Lpov
I glanced around the cafe first, wondering why it was so crowded and why so many girls were giggling, whispering to each other about something in the back corner when I realized exactly, what they were all giggling about.
My brother Ashton was sitting in a booth by himself, glancing at his phone, clearly trying to pretend he didn't realize pretty much everyone in the café was talking about him. Though I couldn't help but notice he'd picked the least visible table imaginable to sit at. One that wasn't near any windows.
"Gods…" I muttered, irritated already by the way even the boys were nervously throwing glances his way, the word 'autograph' being thrown around in whispers at several tables.
It was bad enough people practically hero worshipped him at camp, but clearly Ashton's quasi fame as a college athlete had started to take over my campus as well, not just his own.
And my school wasn't even good at basketball…
"Hey." I said sliding into the seat opposite his and smiling at the fact he looked a little relieved when he looked up, and spotted who it was.
"Hey Lib." He said grinning. "How've you been?"
"Good," I said and it was mostly true. Finals were over and all of my course work was done, all that was left was my interview. "Semester's over, think I passed. I hope I didn't keep you waiting long."
I'd been a bit late getting out of the library and had been worried Ashton would have had nothing to do. It hadn't even occurred to me that the longer he was alone, the more likely he was to be swarmed.
"Not too bad." He said. "I got here about a half an hour ago."
"Oh," I said feeling guilty. "Thanks for waiting to order."
"No problem." He answered easily. Ashton had always been pretty laid back. "Though, to be honest." He grinned a little guiltily. "I didn't really get a choice in the matter. No one's been by."
"Really?" I asked looking over my shoulder.
Being one of the more popular places on campus, the café was usually pretty on top of their game about getting people service.
"Well," he said thoughtfully. "One girl came by, she dropped off a menu and some napkins but as she started to introduce herself, she kind of froze up. She went in the back room and I haven't seen her since."
"You're just loving this, aren't you?" I asked him raising an eyebrow and he shrugged.
"Does this happen a lot?" I continued looking around the room, feeling as if I were in a gold fish bowl. "Everyone just stopping to stare at you?"
"Not really," he said shaking his head. "People are sort of used to me seeing me around campus. And if they do stare, they're a lot subtler about it. Other schools I'm usually with the team so I don't really get to talk to anyone much."
"Do you ever get recognized on the street?" I asked and he shrugged, not really answering the question which told me the answer was probably yes.
"And I thought the fan girling at camp was bad." I muttered and he laughed.
"Please, everyone at camp knows I'm taken. I'm old news now."
"Yeah." I said rolling my eyes. "It's not like your girlfriend is one of the most important people in the mythological world at the moment or anything like that."
"That's Harper's business." He said with a shrug, but he was smiling that same, proud smile he always wore when someone mentioned his girlfriend's accomplishments in any context. The one that really told me just how much he loved her, because she wasn't even here to see it. "I'm just a guy who likes basketball."
"And has brought his team to the national championship three times in a row."
"Well, everyone is good at something." He said modestly, but his smile had shifted slightly, in a way that seemed just the tiniest bit self-satisfied which for Ashton, might as well have been parading across campus with his trophies, wearing a shirt that said 'Yes, I AM Ashton Wells'.
Then again, at this point, he was probably a house hold name when college basketball season came around. Him and his best friend Charlie. Rumor in the cabin was, he was already getting offers to go pro. Maybe he deserved to feel a little cocky.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" he asked but before I could respond, a man, clearly some sort of manager, came bustling up to the table a little nervously, which seemed insane to me considering he had to be in his forties and we were a couple of college kids. Then again, Ashton probably had the chance to ruin this place via twitter if he ever actually used his account, so what did I know?
"I am so, so sorry about the wait Mr. Wells." He said nervously, pushing back dark hair that had clearly been ruffled by running his hands through it in frustration. "Your server, Amanda, she was feeling a little faint. Feel free to order anything you like on the menu, on the house. We'll be getting you a new server right away."
"I didn't tell you my name." Ashton pointed out, and I watched, amused, as I thought I saw the manager's mind start to break, but then Ashton smiled and said. "I'm kidding."
The man let out a nervous laugh.
"And really, you don't have to give me anything. I'd rather pay." Ashton continued. "I hope Amanda feels better."
"Thank you, Mr. Wells."
"Ashton." He said shaking the managers hand who gave him a brief smile then nodded to me. "And this is my sister Libby."
"You-you're sister." He said looking confused. It was clear he hadn't noticed me and I waved, feeling a little awkward.
"Hi."
"Oh, yes of course." He said looking between us, but his eyes lingering on Ashton. "Well again, if there is anything you and your sister might need Mr. Wells-"
"Ashton."
"Yes of course." He said smiling nervously. "All you have to do is ask."
"Thanks."
"Kelly will be right with you two."
"Great."
Ashton watched the man walk away with interest and I shot him a suspicious look.
"You enjoyed that, didn't you?"
"No." he said innocently, but when he caught my expression, he grinned. "Ok, maybe just a little, but it's mostly the novelty of the thing."
"People aren't always freaking out to meet you?"
"Usually they ignore me for Harper." He said still sounding amused. "She would have had that guy crawling out of his skin."
"Why?" I asked wondering if asking to meet with Ashton had been a mistake. "Does she not like to be kept waiting or something?"
"Not exactly." He said his tone thoughtful. "Well, she does now. She's really busy. But it's not that."
I'd met Ashton's girlfriend a few times, mostly before they were dating and her brother had practically strong armed her into the infirmary over some minor injury. She wasn't exactly the warmest person I'd ever met, but she'd never been exactly mean…
"What is it?" I asked anxiously.
"Harper's very analytical." He said his tone careful. "She'd have let the guy talk himself into a nervous stupor, then point out he hadn't actually fixed the problem when he stopped."
"Brutal." I said remembering how nervous he'd been.
"Not intentionally." He said with an affectionate smile. "Just… efficient. Harper has a very organized mind." He continued, seeming to choose his words carefully as he explained his girlfriend. "She has to, she's in charge of a lot of stuff. It's the only way to keep track of everything. It can make her a little blunt."
"I see." I said softly. "Well, it's actually Harper that I wanted to talk to you about."
He looked curious, but before I could elaborate, a pretty girl with long dark brown hair approached the table, her sky blue eyes fixed on Ashton as she walked, only sparing me a shrewd glance that told me the 'sister' part of our conversation with the manager hadn't made it to her through the gossiping rounds.
"Hi," she said beaming at Ashton. "I'm Kelly, can I get you guys anything?"
Ashton put in an order, causing me to realize I hadn't even looked at the menu, and I scrambled to find something as Kelly giggled and obviously tried to charm Ashton.
Seeing as he was my brother, this was a mildly repulsive thought, but I didn't have to sit with it long. When Kelly turned to me, clearly expecting an order that I didn't have, I froze.
"She might need a few seconds." Ashton cut in, rescuing me from my awkwardness and after giving me a superior look, and Ashton a wink, she left the table to put in his order.
He watched her go a little warily.
"Thanks." I muttered feeling a little embarrassed and following his gaze after the girl. She was gorgeous, and had 'mean girl' written all over her. From the way she'd been looking at me, I was pretty sure the word 'target' was slowly but surely making its way onto my back.
"No problem."
"That girl is into you." I said glancing at the menu, and while I expected him to laugh or be flattered, he just looked resigned.
"Yeah." He said sounding a little tired.
I looked up from the menu, a little surprised at his reaction. I'd only ever seen Ashton during breaks at camp, but despite being one of the more popular campers, the best marksman, having rare abilities, and a pretty consistent mission track record, he'd always seemed stunned that anyone had an interest in him at camp, let alone a pretty girl. But, despite being his sister, even I could admit he was good looking. He was a college athlete, and looked it, tall with attractive features, and stylish blonde hair, cut shorter than I was used to seeing on him. Probably to stay out of his way on the basketball court.
I could see why the server interested, still, it was hard to take my brother all that seriously for this sort of thing. Not when I'd watched him follow Harper Davis around for years, walking back and forth throughout camp with her nose in a book. If she was ever hurt or upset, he'd practically run around in circles to do whatever he could to fix it.
It was cute in a gross, pathetically in love sort of way. Then again, maybe I only found it pathetic because I no one had ever felt that way about me. Everyone knew that when Ashton fell for his girlfriend, he fell hard. He was never going to get over it, never. No matter how many times both their crazy schedules had him jumping across time zones for even just a few minutes to see her, or how many Kelly's wanted to flirt with him in a coffee shop. He was done. He'd found his dream girl.
I had a hard time believing a guy was ever going to see me like that.
Kelly came back with a coffee for Ashton and I ordered one as well along with a blueberry scone.
"So." He said after taking a sip of his drink and fixing me with a interested expression. "What's up? Why did you want to talk to me about Harper?"
"Ok, so I know your girlfriend is like really super important and is busy all the time and like having to deal with the gods all the time and all that." I said quickly, feeling my stomach clench with anxiety. Partly due to the fact that these days, Harper was actually a little terrifying, but also because I was hoping to have some strings pulled even though I didn't know her all that well.
"Uh huh." He said and while his tone was neutral, there was something behind it that told me he had an idea of where this conversation was headed.
"But I was hoping that maybe, you know, if she wasn't too busy, and if there was some time in the visiting schedule…"
"You want to use the library."
"Yes." I said with a sigh as Kelly brought me my drink and scone, then placed a breakfast burrito in front of Ashton.
She tried to catch his eye, but he seemed to intent on the conversation to notice.
"Why? No offense Lib, but the library doesn't really seem like your sort of place. And that has nothing to do with my opinion of your intelligence." He said, clearly sensing my sinking spirits. "You're plenty smart, and you do better than school than I ever did. But it isn't exactly the sort of place you go to write a term paper." He continued. "So unless you have something specific you want to find-"
"I do." I said cutting him off. "And it's not for school."
He looked a little intrigued now, probably because he couldn't imagine why anyone would want to do research outside of school but unlike my brother, I actually sort of enjoyed school. At least, what I was going to school for.
"What is it?"
"Ok." I said taking a deep breath and trying to sound more confident than I felt. "So you know how I've been studying like crazy so that when I graduate I can get into vet school?"
"Uh, well not really." He said scratching the back of his head a little awkwardly. "I don't really keep track of your study habits, but I knew you wanted to be a vet." He added quickly.
"Yeah, well. I was in one of my bio courses the other day and I realized that even though we know a lot about human and animal biology, there's also a lot that we don't know. Why certain medications work for some people or pets and not others. That sort of thing. And it got me thinking, that's just the mortal world. Where we've had thousands of years and thousands, maybe even millions of researchers over time looking through this information. But we don't know hardly anything about the mythological world. At least, nothing close to what has been researched in the mortal world, mostly because mortals have been doing it. Remember last year when that horrible virus went around the stables and the pegasai all got sick?"
"Yeah."
"Well we were treating them like horses and eventually they got better. But they're not exactly horses, are they?"
"Well, no." he admitted with a shrug. "But there isn't exactly a blue print for Pegasus care."
"Exactly." I said quietly, trying not to be over heard by an entire café of people who were obviously trying to listen in on Ashton Wells's conversation. "We've picked up a couple of tricks here and there at camp, but we never actually wrote anything down or thought of compiling a list of how to treat mythological creatures. But that doesn't mean no one did."
I could tell he was interested now because he was leaning forward a little and he'd stopped paying attention to his food, his expression thoughtful.
"The library is thousands of years old, right? Well, back then the lines between the mortal and our parents' world were far more blurred. We don't usually know anything about the mythological world until we're teenagers these days. But back then demigods, even clear sighted mortals, might have thought to write some of this information down. Really keep a record of it."
"Or if they didn't, they might have something close to it."
"That's what I'm thinking."
"And what better place to check the a library that has records that date back thousands of years." Ashton said sounding impressed and I nodded.
"I already checked with Chiron. He said if I was willing to help run activities, he'd let me stick around camp and study any legendary creatures that it has access to, as long as they don't come to any harm obviously. He just said I had to run it by you since you're the cabin councilor this summer and that's probably where I'd be staying when I was there."
"Sure, I don't care." He said grinning. "It sounds like fun."
His expression darkened however, as he said.
"But wait. I thought you were staying on campus this summer. Weren't you hoping to get some sort of internship or something? I thought you wanted to shadow the vet you work for."
"That's also why I wanted to talk to Harper." I said feeling the nerves bubble back up, wondering if this might be asking too much. "If she agrees to it. I was hoping she might help me get back and forth. It would only be part time, then I could spend the rest of the summer researching with her and applying what I find at camp."
"Like some sort of magical vet." He said amused, but he didn't say anything further and I felt my anxiety kick up.
"So what do you think?" I asked uncertainly.
"I think it's a great idea." He said brightly. "There's only one problem."
My stomach fell through the floor.
"You don't think Harper will go for it?" I asked disappointed. Maybe Ashton was just being polite. Maybe it was a stupid idea and Ashton was going to let me down gently before I said anything to Harper and she was far more… direct.
"Jeez Lib, don't look so worried." He said his expression alarmed at how quickly mine had changed. "It's a good idea. Great actually. You'd probably learn a lot and help a lot of people, I'm sure Harper will love it. She's just really busy." He said. "She's probably not going to be able to help you much, but I'm sure she'll let you research over the summer." He assured me hastily, clearly sensing my dwindling resolve. "It's exactly the sort of thing she'd be into. And it's not like she's the only one that's there. I'm sure someone can point you in the right direction. In fact, ask for Lucy, I'm sure she'd be happy to help."
"Lucy?" I asked frowning.
"Yeah, she's a mortal but she's clear sighted." He explained. "And she's probably spent more time in the library than James and Harper combined."
His tone was impassive, but I saw something flash behind his eyes at James's name that told me even if he'd learned to be civil, he'd never truly forgiven James for everything that had happened between James and Harper before she'd taken over the library. That he might not ever forgive him.
"So. He's still her bodyguard then?"
"Yeah, but he also pretty much runs the place when she can't, so don't piss him off." He warned when he saw me grin. "I know you like being a smart mouth sometimes, but just steer clear of him. You might be my sister, but Harper can be a bit touchy about his reputation so don't go getting yourself banned."
"Alright." I said with a shrug and there was a moment neither of us seemed to know what to say, until the questions about Harper's friendship with James, that I, and pretty much everyone who didn't have direct lines of communication with them, had, could no longer be contained.
"I can't believe she trusts him. I mean, I know he's a powerful dude, but still…"
James's involvement with Olympus and the Titans wasn't very well understood, and it seems as if everyone connected with the Cordrian Library was eager to keep it that way. Some say, like one of his brothers before him, he was trying to become a vessel for Kronos, aiming for the destruction of the gods. Other accounts framed it all as some sort of cosmic accident. Both were almost impossible to reconcile with the James I remembered from camp. Fun, attention loving, easy going and just way too cool. Not the sort of guy you'd expect to be plotting a hostile takeover of the gods, but also not a guy you would be surprised to find out he hadn't entirely been on the straight and narrow either.
I couldn't believe he would get involved in something that dangerous entirely by accident though. Unreadable as he might have been, he'd always been smart.
I hadn't spent a lot of time with him, but even I had enjoyed talking with him in the infirmary and had thought he was really cute. Everyone had loved him.
Well, everyone but Ashton it seemed, and Harper's twin brother Charlie. This was probably because at the time, it looked as if James was making a move on her and it was an open secret around camp how Ashton felt about Harper, even if he'd never had the guts to say anything about it.
Funny how things worked out.
All that I did know, was that since even before Harper had taken over the library, James had started showing signs of unusual power. Primarily when it came to physical strength. He'd been faster than any of us had realized, and far stronger. And if rumors were to be believed, these powers had only increased over time. Especially after he'd survived his trip in to the River Styx.
"I know." Ashton said and his jaw tightened, clearly upset by the subject. "But it's Harper's decision. And she trusts him." He hesitated and then sighed. "They think a lot alike, and he has proven himself. But I have to admit, I don't get it. And it does make me nervous sometimes seeing as the guy could probably laugh at getting hit by a freight train…"
He shook his head.
"But it's not like Harper's helpless. And I trust that she knows what she's doing. Besides, it's only because of her protection that he and his sister haven't been snatched by the gods. He wouldn't throw that away, and if anything happened to Harper, that protection would be as good as gone."
"It still bothers you though."
"Not as much as it used to, but yeah." He said with a shrug. "Sometimes."
"Then why don't you say anything?"
"Because like it or not, Harper has a lot of enemies now." He said and I saw something change in his expression. "I don't have to like him to know he helps keep her alive."
"Alive?" I asked in shock. "Is it really that critical?"
"Yes." He said seriously. "And that's another thing. It's all well and good if you want to look up some reference titles, and check out some diagrams in books, but be careful when you're in there ok? Don't go wondering around. It's dangerous."
"A library?" I asked with a laugh, but he didn't return it.
"This isn't a joke Libby. There are things in there that can really mess you up. Stick with one of the staff members if you can, ok? And don't go reading anything they didn't advise."
"Alright." I said a bit uncertainly and he nodded.
"Good."
He then reached into his pocket for something, and at first, I thought it might be his phone. When I got a closer look at it however, I saw that it was clearly some sort of cellular device, but it didn't look like the smart phone I knew he normally used.
"Satellite phone." Ashton explained when he saw me looking at it. "It's connected to the library's security system. That and doesn't attract monsters."
"Cool." I said with interest as he typed a message with the touch screen before setting it on the table.
"I told her your idea." He said. "She's got an exam the afternoon, so we might not hear back for-"
The phone pinged and we both looked down at it in surprise.
He opened it and laughed.
"She finished early." He said smiling fondly. "She says she likes your idea though. Can you meet with her on Friday?"
"Sure." I said a little startled that that was only two days away. "I have my internship interview in the morning, but I'm free after that."
"Cool. Text me the time and I'll set up a meeting for you two."
He started to stand.
"Are you leaving?" I asked a little surprised.
He'd barley touched coffee or his breakfast burrito. Ashton loved food. He could eat a ton of it.
"Yeah." he said shooting me a half apologetic smile. "Harper got out of her exam early which means I have a date."
He fished a couple of bills out of his wallet and put enough on the table to cover his meal, mine, as well as a massively oversized tip before turning and almost running straight into Kelly. She was beaming up at him, and very clearly standing in his way to get to the door.
"Is everything alright?" she asked.
"Yeah." He said sounding a little impatient now. "I've just got to head out. Meeting my girlfriend."
"Yeah you're friends little sister or whatever, high school sweet hearts, blah blah." She said and I raised an eyebrow.
Just how involved were basketball interviews about Ashton's personal life?
"Yeah." He said, now visibly annoyed, and not even bothering to correct her.
"Well, when you're done, you should call me." She said scribbling something, probably her number, on her notepad and I stared at her in disgust.
"He just said he had a girlfriend." I said irritated.
"And I have a boyfriend." She smirked. "Doesn't mean I wouldn't pick up if he called."
She winked at him, but her expression fell when she realized he was already walking past her, ignoring the number.
I laughed.
"What are you laughing at bimbo." She said sneering at me. "You're the one who just got walked out on."
"Ashton's my brother." I said indignantly.
"Yeah, that was obvious." She sneered glancing at my leggings and 'animal fun run' volunteer t shirt. "No guy like that would be caught dead out with a girl dressed like that. Though." She said thoughtfully. "You might be pretty if you put in a little effort." She then laughed. "Well, ok, a lot of effort."
Irritated, I stood, not bothering to take my untouched scone and stormed out of the café, Kelly waving me away with a nasty.
"Bye bye now."
I didn't respond, but took comfort in knowing that in the unlikely event that girl did get a chance to make a move on Ashton, Harper could probably put her head through a wall.
Smiling at this thought, I stepped out onto the side walk and felt the poor mood seeping out of me as I took in the sunshine, realizing it was going to be a gorgeous day. Feeling revitalized, I smiled as I remembered the events of the last few hours.
I'd gotten to see Ashton for the first time in almost a year, my semester was pretty much over and if all went according to plan, my summer was looking to be not only productive, but also pretty fun.
I couldn't let one rude server ruin my entire day for me. What was the point?
So, still smiling I made my way toward my apartment, excited for the evening of cookies and face masks me and my roommate had prepared while we binged watched our favorite romantic comedies, knowing it was probably one of the few evenings of 'normal' life I'd have for a while until my next semester started.