Daughter of Poseidon

9. Friends

  I stood up from the empty Poseidon table, shoving my hands in the pocket of the oversized black sweatshirt Nico had lent me.

  I stole a glance at the Apollo table, where Nico, Will, Emily, Percy, Jason, Piper, Hazel, Annabeth, Frank, Reyna, and some of Will's siblings sat. Nico glanced my way and we made eye contact. He discreetly kicked Percy under the table and gently nudged Will next to him. They began to look my way, but I snapped my attention away from the group of demigods and spun on my heel, walking away briskly. I didn't want to talk to them right now, much less have to face their looks of pity that were undoubtedly directed toward me and my past.

Word had spread quickly around camp, and I was always on the receiving end of pointed fingers and frantic whispers between campers. I passed a group playing beach volleyball and internally winced when they stopped their game to look at me and whisper among themselves.

The dark, stormy sky mirrored my mood. The dark waves angrily pounded onto the shore, spraying a chilly mist into the air. I flipped the hood up over my head and yanked the strings, hoping to disappear. There was no way in Hades I was going to try and shadow travel away, but I have to admit that it did cross my mind.

I felt the stares of the demigods on the beach boring into my back as I walked towards Zeus' Fist. I ignored the dying whispers and kept my hardened stare on the rock. I prayed to every god and goddess I could think of that I could escape the prying eyes of Camp Half-Blood's inhabitants there.

My hopes and prayers faltered as I neared the rock. A familiar voice was calling my name, and it was approaching fast as it's owner sprinted towards me. I groaned and pulled my hood tighter around my face, trying to shrink into the hoodie.

  "Kaitlyn!" the voice called. Footsteps padded behind me and stopped next to me. I lowered my head in an attempt to avoid eye contact. I really just wanted to be alone.

  Emily put her hand on my shoulder and I flinched.

  "Kaitlyn?" she asked.

  I didn't look up.

  Emily sighed, taking her hand off my shoulder.

  "Look, I know you don't want pity, so I didn't come here to console you. I mean, it's terrible what you had to go through as a kid, but it's not your fault. I get it. We all had rough childhoods. Our parents are freaking gods for that matter. I just came to tell you to stop moping around and distancing yourself. It's not good for you, and your friends miss you."

  I stayed silent for a few moments, and so did Emily. She sighed again, breaking the silence. I could feel her eyes on me as she turned her head.

  "Just...just think about it, okay?"

  Emily gave my shoulder a quick squeeze, then turned to walk away.

  I swiveled and grabbed her hand.

  "Wait..."

  Emily turned to look at me once more, her expression confused and concerned. I closed my eyes and sucked in a deep, shuddering breath.

  "So...so y-you don't hate me?" I asked, opening my eyes.

  Emily furrowed her eyebrows. "Why would I hate you?"

  "I-I just...I'm a freak, Emily. Everyone has heard my story at this point. It spread like a wildfire around camp, and now I can't go anywhere without getting looks and have people whispering about me. And with the whole...ugh, I don't know...being claimed along with the shadow travel thing? No one will even come within ten feet of me. Even you guys," I gestured towards the dining pavilion, "are keeping your distance," I explained.

  Emily lowered her head. "I know...and I'm so sorry. I...I think they just...well, nothing like this has ever happened before, and I think..I think they just don't know how to react to something like this."

  I nodded. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I'm just lonely, you know? No one wants to be my friend now, and none of my friends will talk to me."

  "I-I want to be your friend." She looked up at me again.

  My head snapped up to meet her gaze, my eyes wide with surprise.

  "Y-you do?"

  Emily nodded her head, a smile beginning to light up her face. "Of course!" she replied happily.

  Her smile was contagious, and I couldn't help but let a small one slip onto my lips.

  Emily took my hand, leading me towards the dining pavilion. Towards all of my friends.

  She smiled.

  "C'mon, let's go."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N:
Hey, guys. I'm sorry about being so inactive. I'm still not sure about continuing this story, but I'm going to try and stick with it, and hopefully all of the wrinkles in the plot will work themselves out. Thanks for reading! Love you guys! Addio, i miei sunshines!
~Kait