Wise girl's thoughts

The lightning thief: KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL: HUMANE ZOO TRANSPORT

"You're not lame" I insisted. "You've got more courage than any satyr I've ever met. Name one other who would dare go to the Underworld. I bet Percy is really glad you're here right now." I looked over at the son of Poseidon and gave him a kick on the shin without warning.

"Yeah" He answered, glaring at me, it took me all my strength to not laugh.

"It's not luck that you found Thalia and me, Grover. You've got the biggest heart of any satyr ever. You're a natural searcher. That's why you'll be the one who finds Pan." I inwardly smiled. Percy might be the most stubborn and oblivious person I've met but he's also the goofiest, the most loyal and the sweetest.

I heard I sigh and I knew right there that Grover was already asleep, don't ask me how I know, I just do. It took Percy a few minutes to realize he was sleeping too.

"How does he do that?" He asked in bewilderment. "I don't know"

"But that was really a nice thing you told him." I told him, giving him a smile.

"I meant it" Yeah, I know that, that's why I like you Seaweed Brain.

I blinked. No, not like like. I just meant it like a friend-ly kind of way, you know...

As the time went by, I thought of the reasons I would and should never like Percy. I didn't notice I was rubbing my necklace until Percy mentioned it.

"That pine-tree bead," He said. "Is that from your first year?"

I looked. I didn't know he was that observant. "Yeah," I replied.

"Every August, the counselors pick the most important event of the summer, and they paint it on that year's beads. I've got Thalia's pine tree, a Greek trireme on fire, a centaur in a prom dress—now that was a weird summer..."

"And the college ring is your father's?" I stiffen at his question and I gave him a hard glare but he didn't flinch like people normally do. "That's none of your—" I stopped, what was there to hide? That I had a father that didn't really love me? Honestly, I don't care anymore. "Yeah. Yeah, it is."

"You don't have to tell me." I stared at him and I realize there was no reason for me not to like him...as a friendish way.

"No ... it's okay." I took a shaky breath. "My dad sent it to me folded up in a letter, two summers ago. The ring was, like, his main keepsake from Athena. He wouldn't have gotten through his doctoral program at Harvard without her... That's a long story. Anyway, he said he wanted me to have it. He apologized for being a jerk, said he loved me and missed me. He wanted me to come home and live with him."

"That doesn't sound so bad."

"Yeah, well... the problem was, I believed him. I tried to go home for that school year, but my stepmom was the same as ever. She didn't want her kids put in danger by living with a freak. Monsters attacked. We argued. Monsters attacked. We argued. I didn't even make it through winter break. I called Chiron and came right back to Camp Half-Blood." I expected him to be laughing or maybe even trying to hide his laughter for my sake but I saw him staring at me solemnly.

Gods, I've got to give this kid more credit.

"You think you'll ever try living with your dad again?" I looked at the animals, everywhere but Percy. "Please. I'm not into self-inflicted pain."

"You shouldn't give up," I heard him say. "You should write him a letter or something." Why would he even suggest that? Didn't I just tell him how I don't want to be in contact with my dad?

"Thanks for the advice," I said coldly, "but my father's made his choice about who he wants to live with." A few miles passed and I realized that in my hatred towards what my father did that I didn't realize he was trying to help. I blinked a few times and was about to apologize when he spoke.

"So if the gods fight," He said, "will things line up the way they did with the Trojan War? Will it be Athena versus Poseidon?" I put my head against the backpack Ares had given us, and closed my eyes.

Percy's not the son of Poseidon I imagined he would be. He wasn't stuck up and thought he was better at everything. He wasn't a rich kid who lived his life to the fullest. He was better because he was a loyal and brave. A hero that just wanted to protect the ones he love.

"I don't know what my mom will do. I just know I'll fight next to you." I told him, and I didn't know why I said that, it just felt like I needed to say it. Maybe it's because I've been pretending to hate him when I didn't after all.

"Why?"

"Because you're my friend, Seaweed Brain. Any more stupid questions?" He didn't answer so I closed my eyes. Finally realizing what I truly felt for the son of Poseidon.