"Nothing like watching your relatives fight, I always say."
The Lightning Thief

Chapter 2: Relatives

Page 7

When siblings aren't very fond of each other, the reason is mostly because of competition, and this is mostly caused by the parents.

We are no exception of this.

Ever since we were kids, June has been the studious one, she never stopped making Mom proud with her grades. I am not studious, it gives me a headache, and I go by instinct for almost everything. Why does studying give me a headache? Oh, because I'm dyslexic, just like my brother, who also has ADHD.

She has none. The bastard.

June was always the spokesperson, the one who sits in front of the class. I was always guarded, sitting at the back of the classroom, granted the title of 'stupid' because of my dyslexia, even though I was probably smarter than half of the people in that room.

She was always the calm one. I was the scratch-my-knees-all-the-time type of girl; not like Luke, who always had a knack for trouble. The difference is that he is the boy of the house, the little one, nobody could say no to the guy or stay mad at him for a thing.

The bastard.


"—Julie?"

I looked up to see eyes that reflect a rainy day, storms. "Yeah, mom?"

She gave me one of her warm smiles. "I need to talk to you for a minute, sweetheart."

Those beautiful, cold yet warm, grey eyes… They were looking at me too sweetly. I grew suspicious. "Okay?"

She guided me away from the rest of my siblings, not before catching a glimpse of Nico Di Angelo's son, of course, who was helping my father load the things in the car. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion, probably trying to find a reason for why he would be here in that brilliant head of hers. Her eyes came back to mine with a look that said: 'I'll find out later,' followed by her famous eye-rolling.

"What is it?"

"I'll get right to the point…" She took a breath for some reason. I was starting to get a little tingly with nervousness; this was getting weird. "You know we've been working at the camp for quite a while now—"

"—Every summer I've ever lived."

"Right, don't interrupt me, honey. Your father and I have been thinking of working there permanently, since we've moved quite a while in this year and past year combined, seven to be exact, because of monster attacks. I mean, we're five god-related people under one roof, it will only get worse. It gets tiresome. Of course, we would all move there. This would be also a great opportunity to be protected, most important of all your sister would be safe, she's a goddess, she needs to—"

I let my mother's words dawn on me, and they hit me like a bucket of ice-cold water. As she went on and on and on… The realization slapped me in the face. "Wait a minute, what?! Move? To Camp Half Blood? Have you gone absolutely insane?!"

Annabeth Jackson's eyes went like plates as she saw my reaction. She had never seen me in this kind of state. She had never heard me talking like that to her of all people.

"I am not a demigod! What about my friends? Okay, I have none, but what about my life here? School? Why do I have to live somewhere I don't belong? Does my sister know? Luke? Have you talked to Dad about this? Because I cannot believe he would approve! Did you even think about how I would feel before you reached this decision?"

My mother was stunned, but she quickly regained her authority. "July Jackson! Don't you ever speak to me in that tone again! Of course I thought about your well-being, that's precisely why I'm telling you this. Yes, I spoke to your father and your brother and sister, they didn't have a problem. Don't be selfish, Julie-"

"But I have never been selfish! Aren't I allowed to be for once?"

"As a mother, I need to think about our family as a whole. I need to find a way to help us all, not think about how I feel individually. Besides, I'm not asking for permission, July, I'm just letting you know. At the end of summer, if this works out, we'll come to pack our bags."

I could barely contain the anger in my body, I was trembling all over when I said: "Whatever, do what pleases you," and stormed off.

Strange enough, tears were threatening to spill from my eyes.

But I will not cry. Not today.

I settled myself in the hallway, breathing evenly, trying not to think too much about the argument.

It was always what everybody wanted, I was always dragged into the decision everyone was okay about.

I hadn't realized the shadow beside me as I battled within myself. "Are you okay?"

The casualty of the voice only gave more flame to the fire. "Do I look like I'm okay?"

"No, you look as if Luke broke your iPod again, but madder and redder," she said.

"Luke didn't break my iPod, you did."

She wasn't helping at all.

June rolled her eyes. She looks like mom when she does that. "I will not get into this discussion again, whatever you say."

"Yes, whatever I say," I glared. We both knew how to piss each other off.

"So what do you have this time?"

"I don't need to share anything with you, June, stop being so nosy."

"Gods, July, stop being so dramatic then!"

"Then stop ruining my life!"

She rolled her eyes and turned her back to me, walking towards the car, where she would put her own things. I glared at her all the way.


Page 20

June and her stupid, long blonde waves that reach her elbows, with her stupid green eyes and stupid same face as me, same height, same fiery temper, we can't be the same person forever

These were the thoughts that circled me that one night when I grabbed the scissors and cut off my hair up to my shoulders.


Not wanting to cause anymore drama in the house, I grabbed my tote bag and walked outside where Hunter sat in the side walk.

"Turns out your mom does not want to be involved in my schemes again after last time, too, even if your dad thought it was hilarious," he laughs. "So you won't have to put up with me for a whole car ride – are you okay? What's wrong?"

Again, tears were threatening to spill as I croaked: "I'll tell you all about it if you just take me away to camp as soon as possible, please. I don't think I'll be able to survive a single car ride with my family right now."

He has rarely seen me like this before, so it doesn't surprise me when he asks: "Are you sure?"

I nod.

As his familiar hands take mine, and I feel darkness slowly embracing us, the last thought that goes through my head was that of a conversation I had with my mother years ago. One I hadn't thought about since the time I wrote it down.


Page 24

"Mom, can you tell me about the times you and dad were in New Rome?"

"Well, they were very uneventful, thank the gods," she laughed. "We went to college there, the most peace we'd had in a long time, actually."

"Then why did you move back?"

"Well, when we found out we were expecting you two, we realized that we missed New York, we missed the rush of it, the memories, Sally and Paul and our friends."

"Have you ever thought about going back?"

"To New Rome? Everyday, baby. Just you wait, maybe one day we'll go back."


I still have not seen New Rome to this day.


AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for continuing to read my story. I appreciate it. Special thanks to the people who have reviewed, followed, and/or favorited.

Again, feel free to review.

Thanks!