When We Were 'Us'

Receiving A Summons- Percy POV

"Hey Haley?"

I pushed myself up out of my push-up position and looked over my shoulder. "Hey Haz, what's up?"

Hazel held up an official looking document. "You need to look at this."

I grunted and finished out the set of push-ups, then got to my feet and shoved my hair back. "What is it?"

The daughter of Pluto handed the paper over, frowning. "It doesn't look good, but I didn't read it."

I scanned the paper, mostly looking for important words. It was in Ancient Greek, thank gods, but I still didn't feel like reading the full type right now.

"I'm being summoned to Olympus."

"What? Why?" Hazel's eyes flashed. "Are they blaming you for something again?"

"I don't think so..." I looked at the paper again. "I think if it was something like that they wouldn't have given me a future date that they want me there. They would have shown up here or sent someone to get me."

"Well that's good at least... does it say what they're calling you for?"

I shook my head. "Just that my presence is required."

"Do you want one of us to come with you?" Hazel fiddled with the edge of her sword-belt a little bit. "We could probably manage a whole escort for the camp's favorite sword's instructor."

I chuckled. "Thanks for the offer, but I don't think it'll be necessary. I'll probably... stop at Camp Half-Blood, and there are enough people there that can help me anyway. Maybe just two people to come with me across the country because that's always the hard part."

Hazel nodded, straightening up. "Well I'll come with."

"No, Hazel. I appreciate the offer and how much you want to help out, but having the two of us outside of camp borders is a bad idea. We got lucky last time and you know it."

She sighed, crossing her arms. "Okay... do you have anyone in mind?"

"Carmen, if she can come. Or Freddie." I ticked the two names off. "And CJ, I want to test him."

"CJ?" Hazel raised her eyebrows. "As in Cooper Jordan?"

"Yeah, is that a problem?"

She paused. "Well, I... I try to give him the benefit of the doubt, but... Haley, he's not a nice kid. Do you really want him with you?"

"He's just got to learn some discipline." I shook my head. "Since I've started working with him he's gotten way better already."

"If you say so. I'd rather not talk to him though, so if you want him with you ask him."

"I will." I nodded, shrugging my shoulders to relieve some of the stiffness that was forming. "Want to join me for the rest of my workout?"

Hazel grinned. "Sure, why not?"

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We left a few days before the date of the summoning. Camp Jupiter let us borrow a car, since it was just the three of us. 

Freddie ended up being the one to come with us, and he let me drive while he used an old-fashioned map. CJ was sprawled out in the backseat, strumming his guitar absentmindedly.

I found myself glancing in the mirror at the boy. Only a few people at Camp Jupiter knew who his mother was, and he was very cagey about it.

"Merge over a lane, Haley, we've got to take the next exit." Freddie commented.

"Wait why? You said it we were on this road for another hour."

He shrugged, kicking his feet up on the dash. "I'm starving and there's an In-N-Out at the next exit. We've got a couple days to get to New York, I figure we can stop once or twice on the way."

"In-N-Out sucks." CJ piped up. I saw his foot kick up and hook over the back of the seat.

"Sit up CJ." I flicked on the turn signal to move over a lane.

"Make me."

"Sit the Hades up Jordan."

"No." He began to strum the guitar louder, planting one foot on the roof of the car.

"Cooper Jordan." I snapped, lightly touching the brake as I moved onto the exit ramp. "Sit up."

He grumbled something rude under his breath and sat up, kicking the back of my seat.

I glared over my shoulder at him for a moment.

Freddie suddenly lunged for the steering wheel.

"HALEY LOOK OUT!"