Hey! So sorry I didn't post sooner. I had way. Too. Much. Biology. Homework. ?

BlueButterfly11:

1. Yes, Counting Stars is by OneRepublic. And it's an amazing song.

2. Yes, this is a *sniffle* sob story. I'm trying to release some feels, experimenting with the type of writing I do.

3. Ummm... Sure... I mean, yeah! That's TOTALLY what I was thinking with Star being a normal horse. And you, um... Guessed it. Yup. Good job! *nervous laugh*

OK, I'm dedicating this chapter to BlueButterfly11, for reviewing (and writing one so long it made me so happy), and to my wonderfully amazing Daddy. I was whiny the other day, because my brother ate all the apples and I was craving them. So today, Daddy bought me an apple ?

Quick disclaimer: Even though I wish I was an amazing writer and hope to one day become as famous as him, I am not Rick Riordan. I own diddly squat.

Chapter 3 Paige's POV

"What?" My heart leapt into my throat and lodged itself there. My Star... Put knees buckled and I collapsed in front of him, shaking. My whole chest ached. My life was falling apart. I was going to lose my best friend. In that moment, I made the hardest decision of my life: To agree, that among the circumstances of what was wrong with him, it was the kindest thing I could do for him.

Annabeth pulled me into her lap and rocked me as the weight of it all hit me and I began to sob and scream. I didn't pull away, I hardly even noticed. All I knew, was I had a week to say goodbye to my best friend. And not just any goodbye. A forever goodbye. After next week, I would never see him again.

Though all I wanted was to spend my every moment with Star, suddenly I couldn't stand to be around him, knowing I was gonna have to say goodbye. The wound was too raw. The pain too real. What hurt the worst was when my sweet, smart, sensitive horse knew I was upset and nuzzled my hair. I threw the lead rope to Annabeth and ran as far away as I could get To my cabin.

I ran into Malcom, my favorite half-brother. He knew, of course, what was going on. He gently held me and steadied me as I sobbed. In the cabin, I put on my headphones and did what I always do when I'm hurt or scared, listen to music and pretend I'm ok. Everyone who came in or out of the cabin got a polite smile from me and an almost perky, "Hi!" I threw all the rest of my little happiness and sanity into putting on a front that I am ok.

But that didn't work for long. Pretty soon, a song came on that brought a whole new round of tears and emotions. Then another song. Then another. Lyrics danced around in my head, mirroring what I was feeling: "I remember the moment, I remember the pain. I was only a girl, but I grew up that day. Tears were falling, I know ya saw me. Hiding there in my bedroom, so alone. I was doing my best, trying to be strong..." "When the days are cold and the cards all fold and the saints we see are all made of gold. When your dreams all fail and the ones we hail are the worst of all. I wanna hide the truth, I wanna shelter you, but with the beast inside, there's nowhere we can hide... Don't get too close, its dark inside... They say it's what you make, I say it's up to fate. It's woven in my soul, I need to let you go. Your eyes, they shine so bright. I wanna save that light. I can't escape this now, unless you show me how." And they all got more depressing from there.

And that's how Annabeth found me, sobbing in a heap on my bunk.

OK, so this author is now sobbing in a heap. What have I done?! I'm so sorry! But this story is writing itself. I can't wait to write more. There will be Percabeth in the next chapter ? And blue cookies for anyone who reviews. Not just ANY blue cookies, blue OREOS! ?

Additional disclaimer: I don't own those songs... Wish I did! They are "All This Time" by Britt Nicole, and "Demons" by Imagine Dragons. I WISH I was them, but as gramma says, "If wishes were horses, all beggars would ride." (Which still makes no sense to me...)