The Time Before 『A PJO/HOO Fanfic』❕ON HOLD FOR REWRITE❕

Hazel ~6

    I woke up from my afternoon nap with the sun in my eyes. My very curly hair was stuck to my cheek when I sat up, the dark walls of the Hades cabin helped my eyes adjust. Though I'm happy  the other campers decorated the cabin for Nico and I, they did it very stereotypical. Coffins and skulls scattered amungst the dressers and nightstands, black-out black curtain hung in front of the window. Huge, fake spiders nestled in the corners atop their fake web. I didn't mind it that much, it was a nice gesture. Nico didn't though.

Luckily, Piper and Annabeth decorated my little part of the cabin.

My bed was like nico's but had a white pillow with jewel designs on it and a matching blanket. The nightstand had a lamp that when turned on spin around like a disco ball. Pictures of the seven and Nico were framed in false gold frames and hung on the wall. My drawers had my favorite books, in Latin, and some large fake jewels to decorate it. I loved it. It was simple and cute, just the way I liked it.

"Hazel, you going to get up or are you going to lay there all day?" Leo asked from the window above my bed. His face was pressed against the glass leaving grease and dirt stains on the outside.

I nod my head yes and shooed him away. I don't know why, but as of late Leo and I have gotten closer. So has Piper, Percy, and I. Don't get me wrong, I love it that I'm really close with them, but it feels like the others are being left out. They hardly spend time with us and stay together as their own group while Leo, Piper, Percy and I are our own. And Frank, well, he switches between our little group and the others. He's so nice and caring, I don't know how I was able to get in a relationship with him. Forever great full to have him.

Leaving the comfort and warmth of my bed, I change into the usual camp shirt and jean shorts that fall just above my knee. My purple light up sketchers that Piper bought me were waiting at the front door. Smiling to myself, I put them on and left the cabin to come face to face with Leo. "You missed breakfast."

"What?!" I asked. There was no way I missed breakfast. "You're lying."

"Why would I lie about that? My watch says it's 11:30, breakfast is over" He lifter his hand up where the digital watch wrapped around his skinny wrist. And true to his word, the time said 11:30

"Dang it!" I yelled loud enough for only us two to hear.

He chuckles and walked with me to the pavilion where everyone was there eating lunch. Though he stayed quiet most of the time, it wasn't awkward. We were used to each other's presence that being quiet with one another felt comforting. Loving, in a way, which is weird that I would associate that with Leo and I.

"So here's the schedule for the day for us" Annabeth placed a paper on the table. "Jason and Percy, you two are going to be teaching the younger kids the basics and then the older ones. Frank and calypso you guys will be helping with the stables. Piper and I are going to keep score at the volleyball tournament between the Apollo And and Ares cabin. And that leaves Leo and Hazel to help out the Demeter cabin with strawberry picking. Got it?"

We all nodded our heads and continued to eat. My appetite taking over, I ate my food quickly. The cheese from the Mac and cheese dripped from the corners of my mouth, honestly, how have I not eaten this before? It was so delicious!

Leo noticed the small mess I made and cleaned it with his napkin. He smirked at me and continued on with what he was doing leaving me a blushing mess. For the past couple days, it seems like Leo changed. He's different in a way that he knows more things than he should or could know. When he looks at you, his eyes are ancient; as if they saw the end of the world and death before he became who he is now. The way he interacts with Piper is as if they're siblings bonded by blood and fate, with Percy, it's like he is his best friend and knows almost everything about him. With me, he has this gentle, caring side. As if we were lovers in a previous world. The way he talks to the way he stares off into the distance, is just so different than before.

"Ready to go?" Leo takes one last lob gulp of the drink he had before giving it to the cleaning harpies. I nodded my head and said thank you to the harpy next to me and got up. I pushed his shoulder with my hand a bit. "Tag! You're it!"

"So that's how you want to play, huh? Ok, I'll play." He ran after me and together through the camp we chased each other. Trough the cabins, along the edges of the volleyball game where Piper laughed at us and Annabeth too, we ran into the arena where Leo fell over the armpit stand. Jason laughed and Percy chuckled at Leo, but when Leo got up he gave me a playful glare. "Ima get cha."

"Then get me!" I run off to the strawberry fields. Where we were originally supposed to go.

I slowed to a walk when I got there. Katie smiled at me and gave me a bucket to put the strawberries in. Saying thank you and making my way to an empty row that wasn't being harvested, I began to lick strawberries. They were always the brightest of red and the sweetest. Always the perfect fruit. (I didn't say berry because they aren't berries.) picking one, I ate it and savored the sweet and slightly tart food in my hands before burying the leaves back in the ground. I get a hand on my shoulder pushing me into the bush. "Got ya."

"Finally, I've been waiting here forever." I joked. "What took you long?"

"I had to put the armor back where it was," He answered picking the strawberries and putting them in the bucket. "Cause if I didn't, Jason and Annabeth would've gotten mad that I didn't."

I nodded my head understanding. Knowing full well what Annabeth's wrath was like if we made a mess and didn't clean it up.

For the rest of the day, we picked strawberries and joked around. Enjoying the nice day of a cool breeze and warm sun against our backs. The quiet atmosphere and calm day was like a little piece of paradise. Something a demigod could never get unless we were dead. But something inside me said that I used to live in paradise. In peace. In a world where everything was beautiful, but where was that? How could I get there? I'll never know where to go or what that place is, yet I long for the cold floors and beautiful garden in a palace that I don't remember. A palace where a boy stood waiting for me. On the balcony, over looking the fragile city lights and under the summer sky.

A place of peace I felt like I belong in.

Somewhere else.

"How long do you plan to wait, milord?" The general asked next to the king. His hand rested on his sword, grilling the end somewhat tightly. The other hand hanging comfortably at his side. "Alkinai already remembers his past."

"Patience, everything will fall into place as the fates and my son see it." The king stood from his throne and made his way to the door closest to the throne. "Have faith in your friend, you would've done it in a heartbeat if He told you that you wouldn't die. And I am sure to won't die a second time."

"Yes, sir." The general nodded and looked out the window. "Dymitro, you better hurry. Your mother and father aren't getting any better."

Words: 1375
Published: 5/29/18