Chapter 28: I Think This is What They Call Heartbroken

Yeah...I've never actually known what it feels like when your heart breaks, but I'd say this is pretty close.

Luke? Why him? He's old, and frail and well...I could think of a lot of words to describe him with, none of which were quite nice.

I awkwardly approached them.

"Are you okay? Luke?" Annabeth asked.

"Yeah," he answered quietly. "Not at my best I'm afraid but I'm fine."

Was that supposed to be a joke?

"Hey...uh...Annabeth."

"Oh," she said as she looked up, "Hey, Percy."

Once again, awkward silence.

"So, uh...better get going, wouldn't want to miss the celebration up on Mount Olympus!"

"Yeah..." she said, "What are we gonna do about Luke?"

Pfft...just leave him there. My conscience was fighting with me. That's...evil... True...

"I don't know."

I pulled Annabeth away from him.

"What can we do? I mean I'm pretty sure we can't transport him in this state."

"Hm..." Annabeth thought, "Maybe the gods can...?"

"Can...what?"

"Maybe the gods can fix him up or something..." she suggested.

As much as I didn't want that, I wanted to please Annabeth.

"Okay..."

I sighed. I was probably gonna get reprimanded for this.

"Yo, Zeus! We're kinda in a pickle here. Need your help."

Honestly, I hated that guy. Voted in favour of disintegrating me quite a few times.

Zeus turned around angrily. "If you're going to ask for a god's help, address him properly...PERSEUS."

"Please!" Annabeth begged. "We need your help. Is it possible for you to help Luke...in any way?"

Since when did a child of Athena suck up to Zeus?

"Aphrodite, uh...Demeter...could you women come over here for a second?" Zeus boomed.

"Yeah?" Aphrodite asked impatiently, while looking at her own reflection in the water.

Demeter glided over silently.

"Uh...we're gonna need to fix him up," Zeus said.

"Ooh! Goody goody!" Aphrodite said as her eyes lit up brightly. "A makeover!"

I groaned loudly. Luckily, I don't think she heard.

Aphrodite muttered, "Ooh! A little tuck there, snip there and voila!"

Aphrodite snapped her fingers, and immediately, Luke regained his original form.

"Are you okay now?" Annabeth asked.

"I still feel quite frail," Luke said.

Demeter hummed a short tune, and a bright light started to shine on Luke. He was lifted into the air and gently set back down again.

"How are you feeling?" Annabeth asked him.

"Great!" he said. He stretched out his whole body.

The gods left us alone. Annabeth hugged Luke.

I turned around sadly. I didn't want to see the rest. I marched away with the rest of the campers.

All I heard was, "Let's go Luke..."

"Uh...yeah...I just wanted you to know, I love you Annabeth," Luke said.

Yeah...I have to admit...I cracked at that. I burst into tears behind Annabeth's back.