afraid ツ l. valdez

10. eden is afraid of facing the threat

"Mother!"

Eden awoke from her unpleasant dream of an extremely gorgeous woman shifting through a closet and tossing clothes at her, screeching things like "It won't fit!" or, "That's not your color!"

It was almost believable that she was still dreaming. The sun beamed down on her pale skin but the air was still chilly. At other tables, cyclists, business people and college students chatted and sipped coffee. Cars zoomed past the small street only to halt at the growing traffic. The road was lined with trees and beautiful flowers and the air smelled faintly of eucalyptus.

"Whatsgoingon." Eden slurred. 

"What?" Hedge demanded. "Fight who? Where?"

"Falling!" Leo grabbed the table. "No—not falling. Where are we?"

Jason blinked, trying to get his bearings. He focused on Piper and made a little choking sound. "What are you wearing?"

Piper blushed. She was wearing a turquoise dress with black leggings and black leather boots. The outfit was completed with an old snowboarding jacket. In other words, Piper looked like a fourth grader. 

"It's nothing," she said. "It's my—" and then she paused, as if remembering something. "It's nothing."

Leo grinned. "Aphrodite strikes again, huh? You're gonna be the best dressed warrior in town, beauty queen."

"Hey, Leo." Jason nudged his arm. "You look at yourself recently?"

"What...oh." He'd also been given a makeover. Leo was wearing pinstriped pants, black leather shoes, a white collarless shirt with suspenders, and his tool belt, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and a porkpie hat.

"God, Leo." Piper snickered. "I think my dad wore that to his last premiere, minus the tool belt."

"Hey, shut up!"

"I think he looks good," said Coach Hedge. "'Course, I look better." The satyr was a pastel nightmare. Aphrodite had given him a baggy canary yellow zoot suit with two-tone shoes that fit over his hooves. He had a matching yellow broad-brimmed hat, a rose-colored shirt, a baby blue tie, and a blue carnation in his lapel, which Hedge sniffed and then ate.

"I think the outfit looks amazing. Very unique." Eden said honestly. It was never to be admitted out loud, but Leo looked handsome. Hot, even, if she wanted to stretch it. 

"Woah, a compliment from the fashionista herself? Well, take a look at what you're wearing." Leo said. 

Eden looked down, expecting to be disappointed. It was nearly the opposite though. 

Piper's mom had dressed her in a lacy black bralette that revealed more cleavage than she would've liked. It was covered with a fishnet style see-through black long-sleeve that let in all the cool air and provided no protection. Her blood-red pleated skirt ended at mid-thigh and was the closest thing to modesty the outfit provided. Chains hung off the material or looped on belt loops. Around her neck was a simple silver chain and her normal camp necklace. Eden looked down and saw she was wearing her white Doc Martens that she'd received shortly after arriving at camp. They were supposed to be given to her at Christmas time by her father but he'd died before he had the chance to gift them. Thankfully, her hair had been left alone besides the fact that it was silky smooth and you could run your fingers through it without problem.