Moonshine | p. jackson

1. the stupid boy who's plaguing my dreams

-*-*- chapter 1. the stupid boy who's plaguing my dreams -*-*-

Bullseye.

Slow clapping could be heard from behind Natalie, who's still holding her bow in position, brows furrowed in concentration. Dark auburn hair that fell out of her ponytail tickle her eyes.

    June Harlow, daughter of Apollo, and one of Natalie's closer friends. June had beautiful tan skin, brown hair, and sweet honey brown eyes. Natalie loved June's eyes. They were warm, comforting. They made you feel safe when you think you're alone.

    June came to camp two years ago, when she was 10. She made an impression on Natalie. Followed her around like a puppy, begging Natalie to teach her how to shoot a bow and arrow. Natalie didn't want to play teacher at the time. But it was almost like she didn't have a say in the matter. June was someone who got what she wanted, when she wanted it.

    June was unclaimed at the time, growing more and more bitter as she remained in the cabin with the children of Hermes and the other unclaimed. She was finally claimed last year, after being one of the reasons for winning capture the flag. She hated it.

    June found it unfair that she had to do something worthy to be noticed by Apollo. No child should have to work for their parent's attention. A parent loving a child isn't a competition or a game. Making your parent proud shouldn't be the reason they finally start looking at you, even if your parent's are Greek gods and goddesses.

    Natalie was the only one who really knew of June's resentment to Apollo and all the other gods, and she understood where it came from. But, unlike June, she never stopped trying to show herself to her mother. For if her life was going to harm her father, because her mother took a risk, then she was going to make every second of it count.

    "I have what? Four points on you?" Natalie jokes, walking over to June, a proud smirk teasing her lips.

    "Tease all you want, but I swear on all the gods that I'll beat you this summer." June takes the bow from Natalie's hands. She shakes her arms in jest before raising her bow, taking her aim.

    Just before she can shoot, the bell for lunch could be heard. In a blink, the sound of hangry campers could be heard from all around, ready to stuff their faces with all they desire.

    "Oh come on!"

    Safe to say, all camper in Camp Halfblood could hear the furious stomp of a sore loser daughter of Apollo and the victorious cackle from the daughter of Artemis.

-*-*- -*-*- -*-*-

She hates him. She doesn't even actually know him. But she hates him.

A true gift if you ask Natalie. Not even knowing a girl yet she already hates you. How does one manage that?

By showing up in her dreams, that's how.

She hasn't been able to escape him. Every time she closes her eyes, she gets stupid glimpses of his stupid face. This all started right after the winter solstice, and it hasn't stopped since. Not even for night. Persistent, she'll give him that.

Caused her so much distress when it first started happening, Annabeth almost exploded when she finally lost it at Natalie's brooding.

When Annabeth finally asked, Natalie could feel some sort of burden be lifted. She explained her not very informative dreams to Annabeth, and even drew her a picture of the boy. Though, if you ask anyone that picture isn't a very reliable source, with its stick figure body, and if you ask Annabeth, face that greatly resembles Mr Potato Head, but if you ask Natalie, it's the exact replica of the stupid boy plaguing her dreams.

Now, when a demigod dreams, it's important to take it into account. Demigod dreams usually always has some sort of hidden meaning behind them. But, in what world, is Natalie supposed to do with glimpses of a face?

There's no information in her dreams. Not even some secretive one that could take days to figure out. She has one face, and that's it.

The only thing she can conclude is that he plays some part in her future, and she hates that. She doesn't want to rely on some boy to be seen, but deep down she feels like he's the start. But she'd rather give herself to the Furies before letting some boy be the reason she is known. The reason she's seen.

The thunder jolted her right out of her dream. She doesn't like to say she's scared at the storms that don't even pass over the camp, but when it's dark, and you're alone in a wooden cabin, you get a bit frightened.

Natalie dragged herself out bed, though a bit sluggishly. Grabbing a jacket that was thrown on the floor, she put it on and walked out of her cabin. Cabin eight. A place for only herself, unless the hunters come to visit.

Natalie doesn't like to admit it, but she wished she had siblings. Especially when she sees the other camp kids with their siblings. But she knows it'll never happen. She was a once in a lifetime exception, and she'll have to get over it.

Natalie walked to the big house, a big blue house that she spent way too much time in. Walking there, she notices Chiron, a centaur, half horse and half man. He was in charge of watching over camp. Annabeth was there too. But that wasn't what startled her.

Racing over to the big house now, she notices two other figures, both looking like they got trampled by Chiron himself.

She first noticed Grover, a satyr who found her with Annabeth, Thalia, and Luke. Satyrs were protectors, looking out for demigods like Natalie. If they were eligible, they could get the chance to look for the great god, Pan, who's been missing for many centuries.

Finally reaching her three friends and the other lump of a body. She froze. She took in his face and knew. It was him. The stupid boy who's been plaguing her dreams for months. The stupid boy who will help shape her path.

She felt strange, looking at boy whose face she's memorized, who didn't even know who she was. He had dark hair, a baby face. Probably her age. He's was slowly yet not, passing out. She can tell he was losing consciousness.

"He's the one. He must be." Natalie whispered the words she never thought she'd say. Annabeth looked over at Natalie, hope evident in her eyes.

Natalie isn't the only one counting on this boy. Annabeth is in the same boat as her. They want him to help prove that they were worth being demigods. Worth being recognized. Annabeth and Natalie were two sides of the same coin. So similar that they were in sync. They spoke with their eyes, with head tilts. It was almost like their minds were linked.

"Silence, Natalie," Chiron said. "He's still conscious. Bring him inside."

The girls didn't need to be told twice.

— — — — — —

I feel proud. Go me.

I don't know how long I plan on making the chapters or how many there be but I don't want to think too hard on it or I'm going to end up hating this.

Personally for me, writing has to be something I'm excited and genuinely want to do, because once it starts feeling like a chore, I'm out.

So, I genuinely don't know how far I'll be getting, but I want to at least finish the lightning thief just to say I did.

Thanks for reading :)