XI

                                                                Leo

        Leo didn’t mean for that to come out. It just sort of came out. His awesomeness just couldn’t be contained. He was melting that ice like Bruce Lee and saved the life of his best friend. He also didn’t mean for that “I love you” to slip out either. He felt beyond mortified. She was a Hunter, an immortal, maiden Hunter, what was he thinking? She probably thought of him as a complete weirdo now, Leo thought as he melted another giant snowball being hurled at him. He glanced at Ana slicing the snowballs with her sword as if she was merely slicing air. Poof! A snowball hit him in the face, which left a powerful sting on his face. He spit out some snow from his mouth and sat up.

        “Stop playing in the snow and get up!” Percy yelled at Leo over the snowballs. Suddenly, Calypso began singing the most beautiful tune Leo had ever heard which led up to him getting hit by another snowball. As soon as Calypso had sung, the grass surrounding them had begun to rise.

        “Oh no you don’t!” Piper gritted between her teeth. Then, Leo thought was a sound from heaven. The sound was coming from Piper.

        “Somewhere over the rainbow way up high. There’s a land I heard of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow the skies are a blue. And the dreams you dare to dream really do come true,”  Piper sang. Immediately everyone except Khione was under her spell. Leo never wanted to escape it, it was too beautiful like Piper. Piper was real pretty. Calypso, in zombie mode faced Piper, awestruck. The grass shrank to a normal height and only then did Leo and the others realize Khione did not cease hurling the large pieces of snow. Of course, to Leo’s luck, he was drenched from head to toe with icy water. On the other hand, Percy and Ana were completely dry. At that moment, Percy whispered something to Ana and she nodded. Leo lit his body and the water immediately vanished from his skin and clothes. Suddenly the snowballs stopped and Khione had begun moving her hand rapidly around a glowing piece of snow.

        “Say your last goodbyes demigods, before you all turn into ice statues. You’ll make a wonderful statue for Khione’s brother,” said Calypso, smiling maniacally, while looking at Piper.

        “But that will be a problem,” Percy said, grinning alongside Ana.

        “And what problem will this arise?” Calypso asked.

        “We can’t become ice statues. Sorry,” replied Percy with false sympathy. “For Olympus!” Percy screamed. In perfect unison, both Ana, and Percy, suddenly made the melted water rise, like an ocean wave. Together, they released the wave, letting it crash over Khione and Calypso. As soon as the wave hit them, the water immediately turned into ice, concealing Khione and Calypso in their own imprisonment. Everyone gaped at the sudden occurrence towards Percy and Ana, yet unsure of what they had just witnessed.   

        “Uh, Percy kind of told me to gather the melted water when he said ‘For Olympus’, so uh, yeah,” Ana explained blushing, probably from all the attention appointed towards her.

        The group, after recovering from the shock, erupted into a cheer. And of course, what is a victory without a party?

                                                                …

        Ana and Percy summoned the pegasi to take them to Florida to party. Leo had no idea why Florida specifically, but Leo did not ask. They all settled in an Applebee's in Tampa.

        “So, how did you know we needed help?” asked Gabby. Percy took a sip of his blueberry smoothie (which he picked up on the way to Florida while getting doughnuts for Blackjack).

        “Piper, being worried, kind of IM you, but you were getting killed by...what were they called again?”

        “Pygmies,” Ana replied.

        “Yeah...Piggys, and saw that you weren’t doing so well and they knew you wouldn’t survive without their help. They also called me and Annabeth because they thought they would need the extra help,” Percy finished. They continued eating their ribs and steak in silence. Leo knew Percy also came for Ana, but didn’t press him.

        “So, do you think they’ll stay in that freezer long?” Frank asked.

        “Well, according to the time we put them in the freezer, that was three hours ago in the Burger King in Georgia. So, that will mean, according to my calculations, that someone will discover them in approximately one hour and forty five minutes. But I don’t assume they will be coming after us, considering that their plan had failed miserably,” Annabeth explained. Everyone attempted to recall what Annabeth had said, but gave up trying almost immediately.

        “Oh, and don’t ever ask me to save your girlfriend again Leo,” Ana said after a moment. “Ever.”

        “Agreed,” Gabby added. The group of nine laughed and continued to savor their delicious meals.

                                                                ...

        Leo couldn’t stop thinking about what he said to Ana. She didn’t mention it, but he was still worried what she thought of him. He believed it, and that puzzled him. Before the betrayal, he had feelings for Calypso. Calypso was beautiful, kind, and beautiful. Maybe his desire to not be the “seventh wheel” had blinded him, not allowing him to realize that there was nothing special about Calypso. There was nothing there except for the desire to have a girlfriend. Stupid, he was!

        “Hey,” said a voice next to him. Leo looked beside him to notice a girl with brown hair and a beautiful smile on a black pegasus . Leo was still cautious about his own pegasus , but he assumed Ana and the pegasus  had come to an agreement earlier about not trying to hurl Leo off the flying horse. The pegasus  had only tried to hurl him off twice. So, Leo considered that to be pretty good news.

        “Hi,” Leo replied, feeling his cheeks blush. He had a bad feeling Ana was going to bring up what he had said earlier.

        “About what you said earlier, when I was a frozen popsicle-”

        “I’m sorry! I don’t know what happened! I DIDN’T MEAN TO SAY ANYTHING!” Leo screamed over the harsh winds.

        “No, no that’s not what I meant. I was going to say…” Ana looked over towards the others, making sure no one could see them. She leaned towards him and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m glad you said that,” she whispered and with that, she flew her pegasus  over towards Percy and Gabby who seemed to be sharing heroic tales amongst one another. Leo felt his cheeks ignite in fire.

        “Uh, Leo, you ok?” Hazel asked, giving a concerned look at Leo.

        “Huh?” Leo asked. “Oh, uh yeah.” He was okay, if okay accounts for being in love with an eternal maiden, Leo thought.

                                                                …

        The landing on Half Blood Hill was slightly rickety. Well, at least it was to Leo, considering that his pegasus  did a fake crash landing, frightening Leo half to death. Ana and Percy both thanked the flying horses for their cooperation and transportation. Percy also managed to sneak out some doughnuts for Blackjack before they all flew off into the sunset.

        “What’s with the doughnuts? I mean, if I was a pegasus , I’d be wanting some caramel apples because plain apples are just gross,” Leo said. Ana shrugged. Leo looked straight into Camp Half Blood. It seemed as if he was gone for a lifetime. Oh gods! What will Chiron say?! Suddenly, going back to camp didn’t seem like such a great idea.

        “You ok?” Ana asked as she noticed Leo’s face pale.

        “Yeah, fine,” Leo replied. They, as a group, walked in together. Passing the lava rock wall, they received alarmed glances. The satyrs looked wide eyed in astonishment.

        “Oh you losers are in such deep trouble,” Clarisse snickered as they passed the Ares cabin. Coming out of the Big House came Chiron in his centaur form, looking grim at the new arrivals. Leo gulped. Well, here goes nothing, he thought and kept walking until the group and Leo met up to the porch.