Sacred

Missed

Julia's POV
The car stops, and I bang into the seat.
It's around afternoon now, and I see we're by a complex of apartments.
"Where are we?" I ask Carter, rubbing my aching neck.
"We're at Gemma's place, she needs to get something's from her mom." He replies, Gemma nods at him.
I hear the car's engine cut off before we all get out of the car.
The complex is made of a red brick and has trees hugging the walls and big windows gleaming in the sunlight.
Gemma leads the way, to the entrance and then up a few flights of stairs.
I wonder how long this will take, I hope it won't be long we have a quest.
Finally, Gemma stops and knocks on one of the doors in the hallway.
After a few seconds the door opens, revealing a woman with bright red hair, like Gemma's.
Within seconds I can see the resemblance, the hair the eyes, even their smiles.
She greets us and hugs Gemma then lets us step inside.
I feel a pang of sadness, I haven't seen my mom in years.
Not since she was attacked by the monsters. Before I was whisked away to camp we were arguing. I wanted to know more about my father and she refused and then someone from camp half-blood showed up. She let me go but she wanted to go with me. Once we got near the camp monsters attacked. She was so scared and she had just left in the forest with someone from Camp. I haven't gone home since. I frown thinking back to it, she would do anything for me and once she left I didn't know what to do anymore. Hot tears slowly fall from my face and I look over at Gemma, her mom, and Carter talking in the couch.
"So you're going on a quest to rescue a peacock?" Gemma's mom asks and Carter and Gemma nod. I wipe the tears away and take a seat in a chair.
"I just need to get some belongings," Gemma says and her mom nods. Gemma stands up and walks to a separate room.
"So Ms. Stone how long have you worked as a mechanic?" Carter asks.
"Call me Ms. Nora. I've been a mechanic ever since high school," she replies and Carter nods," Now how's Gemma doing at this camp?"
"Amazing really. She's made her own sword and already knows how to fight," Carter replies and I bite the inside of my cheek.
"I see how you look at her," Ms.Nora says nudging Carter," She looks happy with you." I bite my tongue trying hold back tears.
"Oh no Gem and I aren't dating just really good friends," Carter explains then whispers soemthing. I catch the words," I do like her." My eyes start tearing up and I stand up.
"Where's the bathroom?" I ask and Ms. Nora points down the hall. I quickly walk to the bathroom and lock the door after me. My eyes are a light red and a bit puffy. I grab a tissue and wipe away my tears.
"Get yourself together Julia," I mumble to myself and hear a knock on the door.
"Julia you ok?" Carter asks from the other side of the door.
"Yea I'm fine," I say and come out of the bathroom. And he wraps me in a hug.
"We better go," Carter says pulling apart and walks back to Gemma and her mom.
"We have to go Mom," Gemma says and gives her mom a final hug.
"Nice meeting you Ms.Nora," Carter says and I wave goodbye. We exit the apartment then leave the apartment building.
"You want to drive or do you want me to drive?" Gemma asks Carter as I walk behind them.
"I'm driving Gem," he says and she smiles. Once we reach the car Carter opens the door for Gemma and I scowl as I climb into the backseat. I unravel the blanket from my backpack and put it on me.
"Do you guys want to grab lunch?" Carter asks.
"Sure," I reply.
"What's around Gem?" Carter asks.
"A lot of places personally I think we should go to Poppy's diner," Gemma suggest and tells Carter the directions. Soon we pull up to a small little diner. I slip my dagger into my belt loop, leaving my sword on the floorboard. We all get out of the car and walk in. We walk in and find a booth then sit down.
"Welcome to Poppy's dinner. I'm Lauren I'll be your waitress what can I start you out with?" A teenage girl with blonde hair asks. I look at her and chills run down my spine.
"Uh I'll take a water," I say.
"I'll take a water too," Gemma says.
"Ditto," Carter says.
"I'll be right out with it cutie," Lauren says and walks away.
"Something's not right about her," I say with a voice echoing me.
"What are you talking about she seems nice," Carter replies," Ouch."
"Snap out of it Carter," Gemma orders.
"Here you go. What can I get you to eat?" Lauren asks handing us our waters.
"I'll take a chicken salad sandwich," I tell her.
"Chicken burger please," Gemma says.
"I'll have a cheeseburger," Carter says.
"Of course my little demi-clients," Lauren replied and walks away. Gemma stands up but Carter catches her hand.
"Where are you going?" Carter asks Gemma.
"Bathroom," Gemma tells Carter and disappears behind the counter. I stand up and grab my dagger off of my belt loop. I follow Gemma and squat behind the counter.
"What are you doing?" I ask her harshly.
"I'm saving Car-us," Gemma replies and heads into the kitchen. Gemma grabs her dagger and flips it into a sword. She heads back to the kitchens and I follow her.
"Hey Gemma you can't just attack!" I shout and a tray goes flying at my head and I duck.
"You little demigods!" Lauren's body transforming into that on an empousa. Her donkey leg appears, her flaming hair, and the celestial bronze leg. She lunges at Gemma and Gemma slashes at her. I run towards Lauren and try to stab her but she moves out of the way. Gemma stabs her donkey leg but Lauren still stands.
"Get Carter!" Gemma shouts and I run out to the front.
"Carter!" I shout and he comes running.
"What- oh my gosh!" He pulls out his sword and Gemma and him start fighting the empousa.
"One of y'all set off the fire alarms please!" Gemma shout and I run into the dinner. The blaring alarms start and the sprinklers go off. Everyone exits the dinner and I run back into the kitchen to see the empousa turn into dust. I take a deep breath as Gemma collapses on the ground.
"Gemma!" Carter shouts and rushes to her side.
"She needs to stop passing out," I mutter as Carter scoops her up.
"We need to go," Carter announces picking up Gemma's sword.
"Are you just going to ignore the fact that she can't make it on this quest? She passes out after every battle," I point out.
"It's only been twice and the first time was from shock this is exhaustion," Carter replies.
"Yea because fighting can be so exhausting that you pass out," I say coldly.
"You don't know what she did ok Julia? You don't know the stress she's under or how hard it is for her," Carter says clearly getting impatient with me,"Let's just go." We walk out of the diner through the back and load up into the Jeep. Carter gets in the driver's seat with Gemma in passenger and starts to drive. I look at Carter, my best friend, my crush and see a person I don't recognize. An older Carter who has his heart set on something, well someone to be exact. A hot tear slides down my face, Carter has moved on from me. My best friend position has been sold to some new girl.