Author's Note: Some of you may recognize a scene from the infamous Bring it On: All or Nothing. It's my secret shame; I was watching the movie with my best friend a while back, and this scene just stuck with me, I loved it so much. I revised the scene a bit to fit Thalia's personality and clothing choice. Enjoy!
"C'mon Thals, it'll be fun!" said Amber from her spot in the backseat. Thalia glared at the daughter of Hermes through the rearview mirror. "One: Don't call me Thals. Two: I already said no" grumbled the dark haired hunter. "Thalia, what's the harm? Amber's right, it'll be lots of fun" pitched in Rayne.
Arianna stayed silent in the passenger seat, staring out the window.
Thalia rolled her eyes. "If I say yes, you've got to promise to behave" she grumbled as the car inched forward a bit. She cursed the heavy San Antonio traffic in Ancient Greek. "Yeah, I promise I'll behave!" said Amber, bouncing up and down in her seat like an impatient little kid. Thalia snorted and remained silent. She caught Arianna's eye; the Hispanic gave a slight nod.
Thalia made up her mind. "Fine, but the moment you get into trouble, so help me Zeus, I'll drag you to Camp by the hair, kicking and screaming" sighed the daughter of Zeus. Amber cheered and high-fived Rayne. Arianna smirked as she settled into her seat. "This should be interesting" mused the sassy brunette out loud, ignoring the withering glare Thalia shot her way.
It was a Saturday, so the park was packed with people. Arianna craned her neck to stare at the imposing ride known as the Goliath. People whizzed by, screaming in a mixture of terror and joy. Arianna grinned wickedly and cracked her knuckles, straightening to her full height, looking just as daunting as the ride. "I'm so going on that ride" she declared, a crazed glint in her hazel eyes. Thalia snorted, lightly cuffing the younger girl's head. "You're insane" she mumbled as they got in line to purchase their tickets.
"What was your first clue?" retorted the Hispanic innocently; widening her eyes naively, a soft smirk playing on the corners of her lips. Amber and Rayne broke into guffaws, ignoring the glare Thalia gave them. The line moved quickly, thanks to the nonstop banter between Thalia and Arianna, which amused their younger friends to no end.
They got their tickets and were led to a metal detector. Arianna, Rayne and Amber passed through without incident, much to Arianna's amazement. From what she'd seen, the two younger demi-gods were armed. But when Thalia's turn came, the alarm went off. The guard raised an eyebrow, and Thalia rolled her eyes, lifting a foot up. "Steal toed boots" she growled.
The guard grabbed a handheld detector and slowly began moving it down her face. It went off and Thalia glared, pushing back the strands of her black hair that had grown out from her usual spiky 'do, giving her a shaggy, emo look. Small silver skulls dangled from her earlobes. The guard moved the device down her torso and it went off a second time. Thalia sighed.
"Belly ring" she grumbled, pulling her black tank top up a bit to reveal her flat, toned stomach, a small silver ring hanging from the small indent of her bellybutton. Thalia caught Arianna's eye, the younger girl was staring at her, a strange look in her eyes, an emotion Thalia couldn't identify.
The device went off a third time when it reached her hips. The guard stared, a lecherous smile forming on his thin lips. Thalia found her pale skin flush heavily with color that wasn't from the heat. "Those are my keys you pervert!" she snarled, pulling her keys from her pocket and pushed past him. Her friends roared with laughter, all except Amber, who despite being a daughter of Hermes still contained a good deal of naivety, and was the youngest. "I don't get it" stated the young girl as the group walked further into the park.
Rayne leaned over, brushing her lips against Amber's ear as she whispered franticly. Amber's eyes widened. "You can actually pierce that? But doesn't it hurt?" asked Amber. Arianna snickered, unable to help the smirk that seemed to be permanently attached to her mouth. "It hurts like a bitch, or so I'm told" grinned the sassy brunette, dodging the elbow Thalia aimed at her ribs. "You're worse than a boy" snorted Thalia. "Pfft, I'm better looking than any boy" sneered Arianna. Rayne shook her head.
"Hubris killed Jason" pointed out the blond. Arianna flashed her infamous dazzling smile. "Jason was a boy, I'm not" she said, leaning up to playfully kiss Thalia's cheek before dashing off to get in line for the Roadrunner with Amber hot on her trail, leaving the shocked hunter behind with the amused archer.
"Keep an eye on her, she's feisty" teased Rayne. Thalia shook her head, ignoring the younger girl as she moved to stand in the shade. When she was sure Rayne wasn't paying attention, she reached up to touch the spot where Arianna's lips had brushed her skin. The skin was warm. Thalia allowed herself a small, confused smile
"How can you be dressed that way in this weather?" asked Rayne, flopping down onto a shady bench. Arianna shrugged, brushing her unruly hair from her eyes. The Latina wore black jeans that had seen better days, and a tight black t-shirt. Her usual wristbands were still on her wrists, though she had discarded her customary jacket in the car; even she had limits. "I'm used to it; San Antonio is further up north, Brownsville is at the very tip of Texas, so it's hotter there" explained Arianna.
"It's never been this hot in New York" grumbled Amber. She had only lived in Brownsville with her mother until she was five; when she turned six her mother sent her to Camp on her father's wishes. "It's better to send her while she's young and still not strong enough to attract monsters; that way, when' she's finally old enough to have monsters coming for her, she'll be able to care for herself with no problem" Hermes had explained.
Thalia shook her head, wiping sweat from her brow. "This is crazy, it's like an oven in here" she grumbled.
Arianna chuckled softly at her sweaty friends. "This is nothing compared to the massive heat wave Brownsville had a few years back. Ya'll would've been cooked nice and crispy back then" said Arianna with her slight southern twang that would slip out every now and then.
Thalia grumbled a curse in Ancient Greek and leaned back, closing her eyes, enjoying the slight temperature change thanks to the shade. She prayed to her father, a wishful prayer mind you, that a cloud would appear in the sky and offer shade from the blistering sun.
A gasp made Thalia open her eyes, and she sat up straight when she saw a cluster of clouds floating in the sky. Arianna stared up at the sky, her jaw hanging open, the source of the gasp. Rayne peered up, squinting her eyes. "What did you do?" asked Amber.
Thalia shrugged, unable to suppress the proud smirk. "It was too hot" said the hunter simply.
Arianna rolled her eyes, glaring at no one or nothing in particular. "Hey guys, let's go on the Superman!" said Amber, pointing up ahead towards the red and blue ride that whizzed by, people screaming in sheer terror as their feet dangled in the air.
Arianna's scowl transformed into a predatory grin, her hazel eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "C'mon" she said, grabbing Thalia's arm and dragging her towards the near empty line.
The startled daughter of Zeus stared up at the ride with wide blue eyes. She gulped. She was terrified of heights, just the mere thought of getting on that monster made her bladder twitch.
Arianna turned her bright gaze on the hunter, regarding her with a teasing smile. "Don't tell me you're scared of heights" she said, her grip on Thalia's wrist gentle. Thalia stiffened, eyes contracting at the subtle coward jibe.
"No" she said defensively, pulling out of the Latina's grip with ease.
Arianna smirked. "Prove it," she challenged, "Go on the ride with me." Her hand found its way back onto her shoulder. Her touch made Thalia's skin sear with warmth, her cool eyes regarding the taller girl silently.
Thalia opened her mouth to answer the challenge issued, but Amber darted up to them, worry in her eyes. "Rayne just spotted a couple of hellhounds" she reported. Thalia tensed, scanning the area quickly. "Where?" she asked. Amber shifted uneasily, her ADD keeping her from holding still for long.
"Towards the entrance, the exit's there too" she replied. Thalia sighed mentally; glad to have escaped from Arianna's dare. "Let's go" she said, grasping Arianna's forearm as Amber darted off.
"Stay close to me" she ordered. Arianna raised an eyebrow. "You'll protect me?" she asked. Thalia nodded. "With my life" she said quietly, so quiet that if Arianna hadn't been standing next to her, she wouldn't have been able to hear the words.
Arianna nodded and the duo made their way back towards the entrance of the park.
When they got close, they heard screams erupt followed by a cry of pain. Thalia stopped in her tracks. She recognized that scream. Rayne. "C'mon!" she said, darting forward, tugging Arianna after her. People were running towards the exit, but Thalia was able to catch a glimpse of Amber standing over Rayne protectively, her twin knives in her hands, fighting off the two hellhounds.
One hellhound lunged at her, but Amber ducked, stabbing her knife into the hellhound's ribs.
The beast snarled in pain, stumbling back. The second hellhound swiped its massive paw at Amber; she blocked with the hilt of her knife. The monster snarled and swiped at her again, sending her blade flying. Amber cried out in pain as the first hellhound knocked her other knife from her hand, and she was pinned beneath the monster.
Author's Note: I'm so sorry I haven't update in months! My computer broke down, and I just got a new one a few days ago. This chapter is dedicated to my friend IamAbotticeli, whose birthday is on Monday, October 18. Happy birthday girl!