afraid ツ l. valdez

22. eden is afraid of old evil water witches

"If he sings that song one more time, I'm going to stab him with my trident so many times you won't be able to recognize if he was a male or female." Eden grumbled, putting her head in her hands. Coach Hedge had been singing 'Old MacDonald' with weapons instead of animals for the past hour as they paced the deck. Her, Jason, and Piper were all antsy as they waited for their friends to return. 

Piper suddenly stood up straight. "That's it, we have to get off this ship." 

Jason furrowed his eyebrows. "We can't just leave."

"We're not." Piper grinned. "We're going to have a picnic in the park. It's close to the ship."

Eden jumped up and said, "As long as we don't have to listen to music."

And so the three asked (or rather, Eden told) Coach Hedge if they could go . 

He grudgingly agreed. "Stay where I can see you."

"What are we, kids?" Jason asked. 

"Kids are baby goats. They're cute, and they have redeeming social value. You are definitely not kids." Hedge snorted. 

"I think he's worried about y'all making kids, after what happened with Percy and Annabeth." Eden mumbled as they walked away. 

They spread their blanket under a willow tree next to a pond. Piper turned over her cornucopia and spilled out an entire meal—neatly wrapped sandwiches, canned drinks, fresh fruit, and (for some reason) a birthday cake with purple icing and candles already lit.

She frowned. "Is it someone's birthday?"

Jason winced. "I wasn't going to say anything." 

"Jason!" Both of the girls echoed. 

"There's too much going on," he said. "And honestly... before last month, I didn't even know when my birthday was. Thalia told me the last time she was at camp."

 "July First," Piper said. "The Kalends of July."

"Yeah." Jason smirked. "The Romans would find that auspicious—the first day of the month named for Julius Caesar. Juno's sacred day. Yippee."

Eden thought about how much that much suck. To feel like he didn't even know himself or where he belonged, to feel like he didn't own himself. His whole life had been based upon Hera's doings. She shuddered; thankfully Persephone didn't claim her when she was born. 

"Sixteen?" Piper asked.

He nodded. "Oh, boy. I can get my driver's license."

Eden snorted. "I don't think I would want to get in the car with any of you seven. Except maybe Annabeth, or Leo, because he knows machines well." 

Piper sniffed and stuck her chin up jokingly. "I'll have you know, I drive BMW's just as well as I steal them."

They all laughed until it faded away awkwardly.