Cursed Mind

Chapter 15

*Phoenix POV*

The car ride was a bit longer than I'd have liked it to be. But it wasn't too bad considering I sat next to Austin the whole time. We were a couple now, and I liked it. At the moment, we were driving into downtown Nashville and my face was glued to the window as we passed the tall buildings. I could see the Batman building and I grinned. It was good to be back home.

I looked over my shoulder to see Alex and Connor in the seat behind me. Alex was asleep with her head on Connor's lap, her mouth parted open slightly. I smiled as I watched my best friend and her new boyfriend. They were just so cute together and I totally shipped them! The car bounced a bit and Alex shot up like a rocket. She looked out the windows and looked to meet my eyes.

"Are we here already?"

"We sure are, sleepyhead. Welcome to downtown Nashville!"

Alex got a smile on her face as she looked out the window. I saw Connor turn his head to stare at her with a small smile on his face. He must really like her.

"Hey, Alex?" I asked, and Alex turned around to look at me.

"What's up, Phe?"

"Did the map say where exactly in Tennessee we needed to go?"

"Hold up, let me check," Alex said as she pulled the map out of her book bag to look at it. After she had studied it for a minute she passed it to me.

"Do you know where this place is?" She asked, and I looked to where she pointed. I grinned as I recognized the name of the town. I looked back up at Alex.

"Yeah, I know where this place is. This is where I grew up so yeah, I can definitely get us there." I said, passing the map back to Alex. She put it back in her book bag and I opened my own bag to pull some paper and a pencil out. I scribbled down directions onto it before I passed it up to Cyprian so he could read off the directions to Argus. I put my pencil away before I looked over at Austin. He was already looking at me.

"What'cha lookin' at?" I asked, with a small smile on his face.

"Only the most beautiful person in the world." He said, which made me giggle. Wait, what?! Me, giggle?

"You better not let your dad hear you saying that. I don't think he'd be pleased you're calling someone else the most beautiful."

"Oh, he'll get over it."

I sighed as I rested my head on his shoulder. If we were going back to Nolensville, maybe my dad would let us crash. But that would mean I have to see my brother again... I missed Peter a lot, but, did he miss me? If I was a demigod, did that make him one too?

I must have been lost in thought because before I knew it, we were in Nolensville. Argus drove us down Nolensville road and I watched as the familiar buildings passed by. Dollar General, Town Hall, the bank, Sonic, the library. I hadn't realized I missed my small little town. Argus pulled onto the road that passed the wreck center and the little Church of Christ that stood brightly on the corner. Then he pulled onto another road and pretty soon we had stopped in front of my house.

I slid the door open and hopped out with my bag. Everybody climbed out also except Argus, who stayed in the car. Alex came to walk by me as we walked to the front door.

"Where are we?"

"My dad's house," I said, surprised when my voice came out hoarse. Alex nodded and said nothing else, only grabbing my hand and giving a quick squeeze to show that she was always there for me. I squeezed back before letting her hand fall to ring the doorbell. It didn't take very long before the door opened to reveal none other than Peter.