"Percy gone?" Tyson asked his face looking like a sad pathetic ugly puppy.
"Yes Tyson it's difficult for all of us… But listen we'll find em' don't you worry." Pearl said, she patted his bony back. He just hugged her and gave giant blood curdling sobs. She shushed him, and tried to soothe him. But he was just too sad to even look straight ahead.
Jason sighed then looked at the silver watch that was strapped around his wrist. He then tapped his foot.
"Pearl, come on." He smiled at her doing his best to put gentleness in his voice. Piper slapped her forehead, the whole thing between Jason and Pearl was making her crawl up the walls. I smiled; I had once felt the same way. I stood over the deck watching Pearl and Tyson hug, I held back a giggle. It was ridiculously funny watching similar feelings I had once felt for another boy… The feeling that came after that just wiped my smile right off my face. Leo stood next to Piper they both looked over the deck in envy and disgust. His dark eyes lit with jealousy and anger.
I sat down next to Grover who was holding a picture of Juniper. He sighed then glanced at me. We both shared mutual feelings. I had tried looking for Percy in my mind, but the Romans had him locked up good and tight. I tried once more to do it; I closed my eyes and pictured the globe. Then I saw bright purple dots across it, showing half bloods. Then the big three children bright blue, but not many were spotted I tried looking in Florida and California for Cartivalica but that didn't work either. I tried San Francisco for Percy but not a single blue dot was on it. But purple dots were everywhere, definitely something was up. Definitely.
"Toots you're looking like you could use some cheering up. How about a joke, Grover quit looking at your pretty girlfriend, and think of something funny to say to Her royal highness." Rodney said sitting down next to me.
"Yes of course. Have you ever heard the one about the guy who went to Houston but meant to go to Hawaii?"
"No Grover, but that's ok. I don't need a joke right now. I'm just a little sad, that's all. Percy and I, there was always something between us that I wanted to start but he had Annabeth, and I had Phoenix. Don't get me wrong I love Phoenix he's probably one of the best things that ever happened to me. But I'll never know, I just wish I could have been with him in those last moments Annabeth had with him. You know, he kissed me on the cheek and had said goodnight letting go of my hand so gently it made me weep. I wish I could have seen the happiness in his deep green eyes as he brushed the hair away from my face. Then he walked into the dark, and I could still hear his footsteps as he walked away. I wish I could have known that, was the last time I would see him… I really wish I could have. I miss him so much…" Tears well in my eyes, "I feel like I'll never find him, I don't know why. Grover, it seems like this whole time I've been on this ship I hoped that something big would happen. I thought that helping you guys find Percy would make me feel better of something. Because I'm not happy yet, even though I know I saved the world, even though I killed Fiona, even though I did the impossible, even though my mother's alive, even though my brother's probably out there wondering why in the world he lost his faith in me, even though I've done so many great things, I still don't feel complete. Like something's missing from my life, I don't know how to fix it I really don't. I don't even know why I'd talk to you about this. Maybe I should go to therapy or something I don't know, Grover. I really don't know…"
"You don't always have to know Penelope. Sometimes it helps us if we don't always know what's going to happen." He smiled then squeezed my shoulder. Then walked down below the ship's board. Rodney on the other hand just rolled his eyes. I swear these two I didn't even know how they were friends, they were complete opposites.
"Are you really going to believe that crap? Wow, I just wish I had that on my favorite soap, that'd be a great line for the wise grandmother to say. Ha, Grover compared to a grandmother! Ha Ha, I love it. Anyways Miss. Goddess just try to get it through your head, there might still be a chance at that guy you keep blabbering about. Personally Phoenix and you seem to be so happy. I just wish you would make a decision, it might be better for everyone if you choose the boy that makes you feel like your beautiful, or the man who will stay by your side while you go through the ups and downs of your senior year. Just try to imagine yourself with both of them." I sighed and put my head in my hands, Rodney and Grover were both so right. Word of advice-never take advice from a satyr, you'll either get your ear talked off or just get all mixed up inside.
"Alright Rodney thanks. I'll take it to mind. I looked over at Phoenix, he was so lovable and he was mine. But the love we shared was so deep and it was ours it was everything I could have wanted. There was no doubt feeling between us, but was it everything I wanted? Could I at least try Percy and Phoenix too? Maybe I shouldn't even consider it; I'm such a sick person for believing its ok to have Percy and Phoenix at the same time. Phoenix came over and gave Rodney a look, meaning: MOVE! Rodney just gave it right back to him, he raised an eyebrow.
"Son, go sit over there." Rodney gestured to the chair across the crate we sat on. Phoenix sighed and sat across from us. It just got a place on the scale of awkward all of a sudden. It was silent, just the distant sound of Pearl and Jason laughing. Piper cursing down below or maybe I could only hear that. But Phoenix then took my hand and led me to the other side of the ship. I felt like it was going to become a scene from The Titanic, where he was going to stand me on the rail and I was going to say in a dreamy voice, 'Oh look Phoenix, I'm flying!' But that didn't happen; he just looked down at the ocean.
"What's up?" He asked, and then looked at me.
"Nothing, I- I guess I just miss Percy… and maybe still have feelings for him… maybe just a little." My voice feeling small and innocent, his eyes filled with hurt and despair. He looked absolutely crushed, and then his eyes filled with fire. His hand's exploded to a flaming red; Leo even looked at him weird. Then lit his own hands and wiggled them, but Phoenix paid no attention to the giggling that escaped from Leo's mouth. He just turned and walked away, my heart wrenched. I'm a complete idiot! Why would you do that! Why! I chased after him calling his name. But he ignored me he walked below and I kept calling his name, but he wouldn't listen. Then he gave me a small glance and that was all it took. The agony, the fire, the anger, the rebellious spirit, the love, the hurt, the hope, the sorrow, the sympathy, and most of all the betrayal he had. "Phoenix… I'm sorry."
"Don't be…I can at least say I tried." He went into the bunk room then slammed the door in my face. I heard his kick something then a shaky breath, a soft sob as he wiped away a tear. I pressed my head to the door. "Phoenix, please forgive me…please! I didn't mean it, I still love you, please help me. Understand me, please." I heard him walk to the door, but then he hesitated then walked into the bathroom that was hooked to the bunker. I sighed and banged my head against the door, I felt the wood piece hit me. But it took away the pain for a second, then it would heal, then I was alone once more with my own pain. I walked from the door and into my own bunker; Annabeth sat there her blond beautiful curls wrapped around her face in perfect symmetry. Her grey eyes filled with firmness but also beauty and purity. No wonder Percy couldn't dump this chick, she was drop dead gorgeous.
"Hey Penelope, what's up?" She smiled a gentle one, hey eyes showed the sleepless nights and her smile showed sadness. She needed Percy, and I needed foreclosure. How? I felt like millions of other women before me had asked the same question. Then I feel her gaze on me, her sad grey eyes reading me, her beautiful questionable gaze the skilled one of so many famous philosophers before her. She was born of thought, and didn't even have to be a man to know she was going to be something when she grew up.
"Well Blondie, not that much. You up for talking?" She had gotten used to me calling her that. But I could tell she hated me calling her that. But it was the only defense I had to her beauty.
"Sure Goat Girl, I'm always up for a talk." Two could play at this game, a mischievous glint came into her eyes, her grey eyes speckling with a bit of fury and boldness. The will to be different, I don't know how I got all that from a make-fun name, but I did.
"Ok well, I have to tell you something you may not like it. But you're pretty much the only one I can talk to. So deal," I flop down next to her on the bulleted-to-the-floor bed. "I'm still in love with your boyfriend. But I need foreclosure, but I don't know how to get it. You think you can help me? Oh no, your getting that look Phoenix did…aw shi-z" I say correcting myself.
"You mean you l-lo-love him?" She gets a smirky face and I know I made a wrong decision of talking to her.
"Yes Blondie I do. But you know, I'm not angry about it, I just feel like that some where I can't deal with all these things someone has to listen. And lucky you, your in the room. So congrats Blondie, you get to become therapist of the day, chosen by yours truly: Miss. Penelope Rondervin." I get up and do a quick bow then sit back down. Her face is frozen, in between a smirk and astonishment. She closed her eyes sighed and opened them again.
"I know how you feel, Penelope. I do, and it's not a good feeling is it? You hate how you love him, but you wish it was the other boy. Don't you? Well I once felt that way. A long time ago, but I can still remember it like it was yesterday, would you like to hear the tale?" I nod, so she pulls her self straight up. "When I was twelve before I knew what love was, before I knew Percy. Luke…a boy that-" She paused then looked down. Was there a tear brimming on the side of her eye? "He was like an older brother but I became older, and I grew immensely in love with him. But soon after that, Percy came and I thought how cute it was when he scrunched his eyebrows together…" She paused and then another tear strode from her eye. "But Luke, he was so…irresistible and like a bad drug that you just couldn't stop drinking or taking, which ever term you prefer to use. But after Percy and I spent a great deal of time together, on our quest that year, I started to like him a little more as a friend. But the thing that I hated about myself, soon after my quest, Percy was nearly killed by…him…Luke. So I felt myself torn, one said he's good at heart, but the other knew he wasn't. I soon felt my love for Luke still flourish, the way he used to smile so confidently and the way his hair glinted in the sun on warm summer days, just everything about him I kept thinking about. I kept my feelings for Luke safe and locked within, hoping no one would find out, I was deeply in love with him. No one did until now. When you asked me, Penelope. I'm sorry to have talked so much but I… I guess were the same at heart…" She looked at me and I gazed back at her, I felt my coldness towards Annabeth break and I hugged her. She hesitated then hugged me back, we embraced and I felt like we shared a mutual feeling. We both never got what we always wanted, that was hard to take, but I wasn't about to let everything she had gotten, be taken away.
"Thank you Annabeth…for everything." I said a small tear running down my own cheek.
"Your welcome, Penelope. I can't always let you seem like you're the nonperfect one. Sometimes, my pride gets in the way. It's my deathly vice. I guess."
"It's alright, I don't know what my deadly vice is… I think it might be my brother. Or maybe people taking away my power… whichever one works." She smiled, then picked up her book and with a dismissive flip of her golden cascade of hair she turned the page. I sighed got down and then went to search for the key to Phoenix's room. I would talk to him one way or the other. I found it in the steering room; they were hanging on numerous hooks, I opened the glass door and found Pearl actually had a blue sailing hat that said, Captainess. I rolled my eyes then went in and found the key; I snatched it up and eyed Pearl one last time, then saw an ear plug hanging out of her ear. I was about to go scare her, but then I stopped. Which was more important? Playing a prank on your best friend or getting your boyfriend back? I'll pick option number two, I run back outside to the hall. Down the corridor to Phoenix's room, I slip the key into the keyhole then turn it, I see him sitting on a chair his body slumped and his breathing is deep. He's out. But I can't bring myself to wake him, I walk over and take his hand. He doesn't wake up but, I can feel his pulse through his thumb. I take his hand up to my cheek and press it against my own.
"Listen Phoenix, I'm sorry I hurt you… You're a great guy and I keep making the mistake of hurting you. Maybe I don't deserve you, but believe me Phoenix. If I could go back to that night on the balcony and known what I do now, about what you would do for me… I don't know one girl besides myself who loves her boyfriend as much as I do…but Phoenix I truly lo-"
"Penelope!" I got up quickly at the sound of my name being called. There stood Jason, he had a look of worry on his face. "Pearl needs your help, there's something in the water, and she said you grow gills."
"Yeah, sure thing." I chased after Jason down the hall and up the stairs. Pearl stood on top of the deck rail, her arms braced open like she was about to hug, but she was growing weaker, something was eating her, her powers. I dashed to help her, before she fell to the depths of the ocean grabbing her hand, I felt her depleting before me. I gently set her down on the deck, and then jump into the ocean. Gills forming themselves on the sides of my neck, at first I didn't see anything, but then I saw it. Her, as a matter of fact. Anger burned in her eyes and I could just feel it, my luck was about to become a whole fifteen times worse.