Chapter 4

*whew! So it's been awhile since I have written. I have just had so much going on! I started school again, so I may not write as often as I used to, but I will try my best! I will most likely write during the week and post on the weekends. Anyways, I hope you enjoy! Review, review, review!*

Whoa, I thought, as I lay under the covers the next morning. What a bizarre dream. But on the upside, it's summer vacation! I jumped out of bed and I went out into the kitchen. I grabbed a bowl of Fruit Loops and my insulin. While I was walking to the T.V., I found my mother sitting at the kitchen table with a bowl of oatmeal.

"Mom?" I said, sounding like I hadn't seen my mother in 20 years. I slid into the chair next to her. "What are you doing home? Don't you have to work today?"

"Well, yes, but I took the day off because it's your first day of camp. So did your father."

Groaning, I put my head down on the table. "So you mean it wasn't a dream?"

My mother chuckled. "I'm sorry dear, but no, I'm afraid it wasn't a dream. I know it must be difficult to accept, but you really don't have a choice. I understand if you're nervous or scared, but I know a secret about camp."

"Really?" I asked, propping my chin up on my hand. "What is it?"

"No monsters are allowed inside. You will be perfectly safe inside the borders of camp." She smiled, and I felt a rush of relief. No monsters inside of camp? Well then maybe this won't be so bad.

"Also," my mother said, "making friends is one of the best things about camp. They will stick with you through the thick and the thin. Of course, you will always have Asana and Sage, but you can never have too many friends. I know it's hard, but you have to be brave. That will keep you alive. I know you have a lot of courage. You just aren't sure how to use it. You will discover that one day. I can't promise that everything is going to be okay, but I can promise that this will be a very memorable summer for you. Now, you better go get ready. Asana and Sage will be here in an hour and a half. Make sure you have everything."

I sat there for a few seconds lost in my own thoughts. I kissed mom on the cheek, and went into my room. Double-checking on all my things, I made sure that I had all my clothes, underwear, pajamas, makeup, IPod (of course; I don't go anywhere without my music), toothbrush and paste, and all my other accessories. I thought about bringing my hair straightener, and in the end I decided it would be useful and I shoved it into my very full suitcase. I got out of the shower, quickly got dressed into some short shorts and a T-shirt, and pulled my hair into a high genie ponytail. By the time I was ready, I only had a little while before Asana and Sage showed up.

Even though my mother had told me to be brave and to use my courage, I had a hard time summoning it. I was frightened, terrified, horrified by the very thought that I had to give up my old life for this new one. The only comfort I had was that I knew I had my friends. I felt like a coward. Maybe I was a coward. So I took several deep breaths, channeled my inner heroine, and marched out into my living room with newfound confidence that this summer was going to be better than I thought.

As we waited for Asana and Sage, my mother flustered around, muttering to herself about how her little girl was all grown up and how she thought I didn't bring enough pairs of pants.

"You sure you have everything?"

"Yes, mom."

"Okay… as long as you're sure. You will contact us as soon as you get there, right?"

"Sure mom, but I have nothing to call with…"

My mother smiled sheepishly. "Oh, they have their ways. Also, dear, at the end of the summer, they are going to give you the option of becoming a year-round camper. I just wanted to let you know that your father and I have decided that if you want to remain at camp all year, it is okay with us. Just make sure you let us know if you are going to stay all year."

"Okay mom, I will."

Half a second later, Asana and Sage burst in through the door. "We're here!" Asana beamed. She had more bags with her than they have in an airport. She was wearing a tank with a pair of shorts, with her wild black curly hair hanging around her shoulders. Sage was in a pair of jeans and an orange T-shirt that said camp half-blood on it, her hair in a low side ponytail. We looked like a bunch of girls that were ready for the mall, not camp. However, I smiled at them, knowing that they were probably very excited.

"Ready to go?" Sage asked.

I nodded, and turned towards my parents and jumped into their warm embrace. Mom told me to be safe and that she loved me. Dad told me to be in touch and to have a good time. I told them I would to both and that I loved them too, and then Asana, Sage, and I marched all the way down into the cab downstairs.

After Sage gave instructions to the cab driver, I turned to Asana. "Is your dad okay with you going?"

Asana nodded. "Yeah, he fought me on it at first, but he gave in. He's worried, but he's just being a dad. Aren't you even a little excited, Luce?! I mean, we are going to the same place where major heroes trained!"

I wanted to say yes, that I was psyched. That I couldn't wait to start training and preparing to be a "hero." But instead, I got angry. I couldn't believe that Asana could be so irrational and illogical. How could she even be excited? This wasn't going to be some tea party. We were there to train.

"Asana, I know you are excited. But this isn't going to be some great adventure. We are training to fight for our lives. So please, I am asking you in the kindest way possible, to just shut up."

Asana's mouth hung open. Sage stared at me with huge eyes. She raised her eyebrows at me, and Asana set her jaw and turned toward the window. I could feel the guilt creeping into my system, so I turned and stared out the window too. There was silence for the rest of the ride.

To be truthful, I was a little excited to go to camp. But I was scared. I was terrified that I would lose Sage or Asana or any of the new friends I made. I was scared that I wouldn't come back. And I felt horrible for what I said to Asana, but I wasn't sure how to apologize to her.

When we were in the middle of nowhere, Sage told the cab driver to "please stop here."

"You sure this is where you wanna go, miss? We aren't near anything."

"Yes, please, this is exactly where we need to be."

The cab driver shrugged and let us out of the car. After about ten minutes of walking, we arrived at an arch that said "Camp Half-Blood". I heard myself gasp, and I saw Sage smile a huge smile. There was a twinkle in her eyes that I had never seen before. We walked through the arch, and into the camp.

Before Asana got too far ahead, I grabbed her arm. "Asana," she turned towards me with a heard look on her face. "Look, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean what I said back there. I didn't mean to tell you to shut up. I just… to be completely honest, I am scared out of my mind." I confessed.

Her look softened. "I know you are. It's okay to be scared, Lucienne. I get scared too. But you have to look at like this is a new adventure. This isn't a torture chamber, Luce. It's going to be fun."

"I know. And that's why I am sorry, because I know you are right."

She smiled. "Aren't I always? Now come on, let's go catch up to Sage."

We wrapped out arms around each other and walked off into a new adventure.