crossing her arms and looking at the boy skeptically. They rounded a turn and stepped closer to the big house.

"I saw you leave in a hurry." He shrugged. "Why was Allison crying?"

Lydia's steps faltered for a few seconds before she cautiously glanced at the boy. She shook her head and continued walking. "Nothing, she's fine." She stated robotically.

They finally neared the big house and she climbed the steps quickly, hurriedly walking to the pinochle room. Chiron was the only one inside and so she cautiously walked towards him, Stiles trailing behind.

"Lydia. What are you doing in here?" Chiron set the papers he was holding on the desk in the corner. His brows furrowed in concern, his age showing in his wrinkles.

"I had a vision at dinner."

---

I know, I haven't updated in forever. Trust me I know.

Well this story is kind of kicking off into the action soon I think.

This is chapter 9 in case you can't read Roman numerals :)

Okay, hope you like!!

xxgabs