"This is me trying..." (Book 1 of the Storm Decology)

"I'm never gonna leave, remember, family"

I rolled my eyes watching Clarisse yell at Annabeth and Percy. I jogged over to them and placed my hand on her shoulder

"Clarisse" I warned, squeezing down on her shoulder with an impossible grip. She glared at me out of the corner of her eyes.

  "This is none of your business lightning rod" she grabbed Percy by the neck and drug him towards the bathrooms.

  "By the gods" I said following them.

  "Like he's 'big three material," she said as she pushed him towards a toilet. "Yeah, right. Minotaur probably fell over laughing, he was so stupid looking"

    Her ugly friend snickered. I stood by the sink ready to interfere as she bent his head towards the toilet bowl. He was fighting against it. Next thing I know the entire bathroom was flooded. I was pushed back and down by the scummy water.

    He was dry, how was he dry

    "How did you-" Annabeth asked incredulously.

    " I don't know" Percy said grabbing my held out hand to help him up, his legs shaky.

      We walk to the door. Outside, friends were sprawled in the mud, and a bunch of other campers had gathered around to gawk. Clarisse's hair was flattened across her face. Her camouflage jacket was stopping and she smelled like sewage. She gave me a look of absolute hatred. " You are dead, new boy. You are totally dead. "

    I hated clarisse . " Hey pig mouth " I said " maybe next time if you don't want to gargle with sewage water maybe you should close your mouth " they drug her towards cabin five, well the other campers made way to avoid her flailing feet.

    Me and Annabeth stared at Percy. I wasn't angry, I don't know about Annabeth, she looked pretty angry.

   "What?" Percy demanded. "What are you thinking?"

    Annabeth was scowling at Percy, I elbowed her heart in the shoulder. " I myself and thinking that we want you on our team for capture the flag Perseus" I added with a sneer.

    Percy looked at Annabeth. " Was that meant to sound as backhanded as it did?" Percy asked, narrowing his eyes at me as I simply smirked.

      I sat on my bed in Zeus's cabin, wringing out my shirt. " I did it again," I whispered "I need to be in control of it, I can't hurt people"

      I sat at the base of the lone pine tree that guarded our dear camp."I need your help" I murmured tracing the lines of the rough bark with my fingers, "I need you"

      I heard a thump as Luke said next to me also laying on the tree. " She'd be proud of you ya know, you're brave and you're just like her"

      I scoffed "I'm not though, she's the only one that can help me"

      "I'm here for you Vicky" Luke said, exasperated "I'm never gonna leave, remember, family"

      "Family"

      *Flashback*

     "Thalia" I whispered into the dark.

     "Thalia's not here Vicky, she's getting some food" Luke said covering me up with the sleeping bag again "go back to sleep"

    "I need Thalia, she helps me go to sleep" I tried whispering quietly making sure I wouldn't wake up Annie

   "Can I hug you?" Luke asked. I couldn't see him in the dark.

    "Where are you?"

    "I'm right here" Luke said, wrapping me up with the sleeping bag, cradling me to his chest. "Was it a nightmare?" He asked.

  "Yeah, I lost my family, my family died" I said, my body wracking with dry sobs.

   "Hey, kiddo," he said gently "I'll never leave you, I promise, family forever"

    "Pinky promise?" I asked sticking out my pinky.

    "Pinky promise"

   *End of flashback*

   The pavilion was beautiful. Central fire burned in a bronze brazer the side of the size of a bathtub. Each cabin had its own table covered in white cloth trimmed in purple. Only three of the tables were empty. I was the only one who ever sat at mine.

    I scoffed seeing Grover sitting at table twelve with Mr D and a few other satyrs, I didn't know nor did I care any of their names.

   I tuned out everything and stared into the woods until Chiron pounded his hoof against the marvel floor of the pavilion, and everyone fell silent. He raised a glass. "To the gods!"

   I raised my glass filled with diet coke. "To the gods!" I said unenthusiastically while the other yelled it.

   The wood nymphs came with food of all kinds "you said you wanted less food Vicky, so here you go" rose, a nymph I've known for a while told me. "If you need anymore, just ask for me ok?" She said with kind eyes.

     I nodded and smiled quickly, as I walked over to the fire in the middle of the pavilion. I dropped in my roll and cheese, the cheese didn't taste the same here, it tasted weird. "To Zeus," I said bowing my head "maybe if you would get the lightning bolt outta your ass id like you more" thunder boomed and I rolled my eyes "go ahead, strike me down, I dare you"

   When everyone had returned to their seats and finished eating their meals, Chiron pounded his hoof again to get our attention.

    Mr.D got up with a huge sigh. "Yes, I suppose I'd better say hello to all you brats. Well, hello. Our activities director, Chiron, says the next capture the flag is Friday. Cabin five presently holds the laurels." I rolled my eyes as a bunch of ugly cheering rose from the ares table.

   "Personally," Mr.D continued, "I couldn't care less, but congratulations. Also I should tell you that we have a new camper today. Peter Johnson." I slapped my hand to my forehead, covering my eyes as he screwed up Percy's name.

   Chiron murmured something.

    "Er, Percy Jackson," Mr. D corrected. "That's right. Hurrah, and all that. Now run along to your silly campfire. Go on"

     I dismissed myself and was walking to my cabin when I heard someone run up behind me.

     "Hey Vick" will said, causing me to freeze in my steps. "Are you ok?"

      "Yeah I'm fine" I shrugged.

     "No, you're not I can tell, I've been your friend for 5 years and you really think I can't tell when you're upset"

       "I'm just missing Thalia, that's all"

        "Are you sure?" I could feel myself starting to attract static electricity. I rolled my neck and bit down on my tongue.

       "Yes, I'm fine" I said through gritted teeth.

       "Back off solace" I heard Luke's voice say from across the way. He sounded angry.

       "Hey, hey I'm good, I'll go, I'm sorry for pushing vick" will said, holding up his hands and walking away.

       "What did he do?" Luke said angry, "you just have to tell me, I'll kick his ass"

       "He didn't do anything" I sighed " I just wanna be left alone, please?"

        His features softened "ok Vicky, if you wanna be left alone, I'll leave you alone"

        "Thank you" I said, hugging him and walking back to my cabin, where I would sleep alone, left to my own thoughts and feelings.