Chapter Fifteen

"Percy! What are you doing?!"

Percy blinked sleepily. He laying across Flame, perpendicular, forming the shape of a lowercase t.

"Dude, you're crushing my stomach!"

Percy rolled off of Flame, slowly stretching as he did.

"Hey, sleepyheads! Rise and shi-ine! I made breakfast! Toast is amazing!" Luna stuck her head into the tent, and Percy pulled his sleeping bag up for decency. Flame, however, did not. Luna turned a deep red. "Get dressed, guys. I told Joy we wouldn't eat without you and she's hungry!

Flame stood into a crouch. Luckily he was wearing shorts. He rummaged in his bag and grabbed a T-shirt, and crept out of the tent. A few seconds later, Percy heard a squeak, and knew Flame had snuck up on Luna. he took longer getting dressed, and after he had changed his jeans and shirt, he came out of the tent as well. He could smell the toast as well as eggs. "Luna! How did you-" he walked into the clearing, and saw Luna and Flame in the clearing, kissing. Not dirty or anything, just... sweetly. You could tell they were in love. Joy was watching with wide eyes. She tugged on Percy's hand. "Percy, when are we gonna eat?"

Percy laughed. "In a bit. Flame and Luna need some space."

"But-"

"No buts. Let's go play a game or something."

"Ooh!! I brought trivia!"

"What about?"

Joy blushed. "Harry Potter..."

"Percy grinned. "Well, let's do it! First question?"

"Will you ask me?" Joy asked shyly. She was making an effort to be friends with Percy, because Flame and Luna, practically her foster parents, trusted him.

"Yeah! Who raised the defenses in Hotwars during the battle of.. Hogwars?"

"Hogwarts! Professor McGonagall, of course! Oh, she is so cool! She's a transfiguration teacher, and-" Joys voice faded out as Percy became lost in thought. Nico acted like this about Mythomagic, when Percy had just met him. The shadows in his eyes hadn't been there then. Bianca was still alive. Percy hadn't failed him yet. Nico probably hates Percy now. Percy promised Nico something. One little thing. He couldn't even do that. Why was he still here? He wouldn't be able to save Flame, or Joy, or Luna, or anyone. He didn't deserve to live. He shouldn't even be here. He didn't deserve these guys. Grover was dead because of him. He shouldn't be alive. Everyone he loves gets hurt.

"Percy!"

Percy looked up, hyperventilating. "Ohcrap. Crap, crap, CRAP!" Flame pulled him up by his armpits, and got him to his phone. "Call your mom. Better yet, FaceTime her. Now!"

"Ok." Flame left to give him some privacy. Instead of calling his mom, Percy texted sub-zero.

Percy:

Hi

Sub-zero

Hi

What

Percy

Oh. Sorry. I shouldnt'v texted...

Sub-Zero

No! Don't go... its cool, sorry I just woke up.

Percy

No, i really shouldn've texted. I'm supposed to call someone who knows how to help me with my anxiety attacks and I just im sorry i shouldnt've texted so ill leave you alone now

Sub zero

You can keep texting.

Percy

You probably don't want to talk to me ether. I wont text you again. Its ok I undwerstand. Bye, have a good day.

He calls his mom, then hangs up. He doesn't want to talk to anyone. He curls up in his sleeping bag, and falls asleep again.