The Life of a Demigod

Chapter 15

I woke up to light in my face that was seeping in from the windows and an empty cabin around me. I quickly pulled off the covers and stepped out of bed, my bare feet touching the cold wood. My arms were heavy as I forced myself to open the dresser holding my clothes here. I pulled on a blue t-shirt and black jeans, something that I usually wore around camp. I opened the door to the cabin and walked out, forgetting my shoes. With a sigh, I just kept walking. Shoes could wait. It wasn't long before I heard an argument around the corner, where the basketball court was. As I came into view, I saw that it was Ethan and Jake.

"That's not how you do it!"

"Of course it is, how else would you do it?" Ethan rolled his eyes.

"By taking this, and putting it in this." Jake had something in his hand and demonstrated.

"You're stupid."

"Well, you're a jerky flirt."

"Never heard that one before." Ethan said sarcastically as he folded his arms and leaned against a tree that was behind him.

"Well, maybe if you stopped flirting with every girl you see then people might think of you differently."

I walked up to them with a glare on my face and my arms crossed. "There's no need to argue. Both of you knock it off."

Ethan smirked and stood up straight, getting off the tree and stepping towards me. He put an arm around my shoulders in a half hug. "Of course, blue bunny. How could I not listen?"

Jake's face got red and he clenched his jaw, glaring at the boy next to me. "Fine. I guess I'll just stay away. 'Blue bunny', ugh." Jake's voice was full of emotion, mocking the name that Ethan gave me before turning around and promptly walking away, most likely to complain to Jay about staying. I couldn't help but sigh at his reaction.

"Ethan? Why do you do this?" I moved his arm off of me and faced him, looking straight into his eyes.

He looked down for a few seconds, his face masked, hiding emotion. When he lifted his head he looked into my eyes, grabbing my shoulders as he did. "Blue bunny, I can't help the way I feel for you. It's more than just senseless flirting, you are different." My breath hitched at his confession, my face unbelievably red before a smirk replaced Ethan's solemn expression. "Why else would I bother hanging around and flirting?" He winked at me before I realized what he was doing.

"You.. You jerk!" I punched his chest before stomping the other direction. I didn't get far before his strong hand got a hold of my wrist and forced me to stop. He sighed before turning me around to face him, speaking as he did.

"Riley, blue bunny, I'm...sorry. It was wrong of me to play with your feelings. I do like you, but I was raised to be a gentleman. I wouldn't try to hurt a lady, even if I do flirt a lot more than I should. Friends?" He let go of my hand, letting me choose to stay or walk away. I glanced the way that Jake had went before looking back at Ethan.

"Friends. But I need to check on Jake." I looked hesitant for a moment, I could tell that Ethan saw it because he was about to comment on it. Before I could back out of it, I kissed his cheek and ran off towards Jake, yelling back at Ethan as I did. "Bye! Catch you later!" 

Though I didn't see it, I knew that Ethan smiled and touched his cheek where I had kissed him before going off and causing more trouble. I ran towards the cabins, seeing Jake before he went into the cabin Jay was staying in. Speeding up, panting from the extra energy I used, I stumbled up the steps and pounded on the wooden door. "Jake! Open up!"

The door opened and I fell in, not prepared for my call to be answered so quickly. I scrambled up and saw Jay, his face resigned. "Riley, he doesn't want to see you. In fact, he wants to leave. Go home. I'm sorry, but we can't stay here. Tomorrow morning we're leaving. Could you tell Jess? She's happy here but we can't let her stay."

My eyes watered, I could feel my lip trembling but I bit back the tears and smiled, "Yeah, of course. Well, good luck. I'll tell her." I waved, and without another word walked towards her cabin, which happened to be shared with me, Mei-Xing, and Lily. I walked in to see Lily and Jess talking. They were speaking in hushed voices and seemed to be slightly giggly. As I got closer to them, the floorboards creaked, alerting them to my presence. Both girls looked up, smiling at me.

"Hey, water head." Lily smirked as she used her name for me.

Jess raised an eyebrow but said nothing related to that. "What's up?"

"Jess," I paused, not certain on how to continue. "Jay asked me to tell you to pack your things, tomorrow morning you guys will be leaving." 

"Oh." She said while lowering her gaze, something uncharacteristic from her normal nonchalant and uncaring persona. "I guess I better talk to them about that. I'll be.. wherever." She walked out without making eye contact with either of us and closed the door roughly behind her. 

My gaze went to Lily to see her reaction. Her eyes scanned the door, I could tell that she was analyzing Jess's actions, looking for hidden clues. "She doesn't want to go back. But she feels she has to." Her eyes abruptly met mine. "You can't let her do that." 

"What could I do? She wouldn't listen to me if I tried." I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes. "Are you sure it's not just you that doesn't want her to leave?" 

"Hello? Did you not just see how she was acting! I'm good at reading people. And maybe I do want her to stay, but so what? She wants that too." 

I sighed, knowing that there was no winning this argument. "So what do you suggest we do?" 

She raised an eyebrow and scoffed at me. "We? No offense, blue, but I can't exactly expect you to follow my lead. She won't listen to you so it's my job to coax her into staying." Lily got up, her dark hair with dark rainbow streaks falling in waves, bouncing as she stomped out. 

I found myself yelling after her, even with knowing that I'd get no response. "What do you mean by 'I can't help'? Hmph."