Hi! Well, it's finally here! The sequel to Be Careful What You Wish For!!
Few things to say- No flames. Don't like, don't read. And review!!
Don't own Percy Jackson, and sadly never will. Only saying this once, though!
Here's the first chapter.
Enjoy!
"Dan! Time for dinner!", a voice downstairs called.
"Coming!", I answered. I put on my shoes, checked how I looked one last time and hurried to the kitchen. This was Christmas Eve, after all. You have to look nice. The stairs groaned beneath my feet. The only thing I didn't like about Jasmin's house were the stairs. They didn't help, specially when you're trying to sneak out in those moments were the family is arguing.
3 months had passed since the last time I had seen my half-sister and best friend. I was really glad she had invited me over for Christmas, for we needed some "bonding time", as she had called it. I had been here for 2 weeks now, and I was having the time of my life.
When I entered the kitchen, I found a cute little scene. Jazz was standing on a chair trying to get the plates, smiling at the sight of her dad and step mother dancing to some Christmas carols. Her step-brother James was getting the silverware out of a drawer. He was laughing as well. When our eyes met, he winked. I looked away, blushing. James was two years older than me and extremely good looking. He looked like his mum: tall, reddish brown messy hair, and sea green gentle eyes. I tried my best to focuse on Jazmin's back, just to keep my eyes busy on something else. Her hair was now longer, but other than that, she looked the same. I hadn't changed much myself since September. My hair was longer too, and perhaps I'd gotten an inch taller. I wasn't sure.
"Dan!"
I jumped. James had been asking me something for about 3 minutes now and I had been too distracted to answer. I mentally slapped myself.
"Yes?"
"Could you get the apple juice? It's in the fridge", he said.
"Sure." I sighed. I'd been so distracted lately… Jasmin said it was because of Drew. I rolled my eyes at that thought, and I got the apple juice.
We all sat down, and we began eating. Jasmin sat in front of me, and we exchanged glances every now and then. Immediately after we'd start laughing. Not that it bothered anyone, since everybody was talking about different things. Amelia, Jasmin's step mother, cleared her throat.
"I want to make a toast for Jasmin", she said, smiling when she saw my face go red, "I want to thank you for coming here, darling, it has really been a pleasure."
"Thank you for having me, Mrs. Tent", I replied, smiling embarrassedly.
"And", added Jasmin, "I want to wish everybody a very happy Christmas, it has been one of the best ones ever."
"I agree on that", said James, raising his glass.
"Definetely!", finished Jake, Jazmin's father.
I laughed with them, and we finished our Christmas dinner.
"Time for presents!", Jasmin said from the living room.
I still had one dish to wash. I had volunteered to do the dishes this night. It seemed like the right thing to do.
I was drying my hands when James entered the kitchen.
"Hey, I'm almost done", I said, "Tell them to wait for me just a couple of more minutes, 'kay?"
"No, they know you're finishing with the dishes. Don't worry, they're just making everything ready", he said, leaning on the counter.
"Oh…", I didn't know what to say.
"I have to thank you, Dan. Jasmin and I have to thank you", he said simply.
"For what?", I asked, not knowing what he was refering to.
"For telling us about your quest. It really opened my dad's eyes", he said.
Ever since I told the Tent family about my quest with Jasmin and Patrick, my dead love, Jake had left his study more and more often to spend more time with his family. Hecate, the goddess of magic, was jealous because my dad had preferred Athena over her. She kidnapped him, expecting me to go and save him. We got to her hiding place, and when Hecate got her chance to kill me, Patrick sacrificed himself to save me, and so, I lost him. And my dad had chosen death over the goddess, and so, I'd lost him too. After hearing my story, Jake was shocked. He seemed to think that every moment now was precious, which was true.
"It was nothing. I'm just glad you guys are happy", I said smiling.
I heard James come closer. When I turned, he was right in front of me, smiling timidly. He had something in his hand. I reached for my olive blossom locket when I realized what it was.
"Merry Christmas", he said, holding the mistletoe above our heads.
I entered the living room with my head on the clouds. Jasmin gave me a suspicious look, and I shook my head. I gave her a silent "I'll tell you later", and she nodded. James arrived moments later. Jasmin started to look at him and then at me, back and forth. It was a matter of seconds before she gasped. I gave her a meaningful look, and I prayed for her to shut up.
"Dan, the whole family got a present for you. I hope you like it", Jake said, handing me a box.
"Oh, you guys didn't have to get me anything…", I mumbled. I hesitated, and then I ripped the gift wrap. Inside was a beautiful book with a black velvet cover and silver patterns on it. My mouth was hanging open. It was amazing. I flipped through the pages. They were empty.
"It's for you to write your book", Amelia explained. "Jasmin mentioned you were writing a book, so we thought about getting you a nice place for you to write it."
"If you don't like it, we can always change it…", James started, but I cut him off.
"It's perfect", I stated. I looked at them, "Thank you very much. It's absolutely gorgeous."
Their faces lit up with bright smiles.
"I got you something too", I said, reaching for their presents and handing them over to their owners.
I looked as Amelia tried her hand-knitted sweater on. "Wow! That's amazing!", she said. "Thank you, Dan!", she smiled. I returned the smile. I didn't tell her, but the sweater was made by my mother, Athena, as a thank you.
"You know me too much", said Jasmin shaking her head, as she took her new hunting knife out of the box. She had lost hers in our quest.
"I'll take that as a thanks!", I laughed.
"Who told you I wanted a new pen?", asked Jake, admiring his present.
"Guilty", replied James, who tried his new watch on. "Thank you", he added, and I just nodded. I couldn't look at him without blushing furiously.
We spent the night laughing and talking, drinking hot chocolate and eating cake. After midnight, Jake and Amelia went to sleep, and James, after his fourth cup of hot chocolate, said it was late for him too.
Jasmin and I went up to her bedroom, where I was sleeping, and when we arrived, we saw a silver box on each bed.
"Mother", we said at the same time.
I unwrapped mine. It was a pen with silver ink. A note next to it said.
"This pen will never run out of ink. And its ink cannot be erased. It can write on any surface. Words are powerful, my child. Use it well."
I saw Jasmin unwrapping hers. She got a hairpin with an owl on it. It was really pretty.
She looked at me. "My brother kissed you."
It was a statement, not a question. I kept my mouth shut.
"So? How was it?", she asked.
"Um…nice?", I replied.
She shook her head, and I heard her mutter something like "Unbelievable…"
I bit my lip.
She sighed. "Don't worry, I'm not mad. It's just… I thought you liked Drew."
Drew. Oh my gods. I had completely forgotten about him.
Drew was this new camper that had arrived last September. He was claimed by Zeus the night he arrived. There was some sort of… tension, between us. I blushed every time I saw him, and he would laugh about it. With his piercing, electric blue eyes, brown hair so light it looked blond sometimes, he was… dreamy. Yes, I said it. Dreamy!
I still felt guilty about Patrick though. The locket he'd left behind as a reminder got heavier when I was with Andrew Rush. I still missed him. I still cried at night when I dreamed about him fading into the darkness. One night, the dream was so real, Jasmin had to hold me all the way to breakfast before I could be calmed. But Andrew was so easy to be around with, you couldn't help but like him instantly. Plus, I had promised Patrick to be open to love. So instead of giving myself a headache, I'd decided to just go with the flow, and just wait and see what the Fates had prepared for me.
But James' kiss had caught me completely off guard!
I wondered if Drew would be jealous if he found out..
"So? You happy about going back to camp on January?", my half-sister asked, noticing I didn't like the subject.
"Not really", I said. "I'm having a really good time here. Thanks again for inviting me."
"Don't be silly. My home is your home", she replied, matter-factly.
I smiled, and then we both yawned.
"I think we should sleep now", Jazz said.
"Yeah, you're right. We need to be awake for tomorrow", I said, while I turned off the light. The silver light of the moon filled the room.
"You know, James made the book himself. So…"
I didn't know that. And he'd even suggested to change it if I didn't like it. That was sweet of him.
"So…?"
"I think you of all people need to be awake tomorrow", Jasmin said suddenly, her voice hiding something, "since you'll need to know if my brother wants a replay of today as a thank you", she said, muffling now her laughter with her pillow.
WHOOSH
"Ow!"
I chuckled. I'd thrown my pillow at her.
First chapter of the sequel! Tell me what you think!
Thanks again to all of you readers. You guys rock.
Review! :]
