Torn

Pleasure Pier? Not so Much.

The Pier came into view. There were people sitting by the beach on towels starting dinner.

"Look who it is." Someone said behind me. I turned around to see Ms. Popular girl standing right in front of me with her little clique by her side.

"Amanda, mind your own business." Ash defended. I couldn't believe she was here. My day was getting great, then she showed up.

"Why are you here." I raised my eyebrows up.

"Hon I live here Just. Like. You!" she acts as if she totally loves the fact that I'm here.

"Well I'm guessing your mother's the love goddess? Right?" I smirk trying to mimic Amanda's sassy tone.

She pursed her perfect full red lips, "MmmHmm. You have a problem with love?"

I didn't want to get on the wrong foot with Aphrodite because I could just feel her eyes on me waiting for me to say something wrong, "I just have a problem with her annoying children. I quite admire Aphrodite and love." I could tell people were starting to pay attention to our little kitty fight.

"Well then you don't know what love is!" she smiled obviously thinking that she won.

That statement hit me hard, really hard and I wasn't going to let her win. After everything's she's done to me my whole life, this time she won't win, "Darlin' why don't you just go back to your Barbie dolls and play makeover with your boyfriend... oh wait I forgot! Your too ugly to have a boyfriend!"

"Ever... this is going too far." Ash warned. I ignored him with disgust who was he to tell me what was too far? Last time I checked, he wasn't the boss of me.

"And what's up with that pound of makeup? Are you so ugly that your too afraid to even wear an ounce less than you are now? I bet Ms.love goddess thought you were so ugly she had no choice but to send you to the institution for a proper makeup lesson, or she would have to throw you down Mt. Olympus." I started yelling at her. Then suddenly Amanda started walking towards me quickly.

"Amanda leave her alone." Ash defended me.

"Leave her alone? Tell that to your girlfriend!" she screamed at him. Then I saw Ash step back startled then his eyes suddenly became so distant.

"Sh- she's not my girlfriend." he whispered. At the time there was a crowed surrounding us. While I was distracted by Ash's odd behavior, Amanda got a glass of coke and walked closer to me. Right at the moment I looked up, she then acted like she was going to spill the liquid on me. And I stupidly stepped back and fell into the bonfire.

"Ahhhhh!" I screamed. My first instinct was to extinguish the bonfire before I burned to death. Before anyone could help me up or before any of my siblings could put the fire out, water rose out of the ocean and put the fire out neatly and quietly. But before I let the water go back into the ocean I hit Amanda with a force three times the force of gravity with my sea water. I then stood up like nothing was wrong because the water had healed me.

Some people started looking at me like I was an Alien and others just ran to help Amanda.

Like she needs helping! Now Ms. Perfect Brunette Amanda won't forget who I am. Then I saw Chiron standing right by the fight in his centaur form staring daggers at me.

"Hey come one lets eat." Ash said while grabbing my wrist and pulling towards a spot on the beach.

I looked at him, "Why were you so distracted when Amanda said I was your girlfriend. It's not that big of a deal."

Was I humiliating him or something?

"Not here. Not now. Let's just enjoy the view while eating dinner. Okay?" he tried to hide his anxiety.

"Sure. The view is beautiful." I quickly changed the subject, so he wouldn't get mad at me. At dusk the water was a grey-blue color and the sun was setting making the sky red violet, blue, yellow, orange, this was my favorite time of the day. I thought about my grandma's home baked cookies with milk, and when I looked down there was a platter with cookies.

I nudged Ash trying to break him out of his nervous state, "Want a cookie?"

"Sure. So your dinner is cookies and milk?" he raised his eyebrows and grabbed the biggest cookie on the plate seemingly fine.

"No I'm going to have a chicken salad with croutons and ranch, then a turkey sandwich." I mirrored his face expression.

"Well it looks like someone is getting used to the get whatever you want meals!" he laughed.

"Yea, I guess so..." I smiled.

At this moment everything was perfect. The view, the emotions brewing, and just life in general. I just got through an argument with Amanda with a touchy subject that probably no one understood. Everyone probably thinks that was an unnecessary fight. I really don't care about what other people think though. I don't need people bringing my hopes down for a great summer at the institution. I just hope no one presses me on this matter.

"Hey Earth to Ever. I've been trying to ask for a cookie for the past," he looked at his fancy leather analog watch, "fifty seconds. Everrrrrrrr."

I snapped out of my mind void, "Huh- Yea sure... Wait what did u ask?"

He laughed a deep hearty laugh and put his hands together in a praying motion then looked at the sky, "Oh save her soul from Tarturus Hades," he looked back at me now ultimately concerned,

"Nevermind. Are you ok? One second we're laughing about salad the next, you're deep in thought with your mouth half-way opened and a fork half way up to your mouth."

"Oh sorry I was just thinking about something... I probably looked really stupid." I smiled sadly.

"What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing." I said a little too sharply.

He recoiled from my words, "Oh okay sorry for bothering." I could hear the annoyance in his voice.

I'm just not ready to tell him. I've only known him for a few days... I just can't.

"I'm sorry. It's just a personal subject." I apologized.

"Oh okay." he said uncomfortably. We ate the rest of our meal witout any conversation. The noises of teens talking filling the silence between us.

Once everyone was finished eating dinner Chiron turned from his wheelchair form to his centaur form and said, "It is now time for our daily game of The Hunt," he turned towards me,"You Ever will be in the tower watching the game as I explain what is happening." I flushed in embarrassment at his public mention of me.

Soon The Pier was cleared and only a couple of people were left in the clearing. All the demi-gods headed to The Forest to start getting ready for The Hunt.

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The picture is Amanda