More Than Just A Birthday

I smiled as I lead my cabin into the Pavilion (?) for breakfast.

Today is the day. Percy's birthday, the two year anniversary of when Percy and I started dating.
He was now eighteen, a legal adult.

Pulling myself out of my thoughts, I waved at Piper. She smiled and waved back, knowing the occasion. I'm pretty sure that if she didn't know though, her siblings would have drilled it in.
I quickly scan the Pavilion (?) and smile to myself. Hazel and Frank weren't here, but they were setting up over at Camp Jupiter, Jason and Piper were here, and the Hunters were here.
I had asked Thalia if she could come to CHB for the day, knowing that Percy nor her would want to miss out on spending the day with the other. I did not expect however, for Thalia to drag along all of the Hunters - not including Lady Artemis.
Looking around again, I noticed that only one person was missing.

Percy Jackson.

The person this was all for.

Sacrificing some food to my mother, I prayed to her to make this a nice day, and that the plans would work. I scraped off the juiciest strawberries and the smell of fresh paper and olives floated up. I sat down at the head of the Athena table and started to make light conversation with Malcolm, my brother, while eating my breakfast.

_~|*|~_

Waking up wanting to nothing else but crawl up in a ball and sob wasn't on the top of my wish list today, nor was having to face everyone celebrating a day which killed so many.
I sat up and got ready, preparing myself for the day of torture. While everyone else will probably be celebrating my birthday, I'll mourning the fallen.
The smell of salt-water attacked my senses as I got dressed, warning me that someone was coming. I just pulled on my khakis as my father appeared.
When I saw him I stumbled back, quickly putting a fake (though no one could ever tell it was) smile on my face.
We were dressed almost identically, both of us in khakis and sandals, the only difference being our shirts; I was in an orange CHB T-shirt and he wore a tropical tourist shirt.
He was in his 20s form, looking like he could be my brother and not my father. Our hair was disheveled and scruffy, the untameable raven-black mass looking quite messy, though his was more orderly than mine.
I met his eyes and blinked, I was staring into a pair almost identical to mine, his only a tad bit bluer.
I grinned at him, a plan forming in my head.
I quickly told him the plan and a playful smirk rose on both our faces. I averted my eyes for a brief second and when I looked back I was staring at the 18 year old form of my father, who now looked like my identical twin. I grabbed one of my fresh CHB T-shirts and gave it to him; he put it on before we headed to get breakfast.
Matching smirks were on our faces.

_~|*|~_

As I talked to my second in command, Malcolm, we discussed tactics for CTF tonight- when the Hunters got involved, tactics always had to be made in advance.
Slowly, all the conversations around us dwindled to a halt and I looked up to see what was going on.
I did not expect however, to see two Percy Jacksons walk in.

_~|*|~_

It was hilarious.
My father and I both walked in and all the conversations stopped. We continued talking and playfully shoving each other, pretending not to notice the lack of conversation in the surrounding area.
We turned around and waved at Annabeth, scaring the Hades out of her. Pretending to only just notice the silence, we asked her, "What? Is there something on my face?"
She just shook her head before face palming, going back to her conversation with Malcolm.
I internally laughed my head off and I think Dad did too. We walked up to the brazier and sacrificed our food, making sure that it wouldn't just go straight back to one of our plates. By the time we sat down at the table, neither of us taking the head seat to give it away; conversations had started back up and only a few glances were sent our way.

***

The rest of the day had been full of celebrations but I really just wanted it to stop. My father had left just before lunch, just saying, "Enjoy your birthday Percy!" And me laughing my head off as I got tackled by an annoyed and outsmarted girlfriend.
The rest of the day went by slowly, and all I wanted to do was get away from all the celebrations.
It's now 7:30 pm and I've only just managed to escape everyone.
I'm on the beach, lying on my back with my eyes wide open. I sit up and grab the small pile of pebbles next to me. I slowly throw each one into the sea, a rant in my chest. I voice it all, not caring who hears,
"'Enjoy yourself' they say, 'have fun!' How can I have fun on the worst day of the year? The day when they all left? How can I have fun on the anniversary of the day my world fell apart? How can I enjoy myself knowing that they can't? How can I do anything- no, how can anyone do anything on this day without feeling guilty, knowing who fell? How can they celebrate today when we almost lost? Why can't they see the way I see? Why don't they mourn them?"
I threw my last pebble in the sea,
"Why don't they understand?"
I turned and I walked away, not looking back at the sea. Not seeing the seven people in the bushes step out, not seeing their teary eyes.
I walk away from it all.

Today is more than just a birthday..
Why couldn't they see that?

A/N:
Well, I hope your feels are broken.
Happy August 18th! Percy's now 23.. 7 years since Luke and the others fell.
Anywhoo, there's the Birthday One-Shot.
1010 words.
Byee!
- Multi-Gamer10