Chapter 1: St. Helens Discovery
"We're going to ask you again, what happened in Mount St. Helens?" A deep voice said.
"Look, I'm telling the truth, nothing happened between Percy and Annabeth." Rachel answered.
"She's telling the truth, just forget about it." A higher voice came.
"Fine. You're free to go." The deep voice told Rachel.
Rachel wasn't really worried or surprised. She knew what was going on and who were the people questioning her. She nodded and left the place, her footsteps echoing the hall.
"Nice job, mister obvious." Connor Stoll said as he switched on the lights to reveal eight teenagers in the building, which was actually Bunker 9.
"Hey I tried, plus I told Drew it was a bad idea." Will replied.
"Well we know now that nothing happened during their quest in St. Helens. I told you, Drew." Piper turned to her half-sister.
"I just know something happened. I can feel it." Drew looked puzzled.
"Sure, I can feel someone falling in love a mile away." Travis said sarcastically.
Drew just glared at him and started going around the bunker. Everyone was staring at her.
"What the heck are you doing?" Nico asked her.
"Thinking of course." Drew answered. Leo snorted and whispered something to Nico.
"Can we just come back tomorrow?" Katie Gardner said.
"I got it!" Drew surprised her members. "We need a person who can talk to Annabeth or Percy. Any volunteers?"
The eight shifted uncomfortably, they knew how weird Drew's ideas were. Without her, their secret club wouldn't exist.
"I'll do it." Piper raised her hand. "I can do charmspeak, why can't you?"
"I have things to do tomorrow, Piper. Annabeth likes you anyway." Drew answered. "So guys and gals, operation St. Helens is a go."
"That name sucks." Nico complained.
"Got a better idea, zombie dude?"
"Well…no."
"Good, now detectives, let's get some shuteye."
Piper was making her way to the Athena cabin, she figured out what she had to say to Annabeth. Actually she didn't really plan a lot and was getting nervous. If nothing happened and Drew was just saying stupid stuff, then this would be a waste. Piper reached the door and knocked.
"Oh hi, Piper." Annabeth greeted. She looked pretty calm and everything. Not like the last war in Greece.
"Hey, Annabeth how are you doing? You wanna take a walk?" Piper asked, her hopes high.
"Um, sure I have nothing else to do." Annabeth replied and followed Piper to the strawberry patch.
"I still have a lot going on" Annabeth started. "A lot of campers lately. A walk might calm me down."
"Yeah I have a few problems of my own. But you know us Aphrodite girls, busy with "other stuff". Which reminds me, how's Percy?" As soon as Piper said this, Annabeth frowned.
"Um…he's fine, you see him everyday actually. Something wrong?"
"Oh nothing, sorry this thing isn't getting anywhere. Let's change the subject, I'm wondering, how did Mount St. Helens erupt again?" Piper knew Annabeth would get suspicious with the question but she couldn't take it back anyway.
Annabeth raised an eyebrow and continued frowning. But she took a deep breath and answered. "Well Percy said he was being attacked by monsters after I left but the rest was really a blur to me. I don't remember actually what he told me." Piper saw something in her answer.
"What do you mean you left? Why?" Piper asked again.
"I already told you, Piper why are you bringing it up again?"
"Just forgot the story too. Please?" Piper pleaded and added some charm to her voice. Suddenly Annabeth became expressionless.
"He um told me to go ahead and he'll try to hold the monsters off. But I refused then he kept urging then…" Annabeth stopped talking. "Then I let him take care of it, that's all."
Piper was disappointed, but she wouldn't give up, even to Drew's orders.
"Are you sure?" Piper put all her force and charm into it. "Is that all that happened?"
"He...he was trying to protect me" Annabeth continued. "And I was really worried about him, so I-I kissed him."
A pleased smile came from Piper's face. "Wow, some story about strawberries, Annabeth. Well I best get going, it's almost dinner." Since Piper mastered her charmspeak, she can do that. Annabeth snapped back to reality.
"Um, sure thanks for the walk, Piper." Annabeth looked unsure of what just happened but went back to her cabin and Piper to Bunker 9.
"Well? Did you get it? Spill." Drew said to her as soon as she arrived.
"Yes, turns out Percabeth got their first kiss under Mount St. Helens." Piper answered her.
"Yes! You owe me three bucks, bro." Travis said to his brother. Connor cursed and reluctantly gave his money to Travis.
"So, detectives-"
"Could you stop calling us that?" Will complained.
"Hey I started this club!" Drew protested. "Without it you wouldn't been able to get the truth of St. Helens."
"I regret agreeing to this." Nico grumbled.
"So what next, Nancy?" Leo asked.
"That's simple" Drew replied. "The kiss after the war."
"What do you mean?" Katie asked. "That isn't a mystery. We even planned that sneak attack."
"Yes, but after we tossed them into the water-"
"Which was my idea by the way." Connor said proudly.
"After we tossed them, it took a long time to get back." Drew finished. "Any guess?"
"Bet five dollars they kissed." Connor said.
"We'll see about it."
Stay tuned…