𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐔𝐄𝐋. pj & ac

IX.

𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖊𝖋

PHOENIX HAD TO ADJUST TO BEING ON A FAST-MOVING TRAIN.

The first day on the Amtrak she got so dizzy, her vision blurred and she felt terribly nauseous. She tried to remain stoic and unbothered but Annabeth noticed her holding her head from time to time and whining softly under her breath. The blonde girl made an excuse for them and led her to the bathroom.

"Ugh." Phoenix groaned. She immediately leaned on the sink and held her head in her hands. The world was moving too fast for her. Annabeth squeezed herself in and closed the door behind them.

"Do you need to throw up? I'll hold your hair." She offered.

Phoenix shook her head. "No. I don't think so. I just—ugh." She hissed holding her head. She smacked the wall harshly. "Can this thing go slower!"

"Hey." Annabeth grabbed her hand and lowered it. She held on and covered it with her other hand. "It's okay. it's motion sickness I think. I used to get it too...Just here, Can I?"

Phoenix stared at their hands intently, "Erm—Uh—yes—Sure, whatever. Do whatever you want—"

Annabeth nodded. It was a tight fit, but she maneuvered herself to stand beside her in front of the sink. "Ugh, these bathrooms are so gross."

Phoenix bemoaned in agreement, "It stinks in here."

"Tell me about it." She laughed, cupped cold water in her hands, and turned towards Phoenix, "Come closer—"

Phoenix frowned, she inched away. "Anything but that. Water and I don't go together...."

Annabeth's eyebrows knitted together. "Oh?" She looked like she had many questions to ask but Phoenix winced again."Okay. Okay. Plan B." She pulled her hat out. "You distract whoever's working in the dining car. I'll steal what we need..." Annabeth informed.

"Wha—" Phoenix furrowed her eyebrows. "You're going to steal?"

She nodded, "What other choice do we have? We can't have you suffering the entire ride there."

"We can't?" Phoenix asked.

Her face softened. "Of course not." She continued. "Look, I know we haven't gotten to know each other a lot at camp...And since this quest started. we've had our tense moments...But we have to have each other's backs if we're going to work together. Also...Luke is fond of you...."

Phoenix scowled, "What does he have to do with it?"

Annabeth shook her head and looked down. "No, Nothing. It's just if he trusts you, and is your friend. I think maybe we could be friends too..."

Phoenix felt dizzier. "I...wouldn't hate that..."

Annabeth looked up and smiled, She raised her Yankees hat and flopped it around. "Ready to rob some ginger ale and crackers?"

Phoenix nodded, she stood a little straighter. "How should I distract her? Ask her the names of all the snacks? Ask her if she has any vegan options? Insult the weird uniform?"

"Yes yes and yes." Annabeth laughed, "Oh gods this is going to be something..."

On the second day, Phoenix wasn't motion-sick anymore. The dizziness faded the more distracted she was. With Annabeth making small talk next to her—it was easy.

Phoenix's braids were falling apart when Annabeth offered to fix them for her. Phoenix shrugged in response, getting bored of chucking ginger ale cans over for Grover to catch and eventually munch on.