“Take my hand!”

“No way!”

“I’m not asking you to marry me, I’m trying to save your life!! Now!” He snatches my hand and practically pulls my arm out of its socket.

“James what the hell?!” I toss up my middle finger while my face wrinkles up.

“Look. See that! That’s what I was trying to save you from! You’re welcome!” He points off somewhere and then runs a hand through his sandy brown hair as he walks away.

I look back to see a fallen tree. “I never said thank you,” I snap back.

“I’m very much aware of that fact, thanks,” There’s a strong annoyance present in his voice and you can hear his gritted teeth.

“What’s your problem?!” I shout much louder than I meant to.

“What’s MY problem?!! What’s YOUR problem?!! Ever since we went on this trip you’ve been such a glorious ray of sunshine!” He waves his hands mockingly with clear sarcasm as his voice raises 5 octaves. “You’ve been an absolute thorn in my side!” And we’re back to the yelling.

“I didnt ASK to be here you know!” I shout inches away from his face.

“Oh wow I guess you should get an award or something. Open your eyes Casey! NO ONE asked to be here! You are here because someone put you here it’s not your fault and it certainly isn’t mine so grow up and quit acting like an entitled 5 year old!”

I stared in silence for a moment. My eyes widened and I clenched my jaw. What happened next was not my fault, okay? Remember that.

My anger built up and my blood began boiling. Before I could process what I was doing I slapped him flat across his face. HARD. Maybe he didn’t deserve that but I didn’t need him to scream at me.

He stared at me with flickering eyes and gritted teeth. He rubbed the side of his face I smacked and before he could scream at me again, I walked off. Giving him no room to say anything.

“I’m headed to my cabin,” I call back. “And don’t even think about following me,”

As I walk through the trees back up to my cabin. I feel scrapes start on my legs as thorns tug at the fabric of my clothes and branches snap beneath my feet.

I open up the creaky door to Hades cabin. The smell of mildew and freshly burning wood fills my nose. I calmly walk across the room to the single loose floorboard and flop down onto my bed.

I lay there tears sliding down my face. I’m a halfblood. I didn’t want to be. But unfortunately I am. James never wanted to be a halfblood either and I know that. But I still get so jealous sometimes that he was actually claimed right off the bat. His dad (Zeus) was so proud that he was his son that James hadn’t even been here an HOUR before his dad claimed him.

My dad on the other hand took his dear sweet time. I spent MONTHS in the Hermes cabin just waiting to finally be claimed. To me he had it easy. Sometimes when I’d be alone at night he’d come in the Hermes cabin and we’d just stay up playing games and talking but ever since I was claimed he grew distant.

My mom died when I was 7 and I have no siblings (that I’m aware of) so I’ve been alone my whole life. It was nice to have someone for a change. Tears soaked my pillow case as I lay in the dark with my head down. I was starting to understand why my dad hadn’t claimed me. I’m not strong, I’m not brave, I’ve got no real talent. I wouldn’t have picked me either.

I apparently drifted off to sleep at some point but didn’t realize it until I awoke to a soft knock on my door. I jerked awake as the door creaked open before I gave an answer. Camp Half Blood is safe from monsters, but there was that one time with Percy Jackson and Ababeth chase. So I take caution.

“Hey,” he says softly. “I didn’t mean to wake you, I’m sorry.”

“No um.. no it’s okay.” I muster a small smile on my face.

“Hey. What’s wrong?” James walks into view and just calmly crouches by my bed til his face was level with mine.

“I don’t,” I pause. “I can’t explain it”. Tears start to my eyes and I turn to face the wall.

“Look at me please,” I sit for a second and then turn around. He climbs onto the bed and wraps his arms around me. “It’s okay. It’s all gonna be okay.” I look up at his perfect face that I’ve never looked at like that til now. I’d never noticed him the way other girls had. He was handsome but we were just friends. His hair was a bit of a mess and looked like he might’ve fallen asleep or tried to before coming here. His amber eyes almost glowed. And his smile was perfect.

He hugs me a little tighter like he’s about to let go so I hold on tighter so he won’t leave. The next morning I wake up alone staring at the ceiling. I look over at the creasless sheets and realize it was just another dream. But now I’m worried something’s changed. For me, or for him I can’t tell yet. But, something’s not right.