15

Ψ 𝐌𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 Ψ

𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐝𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧.

No nightmares, thank God. I had washed up and gotten my clothes on along with my camp shirt. I tied up my hair into a ponytail looking in the mirror while smiling.

Since it was summer, and no one was up yet I made my way to a different building. I was hoping that maybe I can get some regular exercise besides archery and sword fighting. That is insane to speak about but either way I wanted a break.

I didn't want to use my pointe shoes because there was clearly no floor that was gonna work on, so I just wore my sneakers and walked to a certain part of the forest. I looked around seeing no one as I just began doing my normal stretches. I stretched out my arms, my legs, my hip muscles.

The only reason I'll continue to dance is because it's another form of art that just brings a smile to my face.

Placing my hand on a tree I began doing plié warmups. No bar around but hey I guess nature isn't so bad. I was enjoying my time for a few minutes even if it felt highly uncomfortable to wear sneakers while trying to keep a turnout in them.

I raised my leg above my head and began to take hold of my ankle lifting it up slowly letting go of the tree as I stopped holding my leg lifting both my arms up nice and cleanly. And from there slowly performing a pénche leaning forward but somewhat struggling since my sneakers weren't helping.

I set myself back down carefully and suddenly heard out of nowhere "That was so cool!"

I screamed holding my chest as I saw Damien and he held his chest "you scared me!" He shouted as I scoffed at him "oh really!?"

He nodded holding his chest claiming, "I think I have a heart attack,"

My head shook as my arms crossed in front of my chest, "why are you even here?" I asked him.

Damien scoffed and held his chest as if he were just insulted.

"Damien." I groaned out as he said, "here for your letter of course, but I enjoy a morning walk before the disaster of all the kids wreaking havoc on this camp."

He walked closer to me, and I nodded saying "it's back in my cabin, I wrote it last night before bed."

As we walked over to the cabin, he suddenly asked me "wait...you didn't write it earlier? What were you doing?" He asked, smiling with curiosity as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

I pointed out "nothing, Luke and I were just talking."

He stopped walking and looked at me pointing at me with his finger "you? And the son of Hermes? Wow...you like him."

I scoffed, "I don't!"

He came closer and looked me in the eyes and held both sides of my head and I slapped him as he scoffed still not letting go "your pupils dilated just by saying his name! You like him!"

I laughed out "I don't, we're just friends."

He smirked and whispered, "friends with benefits, maybe." As if I couldn't hear. I slapped his neck as he groaned, touching the part I slapped that was now turning a bright shade of red.

"Just give me the stupid letter." He groaned out as I nodded going back inside the cabin to grab it.

Later in the day I was practicing with Luke and Chris as they both came at me. I huffed and panted holding my stomach.

"Okay, how is this fair in any sense!" I shouted blocking Chris and pushing him back as Luke said, "what if you're taking on more than one person You never know when these skills may come into use."

He struck me as I quickly flipped and landed again on my two feet and lunged at them again trying to knock their swords from their hands.

"It's not like I'm gonna be a full god or any relation to these guys. I don't need anything but basic training."

At that point they both knocked me to the ground, and I groaned looking up seeing them both walk over as I quickly swung my legs kicking Luke's sword out of his hand and striking Chris' sword with my own as he let go of it.

I panted quickly as they looked at me "I've gotta admit, I'm impressed" Chris announced looking over to Luke "you can still learn more. But good job."

Luke nodded and Chris asked me "how are you doing with the whole...claiming thing?"

I watched as Luke nudged him and I shrugged at the question "beats me. I don't care. My mom is my parent. Why do I need it anymore? My mom is the one thing I could count on."

Chris nodded and we walked over to sit down as he told me "You shouldn't care. Hermes is my dad, hasn't claimed me at all."

I raised my eyebrows asking, "how do you know?"

He easily spoke "my mom, she told me. But he just doesn't care to just say I'm his kid. You're lucky. At least you don't know your dad."

Thinking about that I looked at them saying "it sucks yeah...I mean if I could, I would go and find him. Show him off."

Luke laughed at my tough girl attitude which I had none of, "really? You're up against gods with years on you. No offense Hayley but even that is quite the thought."

I crossed my arms and shrugged "so? Like you said Luke."

Getting up I looked at both of them and said "why is it that we have to follow their stupid rules? Why? We deserve answers. My mom deserves them and the hundreds of kids here who have also felt neglected. Don't you agree?"

They both looked at one another as if having a revelation of some sort and I crossed my arms, "if I could think of one thing...why is it that a kid like Percy Jackson gets claimed in a snap while my father just decided to become a ghost. God don't die. But they don't enjoy the torture of not being right."

Chris and Luke just stared at me as I rolled my eyes, "fine, if you don't agree whatever. But I'm gonna try and figure this out. I mean doesn't look like I had much of a chance but if I could have one moment with my dad, I would rain hell on him."

The new sudden attitude intrigued me. I finally know what it felt like to be my mom when she was younger, maybe not full out because she was homeless for several years...

"Look I love my mom; don't you guys agree? What about your parents? Your moms that were screwed over? If they were at least."

Chris chuckled and shook his head "one thing about this you should know, better to stay in the dark."

He walked away and I groaned and looked at Luke "you believe in me, right?"

I sat beside him and said, "I know your dad is Hermes and I don't know the history, but don't you think I'm right?"

He didn't speak, he just turned away and rubbed the back of his neck standing up.

"Oh, come on Luke." I huffed out and he looked at me. "As much as I do agree. It's not possible."

Luke stood up and walked away as I held my forehead frustrated and walked back to the cabin.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

It seems that Hayley is in over her head thinking she could match up to her dad who she doesn't even know about yet-