A.N Here's the next chapter! Enjoy and Review!

Chapter 6: I can make myself look like an idiot around anyone not just you

As much as OC loved her parents she was less than excited to see them.

She loved them, she really did but what she didn't love is how dependent everyone is on them, especially her.

They fulfilled 2 major prophecies already they deserved to live their lives not their daughter's.

"Are they here yet?" OC spoke when she heard footsteps entering her cabin.

"Well, I'd imagine." A deep voice rang through her cabin. OC sat up so fast she almost got whiplash.

A huge smile spread across her face. "Dad!"

Percy Jackson has definitely not grown up in the past years. Sure, he wore suits for work and didn't have the floppy, hair he had in his teen years but it was safe to say his personality hasn't changed one bit.

Percy hugged his daughter and squeezed her shoulders lightly as they pulled apart. "How's camp been so far?"

"You know, just a crisis, nothing new." OC sighed.

"How are you dealing with that?"

"I mean I don't really know what to do. I'm going to see Rachel today."

"Are you sure you're ready for that?"

OC sighed. "Dad…"

"I'm just saying, no one's pushing you into to going on this quest."

"I know that, I want to go on this quest." OC stood a little straighter to show her dad that she wasn't backing out. "You and mom fought in the Titan War when you were my age."

"We had that responsibility forced onto us, you don't."

"The thing is that, I kind of do. I was the first one to discover them, that's got to mean something." OC grabbed her jacket off the hook before heading to the door. She stopped. "And I'm going to find out what."

XXX

Tide has been pacing for 30 minutes.

"Tide, Please sit down." His mom sighed. Tide and his mom always had a close relationship, though they never talked about it, they both knew they were each other's favorite.

"She hasn't come out yet, aren't you worried?"

"Well, neither have you and I'm not worrying about that."

Tide stopped dead in his tracks, rolling his eyes. "Mom…"

"I'm just saying." She sighed. "I'm really glad you told me."

"I didn't tell you—"

"But I don't understand why you're keeping it from your father."

"Do we have to talk about this now?"

"Now's as good a time as any." His mom stated. "I'm just thinking about what's best for you."

"I know mom, it's just—"

"Ty?" Tide turned to see Aston standing in front of them. "They need you in the infirmary right now."

"Alright." Tide straightened up before nodding at his mother and heading outside. "What did they need?" Tide asked Aston as they walked out.

"Oh, nothing." Aston shrugged. "You looked uncomfortable about whatever your mom was saying, figured you need saving."

Tide stopped dead in his tracks. "Thanks."

"So what was that about anyway?" Aston asked.

"I, umm… my mom found out about something a couple of weeks ago and she's pressuring me to tell my dad."

"What is it?" Aston tilts his head at Tide. Tide tries to think of reasons as to why he's keeping it a secret. And, as of right now he doesn't have one.

Tide moves to sit on the porch of the infirmary. "I'm… gay?"

"Why are you saying it like a question?"

"Don't know if your going to punch me or not."

"Well, I'm not. I'm not a douchebag." He shrugged. "And besides I'd be the last person to judge anyone."

"What do you mean?" Tide asked. "Are you…?"

"Oh no, I'm Ace."

Tide stopped and faced Aston. "Meaning?"

"Meaning, I'm not attracted to anyone."

"Since when?"

"Since always."

"But you've dated lots of girls."

"You don't need to be sexually attracted to someone to date them. You dated Li in middle school."

Tide shrugged. "That's true."

"And I can be attracted to somebody. I'm Panromantic."

"What does that mean?"

"That if I develop a deep enough emotional connection with someone, I find myself sexually attracted to them. And even then, it won't matter the gender or sexuality they defy themselves as."

Tide nodded not knowing what to say after that. He realized it's been a while since he and Aston talked, like truly talked besides those polite 1-minute conversations they'd have when he answered their house phone instead of Li.

"I like this." Aston says, all of a sudden.

"Like what?"

"Talking." Aston sighs. "Talking to you, I mean, it's just we never talk because your always with Li."

"Yea, I guess it's nice to talk to someone intelligent for a change." Tide says. Aston raises an eyebrow. "Not that your sister is stupid. Li's actually really smart, probably smarter than you! Wait, not that I think you're stupid because I don't, just in comparison—"

"I think maybe you should stop before you can't get out of that hole you're digging yourself in." Aston laughs.

"Yea, only around me it appears."

"Excuse me, but I'll have you know that I can make myself look like an idiot around anyone not just you." Tide says, confidently before realizing exactly what he just said.

"I'm sure you can." Aston laughed harder.

Tide narrowed his eyes. "Shut up."

Aston only laughed and threw an arm around Tide, squeezing him gently before letting go. Aston stood up and offered a hand to Tide. Tide looked up at Aston smiling face and thought. Maybe…

XXX

When OC emerged from the cave she was limping and pale. And when she came to the opening she immediately collapsed and the first person to catch her was Graham.

Just like always.

When OC woke up again she was in the Infirmary.

"You've been in here a lot lately." She blinks a couple of times to focus her eyes to see Graham smiling at her. "You know if you wanted to see me you could've just said something."

"Graham I just woke up, I won't hesitate to punch you in the throat." Graham laughed loudly before smiling at her. OC looked back at those big brown eyes and couldn't help but smile back.

"Hey is she awake…? Oh wait, are you guys flirting should I come back?" OC looked up to see her dad standing in the doorway before sighing.

"Dad…"

"I'll just go check on something." Graham said. "Make sure you eat something." Then he sped out of the infirmary.

"Did I embarrass you?" Her dad asked.

OC just gave him a look before slapping him in the arm. He just laughed as he sat down. After a long moment of silence he spoke.

"So you and Graham—"

"We are not having this conversation."

"I'm just saying you can tell me if you're dating."

"We're not dating, trust me."

"Oh, I see. But you want to?"

"Dad…" OC sighed.

"You can talk to me about this stuff."

"Thanks but I'd rather talk to mom."

"Oh, because it's a girl type of thing."

"No, because mom had a crush on you and you didn't realize it until 4 years later."

"Ok, I see your point." Her dad smiled before he looked at her seriously. "So what happened?"

"Nothing. I went in there and asked Rachel if she'd seen anything and she told me she hadn't. So I left and as I was walking back I felt as though I was punched in the gut and all of a sudden I saw these things that were supposed to be memories but hadn't happened yet. And a clear message to travel to St. Louis."

"Do you know whom with?"

"I saw Tide, Graham, and Aston but I don't know who else."

"Alright…" She looked over to her dad, to see he was trying not to cry. "Just make sure you take care of yourself."

"I always do." OC stood up to wrap her arms around her dad's neck, feeling the tears threatening her as well.

"And please keep yourself alive."

"I promise."