Camp Half Blood: One "Salty" Adventure

Chapter 33

Rose's POV:

I wake up the next day... or should I say get up... I didn't really sleep last night. How could I? All of my emotions keep swarming my mind, keeping me thinking about what could have been. I wanted to stay with Will, but at the same time I didn't. He trusts the one person that shouldn't be trusted. I have to find a way to change his mind... but I just can't... How would I? Do I talk to him again? Have Shadow talk to him? Break up with Ben?... but... I don't... I can't remember how I feel about him anymore. I can't remember how I feel about anyone or anything anymore. I roll over to see Will fast asleep. I knew he didn't sleep all night like me, but I guess staying up was too much for him. I let him sleep for another 20 minutes until I got up, kneeling down next to him. I nudged him in the arm. "Hey, Will?" I asked. He fluttered his eyes open and looked around.

"Hey, what time is it?" He asked rubbing his eyes groggily and then sitting up.

"Not sure. I'm guessing like 7:30 or 8?" I said looking around for a clock. He nodded and ran a hand through his hair. "How'd you sleep?" He asked sheepishly. I smiled at him.

"Not at all. That's okay though, I wasn't tired. How did you sleep?" I asked, getting up and sitting on the bed.

"On and off... and you really should try to sleep, Rose..." he trailed off, not quite meeting my gaze. I grabbed his arm and pulled him up to sit next to me on the bed.

"Will... I've been thinking and I-I know that Olthen means a lot to you... family is family, I get that. I regret leaving my mom... Ben when I did, and my brother. But... I really think the best thing for the both of you is that you at least try something new... it doesn't even have to be at camp! There are other places!...there's a Roman camp too... I just... I want you to know I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did..." I trailed off. He was finally looking me in the eye now. "A-Also... I wanted to give you a real answer... a sure answer... when you asked me about if you let Myra go, would I have stayed?... yeah... at the time, I would have. I just... I thought you should know..."

"Rose... don't apologize, okay? I know you want the best for me. But Olthen won't want to go anywhere... he's gonna want revenge a-and I'm the only one who can talk him out of it... my brother is in there somewhere." He said deep in thought, his voice became a little more powerful, but he was still soft in speech...

"What happens if you can't talk him out of it, Will?..." I asked as calmly as possible as not to start a fight with him again.

"No. That won't happen. He'll listen to me this time. I know he will. It'll be different this time." He said, sure of himself.

"I want to trust you... but what if, Will..." I said trying to meet his gaze. He looked at me as he began speaking.

"If he doesn't... I-I don't wanna talk about it, Rose..." He said the last part looking down at his lap and running a hand through his hair slowly.

"Okay... I know, it's too early for this. Just think about it..." I said putting my hand on his shoulder. He became tense, so I removed my hand.

"N-No... I can't. I can't leave him... He's in there and he needs me! I... I have to help him be himself again..." He said getting worked up. Him getting like that started to make me angry. H-How could he not see Olthen's true colors!? Once someone starts down the wrong path... and starts to like it?... they're gone. They're too far gone...

"Well maybe I need you too!" I burst out. I tried to look at him, but he continued to look down. Sadness in his expression now.

"Don't lie to me, Rose... You have Ben, Myra, and everyone else. Anyone would kill Olthen if they had the chance. I'm the only one who can protect him..." He said quietly.