The final chapter for this novella!  I can’t believe it!  I don’t think I’ve ever written such a quick story haha since I received four reviews total between fanfiction and wattpad, I’ll let it slide for updating this chapter quickly.

Chapter Quote:

*going through the ride in a dark tunnel-y thing*

Percy: It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all.

Annabeth *now joining percy in soft creepy singing* : it's a small world after all-

Clarisse: Will you two shut up?!

~Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Clarisse La Rue in Sea of Monsters movie

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Chapter 10: We Party All Night Long

Silena 

Bryn and Silena carried two coolers from the Jackson’s car to the sandy beach awaiting them.  Luke and Derek were out getting packs and packs of soda, tons of packages of hot dog buns and hot dogs, hamburger meat and buns.  The boys said they were going to buy other junk food items as well.  What was all the food and drink for you might ask?

Luke, Derek, and Bryn’s graduation party.  They’d just graduated about a week ago.

As the two girls set down the coolers on the group’s designated spot on the beach, Silena queried hesitantly, “Bryn?  May I ask you something?”

The daughter of Zeus looked up with concern, hearing the uncharacteristically worried tone of the granddaughter of Poseidon and Athena. “Always.  What’s wrong?”

“Has Derek said anything to you lately?”

“About what?”

“He’s just been… acting different lately.  I asked him about it, but he told me everything was fine.  I’m related to the freaking goddess of wisdom, I know when something’s bothering him, and I’m worried it’s something to do with me or that I’ve done something wrong and he’s going to break up with me and-” Silena suddenly ranted.  She’d been holding that last thought in for too long, but she’d been too afraid to bring it up to anyone, including her two closest friends and her boyfriend.

“Silena!” Bryn shouted, interrupting Silena’s rant.  Silena looked up sheepishly, apologizing with her eyes. “If Derek had any intentions about breaking up with you, I would most certainly know about that.  I’m related to Aphrodite.  I can see that type of stuff.  Believe me, that is not the case.” Bryn sighed and hung her head. “But I know what you’re talking about.  I’ve noticed him changing too.  He’s quieter, more pensive.  I would’ve asked him about it, but I figured you would’ve asked him or he would’ve told you already.”

“I tried and failed miserably.  Sometimes I think there are things he feels more comfortable talking to you about than me since he’s known you longer.”

“And sometimes he feels more comfortable talking to you about others.  It’s like you coming to me about him instead of going to Luke.  We feel better telling different things to different people.  I’ll talk to him tonight, see what’s going on,” Bryn promised.

“You’re the best, Bryn,” Silena said sincerely, giving her friend a smile.

She snorted. “I wish I was the best.  Anyways, let’s get the remaining stuff set up.  Your dad and Derek’s dad will be here soon with the grills for the food.”

Soon after Luke and Derek arrived with their dads to the beach and got the food and drinks set up, some of the high school seniors began to show.  The first to arrive were some of the football team.  They had brought about eighteen bags of chips.  Silena found that normal though; those guys could eat.  The cheerleading and dance squads came next with tons of soda cans ranging from Silena’s favorite of Diet Coke to her brother’s Fanta.

Within an hour, almost the entire senior class, which was about one hundred kids, had arrived.  The beach party was in full swing.  Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. Michaels had to make another trip to the store when only thirty minutes into the party, the food was nearly all gone.  Bryn had created a massive bonfire that flared up to ten feet when it was strongest.

An hour into the party, the football team decided to run into the water.  Even though the temperature outside was in the seventies, the water was still rather cold.  All but Luke came out shivering.  Apparently, being grandson of Poseidon helped him avoid the water temperature somewhat.

Silena hung out with Bryn.  The two girls were socializing but stuck near each other.  Neither of them was comfortable in this type of situation.  They were much better speaking and interacting with adults than they were with their own age group, mostly because the two girls thought more maturely than the rest.

Luke, dripping wet from his dip in the water, came up behind Bryn, wrapping his arms around her and completely soaking the backside of her shirt.  She would’ve judo-flipped him over her shoulder if she hadn’t realized who it was.  Luke rested his head on her shoulder, looking at her with an impish smile.

“You know you love me, Cat Woman,” he said.

“I don’t love you at the moment Sharkboy,” she retorted.

“So it’s a one way love at the moment?”

“Completely.” Luke gave her a kiss on the cheek before going to play football with his buddies.  Bryn had a wistful smile on her face, making Silena comment, “Are you sure you two can’t date?”

“Yeah,” Bryn said quietly, her expression turning sad.  Silena was about to ask her what was wrong before Bryn added, “I’m going to go talk to Derek.”

At the mention of this, Silena’s stomach dropped as she watched her friend walk away, anxious to know if Bryn would be able to help Derek.

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Derek 

He didn’t know how, but Derek managed to slip away from the party, walking down the beach to more of an area where the forest was closer to the water.  He sat down on the white sand, leaning back on his hands and savoring the view of the blue waves in front of him.  A sand dune hid him from the view of his peers so he didn’t have to worry about anyone finding him.

At least he thought no one would.

“Mind if I join you?” Bryn’s voice asked quietly.  He looked up at her.  She was leaning against a tree, staring at him inquisitively.

“I think you would even if I said no.  Yeah, come on,” he said, looking back over the water.

She plopped down next to him but said nothing for a while.  Derek enjoyed the silence; it allowed him to think uninterrupted.

“So what’s wrong?” Bryn finally queried, turning her head to look at him.

“What do you mean?” Derek replied, attempting to act confused.  He knew fully well what she meant; he just didn’t want to talk about it.  He didn’t want to be scolded.

She paused before, “I’m sorry.”

The answer took him aback. “For what?”

“I haven’t been a necessarily good friend to you since I came to school with you.”

“You’ve been a great friend Bryn, you always have been.  Where is this coming from?”

“No, Derek, I haven’t been.  I’ve seen the way you’ve looked recently and I’ve noticed your change in disposition.  I thought if you would tell anyone what was wrong, you’d tell Silena, but uh, I know you didn’t.  I should’ve talked to you about this sooner because I hate seeing you down.”

“How do you know I didn’t tell her?” Derek inquired.

“She came up to me today asking about you, if you’d said anything to me.  She’s been worried about you.  She’ll kill me for telling you this, but Silena thought you wanted to dump her.”

“Is she crazy?!” he demanded. “First off, no thought like that whatsoever has crossed my mind and second, if I had any intention of doing that, I would’ve done it already rather than leading her on like some jerk.”

“To be honest Derek, I’m on her side with this.  I told her it wasn’t true, but I had no idea if I was right or not.  What’s wrong Derek?  I’m worried about you.”

He sighed, feeling bad about snapping at his best friend.  He knew she just wanted to help, but it was difficult talking about what was wrong when it involved her, his girlfriend, and his girlfriend’s big brother. “It’s… it’s nothing.”

“Please don’t lie to me,” Bryn ordered gently.  She hadn’t used Charmspeak but just the way she had spoken, Derek’s willpower to keep his secret crumbled.  Bryn was genuinely worried about him, so was Silena.  He didn’t want them to suffer on his account.

“I… I’ve just been feeling kind of… okay, really useless lately,” he admitted as he drew nothing in particular in the sand.

“How on earth are you useless?” Rather than sounding angry or chastising, Bryn seemed truly surprised.

“I mean, yeah, sure, I’m a demigod, but… compared to you and Silena and Luke, I’m nothing.  Look at you, don’t even get me started on everything you can do.  Silena and Luke have their awesome water power mojo going on and their wisdom by Athena, even if Luke doesn’t always use it all the time.  Okay, he rarely uses it but still, he has that power.  And what can I do?  Heal and shoot arrows.  Compared to you guys, I’m useless in battle,” Derek blurted. “You guys don’t need me in this war.  You’re all so powerful; you could do it just the three of you.  If something happened to me, the outcome of this war wouldn’t be changed.  The gods would still win because you three were alive.  But if something happened to one of you three, the outcome would be drastic.  Who knows whether we’d win this war or not?  Face it Bryn, I’m not needed in this group.  I never have been.”

He’d finally said everything that had been built up in his mind.  He’d finally admitted to his best friend, practically his sister, that he thought she was superior over him, that he thought Luke and Silena were superior to him.  He’d just admitted his biggest insecurity: that he thought he wasn’t needed in the group.  A lump in his throat formed at the reoccurring image in his mind of his three friends together without him.  They were laughing and smiling, seemingly not affected by his not being there.  He’d had that image a lot and could never stop it from constantly repeating itself during the day and his dreams.

Bryn brought him out of his reverie. “Derek, look at me,” she ordered softly.  When he didn’t, she lifted his chin with her finger, forcing him to look her in the eyes.  Her expression was kind and sad, something he hadn’t expected to see.  He’d expected her to reprimand him for having such beliefs.

“Hmm?” Derek breathed.

“We, Silena, Luke, me, we would be nothing without you.  You honestly have no idea how important you are in this group,” she said sincerely. “You say we don’t need you, but we do.  You’re our rock Derek.  I don’t think you realize that.  I love both Silena and Luke, but she’s sometimes too wise in her decision and Luke, well, he’s usually way too rash in any of his actions.  You’re level-headed, even when you’re angry or upset.  You don’t let your emotions get in the way of thinking rationally.  Even I can’t do that.  And in the tunnel when we were going to rescue the Jacksons, who led us down the right tunnel?  You did.  I still have no idea how you knew which was the right one.  And who destroyed ten Cyclopes with one arrow?  You did, Derek.  And who got the crazy as her father, daughter of Zeus to actually talk to someone besides Chiron when she first came to camp?  Let me think… oh yes, you.  Gods Derek.  I have no idea what I’d do without you and I know I haven’t shown you that lately, but it’s true.  And us being powerful?  It looks awesome, but it sucks in reality.  We have monsters after us twenty-four seven.  I never know when my last day will be, when I’ll face a monster I can’t beat.  My scent is so strong and it’s all because of my bloodline.  Do you know how much I would kill to be in your position?  I hate being this powerful sometimes.  I really do.”

“How can you hate it?  Your powers can save you in practically any situation.  Mine, shooting an arrow, can’t.”

“I don’t think that’s all you can do.”

“What else can I do?  Enlighten me.”

“First off, you’re a wickedly fast runner.”

“Luke’s faster.” Derek went back to drawing in the sand.

“You have better endurance than him, than any of us.  You have the best endurance at camp!  You’re the stealthiest person I have ever met and you can slip in and out of a place without being seen.  And who has the prophetic visions?  Not me, not Luke, or Silena.  Only you do.”

“You have visions.”

“Dreams on occasion, but they rarely come true.  I just have instinct.  You on the other hand have visions that are really frighteningly accurate and come true on a frequenter basis.  And what about the ten Cyclopes you completely destroyed in Cabo all by yourself?  You are much more powerful than I think you or any of us realize.”

“What?  You think I have more than one god in my blood?”

“It wouldn’t surprise me if you did.  But we need you Derek; we always have and always will.”

He let out a genuine smile.  Talking to her had really lightened that burden he’d been carrying.  But one thing still lingered, aching to be answered. “Speaking of prophetic visions, I think I might’ve had one a few months ago.  It happened about two weeks after our beach trip with Tucker in October.”

“What happened?”

“You died.  In a rock collapse.  We were underneath the earth and you got trapped below.  It scared me pretty badly.” Derek looked up at Bryn.  He could practically see the gears turning inside her head.

“I think it was just a dream planted by the enemy.  They’ve been known to get in demigods’ thoughts when they’re trying to rise.  It happened to Luke’s dad during the Second Titan War.  They are just wanting to scare you.  Don’t worry about it, okay?”

“I won’t.  Just try not to die on me anytime soon.”

“I have no intentions of dying anytime soon.  Come on, Silena’s probably wondering what happened to us.” Bryn kissed him on the cheek and stood up, helping Derek up as well.  They brushed the sand off themselves.  He glanced down at the drawing he’d made in the sand.  He frowned at it.  An image of Hades’ Helm of Darkness lay there before him.  Now why had he drawn that?  Maybe because Derek had secretly hoped for a while that he was related to the Lord of the Dead, just to be able to call himself a kid of the Big Three.  He wouldn’t mind being related to Poseidon or Zeus though.  Maybe then he wouldn’t feel so useless.  Or maybe the image had to do with the girl he’d been dreaming about lately, another thing he felt guilty about but knew he definitely could not tell anyone about that.  She had long, chocolate brown hair and light green eyes.  She appeared melancholy in all of his dreams.  Her name was Hallie.  That was all he knew.  Derek felt a connection to the girl, as if he’d known her before.

As Bryn and Derek walked back to the party, Derek asked rather suddenly, “Bryn?  Does the name Hallie mean anything to you?”

She looked up at him curiously. “No.  Why?”

“Vision.  All I got was her name.  I just wanted to know if you’ve ever heard of her.” Derek wasn’t lying, he just didn’t tell the whole truth.  It was better that way.

“Never heard of her.  I don’t recommend telling Silena you had a vision of another girl.  She might take it the wrong way.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I am going to go get my revenge on Luke for soaking me earlier.” Derek grinned as Bryn ran down the beach towards Luke who was walking along the water by himself.  He greeted her with a smile.  She returned it before shoving him forcefully into the waves and running away, laughing crazily.  Luke chased after her.

Derek left them to their antics and walked up to Silena, slipping his hand into hers.  She jumped from surprise but quickly relaxed when she realized it was him.

“Everything okay now?” Silena inquired quietly, resting her head on his chest.

“Perfect.  Let’s go dance.”

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The night passed without any more solemn instances.  All the kids danced, played beach games, or splashed around in the water.  Near the end of the party, a group of kids stripped down to their bathing suits and ran into the freezing water.  Bryn had taken her shirt off but not her shorts, having no intention of going into the water.  Her red bikini top brought out her tan in the fire.

Luke, however, had other plans for her.  He swiped her up into bridal styles in his arms, carrying her to the water.  Bryn shrieked at him to put her down, but he simply laughed.  He set her down on the ground just before the water reached his feet.  He grabbed both her hands, insisting she come into the water with him.  Derek came up running behind her and shoved her into Luke who took the opportunity to drag her into the water with him.  Bryn snuggled up to Luke, shivering from the cold of the water; Silena did likewise with Derek.

“Luke, I’m starting to think this idea was idiotic,” Derek mused drolly, his teeth beginning to chatter.

“I don’t know, I mean, we have good looking girls pressed up against us.  I’m not really complaining,” Luke joked.

“I really forget how much of an adolescent boy you are sometimes,” Bryn remarked, rolling her eyes at him.

“Let’s go back to the fire.  I’m absolutely freezing,” Silena insisted.  The four made a unanimous agreement and went back to the beach.  Luke and Derek grabbed blankets.  Luke wrapped the blanket around himself and Bryn while Derek did the same with Silena.  They sat in front of the fire together, watching the kids around them.

None of them knew that all of their lives were going to change in just a couple of months.

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 And that was the last chapter for this book!  Hope you enjoyed! The picture is of Bryn shoving Luke haha :P So once I get three reviews on both Wattpad AND Fanfiction, I’ll post “UnStoppable” :)  Please please review, I don’t know how many times I have to beg you guys to do so haha but seriously, they mean a lot and are the reason I keep writing these stories so if you want to know what happens, review :)