Driving in the rain has always been one of my favourite things. I always found it so tranquil, and I would usually recommend it to anyone who needed to de-stress. However, when you are stuck in the car with three people who are constantly questioning you about an event you do not want to talk about, it is the complete opposite. I wanted to just jump out and run away from them.

"So did you purposely try and do something?" Mum asked.

"No, Mum."

"Ooh, that was really powerful, did it die?" Sofia asked.

"I don't know, Sofia."

"Are you the Hulk?" Lucas asked.

"Yes, Lucas, I'm the Hulk."

The rest of the car journey was a lot like that, until we, at last, parked up in the car park outside Sofia's block of flats. Mum and Lucas decided they would stay in the car, evidently not wanting to overcrowd Sofia as she said goodbye to her father, and so it was just me that accompanied her.

Sofia's flat was on the very top level. It was small, but very nicely done up. Mr Moretti was the sous chef at Prezzo, and so the kitchen was very nice and full, and the place was always clean and tidy, as Sofia was a downright clean freak. I always loved staying at their flat; it had such a nice atmosphere. An atmosphere which I had a feeling was going to be very tense when news let out.

Mrs Moretti, Sofia's Italian grandmother, answered the door. Mrs Moretti is a very passionate woman, and very affectionate towards Sofia, and even myself. She was a family woman, so I worried about how she would take the news that her only grandchild was leaving. She didn't actually live with Sofia and her father, but spent pretty much all her days there, ever since Sofia's grandfather died when she was eight. She loved her grandmother to death, but was often exasperated by her.

"Sofia! You're back sooner than we thought, and Scarlet too! Come in, and dry up. Sofia, you wear inappropriate clothing, you look like a common chav, you should be more like Scarlet, see, a nice skirt, covered up."

Sofia put on a fake smile and apologised to her grandmother, while I looked away awkwardly. Mrs Moretti often compared Sofia to me, which was highly embarrassing. Soon enough, Mr Moretti came to the rescue.

"Mama, leave Sofia alone, she's fourteen, let her have some fun. Hi Scarlet." He nodded in my direction.

"Dad, I'm really sorry, but I need to leave." Sofia said quietly. Mr Moretti shut his eyes, as though he was expecting this, while Mrs Moretti began to fire questions at Sofia.

"What are you saying? Don't be silly, what has caused this? What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time? No, I don't agree to this." In the end, all four of us found ourselves sat on the small, square, dining table, with cups of strong coffee in our hands.

"Explain yourself." Mrs Moretti demanded of her granddaughter. Sofia looked pleadingly at her father for help.

"Mama, why don't you go and buy us some chocolate?"

"You don't tell me what to do, Matthew, I am your mother, you do what I say."

"Okay, I'm asking you; please can you go and buy some chocolate."

Mrs Moretti glared at us all suspiciously, then slowly rose, grabbed her bag, vowed to be back soon and left. As soon as she was out the door, Mr Moretti spoke.

"Camp Half-Blood?" He simply asked his daughter.

Sofia nodded sadly. "Miss Swan explained to us earlier, I'm sorry Dad."

"Don't be sorry, sweetheart. I knew today would come at some point. I just hoped I would have more time."

"I will only stay during the summer. I'll be back by September. I promise."

"Don't promise me." Mr Moretti sighed. "Things could change."

None of us spoke for a few moments.

"I don't suppose you know who my mother was?" Sofia asked tentatively.

"Not a clue."

"And I don't suppose you could tell me… how you met?" Sofia had never been told the story. Her father had been a lot more secretive than my mother, who relished in telling the tale. I think I respected Mr Moretti for that. I think it made the whole thing more personal, as it was clearly kept a secret because it hurt Mr Moretti to talk about. I feel as though my mum liked to brag that she knew somebody like my dad. I also felt as though I was intruding in a deep moment between father and daughter, and had half a mind to escape to the toilet before the talk began, but that would be rude of me. And I was also nosy.

"We met when I was at the small restaurant in Soho." Mr Moretti started. "I was a new chef at the time, and she came in. Why a goddess would want to go to that place I do not know. But she did, and I happened to be the one to prepare her meal. She liked it, and wanted to see me. And she was so beautiful, Sofia. Like you. She wanted me to cook for her again, and so I invited her back. I lived in such a dingy flat back then, I hoped it wouldn't put her off, and it didn't. She and I had a fleeting relationship, for she said she was just passing through London, and then she soon left. Nine months later, I was more successful, having just secured this flat, and gotten the job at Prezzo. I think she had something to do with my good fortune. Or maybe she didn't want her daughter to be brought up in such a crap hole. But then nine months later, you arrived. In a golden cradle, carried by Zephyr the West Wind, and with a note, explaining everything. I was so shocked, it was sudden, having a daughter thrown upon me like that, but it was a lovely surprise. And that was the story, Sofia. And now it's time for you to go to Camp Half-Blood."

Sofia stayed silent for some time, taking in the story. I think she was hoping for something more spectacular, but still, she smiled stood.

"Scarlet, come and help me pack?" Of course I agreed, and the two of us headed into her quite small, quite pink room. It was immaculately clean, and the pink walls were scattered with pictures. She immediately got a small, brown leather suitcase out from her wardrobe and pretty much packed every bit of clothing she owned, her two make up bags, and curling tongs. There was no room left for her vast collection of shoes, which is where I came in.

"Sofia, we're going to a training camp for demigods. You will not need four pairs of high heels."

"Yeah, but you never know." She argued, frowning at her shoes.

"I think I do… look, just pack one. And your converses. That is all you need."

Sofia didn't look happy about it, but she did. After the struggle of zipping her suitcase shut, she sighed.

"It's all very weird, this. I'm quite scared."

"There's nothing to be scared about. There's more to be scared about staying here, where monsters can attack us, than there."

"Our lives are changing, Scarley. Doesn't that intimidate you?"

The truth was, it did very much. But I wasn't going to admit that. Especially to Sofia, for I'd always been the strong one in our friendship. I couldn't turn around and admit fear. That just couldn't be done.

"Not at all." I instead smiled. "We have each other, right? Like always. That will never change."

"No, it won't." Sofia smiled back, and then giggled. "Remember in year four when we got put in separate teams for Rounders, and I cried and you kicked up a fuss and ended up having to sit out?"

"Yep, I do remember. Vividly. It was a bit like the time we got kicked off the train to Cornwall because we got put in seats away from each other and so I just sat in the one next to you, even though somebody had reserved it."

"That sucked, I was looking forward to that holiday."

"But the point is, that won't happen here. We can stick together."

"Even if it turns out our parents are enemies?" Sofia grinned.

"I very much doubt that is the case. I mean, look at us."

"Two screw ups."

"But by the sounds of it… we're not."

"Well, you won't be. I'll be a stupid demigod."

"Don't talk nonsense." I scoffed. "You'll be brilliant."

"You're lying." Sofia looked down.

"I am not!"

"You are."

"Not, not, not, now let's stop arguing about it and lug this suitcase to my mother's car."

Sofia did her best to drag it, but I had to step in or else we were not going to get anywhere. And as if we needed delaying anymore, Mrs Moretti returned, with a huge bag of chocolate with her.

"What is that bag? Where is she going?" She demanded. Sofia looked incredibly under pressure, while I just stepped back slightly. I didn't want to intrude the family talk.

"She's going to stay with her mother." Mr Moretti burst out. He seemed to have slightly surprised himself by this lie. Mrs Moretti, true to character, then started her questioning.

"Her mother? The mother I have never met? That she has never met? I won't allow it, Matthew; I think she should stay here."

"It's been planned for some time, Mother. Sofia's been looking forward it for ages, haven't you darling?"

"Yes!" Sofia chirped.

"Then why is Scarlet here?" Mrs Moretti glared suspiciously at me. I raised my eyebrows slightly but said nothing. I never did with Mrs Moretti, and she was probably the only person who I could say that about.

"Scarlet is giving Sofia moral support." Mr Moretti was really getting into this lying, I was becoming quite alarmed.

"Yes." I added earnestly.

"And Scarlet's mother has kindly agreed to drop her off, because I wanted to spend this afternoon with my own mother."

Sofia looked at me, wide eyed at her father's story, while I just looked amused. Mrs Moretti seemed to be won over by her son.

"Hm. When will I see my granddaughter again?" She sniffed, becoming resigned to the fact Sofia will be leaving.

"She'll be away for the summer." Mr Moretti simply said. Mrs Moretti frowned, before pulling Sofia in for a massive hug. Sofia tripped slightly. The passionate grandmother didn't show any sign of letting her go. When at last she did, I noticed Sofia's eyes change to a melancholic blue, and become slightly watery. I pursed my lips, concerned. Her father announced that she would say goodbye to Sofia outside, and so Mrs Moretti crammed in a whole summer holiday's worth of fretting, until Sofia cut her off, however, seeming to feel guilty instantly. They hugged again, and then Sofia led the way out.

Not one of us spoke as we took the lift downstairs. Sofia looked incredibly affected by the goodbye from her grandmother and appeared to be bracing herself for an even worse one, and I imagined Mr Moretti was feeling the same. I looked down, the feeling that I should not be there increasing by the second.

The rain had completely gone, and the sun was beginning to shine through the miserable grey clouds. Once outside, I decided I should really leave them be.

"I'm going to go and sit in the car." I announced. "Hopefully see you soon, Mr Moretti."

"Take care of yourself, Scarlet." He responded. I smiled at him gratefully, and quickly rushed off to the car. I still had Sofia's suitcase, which I put in the boot. Once I got inside, I saw how Mum was staring out the window, apparently thinking deeply, while Lucas was singing.

"We, are never, ever, ever, getting back together." He sang to me. I looked at him, and he stopped singing.

"Taylor Swift. Why?" I sighed.

"Romeo take me, somewhere we can be alone…" He burst out again, and I let out a weep and threw my head back.

"How's the glamour model?" He asked.

"She seems… I don't know, scared. I left her to say goodbye to her dad on her own, but I feel like I maybe should have stayed." I mused.

"Nah, you were best off leaving." Lucas decided. "Wouldn't want to get in the way of that, would you?"

"No." I agreed.

"How are you bearing up? Let me guess; you don't care, and you'll kill me for asking?"

"Lucas!" I protested, glaring at him.

"DON'T KILL ME!" He shrieked.

"Very funny. And as a matter of fact, I do care. It is a bit of a shock, but then my whole life is one huge shock."

"One huge electric shock." Lucas agreed.

The car door suddenly swung open and Sofia swept inside, sat down, slammed the door shut again and looked away from us. Mum came out of her daydream and looked behind her. I looked at Sofia, concerned, while Lucas looked down, almost shamefully. I was sandwiched between two sad friends, and I wanted to comfort them but would probably say the wrong thing anyway.

"Chin up guys." I said with false cheeriness. "Camp Half-Blood awaits."

Mum then put her foot on the accelerator, just as Sofia let out a sob. I turned to her instinctively and put an arm around her.

"You'll see him again soon." I consoled.

"But I might not, and I'm going to miss him so much!"

I didn't really know what to say, so I just rubbed her shoulder. Lucas was nervously singing Taylor Swift under his breath. Mum was staying uncharacteristically silent, and I wondered if she was thinking about our goodbye. Nevertheless, this really was it. We were off. We were off to Camp Half-Blood.