Chapter 7

At seven o'clock, Chiron told Adam and I to come to the big house.

He and I exchanged glances. We were about to find out who was going to accompany us on our quest.

We were seated in the big house waiting for Chiron to return with our other companion when I asked, "Adam, do you know what this quest is about?"

"Yeah." He replied. "We're supposed to save one of the goddesses from Theseus."

"That's funny. What's it really about?" I asked. Yeah right, Theseus was a villain?

"I'm serious. The legends say that Theseus was a hero, a doer of good deeds. That's all wrong. Theseus is a stuck up, evil, malicious brat. And he's really stupid, too. We're supposed to save Electra from his evil lair." Adam insisted.

"Why does Greek Mythology have to be so confusing?" I asked. "If Theseus is really a bad guy, what happened in his legend?"

"How am I supposed to know?" Adam shrugged.

"I thought you knew all that stuff." I said.

Just then, Chiron opened the door and a tall boy around fifteen or so with brown hair and brown eyes stepped into the room.

"Riley, Adam, meet Justin McDonald." Chiron said.

Justin smiled good-naturedly. "Hi," he said.

"Hey," I replied.

"What's up?" Adam said.

"Justin is from the Hermes cabin. He will be accompanying you on your quest to rescue the goddess Electra from Theseus." Chiron said. "Mr. D and I have both agreed that you leave in five days. I recommend you get as much training done as you can."

"Thank you," the three of us said.

Chiron nodded once in reply. "I will leave you three for the time being. Remember to be at the bonfire by nine o'clock." And with that he clip clopped out of the big house.

"So… which cabins are you guys in again?" Justin asked.

"Zeus." Adam replied.

"Poseidon." I answered.

"Sweet. Hey, Adam, is your sister Macy?" he asked.

Adam looked as though he knew he were about to be totally embarrassed. "Yes, why?"

"She fell into Long Island Sound."

His eyebrows raised.

"Is she okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, I pulled her out. She was in hysterics." Justin grinned.

"That's Macy for you." Adam said. "Thanks for pulling her out."

"No problem, man." He replied. "Riley, I saw you training the arena on Wednesday. You're really good." Justin gave me the kind of flirtatious grin that Apollo had given me when we were introduced to each other.

"Uh- thanks." I said.

I glanced over at Adam when Justin wasn't looking. He looked like he wanted to compete with him. As if he could compliment me way better.

I hoped I wasn't in a situation where I had to guys fighting over me. That would be really awkward especially since I would be spending how long on a dangerous quest where I would probably need to be protected by someone.

"I'll fight you." Justin said to me.

"What?" I asked, hoping he didn't mean a fist fight.

"A sword fight. You up for it?"

"Oh- uh… sure, I guess. I'll get my sword." I stood up.

"I'll watch." Adam said rather grumpily. I could tell he really didn't like Justin so far.

"I'll meet you guys there." Justin jogged off towards the arena.

"I don't like him." Adam said as soon as he was out of earshot.

"Come on, Adam, he's just being nice." I said, heading to my cabin. Adam stayed with me.

"He's hitting on you!"

"Does that make you jealous?" I grinned.

He glared at the ground. "No. It's just annoying."

"Oooh… okay." I said sarcastically as I took Riptide from under my pillow.

"I'm not jealous! I don't like you in that way, okay?" he almost sounded angry.

"I'm sorry," I 'accidentally' bumped my hand against his as we headed to the arena. I did it again he kind of entwined his fingers around mine. Hopefully that would cheer him up.

"If you give me a head start, I'll race you there." I offered.

"No way!" Adam let go of my hand and sprinted to the arena entrance. I sprinted after him but knew I could never catch up.

"I win," Adam grinned.

"You always do." I shrugged.

Justin emerged from the armour room with a broad smile on his face and a fine looking sword in his hands.

I uncapped riptide and kept it's lid in my pocket.

Adam sat down in one of the stands, watching Justin's every move.

"Should I take it easy on you?" he asked, a teasing grin on his face. I liked Adam's teasing look better. It looked more teasing than mischievous.

"No thanks," I replied.

We got in the ready stance and then on his mark, we began.

I wasn't used to sparring with someone other than Adam. Justin's techniques were different. Some more advanced and some slower and more easy to block. A few times, I almost had my sword knocked out of my hands. I kept my balance and posture just like Adam had taught me. I pushed him and used a hard blow. He blocked it and our swords clashed loudly.

He looked very concentrated and his brown eyes seemed to penetrate through me. It kind of made me uncomfortable but I maintained a strait, unreadable face. I couldn't show the enemy fear.

In a swift, hard slash, he captured my sword.

"Good job," he said, breathing heavily.

"Thanks, you too." I replied. He handed me my sword and I capped it again and stuck it into my pocket.

"Cool sword. Where'd you get it?" Justin asked.

"It used to belong to my brother Percy." I answered.

"Oh! He's the one who went on the quest to the underworld."

I nodded.

Adam came over. "Good try," he said to me.

"Thanks." I said. When he didn't say anything more, I nudged him.

"Good job, Justin." He said dully.

"Thank you," Justin smiled.

Adam was being really ignorant and stubborn and I didn't like it one bit.

"I'd better get back to my cabin. We should do some training some time. How about tomorrow during free period?" Justin suggested.

"In your dreams." Adam muttered. I treaded over his foot.

"Sounds great. See you, Justin." I said, smiling.

"See you guys," Justin replied. He went off to his cabin.

Adam glared after him.

I sighed. "Adam… would it be too much to ask for you to pretend to like him?"

"Yes." He snapped.

I rolled my eyes. "Let's go to Zeus's fist." I suggested. I kind of felt like it was our place now. Where we could be alone and just talk.

"Fine." He said just as irritably.

He sulked along with me as we walked to Zeus's fist. The sun had already set and it was darkening.

"Um… maybe we shouldn't." I said, afraid that we might get lost or something.

"It's okay. I know the forest by the back of my hand." Adam assured me. He sounded a bit happier to have the chance to flirt with me.

"Are you sure?" I asked nervously.

"Positive," the look in his eyes was really convincing.

"Okay… but it's your fault if we get lost and eaten up by some evil monster." I told him.

"Sounds good."

I held onto his arm. I felt safer with him close beside me.

"Here we are," he said after a few minutes. "Do you want me to climb up first?" he asked.

"No! Don't leave me down here." I said.

"I won't leave you, Riley. It's okay." He soothed me.

He took hold of my waist and lifted me up. I clambered onto the rock and waited for him to get up.

He dropped from the tree branch and landed right next to me.

I moved a little closer so that my shoulder was pressed against his.

"It's warm." I said.

"Yeah. I love warm nights. Especially when you're camping and your by the fire and you don't need a sweater or anything. You can just sit there in shorts and a t shirt, bare foot and not worry about freezing to death."

"I like that, too. I love to go camping. Me and my mom used to do it all the time. But then she got a job because she had to pay for our apartment. We don't usually go anywhere together. And she sent me to Horace Green so… I barely got to see her anymore."

"I didn't really see my mom, either. We weren't really that close. I wish we were… she's out a lot because she has a busy job so… I take care of Macy all the time. It can get kind of lonely sometimes."

"I know. Sometimes you need someone to talk to who knows exactly how you feel."

"Exactly!" Adam agreed. "I had a few friends at school but… you know… guys aren't usually the kind of people who sit down and talk about stuff. You know what I mean?"

"Totally. I didn't have any friends to talk to. I got really lonely all the time. But… now I've got you and I can always count on you for a good talk." I smiled up at him and he returned my smile with a cute lopsided one of his own. "You know… when I first saw you on the bus I thought you were kind of weird. I mean you stared at me as if I were something in a museum and as soon as we got of the bus you sprinted away!"

"Sorry. Did I make you feel uncomfortable or anything?" he apologized.

"No, it's fine. I just think it's weird because about four weeks ago we were complete strangers to each other and now we're like… best friends." I explained.

"Yeah… it's cool. Do you like being best friends with me?" he asked.

"Of course! If I didn't I would say so."

"No you wouldn't." he told me.

"Okay, I wouldn't say so but you'd be able to tell. I love being best friends with you." I assured him.

"Good. So do I."

"Thanks."

"We should probably get going, huh?" Adam started to climb off of the rock.

I followed him and landed in a crouch. Brushing myself off, I stood up and joined him on our way to the bonfire.

"You aren't scared any more, are you?" Adam asked.

"No. I'm not. I guess when I get my mind off it; I'm not scared of it anymore." I said.

"Are you scared about the quest?"

My insides squirmed. "Yes. What if I don't make it back alive?"

"Don't think like that, Riley. You'll make it back for sure. I'll be there for you all the time, okay?"

"Thanks, Adam. That helps. But… I still don't know what to expect."

"Neither do I. But don't worry, we'll have lots of time to train and prepare. We'll be fine." Adam guaranteed me.