I Keep My Promise
Percy getting claimed got me in a tangled web of emotions. Part of me was happy for him. He deserved to be claimed. Another part of me was sad and angry. I felt like I had lost him just when I found him. Another part of me was scared for him. The Big Three gods made a pact never to have anymore half-blood children after WWII. What would happen to him now that one of them admitted they broke that oath?
And still another part of me was jealous. I had been in camp for more than three years and nothing's happened, while he got claimed in almost a week. I shook my head. That wasn't his fault. But what could I do?
I kept tossing and turning for an answer. Then I realized it was in front of me all along: I promised that I would always be there for him, regardless of who he was. There was no reason to change that, even if nobody else did. Besides, I would have done it even if I hadn't promised. That settled it; despite what everyone else would do, I would stay by him.
Percy was moved to cabin three the next morning. Now that everyone knew his heritage, even the Ares cabin avoided him like the Plague. Annabeth still taught him Ancient Greek, but now she resented him even more. Luke sparred with him every day, but it was brutal. He just kept pushing him like he could be attacked at any second. Luke insisted it was because of the hellhound, but I had a feeling that something else was going on.
I stayed with him every minute I could spare. Even Grover stayed away from him now.
"Why," Percy asked one day, "are you still with me? It's a crime for me to be alive right now. You could get in trouble by doing this."
"What makes you think I care about any of that?" I replied. "It doesn't matter who your dad is or what other people think. You're my friend, and that's all that matters."
He smiled. "Thanks. So, what's Annabeth's deal? She keeps muttering something about Poseidon and having to make a plan."
I smiled, rolling my eyes. "Poseidon and Athena have been rivals for about two millennia, on account of Athens being named after her instead of him."
"A long time to hold a grudge," he said, shaking his head. "And over such a stupid thing."
"It's ridiculous, I know," I said. "She calls herself the Goddess of Wisdom, but I wouldn't call it wise to have a rivalry with someone just because they made you mad over something stupid. It's not worth it."
"But don't you have a bit of a rivalry with Annabeth?"
For a moment, I had forgotten how to breathe.
"I'm sorry," Percy hastily said. "It's not any of my-"
"No," I said. "You're right. I'm such a hypocrite."
"Still, I didn't mean to-."
"I know."
"Yo, Percy," Luke called behind us.
Percy sighed. "I better go."
"Hey," I said, grabbing his arm. "Thanks."
He smiled, then followed Luke.
I thought long and hard over his question. Annabeth and I had been rivals for three years over the stupidest things. Did we honestly have to prove who was better? The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed. Annabeth would probably still count me as her nemesis, but that didn't mean I had to return the favor. I decided that I would make it up to her ASAP.