Calypso

We walk for a couple hundred metres before setting up camp. We pick a clearing with a river running through it. It reminds me of my home and nostalgia takes hold of me.

I've left the only home I've had for years for some quest to save the gods. Besides a few of them, what have they ever done for me? They banish their own spy for fear that they might try to overthrow them. I was the key to winning the first Titan war and they- no, Zeus threw me out because of a suspicion. I may hold no respect for the king of the gods but I have left him alone and I hoped he would return the favour.

So why have I come on this quest? To prove something to the gods? To get off my island? Maybe a bit of both. And honestly, the demigods had intrigued me. I was curious as to why the fought for the gods. But now I know it's not for the gods that they fight. It's for their family.

"Hey, Calypso!" Leo yells. He pops up next to me. "You know, the hunters didn't give us any food. If you want, I could make some?" Leo phrased his last sentence as a question, and he said it shyly.

I punch him in the arm. "Why so quiet, Valdez? Has something actually made you serious?"

Leo rubs his arm wincing- whether it was in fake pain or not, I'm not quite sure. "Firstly, that hurt, Sunshine. Secondly, nothing can quieten the flaming Valdez!"

His hair catches fire but I am not amused. "What did you just call me?"

Leo's hair puts itself out. "Bye," he squeaks, running away quickly.

"You'd better run Valdez," I mutter under my breath.

I walk to the middle of the clearing near a dead log. I pull out two small pieces of fabric. I throw them on the ground and mutter something in Ancient Greek. They expand into full size tents, facing each other.

"Awesome!" A voice from behind me, yells.

I turn around, of course it would be Leo. I have let go of my anger at his nickname. "Can you set up a campfire and get cooking?" I ask.

He nods his head eagerly. "I'm on it."

I roll my eyes at his retreating form. Even so, I've never seen him so eager-to-please. I wonder what's gotten him this way.

In no time, Leo has set up a campfire next to a dead log, I can hear his whoops of excitement from here. Piper and Jason has sat down on the log outside our tents and are having a serious talk in low voices. I decide to leave them to it and join Leo.

I sit down on a log opposite to Leo. "Hey."

He looks up and shields some of what he has made. However, he can not shield all of it without going into the fire. "Hey, Cal."

Leo looks at me quickly to see my reaction to the nickname but I smile. It's kinda endearing that he's going through the trouble of finding me a nickname.

I smirk slightly. "Repair Boy."

He looks horrified at the name. "I am not a lowly Repair Boy. I am the Supreme Commander of the Argo II. I am Commander Tool Belt. I am-"

"You are a Hammer Head," I state.

Leo shivers. "I'll take Repair Boy over that one. I had a slight problem with a shark in the past."

He launches into his story with vigour. I can't help but admire how he looks in the firelight. The flames cast dancing shadows on his imp-like face. I happen to look over to Piper and Jason and my jaw drops. They're kissing.

Leo doesn't seem to notice my face as his back is to me, facing the opposite way to Piper and Jason. Piper leans away with a blush and I quickly turn back to Leo, pretending that I wasn't watching, with my own blush covering my face. I pay attention to his story.

"-The shark tried to bite me but he missed and got a bit of my shorts. That's when Percy swam over and told the shark to beat it and he took off really fast, and ripped off my shorts. Percy has never let me live it down. Thank the gods Annabeth and Piper didn't look."

I burst out laughing. "The 'almighty' demigod, son of Hephaestus, got his pants pulled down by a shark."

Jason

"I think we need to have a plan for when we face Encedulas," Piper states, pulling me to sit down on a log.

"Our first problem is a god. We're going to need one to defeat a giant. Since Lord Zeus has them all on lockdown, one might not be able to come. If no god comes, we're dead."

I nod along to her words. "I'd say we ask Calypso. She seems more connected to the gods then us."

Piper nods slowly, following my words. "That's a good idea. Perhaps she could get Lady Artemis-"

Piper's words become meaningless as I stare at her. Her hair is braided over her shoulder. She is wearing faded jeans and she has on a t-shirt with the words 'Beauty is a curse' in graffitied lettering. Her jeans are faded last fashionable and her top has claw marks on the sleeves. Beautiful.

Caught up in the moment, I lean down towards her. Piper's eyes widen and she leans up. Our lips meet briefly before she pulls away. "Sorry," she mutters, turning away.

I grab her hand and shivers go up my spine. I pull her into another kiss and it's just as good as the first one. It's slow and sweet and my heart is bursting with emotion. The only other girl I have ever been with is Reyna, the other praetor and I felt nothing like this.

I pull away this time and hold her hand. Piper smiles nervously at me and tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. "So... What are we relationship-wise?"

Calypso

"Yo, Piper! Jason!" Leo yells, clearly interrupting a serious conversation. Leo doesn't seem to notice their annoyed looks. "Get over here! Dinner is served!"

I catch Piper's exasperated glance. I look at her with a slightly amused look. What can you do? I mouth.

Piper smiles slightly. She and Jason walk over hand in hand. Leo, of course, is completely oblivious to their over-friendliness.

We are served on oilcloths and there's no cutlery, but the food itself looks mouthwatering. Pepper and beef tacos with chips and salsa.

"Leo," Piper breathes, amazed. "How did you-?"

Leo grins at her, setting the food down in front of her. "Chef Leo is fixing you up! By the way, it's tofu, not beef, Beauty Queen. So don't freak."

I hadn't known Piper was a vegetarian, but if tofu tastes this good all the time, I can't judge her.

I pass a fireball between my hands. Dropping it into one hand after another. I may not be a demigod but I've still got ADHD.

I'm lying down in Piper and I's shared tent, curled up in my sleeping bag. Piper's vacant sleeping bag is the only thing keeping me awake.

It's past dark by now and the only light is from the still-going fire outside. I can see Piper and Jason's silhouettes, sitting on a dead log.

I suddenly have an idea. I throw the fireball gently into the air and keep it suspended with my powers as an enchantress. I move it to the middle of the tent and it acts as a lamp, casting a soft glow around the room. I let go of my concentration and the fireball stays in place. "Sweet," I mutter.

Outside Jason leans down to kiss Piper before the fire is put out and I can no longer see their silhouettes. Piper walks in with a sweet smile on her face. I sit up immediately. "Well? Are you and Jason together?"

Piper's smile grows wider. "Yes."

I point towards her sleeping bag. "Sit. Tell me all about it."

Piper crosses her legs on her sleeping bag. "So, before we had dinner, Jason and I were discussing the quest. I can't even remember what we were talking about, now, and suddenly he just leaned down and kissed me! It was amazing! It was so sweet and-"

"Ew, Piper. Gross," I shudder. "I wanted the story, without the very specific details."

Piper rolls her eyes. "Shut up. I see the way you look at Leo."

A blush finds it's way onto my gaping face. "What!? I don't like him like that-"

Piper smiles knowingly in the dim light of the fireball. "Please, I'm the daughter of Aphrodite. I know love when I see it."

I huff. "As if the real Aphrodite isn't bad enough!" I decide to ignore what she said about love.

"Every time I came back to Olympus to report about the Titans, she would go on about how ugly they are, or their love affairs, or their fashion sense. I'm so glad you aren't as talkative and dimwitted as she is."

Thunder booms overhead. "Sorry," I mumble. It was probably lucky that Piper didn't take offence as well.

Piper stares at me. "You should really stop doing that."

I frown. "Doing what?"

"Insulting the gods. You're supposed to be keeping under the radar."

"Don't worry. The gods never bother to see who is insulting them. They just roll thunder and assume they've scared the offender." I pause. "Well, the smart ones like Athena, Poseidon, Artemis and a few others keep track. But I would never insult some of the few decent gods and goddesses out there."

Piper shakes her head. "Well, Jason and I are now dating happily. Please don't tell Leo, I don't think I can handle his teasing."

"You got it. What are friends for?"

Piper smiles widely at me before I lay down with my back to her, and fall asleep.

-SAW