afraid ツ l. valdez

14. eden is afraid of the upcoming quest (bonus mini scenes)

one week after the quest

Eden thought it was bad when no one knew who she was. It was worse when everyone did.

Everywhere she went, people were clapping her on the back, holding out their hands, and some people even tried to hug her. They were always saying things like, "Hey Eden! What's up?" or asking her to battle. She knew they were trying to be nice, but they didn't even know who she was two weeks ago.

Eden was trying to work on being nicer and having better people skills, so she went to the one person she knew wouldn't care about her being on the quest- Annabeth Chase.

The members of the Athena cabin had all gone about their daily activities except for Annabeth. So, dressed in a white tennis skirt and blue crew neck, Eden knocked on the cabin door.

The girl that answered was a mess. She was wearing an oversized pair of gray sweatpants and a blue sweatshirt that said 'Seaweed Brain' across the front. Her hair was put back in a messy ponytail and there was mascara smeared underneath her red eyes. Annabeth Chase was a grieving mess. "Eden?"

"Oh- I'm so sorry. Is this a bad time? I can leave-" Eden stammered.

"No, it's okay. Give me a second." Annabeth left the door open and walked into a back room, so Eden took that as an invitation to come in.

On the bed that she assumed was Annabeth's, a scrapbook was lying open. Eden went and sat at the foot of the bed and looked at the pictures on that open pages.

The first one was of Annabeth and Percy when they were young- probably about twelve. They were fighting, Percy with his sword and Annabeth with her knife. Eden assumed their satyr friend Grover took it, because there were small hooves visible at the bottom.

The second was of only Percy, and he was much older this time. His mouth was wide open and you could see chewed blue mush in his mouth. There were cookie crumbs all over his face.

On the second page, Percy and Annabeth were stood next to Thalia. Thalia didn't have the same supernatural glow as she had when they saw her last, so it was before she was pledged as a hunter.

Annabeth came out of the bathroom, mascara gone and hair redone. "Sorry about that. What's up?"

Eden frowned. "This is probably a stupid question, but- are you okay?"

Annabeth sighed and plopped onto her bed. "Honestly, no. But I have to be brave for everyone else."

Eden's frown deepened. "You shouldn't have be brave. Everyone understands how close you and Percy were. It's okay to show emotion sometimes." All hail Eden, queen of giving others advice but not taking it for herself.

"I'm just tired of being brave for everyone else, but I have no one that will be brave for me. Percy would, though."

Eden grabbed Annabeth's hand and squeezed. "Lay it on me."

Annabeth was quiet for a moment, then she sighed. "When Percy first went missing, I didn't believe it. I did everything I could to find him, praying he was just playing a cruel joke. And then Hera visited me and told me he would be at the Grand Canyon, and I got so hopeful. Only he wasn't there. That's when it really hit me that Percy was gone. Then I broke down once you guys left for your quest. Percy is my other half, you know? I'm a better person around him."

Eden smiled and thought of Leo. "I think I do know, actually."

Annabeth's voice broke a bit. "And then Jason figures out that Percy is at some roman camp and he doesn't have any clue who he is... he could be facing so much trouble right now, and I'm not there to help him. Even worse, he might not... he might not remember me." A couple tears trickled down her cheeks.