ALL RIGHTS TO THE CHARACTERS (except Celeste, she's mine.) BELONG TO THE AMAZING RICK RIORDAN. I DO NOT OWN THE PJO/HoO SERIES!!!

Chapter 8 - Hazel

From the moment Celeste had walked into the room, Hazel knew they would become good friends.

When Nico had left, Hazel had felt a little sad, wishing at some moments for her brother to be with her. But he had left with Reyna and Coach Hedge to deliver the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood.

Hazel was glad she had Frank though.

He was kind and sweet and always looking out for her. Of course, they were all a little shaken up after Celeste had appeared. Especially Frank. His arrow had gone through Celeste. Not even Annabeth had an explanation for that.

So when Celeste had come in, Hazel realized that she was bright red with embarrassment. She felt alone and Hazel knew how that felt. Feeling bad for Celeste, she had given her the seat Nico used to sit in.

During breakfast, no one talked, which made Hazel uneasy. Of course though, when Celeste had left, everyone burst into arguments. Hazel was so shocked at the sudden outburst that she dropped her fork onto her lap.

"What's she doing here?"

"Does anyone care that she attacked us?"

"How can we trust her?"

"What of she's a spy for Gaea?"

"She can't stay here!"

Hazel was shocked. Her and her friends almost never fought like this. Percy was the only one who seemed to be shouting in Celeste's defense.

"Percy, she attacked you. You want to trust her?" Jason asked Percy incredulously.

Annabeth gripped Percy by the arm.

"Percy..." Her voice trailed off.

"Guys, I think we have her wrong. I know we can trust her. I just have this feeling...like I know her. You've got to believe me." He said.

The room burst into argument again.

Hazel looked across the table to Leo who looked as stunned as Hazel. They met each other's gaze and Leo shrugged at her.

At least Hazel wasn't the only one who was completely clueless on what was happening.

"Fine! Let's take a vote! Whoever wants her to leave, raise your hand." Jason said. Piper, Frank, Annabeth, and Jason all raised their hands.

Percy groaned. "No. She's staying here." He yelled. Again, argument started.

"ENOUGH!!!" Leo screamed, standing up and smacking his fists on the table.

Everyone shut up instantly, looking at him. He sighed. "Look. It seems obvious that we all disagree on the situation. But, we're missing the point. We're running out of time to defeat Gaea and we're here rambling about whether or not to keep Celeste on board. So what she's a spy for Gaea? Just don't tell her anything important that Gaea might need to know! You think she'll attack us? Put her on guard! We have bigger problems guys!" Leo said.

Everyone's eyes were focused on him.

Hazel was speechless. Leo sighed and sat back down in his chair.

"He's right." Percy said. "We have bigger problems."

Jason sighed. "Fine. She stays."

Tension in the room built up immensely as everyone stayed quiet.

Hazel eyed Leo who looked shaken up and tired.

She wondered what was up with him.

He had been different ever since Khione flung him into the sky and they found him at that cafe in Malta.

Hazel sighed and looked over at Frank next. His gaze was pointed downward onto his plate. Hazel put her arm around him and he gave her a warm smile.

Hazel realized that everyone in the room was tense but her. Percy and Annabeth were holding hands, but not looking each other in the eyes. Hazel knew that one of them had to be keeping a secret from the other.

Then there was Jason who was clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides and staring at the ceiling.

Meanwhile, Piper leaned into his shoulder, murmuring words of encouragement that were probably in charmspeak into his ear.

Letting go of Frank, Hazel made her way out of the room. She passed by the room Celeste was in and heard sobbing. Hazel put her ear to the door to listen. She didn't like eavesdropping, but she was curious.

Between sobs, Hazel heard Celeste cough as if she was breathing in poisonous air. She was probably choking on tears. The only problem, Hazel didn't know why Celeste was crying.

Then it struck her. She had probably overheard what everyone in the dining room had said about her.

Hazel knocked on the door and heard Celeste's sobbing stop abruptly.

"If that's you Percy, I'm not in the mood to talk." Celeste said.

"Um, it's Hazel actually." Hazel stammered.

Hazel heard Celeste shuffle and then she opened the door. Hazel had to hold in a gasp.

Celeste's hair was a frizz of black strands all over the place. Her eyes were sunken as if she had been clawing at them and her clothes were tattered.

Cuts were on her hands, leaking golden blood. Ichor.

Why did Celeste have ichor for blood?

She didn't radiate power like a god and she sure didn't act like a monster.

Celeste must have caught Hazel staring at her because she hid her hands.

"Um. Sorry to bother you Celeste, but are you alright?" Hazel asked.

Celeste blinked. "I'm fine. Why do you care?" She asked. She had a harsh tone to her voice.

"Well, you look terrible." Hazel said as politely as she could. Celeste looked down at herself as if just realizing that she was a mess.

"Thank you for your concern, but I'm fine." Celeste snapped. "I don't want to talk."

The door slammed in Hazel's face.

However, Hazel was not angry. She knew that Celeste felt rejected and unwanted. No wonder she had treated Hazel so cruelly.

As Hazel turned to walk away, she heard Celeste's door open.

"Wait." Celeste said in such a soft whisper that Hazel almost didn't even hear it.

Hazel turned and looked at her.

Celeste's resemblance to Percy was so crazy that Hazel had to tell herself this was a different person. Not Percy. Even Celeste's pleading sea green eyes were similar, making Hazel feel pitiful towards Celeste.

"Yes?" Hazel asked, trying to avoid the sad look in Celeste's eyes.

"If I tell you a secret, can you promise not to tell anyone?" Celeste said in another quiet tone.

Hazel gave Celeste a puzzled look.

"What kind of secret?"