AJ Hale & The Olympians: Son of Lightning

Chapter Sixteen: I Stab My Step Mom

                The next morning, I was gently shaken away by Thalia. She smiled at me as my eyes fluttered open. The morning sun shined directly into our tent. I stretched so hard that my bones started to creak.

"Sis...this bed..."

"I know!" Thalia said. "Insanely soft, warm, and cold at the same time. Gives you the best sleep of your life, and I've died and turned into a tree for seven years."

She was standing up, getting dressed in her Hunters gear. Bend over and zipped up her combat boots, then laced them. She put on the silver metal band choker around her neck, making sure it was straight in the mirror. Then she turned to me and stuck her hand out.

I took it, and she pulled me out of bed to my feet. She gave me a spare Camp shirt and extra jeans I could change into. My shirt had turned to ash in the witch's hut, and the rest of my clothes smelled like the witch's special marinade.

"How does the shirt fit?" Thalia asked.

"Perfect," I said. "How did you get a camp shirt?

"It's an old one of mine," she said. "Honestly surprised it fits you so well. I doubt it will for long, though. I bet when you get your growth spurt, you're going to be taller than Percy."

I chuckled. "I doubt that."

She took my hand and pulled me out of the tent. She kicked a stake on the ground, and the tent folded back up into the tan box the size of a pack of gum. "Come on, there's breakfast. Get something to eat before you save the world." She held my hand, leading me to the food. She grabbed a plate and filled it with breakfast food a Hunter had cooked up. She sat me at the long table and put the plate in front of me. "Eat up."

"You know I could have done that?" I said.

"Yeah, just let me baby you. I never had much of an opportunity to baby Jason. Let me be a good sister," she said, playing with my hair.

I sighed, "Fine... thank you for the food."

Honestly... I didn't mind Thalia babying me.

She sat next to me and watched me eat. "I think you might be taking it a bit too far?" I said.

"AJ, let me love you," Thalia said, pulling me in an anaconda-like tight hug. Little floating black spots appeared in my eyes.

Dakota was at the table already, more engrossed in a journal she was scribbling in than her food. Thalia nudged me, pointing to Dakota.

"What's going on there?" she winked.

"Nothing," I said quickly.

"Uh huh... same energy," Thalia smirked.

"Same energy? What are you even talking about?" I tried to hide my blushing.

"You two have the same energy as Percy and Annabeth. Before they were Percabeth," Thalia winked.

"Control your face, woman," I said and tossed a bit of egg at her.

"Thalia, we need your help," A Hunter came up.

"Ok, be right there. AJ, I'll see you soon, ok? At camp or the wedding," Thalia kissed my temple and ran off to help a few Hunters.

I glanced at Dakota, who was scribbling in her journal still. She was not paying any attention to her surroundings, almost like she was in a privet bubble all to herself.