Songs used in this chapter: Bless the Broken Road, by Rascal Flatts. I'm hungry. But that is besides the point: i do not own PJO or any things that you recognize the next few chapters (like Costco for example).
Our visit to Olympus wasn't that bad, for the amount of time that we were there. Nobody was chasing me around, trying to kill me, so i can proudly say that there's a first for everything (though Demeter gave me the stink eye when i told her that i didn't like the cereal she'd recently enforced everyone at camp to eat for breakfast... Nobody liked it; not even some of her kids, and they love cereal!).
But i talked to my mom for a bit, and she said that her temple is being re-done, and made bigger because Apollo convinced the council that the Personification of Destiny is important enough to have a decent sized temple on Olympus. I told her i was happy for her, but kinda zoned out when she started talking about all the designs and statues and whatnot.
I only really regained focus when she started talking about Lee.
"Sorry, what did you ask?"
"I asked if you were still dating that son of Apollo... Lee?"
"Yeah, it's Lee. And yes, we're still dating," i replied semi-awkwardly.
"Ah, well, i hope everything goes well for you two in the near future. As Personification of Destiny, i can feel if something is about to change, with my childrens destiny's. I have a slight feeling that something is going to happen between you and Lee, and i can't quite tell whether it is something good, or something terrible," she said, taking my hands and looking me in the eye.
"Well, thing's are ... ok, for now, and i guess we'll see what happens when we get there, won't we?" i asked, giving her a slight smile. I could tell she was worried, but i wanted to assure her that whatever happens, I'll be ok, and so will my relationship with Lee. If that's what she cares about, i mean.
"Deal, we'll see how things work out, and whatever the Fates decide, is probably what's best. Now, you should be going, isn't Henry waiting downstairs for you?" she asked me. Truth is? I'd almost completely forgotten about Henry while i was talking to my mom, and avoiding Demeter.
"Oh, crap! Yeah, i guess I should go find Lee and we'll go back to camp. Bye mom," i said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek and standing up.
"Goodbye, Molly. Be careful on your way to camp! And don't forget your um ... brightly coloured backpack," she said, holding up my purple backpack and staring at it as if it might spontaneously combust and kill us all.
"Oh, yeah. Backpack, right," i said, taking it from her. I put the straps over my shoulders, and started to walk away when i remembered what i'd wanted to ask her before.
"Hey, mom?" i asked, turning around. She smiled at me and said,
"Yes?"
"Well, i was just wondering if you knew when dad was going to get better," her expression saddened, as she thought of how to answer me.
"I don't know, Molly. It's hard to say. That kind of destiny is hard for me to see. You'd be more likely to find an answer if you asked Lord Hades or Lord Apollo. I'm sorry," she said, looking at me with sad eyes.
"Oh, no, it's ok. I can ask Apollo or something," i said, trying not to look too disappointed. I started to walk away again, but her voice stopped me.
"Can you tell him i say hello?" she asked.
"Yeah, i will. Bye mom," i called over my shoulder as i headed down the path towards the Temple of Apollo.
Once i got there, it wasn't hard to find Lee. He was sitting in the special music room Apollo had made in his temple for when his kids came to visit. It was cool when you happened to walk by, and you suddenly see the singer from your favourite band just strumming their guitar, or bashing out on the drums. What a fun day that was, man. But anyway.
I knocked three times on the glass door before being waved at; telling me to come inside.
"Lee? We should go, we've been here for a while, and Henry's still down in the shop," i said, pointing over my shoulder.
"Oh, uh, yeah. But i want to show you something, first," he said, switching the blue electric guitar, for an acoustic one. I raised and eyebrow, to which he grinned in response as he started strumming the guitar.
And every long lost dream,
lead me to where you are.
And others who broke my heart,
well they were like northern stars,
pointing me on my way,
into your loving arms.
This much i know is true:
that god bless the broken road,
that lead me straight to you,
he sang. I liked it. I smiled at him.
"I'm still working on it, i mean, it's kind of rough, and that's only the chorus, but i mean-"
"Lee, i love it," i said, clapping. He blushed and stood up, putting the guitar down on the stand.
"Well, I'm glad, cause I'm writing it for you," he said, stepping closer to me, and putting a hand on my cheek. I lent into his touch, enjoying the moment. "What did you think about the lyrics?" he asked, sounding concerned.
"Stop ruining the moment," i said, giving him a sad smile, and putting my arms on his shoulders, as if we were going to dance. I think he caught on, because he put his hands on my hips and gave me a knowing smile.
We danced with no music, though that didn't seem to bother either of us, but it would certainly look strange if anyone happened to see us. I can only imagine... but then the moment was ruined, when i happened to get a quick peek at the watch on my wrist. 4:36 PM. We'd been here for over and hour, and i assumed Henry had to be getting bored downstairs.
"Lee ..." i said, sighing, wishing that this moment wouldn't end.
"Yeah, i know," he said, sighing himself.
As we walked down the path towards the elevator, hand in hand, we talked about what we'd been doing for the last hour and a half. Lee told me he'd talked with his dad, and then went to the music room to work on his song idea. He told me that it was called Bless the Broken Road. I told him that i loved what he had so far, and to not worry, because the rest would come along eventually. He just shook his head, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. I blushed slightly.
We were more then halfway there, when we ran into the person we'd both wanted to see, after opening up our ... gifts.
"Omigods! You two are just the cutest thing since Marbel!" screeched Aphrodite. Lee and i exchanged a confused look.
"Marbel?" i asked the goddess. She nodded encouragingly.
"You know! Marcus Trent and Isabel Carlyle?" she said, nodding like she was shocked that we didn't get the joke.
"Uh, no, sorry," Lee said, rubbing the back of his neck like he does when he feels awkward. I shrugged.
"Oh," she pouted. Then her expression brightened instantly, like a light bulb had illuminated her face. "Did you get my gifts?" she asked in a freakishly high pitched voice, while bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Yeah, about that, we were wondering-"
"Excellent!" she cut off, "Now, i suppose you came to ask me what they are for?" she asked inquisitively. Damn, she's good.
"Yeah," we both said.
"Well, what do you think your gift is for, Lee darling?"
"Umm, I'm not sure? It was a sweater, body spray, and a ... pair of gold boxers," he said, blushing as he admitted the last part of his gift.
"Well, it's obvious, then! I thought you children of Apollo were smart! Oh, wait, no, that's Athena. But anyway!" she said in a cheery voice.
"Its ... obvious Lady Aphrodite?" he asked, clearly confused.
"Well, yes! You're supposed to wear them, silly!" she said, hitting her forehead like the answer should've been obvious to Lee. "And yours, dear?" she directed the question towards me.
"Oh, it was a Hedley CD, some body lotion, massage oil, and some ... ah ... pyjamas," i said, trying to control my blush.
"Well, it sounds like yours was meant to be used on a um, romantic, evening i suggest?" she said, wiggling her eyebrows at me. I swear my eyes popped out of my head, and my throat went as dry as a desert.
"O-Oh ..." i said, suddenly aware of how close Lee was standing beside me, and how i could feel every inch of his hand covering my own. And Aphrodite, seemingly knowing this gave me a small, secretive smile and a wink. I really wish she couldn't read my mind.
Uh, hello, standing right in front of you?
"Sorry," is what i said aloud.
"It's no problem, dear," she said, giving me a sweet smile. She then wished us well, turned, and started down the pathway before poofing away in a cloud of hot pink, DKNY scented smoke. Gross.
"Well ..." i said, breaking the awkward silence that had grown between Lee and myself as we made our way down in the elevator.
"Well ..." he replied, staring somewhere on the wall, and not standing so close to me anymore.
"That was interesting," i commented, slightly edging myself more towards where Lee was standing.
"Definitely," he said, moving towards me as well.
His hand grabbed mine, and before i knew it, well, he had me kinda pinned against the elevator wall. His nose was touching mine, and i could feel his warm minty breath on my cheeks. That sounded so cliche, oh gods. I think I'm turning into an Aphrodite girl...
"Hey," he said, cracking a small grin.
"Hello, Mr. Fletcher," i replied.
"Call me Lee. If i do say, have me met before? I've seen you around my school, and i think we should go out some time," he whispered to me. He once again almost ruined the moment, because i almost laughed. Again.
"I think we could arrange that? You'll have to ask my boyfriend though. He get's pretty jealous ..." i whispered back.
"Darn, what will i ever do now?" he sighed dramatically.
"I have no idea, but i think the elevator just dinged," i pointed out, side-stepping Lee as to avoid the odd stares and disgusted glances from the tourists waiting for the elevator. I snatched the key from the slot, grabbed Lee by the hand, dragged him out of the elevator, all the while apologizing to the mortified little kids, standing there with their parents.
Once we were out in the fresh air, walking around with Henry, i had to laugh. That couldn't have been any funnier! Lee looked at me strangely.
"What're you laughing at?"
"Oh, nothing, Mr. Fletcher," i said, emphasizing his name, and then i couldn't help but laugh more. Then he started laughing too, so little Henry decided to join in the fun.
It was about ten minutes later, that Henry spoke up, sounding worried for the first time since we'd met.
"Lee, who is that man following us?" he asked, slightly worried, as he glanced over his shoulder, and looked at a man with blonde hair, and light blue eyes. The man was tall, and looked to be about college age, but the thing that made him stick out from the crowd, was that he had a long scar running down his left cheek.
A scar from a dragon claw.
"Crap," i muttered to myself, trying to stay calm as i checked my surroundings for any possible way out of the situation to come.
"Oh ... well, Henry, we don't want to talk to that man, he looks kind of scary, doesn't he?" asked Lee, trying to play down his scared expression for poor Henry's sake. Henry shook his head no. "Then why don't we go to um, a special place that i know here, in the city. I know they have lot's and lot's of cookies!" he said, trying to turn us in a different direction, hopefully without Luke noticing.
"I like cookies!" said Henry, suddenly excited about going to whatever place Lee was thinking of.
"Do you like the colour blue?" he asked Henry.
Then, from that point on, i knew where Lee was taking us.
I was just hoping that Luke didn't.
Ohhhhh, intense! I apologize if the part where they talk to Aphrodite was a little stupid, i wanted them to talk to her before they left Olympus. And uh, i might have not mentioned this, but Molly's still wearing the bright purple backpack carrying her demigod things. That's going to be important in future chapters, so pay attention!
~gottaloveLeoV
