I don't own PJO. I did promise an update didn't I? Yes I did. Did I get any reviews for last nights chapter? No, not a single one. Depressing =(

Chapter 8

That same day…

Zoey's POV

I had talked to my mother the day after I had my dream, and spoken to my brother. Needless to say I got nothing out of it but more resentment towards her, and our argument resulted in a shouting match.

I climbed out of and quickly took a shower so that I could open the store. While I was washing my hair I had the sudden urge to sing. Don't get me wrong, I love to sing. It just struck me strange because I hadn't really felt compelled to the way I did now. So I sang.

The notes lifted my heart, and I relished in the feeling I got deep inside my chest. When I finished my first song I couldn't stop. So even after I had dried off and put on my clothes I kept the words flowing.

During breakfast tunes ran rapid throughout my head, and I hummed softly as I opened the store. I stole into the backroom as I waited for the shells above the door to clink together.

This was the only room I had yet to get completely organized. I found ancient books as well as new ones stacked in random piles all over the floor. Shaking my head I made my way to the ones in the back. I took a stack near the two piles I had started for books that would be sold, and books I would either keep or donate to the library.

Near the bottom of the stack I was working on was a particularly old looking history book. I opened it and heard the spine cracking loudly as it protested. The musty smell of ink and pages assaulted my nostrils as dust swirled from its pages. The book held detailed descriptions of the gods both minor and major, forgotten and ones I knew extremely well. I flipped to a random page, saw a name, Melody.

I was just about to begin to read when the shells above the door clinked together signaling a customer. I sighed and placed set the book aside near the second pile promising myself that I would come back for it.

I quickly helped the customer and they soon left, just as another came in. The morning was busier than usual, and by the time I closed for lunch the book still lay there forgotten.

I ate lunch quickly and sat down behind the counter to start on the essay I had been assigned by Ares. I had started the demigod school last week, and every a god or goddess was in Olympus for a long period of time it was one of their obligations to teach a class. Ares had started teaching about the same time I began to attend, and already the history of wars homework was piling up.

I sighed and turned a page in the history book. The shells clanked and I looked up eager to assist the customer that had just entered. The old lady said she was just browsing, and she proceeded to take out almost every book in the cookbook section.

I ground my teeth in frustration, and tried to concentrate on my essay. I threw my pencil down and slammed the book closed glaring at it. It was so hard to concentrate, "Stupid ADHD." I muttered and grabbed the newest addition of Demigods Weekly (in Greek of course), and flipped back to the article I had been reading about Aphrodite's new reality show. I continued reading, flipping randomly from article to article depending on what interested me at that moment. Suddenly I was startled by the sound of someone clearing their throat behind me. I squealed and jumped ready to attack. The old lady glared at me and I grinned sheepishly and turned to face the I.M.

"Good afternoon Zoey," Chiron greeted, "I trust you are well?"

"Yeah, I'm doing pretty good." I smiled at him, "Just gets a bit lonely you know? How are you?"

"Ahh I understand. I'm doing perfectly fine thank you for asking. Now I'm sorry to cut the small talk, but I have an important question to ask you."

"Shoot." I said sitting back down in my chair.

"Well I'm sure you know that your father took in troubled campers from time to time correct." I nodded, "I was wondering if you would consider doing that just this once. You see we have a troubled camper who decided to exchange the Aphrodite cabins makeup with paint." My eyebrows shot up, and I tried to suppress a grin with little success.

"Sure, I'll take them." I said.

"That's wonderful. Thank you so much Zoey. If he doesn't work then make sure to let me know and I will deal with him personally." He said, "His father will be bringing him up in the next hour or so I believe."

"Ok, no problem."

"Good. Goodbye then Zoey, know that you are always welcome here."

"Bye Chiron, and I know." I smiled sadly at him as he broke the connection between us.

I glanced at my watch, only two hours until closing time. I supposed that I could close early, I thought, if only this lady would pick what she wanted and leave! About twenty minutes later she left the store not taking a single book with her. I glared at her as I watched her leave, and as soon as the door had closed I turned the open sign to closed.

Then I glanced at the section she had been looking and noticed that almost all the books were out of order. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. At least I'll have some help now. I thought and decided to leave it for tomorrow.

I ran up the stairs to the apartment, and quickly cleaned the extra room so that it was now suitable for living. The kitchen was my next stop as I pondered what to fix for dinner, then decided it would be better to just order takeout.

I went back down stairs and grabbed my homework and magazine, to finish. As I placed them on the kitchen table I allowed myself to relax a bit, and try to concentrate on the assignment.

A knock on the door brought me back to the land of the living, and I rushed to answer it. My mouth dropped open at the sight of Austin Hunter standing in my doorway with a backpack slung over his shoulder, and Apollo standing behind him.

Heehee cliffy! I wonder when I'll update... I'm already working on the next chapter, and I am motivated by reviews... So what does that mean for you readers? Review. Thanks for reading anyways though

~chocoyum4~