Annabeth and Nico didn't seem like the most effective pair when it came to talking. Every few minutes, after courageous but futile attempts at conversation, a silence would spread over our group. Not the enjoyed silence shared between Nico and myself. No, this silence was blatantly awkward, leaving me to wish for something to do with my fingers. Specifically to hold and light a cigarette. My coughing was getting worse lately, long uncomfortable fits taking over at night. One noticeable difference: after brushing my teeth, my mouth actually felt clean. Not ash-filled like it used to. And I guess trading that for social awkwardness was a good deal.

We were on the way to the new townhouse Garret had picked out- big step up from a single bedroom apartment. Annabeth came for a short visit to tell me about a prophecy Rachel Dare had popped out. "The Oracle said that this quest required 5 people," she explained as we walked into the nicely-maintained development. Soon to be my new home. "'The foreign messenger', 'Arachne's bane', 'the shadow-walker', 'he who fights with shade,' and 'daughter of Atlas'. We think you're 'he who fights with shade', because of the saying by Dienekes during the battle of Thermopylae."

"At first," Nico piped up, "we weren't sure if I was the shade guy or the shadow guy. But we decided shadow guy was probably more likely. The foreign messenger- messenger of the gods, so an offspring of Hermes. The only foreign one at camp so far is-"

"-Milo," I interrupted, nodding in agreement. "From Switzerland."

Annabeth hurriedly spoke; I could feel her gears turning. "Exactly. So 3 down. Arachne's bane, I defeated her during the war with Gaea and I'm a daughter of Athena, her mortal enemy. So all that's left is 'daughter of Atlas', which I'm pretty sure indicates Calypso."

I still couldn't believe we were talking about the actual Calypso. From the Odysseus story. Exiled to an island all by herself, to fall in love over and over again with people she couldn't ever be with, until Leo came along. "Well I can't just up and leave." I glanced at the house numbers and turned left into a branch off the complex. 5972. "I have Joel, a job, school, extracurricular-"

"There doesn't seem to be a deadline," Nico reassured me. "We just... wait for a good week to skip and go. Leo's already making a bunch of gadgets to take with us. Although I'm sure he's worried for Calypso the most."

"Yeah, ever since they returned from their around-the-world trip after he died and came back, they've been inseparable." Internally I groaned. Did not need to hear about the latest demigod drama. Although I was feeling a little bad for Percy and Annabeth. He'd told me that they were going to go back with Jason to California, to begin a life in New Rome. Now their plans had to be postponed.

Finally we stopped. 5972. In the parking spot was a black Fiat. I had a funny feeling it was meant to be mine. As we walked up the steps to the black door surrounded by brick, I couldn't help but think- this is all a dream. Quests and townhouses and cars. Unreal. But the key I held slid comfortably into the keyhole and the door pushed open like it was waiting for me. The inside was definitely better than the apartment. A wide living room with out-of-place beat up old chairs and a miserable sofa, a small round dining table in the dining space by the kitchen, 3 levels... I kinda just wanted to sit there and inhale.

"Wow," Annabeth said appreciatively, looking around the room. "This is pretty cool."

All new. All fresh. All different. "Yeah," I breathed out, hearing the uncertainty in my voice.

"So the quest sounds pretty dark. No pun intended." Annabeth crossed the near-empty room to pull out a chair for herself in the kitchen. We followed her in as she sat and pulled back her hair. "Rachel said something really vague, like there's some sort of darkness taking root along the coast of Georgia? It doesn't sound all that difficult, which is the only reason Percy's letting me go before we head for California."

From my position at the table, I could see taped on the wall by the door a single key that had escaped my prior notice. "But if we're going to the coast," I said as I made my way curiously to the key, "why isn't Percy coming with us? Couldn't he handle the water better?"

I had grabbed the key and read the sticky note attached: Have a blast!   :)  Wow. When I turned around, Nico looked very unusually happy. I guessed it was because I'd agreed to go. "The quest doesn't call for Percy," he said, following me to the door. "It's best to go by what the prophecy says."

Ok. I get it. Don't ask questions. "Cool. You want to get pizza? I know an awesome place downtown. Best Caesar salads ever. And Annabeth, you said you needed to go downtown to meet someone anyways."

"You can drive?" Annabeth asked, looking quite surprised. I forget that being a demigod at the camp somewhat limits many day-to-day human activities. Trade the driving skills for Rex-qwon-do reflexes.

"I got my license ASAP, but we didn't have a car, so it was pretty useless." I locked the door behind us and slid into the driver's seat, adjusting the height and mirrors. The keys felt so strange in my hand as I turned them in the ignition. Nico got into the back and Annabeth took shotty. "It'll take me a few minutes to get used to it again."

"What if there are monsters? Three demigods in one car... If we got attacked, that's three birds with one stone." Annabeth was tense the whole drive, inhaling at every bump or sound the car made, keeping a constant watch for attackers. I made sure to drive extra carefully, just for her sanity's sake. It must be difficult to even try to live in the real world. When you've been hunted by monsters your whole life and been through as much as she has, it doesn't surprise me. Hopefully her reaction during this car ride isn't any indication of how her life with Percy will turn out in California.

I pulled into an empty parking spot in front of the restaurant. My parking has always been off... Nico had to shimmy out of the door so he wouldn't hit the car beside us. He opened my door for me before the key even pulled out. He's doing that... thing again. That thing where he does weird stuff for me and doesn't give any explanation and makes me feel weird. Deep down, I think I enjoy it. I get those warm butterflies and my brain goes a little haywire. And then I start thinking too much, and that's when things get confusing.

When we walk in, I totally lose my train of thought. I. Love. Pizza. A lot. So much that I kinda blacked out until we were all sitting in a booth and only my plate was empty. Nico eyed me like I was some sort of wild animal, and Annabeth just stared at my empty plate in disbelief. "Sorry," I mumbled, self-consciously wiping my hands on my jeans. "I guess I was just a bit enthusiastic."

She quickly changed subjects. "Thanks for driving me out here. I'm gonna head out to talk to someone about the quest- Leo wanted me to get some supplies. After that I'll just go straight back to camp, so don't wait up."

And just like that, it was only Nico and myself and one half-eaten pizza in the booth.

As soon as she stepped out the door, Nico's voice broke through the atmosphere. "You're worried about leaving Joel behind, aren't you?"

I stared at him while he took another casual bite of pizza. Am I really that predictable? I mean, I shouldn't be worried enough to think about it as much as I have. For it to be this obvious. Quintenn will be there for him. Nothing will happen as long as he's there. Maybe I can have Leo make something for us, some kind of communication-

Nico placed a hand on mine, drawing me back to the bustle of hungry pizza-lovers and the quiet music playing through the speakers. Once again I am falling into eyes that almost contend with Joel's- totally opposite, yet equally captivating. "Don't worry. I can have people watching while we're gone. He'll be safe."

I ran my free hand through my hair and sighed through my teeth. Just let the worry and frustration seep out. "Thanks," I mumbled, staring into my empty plate. Then at our connected hands. This felt natural, yet I'm sure my cheeks were red. "They'll be back soon. Joel will want to see you. He wanted you to meet the new addition to the family." Joel had been very excited to pick out a dog.

Nico smiled. Broad and sharp-toothed and honest. "Then let's go."