Chapter Eighteen

Hazel

Monday, December 1st

When they got to the airport they discovered their flight didn't leave until six. So they left to eat breakfast (it was now almost five) and prayed that they weren't seen by anybody by anybody else—well, maybe they did. Hazel smiled as she let them into a bakery. The fresh smell of baked goods hit her and she grinned. The place was a small place and most people were in and out but there were a few booths and tables around.

The Latino man behind the counter smiled at her. "Hazel, you're here early."

Hazel smiled at him and she could feel the looks on her back. "I know, but I wanted to get here early before school started."

The man nodded and began to boil water. She gestured behind her, "These are my cousins Percy, Thalia and Jason, my friend Annabeth and my half-siblings Bianca and Nico."

He nodded, "Yes, I watched the news. Sammy was quite embarrassed afterwords."

Hazel blushed and looked down, "Yeah."

"So what'll it be?" He pulled out a pen and paper.

"Hot chocolate for me," Hazel answered.

The others just shrugged. Thalia rolled her eyes and asked for the same. The others followed suit.

Soon they were seated at one of the booths with their beverages. As soon as her butt touched the seat Percy asked the question, "How do you know that man?"

Hazel grabbed the whipped cream off the table and shook it, "He's Sammy's dad," she explained as she swirled the whipped cream on top.

Annabeth gaped, "You're kidding. Like Sammy the boy you like?"

"Like Sammy the boy you kissed," Bianca wiggled her eyebrows.

Hazel felt the heat rising to her cheeks, "I didn't kiss him."

"That's not the point," Annabeth exclaimed. "What if he sees us here!"

"So?" Hazel asked as she grabbed the caramel sauce.

Annabeth sighed and Percy gave her a look, "Its fine, Annabeth. It's not a big deal."

Annabeth frowned, "Sorry, whatever." Hazel turned back to her drink as Mr. Valdez brought out their orders.

They ate in silence for a while until the door chimed. In walked Sammy. Hazel glanced at her watch. It was only 5: 40. He stopped when he spotted them and raised his eyebrows, "Hazel, what're you doing here? School starts in like three hours."

Hazel shrugged, "I'm heading to the airport after this."

"Why?"

"Have you heard about the school trip to Oregon?"

"School trip? Since when?"

Hazel glanced at Annabeth before turning back to Sammy, "Maybe you'll hear about it later. Anyways, we volunteered to get there early to set up. Right guys?"

Nico nodded, "Yeah, and I think we should go now, our flight leaves at six."

Hazel nodded and stood up. "Do you need a ride?" Sammy asked.

"Um…"

"Actually, a ride would be helpful," Annabeth interrupted as she looked away. Hazel followed her gaze. It was snowing outside.

Thalia

When they got to the airport, Sammy's dad waited outside in the car as the rest of them entered the airport. There weren't many people there but they did get a few stares. After all, Thalia was in pajama pants and a black tank top. But when they entered Thalia gasped. There was House standing right where they saw him first. In the middle of the airport. The outside was virtually the same, blue and white with its old stairs leading up to the door. She glanced at Annabeth who looked just as surprised.

"Why is there a house in the middle of the airport?" Thalia turned. Sammy had asked the question.

"You see it?" Thalia asked.

"I see it," he replied.

"He sees it!" Hazel yelled earning a few glares from passerby's.

"Okay, what is House doing here?" Thalia demanded turning to Annabeth. "You said it didn't have energy!"

"It didn't!" Annabeth protested.

"It was a trick!" Nico accused. Thalia was starting to agree. Maybe it was just a trick to get them back. "You just wanted us back for your own selfish reasons. House had more than enough energy!"

"It did not!" Annabeth exclaimed. She lowered her voice, "Look, House makes its own rules. I'm starting to think it just did this for Sammy."

"For me?" He looked dumbfounded.

"It makes sense," Annabeth said. "House knew I would fly back and get you guys. And it knew about the delayed flight."

"It couldn't have known Sammy would be with us," Percy said.

"No, it couldn't have," Annabeth agreed. "But at the same time, it could've known that Hazel knew Sammy and might bring him here."

Bianca glanced at House, "C'mon, let's go inside."

The eight of them walked into House. Annabeth turned on the lights. "Hello?" Jason yelled.

Thalia heard footsteps. It was Reyna. Thalia didn't know much about her. She didn't speak much but she seemed tough.

"Hey, Reyna," Annabeth greeted.

Reyna glanced around, "I guess you found them."

Annabeth nodded and banged on the boys' door. Then the girls'. Slowly they immerged from the bedrooms and gathered in the living room. Annabeth was about to speak when she was interrupted with a gasp.

"Leo!" Sammy yelled.

Leo's eyes widened, "Sammy?"