8. My Life Gets a Lot More Complicated

His lips pressed gently against mine. For a brief second I tried to escape his embrace but found myself trapped between the cool tarmac and Carter's warm lips. Realising escape was futile I allowed my scratched arms to encircle his body as they yearned to do. The moment Carter found that my defences were down his lips attacked mine with more ferocity, my body responded instantaneously pressing myself closer and allowing my hands to comb through his soft hair.

'Aphrodite!' Apollo shouted. I heard his fingers snap and then Carter went rigid. His confusion clouded eyes met mine, and then wandered to where our bodies were touching. Colour rushed to Carter's cheeks as he pulled himself away; apologies desperately flooding out of his eyes.

'Sure is persistent that Aphrodite.' It took Carter and I a second to realise that the statement was directed at us.

'Um...yeah...persistent...' We both mumbled our agreement and attempted not to acknowledge the heavy awkwardness that filled the atmosphere.

'You must be annoyed. That's the third time she's done that to you...' Carter tried to dispel the awkwardness but I just sat up and turned away. Was this the third time Aphrodite had done this to me? This time had somehow felt different...more real. Did I like Carter? I sat contemplating this when Carter interrupted my thoughts.

'Mel. I am sorry. It was Aphrodite. I wouldn't have...well, you know...kissed you like that,' His dejected voice cut through my deliberation and tore through my chest. I drew my knees up to my chest and hugged them to myself. Carter didn't like me. He only kissed me because he briefly lost his mind. He didn't like me. Well, that was ok because I didn't like him either. When I had kissed him back it was just Aphrodite controlling my actions and this aching in my chest was just my lungs protesting at the smoke I had just inhaled. I didn't like Carter.

'Please forgive me.' He whispered to me. I steeled my body and mind and turned to face him.

'Of course I forgive you,' the words shuddered to a stop in my mouth as I saw the relief and happiness fill his face.

'After all, it was only Aphrodite.' And I threw the words back at him. I briefly saw a flash of pain in his eyes before he ducked his head and mumbled something at me. I was going to ask him what was wrong when I heard the rhythmic clack of a horse's hooves approaching.

'Can we have a medical team here please?' A strong voice commanded then the clacks got louder and closer. My mind went blank before my hands clawed at the ground and my feet scrabbled to support my weight. Blind panic engulfed me and then a strong hand caught my shoulder and held me still.

'Chiron, wait...she's afraid of horses.' Carter punctuated this with one of his small, nervous laughs.

'She's afraid of horses?' An astounded voice rang out. 'Well this is going to be an interesting case!' I peeked through my fingers and before me stood a magnificent white stallion. Its coat was pearly almost emitting a faint light. My gaze wandered upwards until it met with smooth, human skin. Today I had seen my principal attacked by kindergartners, fought against three hideous unspeakable creatures, flown a flying car/sun chariot over the east coast and made out with my best friend, yet somehow my eyes couldn't compute. This guy was a man...and a horse.

'I'm going crazy...completely and utterly bonkers...losing my mind...' Carter's hand slid down my arm to grip my elbow. He heaved me to my feet and I leaned my head against his shoulder as he shielded me from that...thing.

'You're not crazy just special.' Apollo who had been checking the tyres on his car suddenly piped in. Special. Just another word for lunatic.

'Well, I'm off. Carter, tell your brothers and sisters that I'll be over on Saturday for the barbeque.' He abruptly announced, hopped into the car, winked at me and then disappeared in a blinding flash.

'I think I need to lie down.' My weak voice barely more than a whisper. Carter held me tighter.

'I'll give you two a ride to the medic station,' the horse-man said, 'you can rest there.' The later was directed at me. A shiver went down my spine and I took a couple of steps backwards tugging Carter with me.

'Um...that might not be such a good idea.' Carter mouthed the words: horses scare her remember.

'Well, she can't walk in that condition. She's exhausted.' The horse man argued.

'I'll carry her.' Carter offered and swept me off my feet before I had time to protest. I shuffled my body in his arms but my aching limbs protested too much.

'Carter, put me down I'm too heavy!' I croaked at him but he just laughed and carried me out of the parking lot. The swaying was soothing and soon my eyelids were drooping over my eyes.

A while later the swaying stopped. My arms were unwrapped from around Carter's neck and I was settled onto a soft surface. I heard mumbling around me but my weary eyes would not open. I slept.

When I woke the sun was faintly glowing through the beige curtains. I stretched my legs and my movement woke up the figure resting halfway down the bed. Felix scrambled to his feet before yawning and sitting on my stomach. Pain shot through my right side and I moaned in pain. An unseen person removed Felix and the pain decreased. I took a couple of deep breaths. I slowly sat up my breaths sometimes becoming shallow and wheezy to see Carter standing over me grinning.

'You're up! Here. Eat this.' He gushed before holding a square which looked strangely like shredded wheat to my mouth. I unlocked my jaw and he placed it purposefully on my tongue. It melted like candyfloss but the taste although familiar was like nothing I could remember eating before.

'Do you feel better?' The taste had shocked me enough that I previously didn't notice the lightening of my limbs and the way my breathing slipped back into a more natural sounding rhythm.

'Much better thank you. What was that?'

'Ambrosia.' He replied giving me one of his million watt smiles. Unknowingly I smiled back at him and threw my legs over the side of the bed to grab Felix from Carter's toned arms.

'Why do you keep trying to kill me Felix?' I cooed while twirling our bodies around in a full spin. He let out a plaintive mew while staring at me frankly. I'm sure he understands what I'm talking about sometimes. Carter let out a hearty laugh and grabbed my waist pulling me into another dizzying spin. I laughed until my chest hurt again as we waltzed and pranced across the wooden floor. At some point Felix struggled from my grasp and sat watching us from the bed. Finally Carter dipped me so low my tangled hair trailed across the floorboards. We remained there giggling until someone cleared their throat.

'Ahem. Well it looks like you're fit enough for your camper's assessment.' I twisted my head still suspended upside down and saw four strong equine legs. Immediately, I pulled myself upright and emitted a small astonished shriek.

'This horse phobia is already getting on my nerves.' The horse man muttered.

'I'm Chiron and the activities director of this camp. I'm not a horse; I'm a centaur so there is no reason to be afraid of me.' He had barely spoken a couple sentences to me and his voice already revealed his exasperation.

'I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude. I'm Melanthe but everyone calls me Mel.' I sputtered out still partially hiding.

'I'm not sure if anyone has explained this to you,' he said shooting Carter a look.

'She knows the basics.' He replied lightly pushing me forwards.

'Well, then you know, Melanthe, you are a demi-god. You're mother was one of the Greek gods, we are still unsure of which God she is and you will have to stay here at Camp Half-Blood until that has been determined. After that you will have the option of when you attend camp. We need to do an assessment so we know where to start your training from. If you'd just follow me...'

Reluctantly I followed Chiron out of the room.