I settled down under my covers, feeling the sand gather where my weight sagged onto the mattress. I had tried to brush it all off my legs before changing but found it clung to me like a magnet to a fridge. The little cabin was empty as usual, the rows of beds lined neatly along the walls, bare and vacant. I sighed, eyeing them and thinking of what the other cabins must be like right now. Each bed filled with a friend and sibling, full of snoring and giggling under the covers. It was like I could actually see the happy scene before me before it vanished, only leaving the same empty room as before.
I sometimes entertained the idea of what it would be like to have other siblings just like me. To have others who loved the ocean and could help me when I first came to camp. Tyson was great and all but once again he was gone. And he wasn't exactly what I expected for a sibling. I just wanted someone else who new EXACTLY what I was going through. But it was never going to happen, and I was okay with that. It just made me wonder…
With a tired yawn, I settled down under my covers, thinking about Thalia. Annabeth had once said we'd either be best friends or the worst of enemies. I couldn't imagine what this meant now that she was back. Did this mean I didn't have to be the person in the prophecy anymore? Was Annabeth going to ditch me for her now? I shook my head with distaste at the thought and tossed over to the other side of my bed. I could still remember the fear in my heart when I thought that Annabeth had been hurt. To find it was only Thalia was the greatest relief I had ever felt. Hmmm… I wonder why. I do hope Annabeth and Thalia don't get all buddy buddy now.
Suddenly a knock at my door startled me. I turned towards the door once more with my eyes wide, wondering who would be out of bed at this hour, and at my cabin of all places. Slipping out of my bed, my feet hit the cold floor and I tip toed over to where the knocking sounded once more, a little louder this time.
I opened the door and saw Annabeth wrapped in a blanket, the dark circles under her eyes evident even in the dark night. Her tired eyes seemed to be a replica of mine in gray. "Annabeth?" I asked, looking around the camp and seeing it was empty before stepping outside my door. "What are you doing here?"
"Just couldn't sleep," she sighed, clutching the blanket tighter around her. "Didn't know what I should d about it."
"I've been having trouble too," I said, leaning against the doorframe as she attempted to fall asleep on the spot.
"All I want is to sleep," she groaned.
"Me too," I said, running my hands through my hair. I had been almost afraid to fall asleep lately for fear of disturbing dreams and on top of that, even when I tried I couldn't fall asleep anymore. I didn't know if it was because of sleeping problems in general or what but I had tried everything. I usually ended up sitting on the beach and praying the Harpies didn't catch me. Annabeth just sighed again; looking like she wasn't in the mood to talk and probably in the same situation I was in.
"Want to come in?" I asked, gesturing towards the door. I was almost certain that she was going to hit me and tell me that was against the rules. Plus, I had kind of said it without thinking. Wouldn't this be awkward? I wasn't about to leave her outside when she looked so lost. I mean, we had slept right next to each other before on quests and such but…
To my surprise, she nodded and brushed past me with a yawn, opening the door to my cabin, looking so tired that she barely cared what was going on. With a shrug I followed, shutting the door behind me, knowing there was no explanation needed. When I turned around, I found that she had already lay down on another bed and promptly fallen asleep. She looked peaceful and untroubled and for the first time since Thalia appeared beneath that tree, the look of constant worry had vanished. With a smile and a shake of my head, I climbed into my own bed and closed my eyes once more.
