Camp Half Blood: One "Salty" Adventure

Chapter Ten

Rose's POV:

It was time for dinner at the Pavilion. I told Ben to hang out with his siblings. Apparently, he's a child of Aphrodite. I don't know much about her, but I do know the basics. He seems cooler and a lot nicer than the other kids over there, but who am I to judge people I've never met? I went to find Percy to have dinner with him and his friends. We sat down to eat and just talked about me going on tour and how I liked it here. "So when do you think I should be going?" I asked Percy.

"What do you mean?" I was confused, I didn't think I was going to stay forever, but did he?

"Percy, I can't stay here. I have to keep going. I mean, at least I think I do. You said it yourself, I could stay for the night. I've been here longer than just that night."

"Rose, this is your home now, you can stay for as long as you want."

"My... my home?" I asked shockingly. I didn't know what to think of this. I haven't had a real home in a while.

"Yeah. This is home." I smiled to myself, but our conversation was cut short by something happening over at the campfire. We all got up and jogged over to where the commotion was coming from. I was able to get to the front of the small crowd to see that kid that I had met on the first day I got here. Cole, I think it was. There was a glowing, golden sun shining over his head. Percy came up to me. "Remember how I said you were claimed by Poseidon in the lake?"

"Yeah, is that what's happening to Cole right now?"

"Yup, except he's being claimed by Apollo right now. See that sun?" He pointed over Cole's head. "That's the sign of Apollo. But just wait, something else might happen." And just as Percy said that, something did happen. A golden bow appeared in front of Cole. It was much nicer and looked like he could take better shots with it than the one he was fiddling with at our first meeting.

"Ya see?" Percy asked.

"Yeah... that's totally awesome." I exclaimed in overall amazement.

"Agreed."

"So, I'm guessing the sign that appeared over my head in the lake was a Trident?"

"Yeah, it was amazing. Especially how is was glowing blue in the lake. It looked so beautiful, like it was midnight and some moonlight was sparkling on the water."

"Wow... that must've been amazing to see."

"It really was." He said as we continued to watch Cole. The symbol was gone and he had already picked up the new golden bow with golden arrows, they were as sharp as a knife. He looked so proud. He definitely already knew he'd be claimed by Apollo. I was about to go talk to him to congratulate him, but Ben stopped me to talk before I could. "Hey, babe." I was stunned. He leaned in to kiss me on the cheek but I pushed him away.

"Excuse me!?"

"What? What'd I do now?"

"Why in the world are you calling me babe right now?"

"Well I thought-"

"You thought since I forgave you and held your hand for a tour that automatically makes us a couple? Huh?" I cut him off.

"Well..."

"I cannot believe you right now, Ben."

"I-I'm sorry I didn't know."

"Please leave me alone." And with that, I walked away to congratulate Cole on his being claimed.

"Hey, Cole."

"Oh hey, Rose."

"Congrats on that thing that uh... just happened."

"Uh... thanks. You alright?" No obviously I'm not alright. I'm thinking about what happened with Ben. I mean who just thinks they can say that. Did I give the wrong impression? No, no this is his fault not mine. I just can- "Rose?"

"What?"

"Kinda lost you there for a minute. Is something bothering you?"

"No no, I'm fine. Sorry."

"Nah it's cool, if you need to talk I'm always available."

"Thanks, Cole. So, uh hey can I see your new bow?"

"Yeah, totally!" His face lit up as he swiftly grabbed his new golden bow from his back and slowly handed it to me. "Just be careful with it." I laughed.

"Of course I'll be careful." I turned the bow over in my hand. It had carvings of leaves and the sun all over it. It was truly beautiful and skilly detailed, seemingly sparkling with every inch it moved. I slowly handed it back to Cole and he looked it over one more time before putting it on his back. "That bow is legit. So beautiful."

"Thanks." He smiled proudly.

"Thanks for showing me it. Listen I gotta go, it's getting late and I should get a good night's rest."

"I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Yeah, totally. Night!" I waved walking away.

"Night!" He waved back. I made my way to cabin 3, lost in my thoughts. Once I made it there, I headed to my bed, the only other one in the whole cabin. But I saw a note. It was folded and said "Rose." On the front with a picture of a rose drawn on the side. "Ben" I thought. I wasn't ready to hear what he had to say. Or even read what he had to say. I put the note on my bedside table and hopped into bed after changing into different clothes. I closed my eyes, my drowsiness catching up to me. I didn't know I was this tired, but what I did know is that I was emotionally exhausted. So many things have happened today, and I just felt like I wanted to forget everything I learned and go home to my mom. I wanted to see her face in real life and just hug her. I missed her. I didn't bother looking at my locket because I felt like it'd just make me sad and more emotionally unstable than I already am right now. I tried my best to get all of the events of today out of my head as I allowed sleep to consume me for, what I assumed would be, a restless night.