The Stolen Jewel of Hecate

Chapter 22

When we finished our bear hug, Alec looked at me very strangely. Did I have something on my face? "What's wrong with you?" I asked with a tilted head, and he just continued to stare. I give him an annoyed look, but his expression doesn't change. He finally opens his mouth to speak. "Since when do you dress like that?" He asked, pointing out my outfit. I looked down at what I was wearing and sighed. This is embarrassing. "Well, you see. Ellie is going on a date and bringing me along to make it a double date, and I was trying to figure out what to wear," I say with some defeat in my voice, and he laughs. I roll my eyes at his laughter. "You and dates!" He says in between his laughs. Was it that weird? "Yes! Stop laughing at me! I don't even want to go," I say, looking away, crossing my arms. He finally calms down and wipes some tears from his eyes and takes a closer look at what I was wearing. "I love you Sam, and I don't mean to judge your sense of style, but what in the world are you wearing?" Alec says, referring to my outfit. "Is it really that bad?" Thanks a lot, Hephaestus. He starts shaking his head and waving his hands around like a lunatic. "No, no, no. Of course not. Just, since when do you dress like that?" He asked, and if only he knew who put me in this. "I don't know. Ellie gave me this top for my birthday, and I never wear it. I was running out of ideas on what to wear. You know I haven't been on a date before," I say in a 'duh' tone. "Well, sure, the shirt is good for your skin tone and it brings out your figure, but it doesn't seem you, you know?" Alec said and I rolled my eyes. Why is everyone suddenly a fashion expert? "Well, mister fashion expert, what should I wear?" I said sarcastically, and Alec ran past me, probably going up to my room. Hephaestus better be hidden. "Alec, what in the world are you doing? It's my room and my unwanted date. I can get dressed by myself," I shout, running up the stairs after him. Where is Hephaestus, and will he be hidden? I ran as fast as I could and ran past Alec, and went up to my room and stood in front of my door. "Alec, I will be fine getting dressed by myself you don't need to be in my room," I said loudly, hopefully warning Hephaestus about Alec possibly coming in and going through my closet. "Sam, do you have any idea how long I have been waiting to set you up for a date? Way too damn long to answer that question. You have never taken an interest in meeting your prince charming, and now you will with this da-" He went on, but I cut him off. "This random dude is not going to be my prince charming. I don't even know who this guy is, but I couldn't care less. I need to focus on school and getting into a good college. I don't need some cheesy guy in my life right now." I say while Alec rolls his eyes and sighs. "Sam, you need to get out there! There is only one fish in the sea for you, and if you wait too long, they will be gone with some other fish," He said with some sudden passion. "Why are you using fish? This is real life. I'm not in a fishbowl," I say in a bored tone. "I used fish because people always say 'there are more fish in the sea,' but in reality, there is only one fish for everyone. This fish could be in your life, but all of a sudden, be across the ocean, and you will never be with them again," Alec says, waving his hands in the air like a maniac. "Alec, true love always sticks. If there is a guy who I thought was the one for me, but they leave my life, it was obvious it wasn't true. I doubt that guy will be the same one I'm going on this dreaded date with anyway," I say, turning to open my door. "Come on, Sam. Let me be the fashionista brother I am and let me get you an outfit ready," He said, getting on his knees and playfully begging. I sigh and open my door gesturing for him to go in. He happily runs straight to my closet. I see him throwing shirts and pants behind his back, making a complete mess of my room, but there is no stopping him at this point. He has gone too deep into his fashion form. I sat on my bed watching him throw my stuff around, but all I could think about was where Hephaestus was? I casually looked around, wondering where he could be, but I didn't come to any conclusions. While I was searching, hopefully, without looking like I was looking for something, Alec throws a bunch of clothes in my face. It was my jean jacket with a short black dress my aunt got me for my birthday. I shook my head at my brother, but he was nodded back at me. "No-" "Why not? It shows a cool girl with a bit of a personalized look. Just try it you little anit-people potato," Alec said while pushing me into my closet. I sigh, and before I start getting changed, I take the chance to look for Hephaestus. I check a few shoe boxes and a few pockets of clothes, but I find nothing. I get dressed and walk out to see Alec with tears in his eyes. "What?" I asked, and he kept looking at me. "It's just perfect. Sam, I don't know why you don't dress like this more often," He says, giving me a hug that I couldn't return cause he locked my arms down to my sides. "First, let me go before I turn blue," I say, and he immediately let's go. "Second, I don't dress like this because it feels weird. I don't wear dresses. I'm the nerd who wears hoodies and gets good grades, not the one who wears cute clothes and tries to get guys to like them. It's that simple," I said with my arms crossed. Alec grabs my arm and drags me to my body mirror. "Just look at yourself, this looks good on you. You are the person who puts those two people together. You're the girl who gets good grades and gets the boys in the yard. That's you," He says, shaking my arms like that will make it stick in my skull. I look at myself for the first time, and he is kind of right. I did look good, I still felt uncomfortable, but I looked good. I turned my hips checking myself out, and I couldn't stop staring. I haven't looked this good in a long time. I can see my brother smiling. He knew he did good picking this outfit. "As much as I don't want to admit it. This looks good Alec, it really does. I guess this is what I'm wearing," I say with a sigh, and he squeals, giving me a bear hug, picking me up in the process. I hate when Alec is right about something. I can smell dinner, and I rush out of Alec's arms and run towards the smell. I'm running down the stairs to see Mom with a big lasagna in her hands, about to set it on the table with a salad in my Dad's hands. Of course, they made Alec's favorite. I eagerly sit down with Alec, not too far behind. I sat down and quickly grabbed the knife to cut myself a giant lasagna with my brother chuckling at my eagerness. Everyone gets themself some lasagna and salad before we get into dinner conversation. "So Alec how is sch-" "Sam is going on a date!" Alec yelled. I kicked him under the table and he gave out an ouch. My parents quickly looked over to me, and I could feel my face getting red. I have pretty chill parents, but on multiple occasions, they have said no dating over forty, so Alec, I want to telepathically tell you, you are the worst. "Is this true Sam?" My Dad asked, and I slowly nodded. "Let me explain here! I don't even want to go! It's all for emotional support for Ellie!" I shouted, and Mom gave me a gesture to calm down. I give Alec a glare and he slowly moves his chair away from me. "Sam, why are you saying that like we would be mad at you?" Mom asked, and I tilted my head. "Yeah, we are happy for you. You have never taken an interest in boys, and we were afraid you would never get married. I don't want my privilege of walking you down the aisle taken away," Dad said, and I slightly laughed but rolled my eyes. "I don't want you to get your hopes up, Dad. I don't plan on getting married. I plan on being a very independent woman, and you can't stop me," I said playfully, and my Dad faked a bullet going through his heart. "Sam, don't break your father's heart like that," Dad said with the back on his hand on his forehead, and we all laughed. We kept the conversation going with everyone bombarding me with questions about my date and if the outfit I was wearing was going to be my date outfit. I wish I changed out of this. I'm way overdressed for dinner. As I'm stuffing my face with salad, I feel a rumble under my feet. It was small, it was probably my imagination, so I ignored it. It was only when I felt another rumble that I started to panic. Maybe it's an attack, and I need to leave before my parents say I got to stay home. "Dinner was amazing, but I'm going to go for a walk. I'll wash the dishes when I come back!" I say as I rush out the door. They didn't try and stop me, so I took that as an OK to be able to leave. I'm walking down the streets and decide to take a mini 'petrol' of the city, just to be sure it wasn't a beast or something. I start walking down the street on the way to the park when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I spin around to see Steven. Why do we always meet when I go out? "Look, Steven, I just want some space. Can't I have that much?" I say, continuing my walk, but Steven ran in front of me. "Sam, we are going on the same date on Tuesday might as well at least be on good terms. Look, I said I was sorry. I don't know what you want me to do," He said, looking at the ground. I felt another rumble. "Look, we are on good terms. I just want some space from you. Just focus on your time with Ellie. It's going to be like I'm not even there," I say, walking around him, but he gets in my way again. I feel a stronger rumble. "I want you to have fun Sam. I don't want you to think you have to hide when we hang out. Honestly, I want you to be there. You aren't going to be just Ellie's support, but mine too." He said, looking into my eyes. It was like we had a connection. Not romantic 'cause that's weird, but it was almost like our friendship was healed with a look. The ground at that moment started to shake like crazy. It wasn't a small rumble anymore. It was almost like an earthquake. "What is happening?" Steven shouts, and I shrug in response. Steven and I are looking around like maniacs trying to find the course of this shaking. We live in an almost earthquake free area. An earthquake here, geographically, doesn't make sense. "Look!" Steven shouts, pointing into the distance. What I saw would make anyone's skin crawl. It was a giant earthworm. It was digging under the city, and that was what was causing the shaking. "With that thing digging, it could make the whole city collapse!" I shouted. I grabbed Steven by the arm, but he pulled away. "What are you doing? We need to find a safe place to hide!" I shouted with concern. "Ellie is out tonight. I have to find her!" He shouts and runs off. "Steven! Ellie is fine!" I shouted, but he was already gone. That boy is crazy in love. I guess it gives me a chance to transform without an audience, but he could hurt himself. I'll transform and go find him. Turns out Hephestus hid in this exact jacket pocket and somehow Alec didn't notice. I find a safe place to transform, and now I'm off to find Steven.