Sacred

Ignored

Julia's POV
"Where's Gemma?" I ask Carter.
It's lunchtime and Carter and I just got our food and are sitting together. The other demigods around us talk and laugh.
Carter looks up from the hamburger he's eating.
"Oh." He begins.
"She's working on her sword."
"Still?" I ask.
She's been locked up in the Hephaestus cabin all day it seemed like.
"Yeah. She wants it to be perfect." Carter says.
I make an attempt not to roll my eyes.
"That's nice." I reply.
We eat for a few more moments, making small talk.
Eventually Carter stands up, I look at him in confusion.
"Where are you going?" I ask.
"I've got to go..... grab something from my bunk." Carter says, "I'll be right back."
I nod. I have a feeling he's not going to his bunk.
I don't know why he's keeping it a secret but I have a sneaking suspicion he's going to visit Gemma.
I glance around, no one seems to notice me.
I stand up and quickly leave the open air Dining Hall.
Carter is breezing through the tree and I duck behind them a good distance away from him. He's really fast, must be those long legs of his.
I manage to keep up with him though.
Carter comes to the 12 major god cabins and heads to the Hephaestus cabin.
I sigh, I was right.
I creep along the side of the building trying to find a window to peek into.
I eventually find one by the back of the cabin and look in.
Gemma is leaning over a bunch of tools and a fire.
She's holding (with gloves on) a object of metal that looks like a sword to me.
It's molten red though, and glowing.
Her red hair is pulled back into a ponytail and she's got a signature Hephaestus bandana around her head.
Carter walks in and comes over to her.
I feel my cheeks redden and slid away from the window.
I feel like they saw me, so I dive into the trees.
The door opens and I push into the foliage.
Being a daughter of Hermes, at least I know how to hide.
"Hello?" I hear Carter call into the vegetation.
I steady my breathing, making it shallow so I'm not making a sound.
Carter calls out for a bit more and then I hear him go back inside the cabin.
I let out a loud sigh once he's gone. My feelings mixing together.
I feel awful for spying and for being so awkward about this. But he lied and I have no idea what is even wrong with me.
Just every time I see him hanging out with Gemma I turn into a volcano.
And lately he's been spending so much time with her. I feel so left out, so useless, so ignored.
Before Gemma came, Carter and I used to hangout all the time together.
But now, even when we spend time together it's with Gemma or that's all he talks about. Gemma this and Gemma that. I think to myself. I glare hard, my gaze fixated on a tree.
I feel like I could explode.
What is wrong with me?
I ask myself, my angry face fading into sadness.
Tears sting my eyes and I fall to the ground, leaning against the tree.
Ever since Gemma came, I've been nothing but rude to her.
All this time, the week she's been here, I let myself think that feeling this way is her fault. When it's been mine. Realization hits me.
I am jealous of the attention Carter gives her. I think to myself. I'm the monster.
I stand up, dizziness falling over me. I scurry out of the trees and over to the Hermes cabin.
Luckily no one is around, everyone is still at lunch. I plunge into the forest and run until I see Zeus's Fist.
I climb atop it and let the tears come. I cry, and it's ugly, but at least I'm letting out all the bottled emotions.

"Julia?" I hear Carter say, leaves rustling.
I tense, wiping the remaining tears from my face. I don't want to look like I was just crying.
"Yeah?" I reply and begin to climb down Zeus's Fist.
Carter emerges from the trees, smiling with relief.
"I came back to the Dining Hall and you were nowhere to be seen. I was wondering where you were." Carter said, looking down at me.
I didn't know whether to be ashamed, upset, or happy.
"Oh I'm sorry," I say, my voice getting choked up with tears.
Carter touches my arm, and I lean into him.
His toned arms and broad shoulders are so familiar to me.
"Julia what's wrong?" Carter asks, getting both arms around me.
I bury my head in his chest.
"I-i.... I'm so sorry. I've been so rude lately. Ever since Gemma came things just haven't been the same." I begin, my voice sounding like I'm gargling.
"Shhh, Julia." Carter says gently, patting my head.
"You miss when it was just us. I get that. I miss you too, it's just that.... Gemma is new, she barely knows anyone." Carter continued.
I nod, trying to stop the sobs from racking my body.
"But you like her more than me..." I reply.
Carter pulls away from me so he can look into my eyes.
"What?" He asks.
"You've been spending all your time with her. Even when you're with me you want her. Just her... Gemma." I reply.
Carter is silent.
I sob.
"I'm right? Aren't I?" I say.
Carter looks at me, and I see his eyes are glossy, is he about to cry?
I feel awful, my face is a mess. I rush past Carter and run all the way to the Hermes cabin.
My heart hurting.
I run in and collapse on my bed.
I keep on crying, eventually the tears just run down my face in silence, their salty remains drying on my face.
I eventually go into the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror.
My face is red and puffy, the tears are dried on my face, my eyes are red and super blue. I look horrible.
I leave the bathroom and go back to my bunk where I spend the rest of the after noon. At dinner time, I don't leave.
My half siblings bring me back a plate before going to the campfire. They're worried about me.
I can barely eat but manage to devour half of the plate.
I sit there, listening to the camp singing songs around the campfire. I should be there. I'm calmed down by now, and I have nothing left to do.
I sigh, grabbing my jacket and walk out into the night.