¹𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐒 ! - percy jackson

-002

He nodded understandingly, "Well if you want to take a break from archery duties, I can cover for you today."

A grateful smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Thanks, Lee. I might take you up on that."

She looked around the pavilion and noticed Chiron and Grover approaching the Poseidon table. The satyr casually slid his plate onto the table, slumping in front of Percy, while Tyson stood up and lumbered away, responding to something Chiron said.

Stella glanced towards the Athena table, where Annabeth was also watching the interaction intently. The grey-eyed girl met her stare and subtly beckoned her head toward the Poseidon table.

"Let's go," Annabeth mouthed to her.

Before she could even agree, Annabeth abandoned her table, striding purposefully over the pavilion's stone floor. Stella mirrored her actions, leaving behind her cherished, half-empty cup of coffee.

As they neared the table, Chiron's words came into earshot. "I brought Grover over because I thought you two might want to, ah, discuss matters. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some Iris-messages to send. I'll see you later in the day." He gave Grover a meaningful look, then trotted out of the pavilion.

"What's he talking about?" Percy asked Grover.

Grover chewed his eggs. He seemed distracted, biting off the tines of his fork and chewing them down. "He wants you to convince me," he mumbled.

The two girls joined them, Stella sliding next to Percy while Annabeth settled in front of them, next to Grover.

"He's talking about the Labyrinth," Stella answered, the word carrying a weight that seemed to echo through the air.

Annabeth delved into an explanation of the Labyrinth. Yet, as she spoke, Stella became hyperaware of how closely she was sitting to Percy. She hadn't meant to slide so close to him, but she had, and now she couldn't help but admire the contours on his face.

"You're not supposed to be here," Percy said, noticing how the rest of the dining pavilion was stealing glances at them and whispering.

"We need to talk," Annabeth insisted.

"But the rules..." Percy hesitated, glancing at Stella.

They all knew that campers weren't allowed to switch tables. Satyrs were different. They weren't really demigods. But the half-bloods had to sit with their cabins.

Stella wasn't even sure what the punishment was for switching tables. She had never seen it happen. If Mr. D had been here, he probably would've strangled them with magical grapevines or something, but Mr. D wasn't here. Chiron had already left the pavilion. Quintus looked over and raised an eyebrow, but he didn't say anything.

"Since when do you care about rules?" Stella teased, a light laugh escaping her.

"Um, like, since always," Percy retorted with a playful smirk.

She couldn't resist, grinning in response. "Yeah, right."

Annabeth, growing impatient with their banter, interjected. "Look, Grover is in trouble. There's only one way we can figure out to help him. It's the Labyrinth. That's what Clarisse, Stella, and I have been investigating."

Percy shifted, his muscles flexing as he stretched his arms behind him. The bench creaked faintly under his grip, and Stella couldn't help but notice the solid presence of his arm just inches behind her.

Almost instinctively, she leaned into it.

"You mean the maze where they kept the Minotaur, back in the old days?" He said, a small smile playing on his lips.