The Best Of The Worst

CHAPTER 7

PIPER

That night, in Aphrodite cabin, the same thing happened as it does every single night. 

"Who do you like?" "Not telling! You?" "If I tell you, then you have to tell me." "Fine, then." "I like James." "From Hermes cabin?" "Yeah. That James." "Well I like his brother. Matt."

It went on for ages. Piper hated it. Romance, boys, beauty, magazines... It's all they'd ever talk about. 

"So what about you, Pipes?" Caity asked. 

"I... Um... I'm not telling." she replied, blushing. They would only tease her.

"I'll tell you who I like!" she insisted.

"Caity, everyone knows you like Angus. You're dating him." Piper said.

"So? Just tell me who you like!"

"This is stupid." she said, rolling her body to the side. 

"Spoil sport." a kid said, but they kept talking about romance.

Aphrodite's kids are almost all stupid. 

The next morning, as she was walking towards Hephaestus cabin to see if there are any signs that Leo was back, Caity approached her again. 

"Seriously, Pip, we can all tell you have a crush." she said.

"Don't call me Pip. And my love life is my business." Piper replied, annoyed.

"If it's Angus-"

"It's not."

"At least tell me his cabin."

"No."

"I'll give you $20." Caity bargained. Piper was getting annoyed.

Then Annabeth walked past with Kayne. She couldn't see, but Piper could tell that she was blushing and staring. Her heart beat faster than usual, and Caity squealed. "Oh my GODS! You have a crush on Kayne, don't you?" she asked.

"Go away, Caity." Piper said. 

She didn't have a crush on Kayne. She couldn't tell her who she really had a crush on. But she was surprised that it wasn't obvious. 

"C'mon, McLean!" she insisted.

"Shove off, Donoghue!" Piper mocked her tone. 

"Seriously. Who... Do... Y-"

"ANNABETH, OKAY?" Piper screamed, and her best-friend turned around after hearing her name. 

Immediately, Piper ran as far as she could. She ran through the forest and climbed up a tree, hoping no-one would notice her there. She was so confused, she didn't want anyone to know what was happening in her head. Sexuality confusion. She thought she was straight, but... 

She'd had a boyfriend before. She'd loved Jason. But she felt the same way about Annabeth, now. She was crying, hoping that Caity wouldn't tell, but she knew that she would. Through the tears, she faintly realised that a figure had faded into existence next to her. She looked like a fairy-godmother, because she was so fucking beautiful, like a fairy, she was a god (well, goddess) and she was, well... She was Piper's mother. 

"A-Aphrodite! What are you doing here?" Piper asked frantically.

"You called. Well, not directly, but you muttered 'Romance' and 'Love' under your breath a lot. I assumed you wanted to talk to me." the love goddess replied. 

"Mum, were you stalking me?" Piper replied.

"Maybe... What's wrong, sweetie?" 

"I... Why would you care?"

"Because it's trouble about..." Aphrodite made a big hand action that should've made her fall out of the tree, but she kept her perfect posture. "About love!"

"Fuck off, Mum."

"Don't swear. It's not lady-like."

"I'll swear all I like."

"Well, at least tell me what's wrong!"

"A-Annabeth... I... And..." Piper burst into tears. "I don't know..."

"Girl trouble? I understand. I've had it before." Aphrodite said, shushing her.

"You? Aphrodite? The most hetero chick I know? Bullshit."

Aphrodite smiled wryly, putting her finger to her lips as she faded away. 

Piper went back to crying.

Everything seemed like the goddess hadn't come. 

After a while, Piper climbed down from the tree and went wandering. After 10 or so minutes, she came across Bunker 9... And saw Festus. 

"OH MY GODS!" she exclaimed, running up to the bronze dragon. "WHAT HAPPENED?" she asked, and he clicked and whirred in reply. 

A familiar face came from the back of the dragon. 

"He says 'Long story'." Leo grinned.