Okay, I totally have my excuses for not updating, but I don't think you actually care about my excuses. For those who read this and do: Life sucks. My last update happened to be on the day my Dad left for Malta, where he is currently living with his wife for the next five months. I've been super unhappy about it and it's affected my writing. Hence why it took so long for me to write this chapter. Also, monster attacks are hard. Does anyone else have this problem? Nevermind. So, yeah. You finally have an update from me, and I'm sorry for not updating during April. I did mean to.
A huge thanks to 1oooW0rds who graciously looked over this chapter for me and made some adjustments that added to the suspense. Also, I'm sorry there isn't much flirting between Esteban and Hylla.
Word count: 2,819
As usual, I don't own PJO and I never will. Just so we're clear on that. I only own the characters I've created for this story. Now, onwards with the chapter.
January 15th
Hylla's Point of View:
"Knock, knock." An actual knock on my door accompanied the words and I smiled despite myself. I didn't need to turn around to know who was in the doorway, I recognised Esteban's voice now as easily as I'd always done so I carried on packing up the clothes I wanted to take back to Seattle with me. My wardrobe had nearly doubled in size over the past three weeks, thanks to a small number of shopping trips with Antonia.
"Hello, Esteban." I greeted him without turning. I picked up a blue blouse and held it up for examination before folding it and putting it inside my suitcase. I had a limited number of hours left to finish packing and I wanted to be done before I went to sleep so I wasn't rushing around in the morning. Which was why I was still behind when everyone else had gone to the beach.
"Hey." The older boy returned quietly. "May I come in?" He sounded unsure and I paused, spinning around to face my best-friend's brother. He looked better than he had last night and this morning. The colour had returned to his face and his eyes shone brightly in the light of the setting sun. I smiled in reflex and was pleased when he returned it.
"You've never asked before." I pointed out with a small laugh. Esteban gave a small awkward nod and crossed the threshold of my room. He was wearing his jacket, I noticed, his hands buried in the pockets. I couldn't help but remember the times I'd borrowed his coat, although he still didn't know about them. Between us, Toni, Reyna and I had managed to keep it a secret and Dad hadn't made any remarks. "I'm sorry, did you say something?" I asked when I realised Esteban was waiting for something. I blushed, caught staring again, Hylla. When are you going to get over this infatuation?
"I asked why you weren't at the beach like everyone else." Esteban answered patiently. Embarrassed, I turned back to the clothes scattered across my bed in piles and began folding a pair of jeans to pack. I couldn't help but feel giddy inside, he'd came from the beach to the house to see why I wasn't there. "He noticed that you weren't around, and he cared enough to do something about it." Toni's voice echoed in my head. She'd said the same thing only days ago, when she told me what happened after I'd run away.
"I'm cleaning up this mess." I finally answered, gesturing to the clothes surrounding my suitcase. I glanced back to see Esteban watching me with an intense gaze, like he's afraid you'll disappear if he looks away my heart whispered, sounding too much like Toni. I snuffed out that idea before I could blush. It wasn't like that, we were just friends. Everyone was making a big deal out of nothing. Esteban didn't even like me in that way, to use the old Middle School phrase.
"It is pretty messy." I waited for him to leave me to pack, but I was pleasantly surprised when he joined me at the foot of my bed and began folding clothes to put away. The gesture shocked me, I'd thought that he'd return to the beach. When Esteban noticed my stare he looked at me with his intense brown eyes and smiled warmly. "Two hands are better than one. It'll go by faster." He shrugged before handing me the white blouse he'd picked up first. I silently accepted it and the article of clothing joined the rest of my clothes.
"Thank you." I murmured almost as quietly as Esteban had spoken when he'd first come to find me. I was answered with a silent nod and we worked in silence. The job was done quicker with two people working together, as predicted. It still astonished me when we were down to the last few pieces of clothing I'd decided to take with me and only ten minutes had passed.
"What do we have here?" Esteban asked, finally breaking the silence as he reached for a peach coloured t-shirt. I instantly felt my face heat up and reached for the shirt reflexively before quickly withdrawing my hand again. I really hadn't wanted to make that specific item public knowledge. "It looks like something Reyna or Toni might wear." Esteban remarked, although not unkindly. Just a statement of the facts. It did look like something either of our sisters would wear, with the sequin butterfly on the front. But I'd liked it enough to buy it, but it had been sitting in various places since. The idea of Esteban even knowing it existed had stopped me from wearing it during my time in Puerto Rico. "It's cute." Esteban mused. He held it up to get a proper look at the design and I reached out to take it from him. "Not your style." Esteban shrugged, still holding the shirt.
"Can I have it back?" I asked when he moved the top away from my outstretched hand. I remained calm, I could easily disarm him and get back the embarrassing article. Honestly, what had I been thinking when I packed that? I'd known I ran the risk of running into Esteban, but I hadn't expected him to get close enough to see the contents of my luggage. Esteban pretended to think about his answer, stroking his chin for effect. He had grown stubble overnight and hadn't shaved, but it didn't look to scruffy on him. Coupled with his tousled hair it looked like he'd just rolled out of bed. It was kind of sexy. I blushed again.
"Hmm... No." He finally answered. He brushed over the stubble on his face with a wicked smile. I reached for the t-shirt again but he moved it out of my reach. I regretted putting on ballet flats already. He was taller than me by mere inches and he used that to his advantage. "Getting a bit slow are we, my queen." He taunted in a whisper. I raised my eyebrows and folded my arms. He was challenging me, and I liked it. The adrenaline pumping through my veins, three different plans of attack already formed in my head. I'd itched for the thrill of a challenge, even a small one like trying to get my t-shirt back from Esteban.
"Prepare to eat your words," was the only warning I gave him before I struck. Kicking his leg out for underneath him and tackling him to the ground while I still had the element of surprise. I quickly had Esteban pinned underneath me with my leg in-between both of his, our chests almost pressed together and my hands pushing down on his shoulders to prevent him from getting up. If he moved even a little he would find my knee where it would hurt and we both knew that. I didn't want to harm him, so I hoped that he stayed still.
"Comfortable?" I asked cheekily. Before Esteban could answer, a loud buzz filled the silence between us with a whine. The sound cut off abruptly but I could feel the tension in the air between us. It had interrupted our little game and I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, it had been fun. Esteban reached for his phone, and I used the action to my advantage. Grabbing the forgotten t-shirt and quickly standing up. That shouldn't have happened I reprimanded myself as I hastily folded the top and threw it with the rest of my clothes. You are leaving tomorrow and he doesn't like you like that. I pushed my loose hair back nervously with one hand and straightened out my rumpled t-shirt with the other.
"That was Max." Esteban said. He still hadn't gotten up from the floor and I reached to help him up. "He's wondering where we are." I failed to catch a glimpse of the message as I helped Esteban to stand on his feet and scolded myself. That was rude. He didn't seem bothered that I'd tackled him to the wooden floor, then again, it wasn't the first time I'd done that. Or the second.
"Oh." I pushed my hands into the pockets of my cargo shorts waiting for him to leave again. "We should probably head down then." I shrugged. I tried to seem casual about walking down to the beach with Esteban, but the little voice in my head that switched between sounding like Reyna or Toni kept reminding me that the idea sounded vaguely date-like. I pushed it aside and gestured for Esteban to lead the way. He tucked his hands away in his jacket again before leaving my room first.
"So how's the hangover?" I asked as we walked down the stairs together. "I'm sorry that we had to leave you both on the porch last night, but Toni and I only have so much strength between us." I joked, Esteban let out a low chuckle in response.
"Ugh, don't remind me. My head is pounding. The fresh air did us some good." I nodded along as we left the house and remembered to lock the door behind us, just as a precaution. Not that anyone except the mailman and friends came up this way. Neither of us looked at the porch swing Max and Esteban had spent the night on, walking past it in favour of heading to the beach. "It was a little embarrassing when your Dad woke us up, but he nicely sent us inside to sleep in proper beds." Esteban chuckled. Good old Dad, always taking care of everyone. "You are so lucky to be his daughter."
"My mother picked a good man." I mused. Credit where credit is due.
"Good taste just runs in the family." Esteban teased. I blushed as he pretended to dust off his jacket with a confident smile. Gods dammit, he knows. I saw the opportunity to throw him off as my family came into sight. Dad and Elisa were sitting not far ahead on a picnic blanket. Dad had his arms wrapped around his wife and both hands against her swollen stomach. They both wore smiles. A few feet away from them, on a different blanket, were Max and Toni, who were sharing a joke. Soda lying in front of them with a chewing bone. Obviously the joke was a funny one as Toni interrupted Max with a burst of loud giggles. The blonde wore an affectionate smile as he waited for her to recover. Further away Reyna and Shaun were playing in the shallows of the sea, sending waves of water to each other and then swimming away laughing.
"Not always." I glanced back to see that Esteban had stopped walking and was looking at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Not always?" He repeated. He frowned, trying to figure out what I meant by that. He looks adorable when he's confused.
"I'm half god. Half of my family is real gods. There are a lot of messy situations between them." I shrugged it off and glanced up in case the gods were listening in. They probably weren't, neither Reyna, Max or I were important enough to warrant being watched. Although Mother probably kept a wary eye on us. I turned back to Esteban to see him smiling again. I liked it better when he smiled. "Come on, I want to get a good seat to watch the sun set." I turned around and followed the worn path in the sand. After a second Esteban caught up with me and put his arm around my shoulder. The wool fabric was warm and comforting against my bare arms and I blushed.
"Gods have good taste too. Their kids always turn out good looking." Esteban mused with a grin. I glanced up to see him looking at me and felt myself blush even more. Why is he looking at me like that?
"Hey Hylla!" I was grateful when Toni called me, killing the awkward silence and giving me the perfect excuse to look away. I waved to the brunette, slightly embarrassed but eternally thankful. She was standing up now, cupping her hands over her mouth as she called me. "Are you going to stand there all day? The sun doesn't wait for you!" I laughed. Behind her, Max rubbed one ear with a playful grin.
"Just a sec, Toni. We've got ages until the sun sets." Esteban called back, almost as loud as his sister. I glanced at him to see a mixture of expressions on his face, relief, crossed with frustration and exasperation.
"You look better when you're smiling." I blurted out. Before Esteban could say anything I pushed him away and took off sprinting. "Race ya." I called over my shoulder. I didn't check to see if Esteban was following, I just ran. My feet pounded the sand and rocks as I reached the stretch of beach short of breath and red-faced. Hopefully my quick run made it look like less of a blush. I stopped in between the two blankets and sat down, still gasping.
"You should try the foot races at Camp Half-Blood." Max remarked as he passed a water bottle. I took it gratefully and unscrewed the cap. My breath was starting to even out now and I feel the heat subsiding from my head. "You might even be a challenge for the nymphs." He joked. I doubted it, but it was nice to hear a compliment every once in a while. I brought my water bottle to my lips as a second bottle was passed over my head and I knew that Esteban had caught up. I felt bad for running off, we'd been having a nice - slightly confusing - conversation. It just became too much. For a second it had seemed like he was flirting with me and I didn't know what to do. What was I supposed to say.
"Are you alright, Hylla?" Elisa asked gently. I shuffled over to give Esteban somewhere to sit and nodded to my stepmother. I was fine, honestly. I was with my family again, my nice vacation was winding down to a close with no blips or problems and tomorrow evening I would be in Seattle again where the monsters would chase me and not my family and friends. Why wouldn't I be fine?
"Don't believe her." Reyna called from the sea. She pushed a wave towards Shaun and glanced over at us with a wide grin. Before anyone could shout anything back to her my sister ducked under the water to avoid Shaun's wave of water. I waited for her to resurface and carry on teasing me like she'd always done. Five seconds passed and still she didn't emerge. A pit of dread bloomed in my stomach and I tried to close it. Reyna would resurface. She had to.
"Has she been doing this all afternoon?" I asked, turning to Elisa with a small frown. I always worried when Reyna was in the water, especially when we were on Circe's Island. I feared that some monster would grab her in the water and I'd be too late to save her.
"Yeah. She really likes the sea." Elisa remarked. I nodded along, Reyna had always adored the sea.
"Shaun does too." I observed. Shaun was floating aimlessly now, waiting for Reyna to continue their game. He glanced around him as if she was going to sneak up and catch him by surprise. I glanced at my watch, it had been 45 seconds. Why hadn't she broken the surface yet?
"Reyna?" Shaun's quiet voice carried on the wind to my ears, and my heart broke for him. My little stepbrother sounded worried and insecure as he continued moving around. 60 seconds had passed and yet no sign of my bubbly, energetic sister.
Reyna's head popped out of the water, gasping for breath. I let out a sigh of relief but paused, something was wrong. Reyna grabbed Shaun's shoulder, tossing the eight year old on to the beach. Shaun rolled in the sand, shocked by the sudden impact. "Run!" She shouted before something pulled her under.
"REYNA!" I shouted. My heart dropped through the pit of dread and I jumped to my feet. Before I realised it I was halfway to the water.
I hope this chapter was worth the wait, because now the filler chapters have ended and the real stuff is beginning. I'd like to thank everyone who patiently read all of the chapters so far, waiting for THIS MOMENT. Now, I'm going to keep this brief, I have week to write the next chapter where there is a lot more action, and no wifi to write it with. I'll be spending my time at the library.
Peace, Love, A challenge: The first person to guess the name of the monster will have the next chapter dedicated to them! Good luck.
Love Always, Jeyna. X