Hiya.

So, I didn't update last week, but…it was on purpose. I just…sorry. Wanted to add tension to the double cliffhanger. But this chapter is long so yay! Also, I'm on half term so I might be able to update during the week (no promises).

Smiley101: I'm saying this in the nicest way I can, but I honestly don't think you'll enjoy my story. Please refer to the disclaimer at the bottom of Chapter 8. This fanfiction is meant to be cheesy and unrealistic. I'm sorry you're not enjoying it so far, but good luck finding something you'll like better (it's hard to convey tone in this: that good luck wasn't sarcastic in any way.).

ANYWHALE ON WITH THE STORY.

Jen's POV

The freakiest thing about the entire ordeal? His voice had come from inside my head.

It came again. 'Surprised? You should be. My mentor only gifted me with speech earlier today. She also gave me back my claws, as I'm sure you've noticed.'

His voice. In my head. Gabe was talking to me in my head.

'Yeah, I am. Not bad, huh?'

And who was this mentor? Gifting him with speech and claws?

'Oh, I wish I could tell you. But she made me keep her identity a secret. She only gave me my speech and claws to spruce things up, as she said. She said your life was getting too boring.'

I was immediately offended by this so-called mentor. She didn't even know me. Who was she to decide my life and what happened in it?

Now came one of the weirdest feelings: I could feel him laughing in my head. 'She knows you surprisingly well.'

My hands turned clammy. Not only was I cursed, but someone was controlling it. Controlling me.

Anger boiled up inside me. Why would someone do that? Who hated me enough to keep Leo and I away from each other?

'My mentor.'

Gee, thanks for clearing that up, Gabe.

Gabe was talking in my head. Gabe was talking. In my head.

'You're gonna have to get over that,' his voice said again, spiraling up my spine. 'And preferably, soon.'

What did he mean by soon? Was this curse going to get worse?

I waited for more words, but apparently, that was the end of our conversation.

Gabe was talking to me.

I pushed my bag onto the floor.

Gabe could talk to me.

I curled up on my bed.

Gabe. Not only was his curse back, but apparently he was.

I don't remember falling asleep. I didn't think I could.

But when I opened my eyes, none other than Leo Valdez was standing above me.

'Crew meeting in five. Mess hall. Hurry.'

Leo's POV

I followed Annabeth above deck where Festus was making a series of clicks that confused me at first, but then started to make more sense after a while. He was either saying 'There can't be no danger,' or 'I ain't no stranger' or 'Hermione Granger,' and I was honestly too tired to try and distinguish which was which.

'He started doing that a few minutes ago, when I was on watch. I couldn't understand what he was saying, so I decided to leave it.' The lazy sunrise illuminated Annabeth as she turned to face me, and then started pulling me towards the main control deck. She pointed to the sonar panel which was meant to be showing nearby monsters. 'But then I checked this and…well, look.'

I peered at the panel. The green concentric circles on the screen looked fine. Nothing out of place.

I glanced at Annabeth. 'I don't-'

'Thats what I thought at first too. Look again,' she insisted.

I looked back down at the panel. It took me a few seconds to realize: there were no red dots to signal monsters.

'There can't be no danger,' I muttered. Festus had tried to warn Annabeth. 'There can't be no monsters around here. Especially with Gaia's rising.'

'Exactly,' Annabeth agreed. She glared at the screen. 'And did you notice anything else a bit weird?'

I turned around. The sun was slowly rising, painting the sky a reddish orange. The clouds floated slowly past and birds flew by. Nothing unnatural.

Then I noticed what was wrong. The clouds were floating slowly past. 'The ship. It's going too slowly.'

Annabeth nodded. 'And I think I know why. We need the whole crew up. Meeting in the mess hall in five minutes.'

She turned to leave.

'Annabeth?' Questions raced in my mind. 'What's happening?'

She studied me. Her eyes held secrets she didn't want to tell. 'I…well, I think…'

The demigod sighed. 'I don't know for sure. But I think it has something to do with Jen.'

Jen's POV

It took me three minutes to get ready, so I was able to sit on my bed for a moment and think. Leo had looked so panicked when he'd woken me up. It was obviously something serious. Had…had he found out about Gabe talking to me yesterday? He couldn't have…but what if he had?

Ohmigosh. That was his plan. To tell the entire crew about me, about this curse…

…exactly what Gabe had told me not to do.

The rational side of my brain assured me that I was being delusional, but the paranoid, half-asleep part of me insisted that this was exactly what Leo intended to do. Get the whole crew together, then expose me of being cursed. Was that like a crime for demigods? Ten months in prison for being under a curse!

I smoothed my bed sheets. Shut up, Jen.

Taking a deep breath, I got off my bed. I made my way to the mess hall down the corridor. The entire crew was already gathered around the table, and this time they'd decided to actually sit around the table, not just cramped up on one side.

Piper waved at me and gestured to the seat next to her. She had her signature feather in her hair, and it brought out a gold speck in her eyes.

Wait, what color were her eyes? I studied them for a moment. They didn't stay one color. They changed all the time, like mine.

Huh. Maybe it's a one in a million situation.

Then I realized everyone was staring at me. I'd been standing in the doorway like an idiot.

'Sorry,' I muttered to no one, then shuffled over to Piper. The attention was drawn away to Annabeth. Whose attention was drawn to me.

'We need to reevaluate everything we're doing here.' The blonde said, keeping her gaze on me but apparently addressing all of us.

'What exactly are we reevaluating?' Percy asked, glancing at me. Oh gosh. Leo had told them…

'Our choice. Of bringing Jen onto the ship.'

Leo's POV

I twiddled my thumbs as Annabeth explained about the change in sonar and speed. I had to stop myself from looking at Jen, which was kind of hard since she was sat right opposite me, and even though she'd only had a few minutes to get ready, she still looked as gorgeous as ever.

Annabeth kept stealing glances though, and the rest of the crew soon caught on. They started exchanging worried looks and regarded Jen warily.

Finally Jason spoke up. 'Why…how is Jen to blame for anything?'

Annabeth twirled a curl of hair. Percy put his hand on hers. 'There's…there's something I remember from camp. Chiron had always told me the gods were powerful in lots of ways, their names, their presence…'

She trailed off, took a deep breath, and continued. 'And one time, he told me about this thing. The power of the gods lives on through their children. And it…strengthens, essentially, when the child is part of a prophecy.'

She looked very pointedly at all of us. More uneasy glances at Jen. 'But the thing is, this strength isn't always good. It's sometimes too powerful. Mainly when this strength is confined.'

Jen wasn't part of the prophecy of seven though…was she?

'And this strength is most dangerous when there's more than one demigod child of this god in a confined space.'

Gears clicked in everyone else's brain a few seconds before they clicked in mine. 'Are you saying that…Jen…what are you saying?'

Hazel asked the question, a glint in here eyes like she knew slightly more than the rest of us about this whole situation.

Annabeth leaned closer. 'I'm not saying it's Jen's fault. I'm just saying…well, she turned up yesterday, and the sonar and the speed started acting up yesterday. She's unclaimed, and we have a wide variety of demigods here. I'm not saying she's doing anything on purpose, but I'm also not saying she's not doing anything.'

My heart beat slowed down. She couldn't be…she couldn't be saying that Jen had to leave…

'Are you saying Jen has the same godly parent as one of us?' Frank asked, furrowing his brow.

Annabeth nodded. 'And I know it looks big, but technically this ship is a confined space. And the power of our godly parents in us are all magnified because of this prophecy and Gaia rising.'

She wasn't going to just kick her out though, right?

'Wait a second,' Percy interjected. 'What about me and Frank? We both have the bloodline of Poseidon in us.'

Annabeth shook her head. 'It's not enough. You'd have to both be direct descendants of Poseidon.'

She was. Oh gods, she wanted Jen gone…

'Hey, what about me and Nico?' Hazel traced the wood on the table. 'We're both children of Pluto, and he stayed here a while when you and Percy were in Tartarus.'

'No, you're not,' Jason said suddenly. 'Not technically. You're a daughter of Pluto–Nico is a son of Hades.'

Piper curled her lip, thinking. 'And with the gods facing their split personalities, the difference is even bigger.'

I finally got up the courage to look at Jen. She was staring at her lap, her face pale. I felt a sudden urge to reach for her hand, or her arm, or even her face. Just a reminder that I was there with her.

The silence that fell at that moment was so nerve rattling I could've sworn there were ghosts creeping up my back. I had to turn around to check.

Annabeth couldn't let Jen leave.

'So what's the plan?' I asked, fully prepared to defend my girlfr- my friend, Jen.

Annabeth looked at all of us in turn, her face wary. Percy squeezed her hand encouragingly. They were so comfortable around each other. I wished that Jen and I could be like that.

'I don't know what to do. That's part of the reason I called for this meeting. We need to decide what to do. Together.'

Everyone suddenly got very interested in the wooden table. I had a feeling they were all thinking the same thing, but only I was bold enough to say it. 'We can't just kick her out with no proof. Especially when she just got here.'

I got a few nods, but Frank stayed rigid, and his face wore a grim expression. Hazel seemed a bit squeamish. What was going on with those two?

'But she may be jeopardizing the mission,' Frank grumbled to the table. 'We can't let Gaia rise because Leo can't handle being away from his girlfriend for a few days.'

I felt my cheeks warm even as Jen's ears reddened. 'We're not-' we said at the same time.

Hazel cut us off. 'It's too risky. Frank's right. We have to take her back to camp.'

They almost agreed. They couldn't agree.

I couldn't let Jen leave.

Annabeth turned her attention to Jen once again. 'I'm sorry, but-'

'Which camp?'

She turned to me, startled. Everyone was staring at me now. 'What?'

'Which camp? We don't even know if she's technically Greek or Roman.'

Jason scratched his head. 'If she was Roman, Lupa and her wolves would've recruited her by now.'

'With Gaia rising?' I argue. 'They've probably been on the run. She could well be Roman, and we can't send a Roman to the Greek camp with the Romans attacking aforementioned Greek camp.'

They started to squirm. They knew I had a point. Frank just glared at me.

'Fine, then,' he said, still glaring. 'We'll send her to the Romans.'

I scoffed. 'I don't think they're the most inviting right now–not with Octavian as their leader. And what if she gets claimed as a Greek demigod when she's there? They'd attack her and accuse her of being a Greek spy.'

Jen cleared her throat. 'She is right here.'

Like I needed a reminder. I'd been trying to keep my eyes off her so I could concentrate. Now the sight of her slightly messy hair and colorful eyes nearly made my heart leap.

Piper bit her lip. 'He's got a point. Sending her away could be as dangerous as keeping her here.'

Frank crossed his arms. 'Well then, what should we do about it?'

My chance. 'I say she stays until she gets claimed. Then at least we'll be able to tell if she has the same godly parent as one of us, and we'll know which camp to send her to.'

Annabeth looked almost horrified. 'But Leo–that could take weeks!'

I know, I thought gleefully. 'I know,' I said morbidly. 'But you guys have to agree that it's the best plan.'

Frank most certainly did not agree, and Hazel was still squirming. What was their problem, seriously?

As for the others, they started nodding slowly, agreeing with me slightly more with each move of their head. My heart soared. Could I possibly be winning?

Annabeth clapped her hands. Her gaze swept across us, then settled on Jen. Jen was staring at her palms, which she'd placed on the table. 'Jen, it's up to you. We can't just treat you like a thing to be dealt with. What do you want?'

She kept staring at her palms. 'I don't–I don't know…I-I…'

That's when I couldn't resist it. Despite what the others might say, I reached out and lay my hand on hers. I could practically feel the electricity dancing across my skin. 'Choose carefully, Jen.'

I am so smart. Pile the pressure on, why don't you.

'I…' Jen looked up at me, and suddenly we were the only two people in the room. My eyes searched hers, and I found tears.

It looked to the others like I was asking her to choose between the camp and the ship. But that wasn't even remotely true. I was asking her to choose between the camp and me.

Please, I whispered to her in my head. Please choose carefully.

'I…' she faltered again, looked away, looked back.

Please, Jen. Please choose me.

She didn't choose me.

She chose to burst into tears and run out of the mess hall.

Jen's POV

I stood in my cabin and just started to cry. Everyone was depending on me to make the decision, and I had no idea what was going on half of the time. I couldn't leave Leo, I didn't want to, but I also couldn't let Gaia take over the freaking world. I didn't even fully understand what that was about, but from what I knew, it was pretty bad. I felt idiotic and homesick, so I decided to just let myself softly sob in the solitude of my room.

Suddenly, I felt arms wrap around my middle from behind, and even before I caught the whiff of cinnamon, shampoo, and now motor oil, I knew it was Leo Valdez.

I felt him kiss my cheek softly. 'Sorry about that. I don't think anyone was thinking.'

I tried my best to be mad at him for kissing me, but that's hard to do when your brain is half melted. 'Thanks, Valdez. But…it's not their fault. I do have to choose. And I…I don't know what to choose.'

He rested his head on my shoulder and sighed. I could feel his warm breath against my ear. 'We're not forcing you into anything, Jen.'

'I know, I know,' I said, then put my hands on his, which were still around my waist. 'It's just...overwhelming.'

I felt him kiss my neck, and my brain melted a bit more. 'You think it was easy for me when I found out my dad was immortal?' He asked in a soft, small voice.

'Was it?' I asked.

He laughed, and I felt him kiss my cheek again. 'Yeah, actually. But hey, I'm a weird kid.'

'You're not weird.'

'Yeah. I'm half god, half Latino, and I communicate with machines better than I do with people. Totally normal.'

I laughed. I couldn't help it. Leo just does that to people.

'You don't communicate with machines better than people, Valdez.'

'I speak Bangs, whistles, and creaks, a language previously never known to have existed.'

I laughed again. 'You communicate with me just fine.'

'Well, you're different,' he said. Then, to emphasize his point, he kissed my neck again, three consecutive times.

I bit my lip. I knew what he was saying. It didn't exactly take a genius to work out. He must've known the feeling was mutual, too, because he whispered, 'And you seem to communicate pretty well with me too.'

I forced myself to think straight even as he kissed me yet again. 'Do…do you think it is me?' I whispered. 'Could I be putting your quest at risk?'

My heart beat quickened as he shook his head against my shoulder. 'I don't think you'd be here if you weren't supposed to be. I think you were meant to be on this ship, and I'm not just saying that because I want you here.' Leo's voice dropped to a whisper. 'Even though, trust me, I do.'

My brain melted slightly more. Why did his voice do that to me?

His arms tightened around my waist, and I felt him kiss my cheek again. This time, I told him off for it. 'We aren't dating, Valdez.'

'Oh, if you want me to leave...' His arms slackened as he started to let go of me.

'No!' I nearly yelled, and pulled his arms back around my waist. 'Just...just hold me for a bit more. I-I just want to know that someone's here.'

He chuckled against my ear again. 'I can be here without having to hug you, Jen.'

'Um...well...' I couldn't tell him the real reason I wanted him to stay–that I wanted him to keep holding me. So I changed the subject. 'I just said we're not dating to remind you that you shouldn't kiss me.'

'Yeah, I know,' he replied, then kissed my cheek again. 'And I think I might know why we aren't dating.'

'Oh, do you?' I asked, getting a little scared. He didn't know about Gabe, did he? Why not! His dad's a god, he could use some godly magic or whatever to find out...

'Yeah. I think it's because I've never actually asked you out.'

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. 'That's no-'

'It's worth a try, Jen,' he interrupted, then cleared his throat. 'Jen Miller, will you go out with me?'

I took a deep breath before replying, 'No.'

His arms went slack, and I could picture his face deflating. 'Are you going to tell me why?'

I gripped his hands tighter, not wanting him to let go. 'I don't think I can.'

I could picture his face deflating even more. 'Is it that you don't trust me enough?' He asked. His voice was pierced with hurt.

'Valdez!' I managed to turn and face him without him letting go of me. I put my two hands on his shoulders and looked into his perfect chocolate eyes. 'Besides my father, I trust you the most. With everything. I feel I could tell you my life story. I've only known you for 2 weeks, but I trust you that much. It's just that...this is something I've never told anyone. Not even my dad. I don't think I could tell anyone. But don't ever say I don't trust you, Valdez. I definitely do.'

Leo's eyes searched mine, and after a while it looked like he'd confirmed that I wasn't lying. His grip tightened around my waist, pulling me closer to him. 'Ok, I won't push for details. And thank you for trusting me so much.' He pushed back a strand of my hair with his hand. 'I just hope I won't ever betray your trust.'

I slipped my arms around his neck, my heart doing backflips. 'I don't think you can, Valdez.'

Before I knew it, he leaned down and kissed me. I know I'd just given him a whole speech about us not dating, but I went along with it and kissed him back. My head was full of sparks and I completely forgot that the entire crew was just along the corridor.

'Did ya miss me?'

Gabe. Gabe was back.

I pulled my lips away from Leo's. I didn't let go of his neck.

He touched his forehead to mine and kept it there. I didn't want to move, didn't want to spoil this moment with Leo. His breath tickled my face as he whispered, 'You kissed me back.'

I sighed, ignoring him. 'Valdez…what do I do? What do I choose?'

Leo looked at me. 'Choose carefully, Jen.'

My heart went KA-THUMP. What would be the easier option? To go to camp. That way I don't have to kill myself every day trying to keep my feelings for Leo at bay.

The less impossible way? Stay with Leo.

'I'm staying. At least until I get 'claimed'.'

His face beamed, and he hugged me tight. I felt embarrassed that he could feel my heart speeding up. 'Thanks, Jen,' he whispered, making my heart speed up even more.

'You know I'm just waiting for him to leave, right?'

Gabe. He's here. He's back.

I pulled away from Leo. His expression resembled a 6-year-old that'd just been told they were going to Disneyland. 'C'mon, let's go back before-'

'Actually, could you tell them when I'm not there? I don't want to see Frank's face. I don't think he likes me very much.'

Leo let go of me slowly, nodding, and still grinning. 'Okay, okay. They'll wanna start training you soon, so be ready.'

'Sure. Thanks, Valdez.'

He turned to leave.

'Oh, and Valdez?'

Leo stopped and turned around, a lock of his hair falling into his face.

'You shouldn't have kissed me. We're not dating, remember?'

Leo began to back out of the room, taking long, lazy steps away from me. A hint of a smirk played on his face. 'I know.'

Then he turned around and walked out of my cabin.

Gabe was such a third wheel in that last bit, lol.

Also, a bunch of reviews have been asking if I got Gabe's name from Gabe Ugliano. I actually didn't, it's a complete coincidence XD

Um…I won't do the reviews thing, I'll just update when I want to. But please, still review! More reviews=quicker updates!

PEACE OUT, FISH TROUT.