Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, may your holidays be fun filled and relaxing. I could think of no better gift to my readers than finally updating my story. Onward!

Chapter Eight: Magic Does Exist Outside Hogwarts

A Queens born New Yorker I would always be. I loved the hustle and buzz of the big city, but something about the woods put me at ease. Pollux had come back to the cabin after dinner, after Mr. D had left, and even though I care about him he made the cabin feel a little crowded right then. Making an excuse about going to see Gwen I took the path to the woods not caring if he saw me go that way or not. Walking down the worn path I the cooling air made my nerves calm almost instantly, my head felt clear. These woods had magic, I just knew it. They were the place that always held the changes since I came to this camp. Stepping over a log I glanced a ways away, the spot were Pollux and I had our first conversation was in sight. I remember attacking him and the result was him sitting on me. I can laugh about it now, but it wasn't so funny then.

I kicked a rock and sent it flying, past the tree where I had once sat and had a mental breakdown. The very same spot where I had met Nico for the first time. That moment would always be clear in my mind. He came out of nowhere and listened to a complete stranger's problems. He made me feel better, feel like I was normal, and made me feel not so alone. It was that moment, I'm sure of it, that I had started to fall for the boy dressed in black. It was that same night, after meeting said boy, that I ran into Sophia. Yes, everything seemed to change when I stepped into these woods.

"Hey," a familiar soft voice spoke behind me. I didn't even have to turn around to know who it was. Though my inner shock wanted me to spin around fast I just lazily turned my head. There stood Sophia in a baby blue t-shirt with white shorts and matching sandals. The Aphrodite girl had her glowing blond locks braided into a tight bun atop her head, a few loose pieces fell to the sides of her face, framing it perfectly. It was so unfair how easy she made looking wonderful was.

Not knowing what to say I just nodded. "Hey. How's it going?" What else could I ask? What are you doing here we're fighting remember? Yeah, that would go over smoothly. What I really wanted was just to hug her and have everything back to moral. I stopped being mad at her, I was more mad at myself and the situation. I had been stupid and hot headed, but admitting it was hard for me. I was stubborn to the core and it never did me any favors when it came to righting wrongs.

"Fine. You?" she asked in a similar blank tone.

"Fine."

The awkward silence fell and we just stood there looking at everything but each other. Finally I just couldn't take it anymore. I was tired from the day, I was hungry from missing dinner, and most of all I was done with being quiet.

"I'm sorry!" We both seemed to blurt out at the same time. We met each others eyes and in that moment, everything before just seemed so incredibly stupid.

"I'm sorry for saying those things about your mom. If you say she has your best interests at heart I'm going to believe you. You were right, the world or this camp doesn't revolve around me and my life, others have problems too."

She was shaking her head. "No, I'm sorry. I don't know what it's like not being able to trust a parent. I should have been able to see it from your viewpoint."

We both finished in a rush and took a big breath, then we both erupted into laughter. It could have been five minutes or fifteen, but we just kept laughing. When I did manage to calm down enough I went over to her and wrapped my arms around her in a rare Sarah hug.

"So are we good? Because I really want to be friends again." I asked.

"Totally good." she hugged back before letting go. Her face dimmed a little. "Listen, about Drew-"

I held a hand up to stop her. "Forget her. I've dealt with people like her before, she's just the first I have to put up with on a different playing field." Sophia still looked unsure. "Look, I said I trusted your word and maybe your mom is right. Who knows, someone else might just come along and knock Drew off her pedestal. I'm done thinking about it." I wasn't lying either. Did I still hate Drew? Yep. Did I still want to see her put in her place? Oh yes. But if Sophia wasn't meant to do it then I would just have to wait. I wasn't going to let Drew mess with my friendships again.

Sophia looked like she was trying to figure out if I was serious or not. Then she smiled and her whole face brightened. "Thank you."

"Yeah, okay I'm done with all this touchy feely stuff. Come on." I grabbed her hand and started to pull her back through the woods.

"Where are we going?"

"To get the dynamic trio back together!"

We burst out from the woods and I took a quick glance back. This moment was just one more example on my list of proof that these woods were magical. It was no Forbidden Forest or anything, but it held its own magic. Everything was a blur to me as we ran to the Apollo cabin and banged on the door. Gwen's face when she answered it was one of confusion until she saw the matching smiles on Sophia's and my faces.

"Thank gods! If I had to put up with this tiff between you two another day I was going drown you both in the lake!"

I shrugged. "Percy would have saved us. He's fishy."

"Whatever. Welcome back Princess, don't turncoat again or things won't work out the same."

"Wow." Sophia smirked, but it was playful.

"What can't take a threat?"

"No. I was just surprised you knew the term 'turncoat' and used it in a sentence properly." The light in her eyes told me she had missed quipping with Gwen. "Also, threats are not your forte."

"Hey!" But we were all giggling by then. The night was spent by breaking cabin protocol and eating Gwen's stash of junk food. It was the best night I'd had in a long time. I knew come morning I'd have to face all the whispers and the cold shoulders, the prophecy would still be a puzzle for me to solve, and my powers would still need a tighter control. But at least my best friends were whole and at my side once again. Maybe, just maybe, I would be alright after all.

There you go! I know it's short, but I really wanted Sophia's and Sarah's reunion to be done. Sarah is not the kind of person to drag out apologizes when they're important. Until next time, read on and have a great holiday.