Daughter of Magic (A Frank Zhang Fanfic)

X. Break-Ups

After we sunk the ship, I went to hang out with Annabeth and Piper. I laid on Annabeth's bed, my head hanging over the edge. Annabeth was laying next to me, her head resting on my stomach. Piper was sitting on a chair nearby.

Piper was absentmindedly playing with my hair. She was running her fingers through my hair, twirling pieces and braiding strands.

"How's your relationship with Frank?" Piper asked.

"Why do you ask?"

"Curious," Piper answered. "And Annabeth told me about what you had said. Tell me."

"Don't use your charmspeak on me."

Piper grabbed all of my hair and started braiding it. "I'm just saying. Tell me."

"He's cute," I said. "I like him. Simple as that."

"It's not that simple," Piper said. "It never is. You know that. Nothing is."

I laughed bitterly. "Love isn't for me. It's too complicated."

"That's what I thought, Ezzy," Annabeth said. "But it's fun."

"Are we going to completely ignore Hazel though?" I asked. "I don't want to take her man. That ain't me."

"We know," Annabeth said. "There's nothing wrong with admiring from afar."

It fell quiet. Piper unbraided my hair and started French braiding it. There was a knock on the door and Hazel peeked her hand in. Annabeth waved her in and Hazel sat down in an extra chair.

"How are you guys?" Hazel asked.

"We're doing alright," Piper answered, tying my bun in place. She started putting bobby pins in. "What about you?"

"I'm doing alright." Hazel's lower lip shook as she took a breath. "What are you guys doing for the rest of the afternoon?"

"Just hanging out." I rolled onto my stomach. "Why? What's wrong?"

Hazel broke down crying. "Frank broke up with me."

"Oh, Hazel," Piper cooed. "I'm sorry. Don't cry. He wasn't worth your time."

We offered Hazel our condolences over her breakup. Piper held her for the longest time, rubbing her back and murmuring softly to her.

I left a bit later. I went to my room and climbed into bed. I let out my hair and tossed all the things on the floor and rolled onto my stomach.

I nestled my face into my pillows. I thought of what Hazel had said. She was no longer an item with Frank. I was happy, but also guilty. I was happy Frank was finally single, but I was guilty for thinking that.

I shook my head and rolled over to my other side. I fell asleep and woke up in the herb room in my cabin back home. Frank stood in front of me and he looked confused as hell.

"Where am I?" Frank asked.

I picked up some herbs and inspected them. "The herb room in Cabin Twenty at Camp Half-Blood."

"Why are we here?" Frank asked, picking up a mirror and inspecting it.

I put the herbs back. "No idea."

"Well, this is a very nice room," Frank commented. "What's all in here?"

"Herbs."

"Well, I know that," Frank said. "What kind of stuff?"

"The kind of stuff you use in potions and spells."

Frank put his hand on his hips. "Ezzy."

I gave him an innocent look. "Yes?"