I am so sorry this has taken so long. My flash-drive that had all my stuff on it was destroyed so I lost all of my writing. I hoped that some of my files would be recoverable, but none so far have been. So now I'm just going to write this for you guys because you all deserve it! Thank you everyone who reviewed! It means so much!
Lydia pov:
I don't think I've ever heard of Annabeth being too shocked for words, but she was now. I told Annabeth my story just how I told it to Percy and let it sink in for a little while before I continued.
"You see when I saw you at the Lotus, I was struck by how much Marcella looked like you. The same blonde hair and gray eyes with a knack for knowledge. Once I knew who I was it sort of started to make sense. My mom met my step dad on accident when she was looking for a job. They just ran into each other on the street. It always struck me how if either of them had been just a minute later or earlier than they were, my mother and I would have been on the streets alone. My mother was looked down upon by society because she was a single mother. Things were only slightly better for my step father being a single father. I always thought that someone must have been watching over them. I think I might have been right.
"My theory is that my step father once had a child with Athena (my sister), knowing who she was. I think thats why he learned all the survival skills in the first place. I am almost positive my mother knew my father was Poseidon, and I think they bonded over their knowledge. They knew we were half-bloods and so my step father taught us as much as he could in order to help us.
"Marcella was always the smart one. She was practically a prodigy at school. The teachers didn't know what to do with her. They gave as much material as they could and she still flew through it. I remember being jealous at how easy it was for her. I had to struggle just to read and she had no trouble at all." I shook my head remembering Marcella curled up on her bed with her latest book. "I can't prove any of this of course, but it all makes sense."
I finally looked up at Annabeth to gage her reaction. She was staring at me. Her face showed shock, but calculation as well. I could sense all kinds of questions bubbling up in her head.
"You can ask me any questions you have and I'll answer you the best I can."
"What's your last name?"
I was startled by the question. "Sydney. When my mother married my step-father, he adopted me so i got his last name."
"Annabeth smiled with very little humor. "We need to go find Percy. I think that we need to take a field trip."
"A field trip? Where?"
Annabeth didn't answer me. She just took off accross the beach, walking fast making it difficult for me to keep up. As soon as we got closer to the main part of camp Annabeth stopped abruptly.
She cupped her hand around her mouth and yelled as loud as she could. "PERCY!" She then sat down where she was and motioned for me to join her.
I sat down next to her. "Do you really think he heard you?"
She smirked at me. "Yes."
Minutes later, Percy I saw Percy running toward us. He skidded to a halt right in front of us.
"Malady called?"
I held back as laugh as Percy offered a hand to both of us. Annabeth and I both took a hand and hauled him down to the ground next to us. After a few laughs, Annabeth got down to business.
"We need to take Lydia on a field trip."
"Where to?"
Annabeth leaned toward Percy and whispered in his ear for awhile. Percy's eyes widened and he looked at me then back to Annabeth.
"Do you really think so?"
Annabeth nodded and stood up. Percy and I followed suit and soon we were walking back to the Big House.
"Are you guys going to tell me where we're going or not?"
Percy looked at me solemnly. He shook his head. "Not until we're sure."
I let out an exasperated noise but we were already at the Big House. I had to wait outside while Annabeth and Percy went inside to talk to Chiron. I sat on the steps and waited. I went over the conversation I'd had with Annabeth looking for anything that would make her want to go on a "field trip". I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't see anyone approach until they were standing right in front of me. I looked up to see Simon standing awkwardly in front of me.
"You left your bow at the archery range so I thought I'd bring it to you."
"Oh, thank you." I took it when he offered it to me. I put it over my shoulder like he had his and strapped the quiver to my waist just under my sword belt. When Simon say my sword he raised his eyebrows.
"You any good?"
I smiled up at him and patted the step next to me. "Yes, my step-father taught me how to use a sword when I was fairly young."
Simon sat down next to me and leaned back against the other steps. "So what are you doing sitting alone at the Big House? I thought Percy never let you out of his sight."
I laughed. "Percy and Annabeth are inside talking to Chiron. They want to take me one a 'field-trip' for some reason." I shrugged.
"Well, if you get back in time, would you like to hang out a bit? Walk around the beach?"
I smiled at him. He looked so nervous. It was endearing. "Sure! Though I have no idea how long this trip will last."
His face instantly lit up and he looked so relieved that I hadn't said no.
"Well if you do get back late, then we'll just have to find another time to hang out."
Just then Percy and Annabeth came out of the house followed by Chiron. Percy overheard what Simon said and raised his eyebrows at me, making me blush.
"We're borrowing the van. Time to go." Annabeth said making her way down the steps. I got up and started to follow her.
"See you later, Simon!"
"Have a nice fieldtrip!" I laughed as we walked up the hill and out of sight.
Percy looked down at me in amusement.
"You really are a charmer aren't you? You have that boy wrapped around your finger and its only been a day. You sure you're not a child of Aphrodite?"
I punched him in the arm and got into the back seat of the waiting van advertising strawberries.
Annabeth got into the drivers seat and we took off. I had a strange sense of foreboding about this trip and I desperately wanted to be wrong.
Where do you think they're going? Review and tell me!
