Chapter 14
Lucius
I wake up in my bed the next morning, and can't remember what happened the night before. Groaning, I sit up. As soon as I'm straight, my memory clears and my eyes widen as I remember what had happened.
After I had kissed Phoenix that first time, we had stayed out there kissing for another hour until it had started to rain. Then we had been forced to go back inside and go to sleep.
I pause for a second as I listen to the rain pound on the cabin roof. For a minute, I'm puzzled. The rain had been going strong for almost 6 hours now. It'll probably let up during the day.
Then I perk up and lean down over the side of my bed. Phoenix slept right below me in the bed. She looked really peaceful when she was sleeping.
Suddenly I notice that no one else was in the cabin. Dreading, I glance at the clock and notice that we're late for breakfast.
"Shit." I swear as I jump off my bed and land on the ground. Hurriedly, I shake Phoenix awake.
Her eyes blink open and for a second I forget why I'm rushing. She smiles at me sleepily. "Hey Lucius."
"Hey Phoenix." I whisper to her. Then I remember why I had woken her up. "We have to go. We're late for breakfast."
Her eyes widen. "Shit." She repeats my cuss.
I can't but snicker to myself. Phoenix rolls her eyes at me as she flies out of her bed. She runs into the bathroom to get changed.
While she does that, I quickly throw on a pair of pants and a t-shirt. I contemplate putting on cologne and eventually succumb to the urge. As I finish trying my shoelaces, Phoenix emerges from the bathroom.
She was dressed in her normal black t-shirt and dark jeans and her hair was up in a high ponytail. There wasn't any makeup on her face; there never was.
I smile at her. "You know, I'm not feeling so hungry anymore. You want to stay here instead?"
She laughs. I pause as I savor the sound. It was like little bells and birds singing. "I'm hungry. There is no way I'm missing breakfast."
"Guess you're finally going to listen to your stomach are you?" I tease her.
"Shut up." She's faintly smiling while she says it though.
Phoenix tries to pass by me, but I catch her around the waist. She pretends to struggle, but we both know she's not. I turn her around and kiss her briefly on the lips. Her lips taste sweet as they roam slowly over mine.
I break away. 'Now I'm ready for breakfast."
She laughs again. "So you tease me like that, and then you want to go to breakfast?"
I give her a mischievous grin. "Of course."
"Fine, let's go." She rolls her eyes again.
We run out into the pouring rain. When we reach the tables, we're both soaked through. Thankfully, someone had put a cover over the tables so it was completely dry.
Quickly we finish breakfast as we avoid the eyes of the other campers. I can't help but notice that Phoenix is silent once again.
We finish and then look for Percy and Annabeth. After about twenty minutes of searching, we find them in Poseidon's cabin.
They're on Percy's bed, fooling around with an architect design Annabeth was working on.
"Hey peoples." I greet them as I jump on the bed beside them.
"Morning Lucius. Morning Phoenix." They both say simultaneously.
"What are you guys working on?" I ask.
Annabeth shows me the design, but I can't make anything out of the squiggles, lines and numbers. My confused expression must have showed because Annabeth laughs.
"It's okay. Percy and Phoenix don't understand it either."
"Yeah, but I pretend." Percy tells her and kisses her swiftly on the cheek.
That reminds me. "Phoenix." I say and then look at her.
She was still standing at the door. When I said her name, she shook her head violently. Confused, I ignore Percy and Annabeth and walk over to her.
"What's wrong?" I whisper.
"I don't want everyone to know." She whispers back.
"Okay." I say. I could understand that. It's not like I wanted everyone to know about my private life either. "How about just Percy and Annabeth?"
"I don't know." She glances at them worriedly. "I love Annabeth to death; she's my best friend. But she might feel obligated to tell Chiron."
"Why?" I ask.
"She might think it relates to the prophecy."
"She won't tell if I make her and Percy promise." I tell her.
"You sure?"
"Positive. Percy has never broken a promise to me yet, and I don't think Annabeth would break a promise to you."
She sighs heavily and nods. "Alright then."
I smile at her and then take her hand. She smiles back slightly and I lead her over to Percy and Annabeth.
We sit down on the bed and I release her hand. They hadn't been watching so in order for them to promise they wouldn't have to suspect anything.
"Guys." I start. They both look up at me. "I have something to tell you. But you have to promise that you won't tell anyone."
Percy nods his head. "We won't tell."
Annabeth nods her head too. "Yeah we promise."
I glance at Phoenix and smile as if to say 'told you so'. She smiles back and I take her hand again. Then I turn back to them.
"We're together." I smile as I speak the words I've longed to say all week.
Suddenly I can't hold in my happiness. I wrap my arms around Phoenix. I squeeze her a bit and her lovely laugh escapes her lips. "Phoenix is my girlfriend!"
Phoenix blushes a bit. Then I look up at Percy and Annabeth. Their mouths are gaping open as they look at us in disbelief.
Annabeth speaks up first. "I…I don't think I've ever, ever, head Phoenix laugh before."
Percy laughs and pats me on the back. "Nice going dude. Your first girlfriend."
Both Phoenix and I blush horribly. I keep my arms around her. She feels too good to let go.
Then Annabeth gasps. "Guys, the prophecy!"
Phoenix shoots me a look that says 'told you so'. I shrug as Annabeth continues. "What was in the prophecy said? Appearances are naught but an illusion."
"Elements destruction over unneeded confusion." Percy repeats the next line.
"To storm or fire, the world must fall." I say the line after.
"If the truth is not told to all." Phoenix finishes.
"It must be talking about this!" Annabeth exclaims. "We have to tell Chiron!"
"No!" Phoenix bursts out.
We all glance at her, in her outburst. She blushes and looks down. "At least, not yet. I'm not ready. I'd like a little time before everyone knows."
Annabeth sighs. "I don't know Phoenix."
"You promised."
"Not the promise card." Annabeth groans.
Percy hugs her close in the same position I had Phoenix. "Come on Wise Girl. Just give them a little time to get used to it. We did promise."
"Fine." Annabeth says tightly. Then she looks at us. "I hope you guys know what you're getting into."
I hug Phoenix a little tighter. I kiss her cheek softly as I whisper to myself. "I hope so too."
Please Review! I'm only two or three chapters away from the climax! You'll never see it coming! :)
