Think Greek - A Percy Jackson Fanfiction

Charleston

"What was that?"

Amy swiveled around and bumped into Leo, who grabbed her arm to steady her. Leo was the one person she hadn't really talked to that much since she'd been here. He reminded her of embers, in a weird way. Not because they were dying, but because they were smoky and ashy but still warm and solid. When he touched her arm she felt a warm sensation flood through it all the way up to her shoulder. She must've looked a little confused, because the next thing he said was "Oh, sorry. It's the fire thing. What happened just now? With the wave and stuff?"

"Honestly, I have no idea," Amy said, "Just a minute ago, I could barely make a bubble."

"Well, it's more than I can do. Of course, my thing is fire. Fire and building stuff. My dad's Hephaestus," Leo said, putting his hands in his jean pockets and smiling softly. He was rambling, but Amy didn't mind. "Once we get back to Camp Half Blood, you'll get to meet all the god's kids. Except for Zeus and Posideon's. You've already met all of those. We hope. Honestly, the gods have so many kids it's hard to keep trac-"

"Everyone come down to the kitchen for a quick briefing on the plan for Charleston. If helping save the world isn't incentive enough, there will be pizza," boomed Jason over the ships loudspeaker. "And if that isn't enough for you to get down here, then nothing is."

Amy, Leo, and the others walked down to the kitchen and sat around the dining/important meeting table. Once everyone had a slice of pizza, Jason said "Okay guys. We didn't have much time to make a plan thanks to Amy's little push," he looked at Amy, smugly impressed, " so I had to come up a quick one. The boys will come with me and try to find the map to the Mark of Athena, and the girls will go talk to the ghost that's supposed to be in a park here." Everyone nodded in agreement, except for Piper and Annabeth.

"Wait a minute," Piper said, "you guys get to go find a map and do something important while we go look at a ghost?"

"It will only talk to female demigods. If one of us went, we wouldn't get any information." Piper still looked a little miffed by the situation, but let it go. 

The girls and boys went their separate ways. (The girls took advantage of their paranormal assignment, chanting "Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!" all the way off the ship.) When the girls finally did make it to the park, they had trouble finding much of anything. Not because it was well hidden, but because Annabeth wouldn't shut up about all the buildings. 

"Ohhh, very nice employment of turrets... someone worked really hard on all of this. It's beautiful," Annabeth would announce, looking as if she had just met her fairy godmother.

"Annabeth. Its a building," Piper said, "Let's go, we have to find this ghos... oh, no. You have got to be kidding me." 

"What is it?" Annabeth asked, taken out of her trance. All at once, the group saw what Piper had seen. A woman, decked out in her Southern belle best, came walking (is walking the right word? Gliding seems more appropriate) towards them. "That's no ghost," Piper grumbled, "that's my mom." 

Amy didn't know how to describe what she was seeing. The woman, Aphrodite, seemed to melt from one thing to another effortlessly. Brunette to blonde, blue eyes to green- somehow she was always shifting; but in a soft, fluid way. She was so gorgeous, it was enchanting. Aphrodite looked like everything Amy had ever wanted to be.

"Hello girls! It's absolutely lovely to see you here. Come, sit down and have some tea," Aphrodite said, her voice resonating loudly but still staying light and floaty. The four girls sat down tentatively, as if the table was about to get up and walk away. "Come on, don't be shy!" Aphrodite glided into her seat and motioned towards the food and drink on the table. "Help yourself." 

"Mom," Piper grumbled, clearly annoyed, "why did you want us all here?"

"Is it a crime to want to catch up with my daughter and talk about some of her friends? And some, well, more than friends?" Aphrodite shot a knowing grin to Piper and Annabeth. "How are Percy and Jason, dears?"

"Fine." Annabeth answered.

"Really? Fine is all I get? If I'm not mistaken, you and Percy are getting along better than ever. Do you think he may be 'the one'?" Aphrodite leaned in as she said this, placing her forearms on the table.

"As there happens to be a war going on, I've been trying to enjoy what I have now, which is Percy and my friends. I'm not going to push anything when things are going as well as they are. That would go against basic logic." Annabeth retorted.

Seeing that she was getting antsy, Hazel jumped to Annabeth's rescue by saying "I assume you haven't met Amy, the newest addition to the Argo ll?"

Aphrodite turned away from Annabeth and appraised Amy with a small smile. "I haven't. Hello, Amy. And you're not seeing anyone?"

"No, uh, m'am." Amy muttered, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the goddesses gaze fixated on her.

"With a pretty face like yours? Surely not. But don't worry, darling. I believe love has some big plans for you. Its funny how opposite elements attract sometimes. Dark and light, earth and sky, fire and water." The goddess grinned to herself and gracefully sighed. "Anyway, what's been going on with Percy, Annabeth..."

Amy lost track of the conversation pretty quickly after that. Aphrodite's comments had her thinking. Love has big plans for her? What did she mean by that? Who did she mean by that? Not to mention that comment about opposites. Amy couldn't think of anyone that was too opposite of her. She thought for a few minutes, repeating the words in her head. Dark and light, earth and sky, fire and- "Amy?" Hazel called over to her. "I think we should be leaving. We have to meet up with the boys soon."

"Oh, yes, the boys." Aphrodite beamed. "Have fun. I'll be seeing some of you soon." And just like that, she was gone. "Well, I've dried up all my mom-patience for the year. Come on, let's get back to the ship," Piper told the group. One by one, they peeled off and walked back to the Argo; their heads heavy from thought about Aphrodite's visit.