My Boyfriend is a Dead Roman Hero | Jason Grace

I Get Evicted

There is no way that rug is real leopard fur.

Then again, if it is, a purple leopard probably wouldn't be the strangest thing Juliette will see in her life. Especially considering she's known to turn into a big monster on occasion.

Juliette glares down at the (probably?)faux-fur rug in the den of the Big House, her irritation rising with the volume of the shouts booming through the wall at her back. What's the point of going to another room if you're just going to yell? It's not like she doesn't know what they're talking about anyway.

The thought makes her slump inward self-consciously. She's felt tensions rising in her cabin ever since she first got here. The longer she stays there, the more the building itself seems to reject her - doors slamming, bunk beds tipping, clothing shrinking inside wardrobes without explanation (that one got her a week of silent treatment from all of her siblings). Silena tries to help. She says it isn't Juliette's fault, but even she probably can't help clean up this last mess.

It had been a regular morning. Cabin 10's inhabitants were all returning from breakfast to get ready for the day's activities. Drew had just gotten back from the showers and was taking up all of the space in the western mirror as she blow dried her hair. Juliette was lagging behind the other younger kids, as usual, so when she entered, she entered alone - leaving no doubt that the spark which leapt from the hair dryer and set Drew's bunk alight had been caused by her arrival. The fire had been put out no problem, but Drew's temper had not. She had snatched Juliette by the arm and dragged her to the Big House immediately, Silena chasing just behind in an attempt to deescalate somehow. Percy had apparently caught wind of the situation because he'd stormed in almost immediately after, and Chiron had sent Juliette out of the room so the situation could be discussed.

So, here she is now...trying to channel all of her frustration into that stupid purple rug. Is there a god of bad interior design? If so, he and Mr. D must get along great.

It's then that the door to the office slams open, making Julie jump. Percy sweeps out of the room, stopping a few steps from the door and pausing to scan the area for her. Drew follows right after, a smug smirk etched cruelly across her face. She does not pause, roughly shoulder-checking Percy on her way past and sweeping out of the Big House without a glance in her younger sister's direction. Silena exits next, turning towards Juliette and waving Percy over to follow as she approaches and crouches in front of Julie's chair.

"Hey, dove. Drew told us what happened," Silena's voice is gentle, but nerves are swimming in her dark eyes. "Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?"

Juliette shifts uncomfortably. She can't bring herself to meet her older sister's gaze, so instead she watches Percy's hands clench and unclench angrily by his sides. "I didn't mean to do anything..." She whispers.

Silena's sigh sounds tired. "I know, Julie." Shifting closer, Silena takes Juliette's hands in hers. There's a long pause as she considers her words. "Listen. We've been talking to Chiron..."

Like I couldn't hear you shouting at him.

"...and he's worried that maybe you just don't quite fit in at Cabin 10. And that's okay!" The fake cheer in her sister's voice makes Juliette want to cry. "He's thinking that he can find you a room in here! And that way you can make the space all your own, too. It'll be..." Safer? Better for us? Lonely? "Fun! I'll take you out of camp, and we can find you some nice decorations."

"This is ridiculous."

"Percy, stop."

"How is this her fault? Why should she be punished?!"

"She isn't being punished."

"Oh, bullshi-"

"Percy." Silena turns around sharply, glaring at him. "I know this isn't fair. But, if Mom doesn't want her in the cabin, there is nothing any of us can do about that. Now, can you stop making this harder than it needs to be? Read the room, please. You're making her feel worse."