HephaestusTV.com (Companion to HephaestusTV and a Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

The Day Before Leaving: Zach's Perspective

"Come on," Zach thought to himself. "You can do it."

He was outside Cabin 11. One hand was raised, knuckles just a few inches from the door. The other held a colorful handmade paper flower behind his back.

"What if she rejects me? It could ruin our friendship," another side of him thought.

"You know there's only one way to find out," his first side pointed out.

"What if I mess up? What if I get friendzoned? I can't do this."

"Shut up me!"

He realized he said the last part out loud when a few younger campers gave him strange looks before scurrying away. Zach heard the sound of people approaching the door and ducked behind a nearby plant, covering his mouth with his hands. Whoever was leaving seemed to take ages. Finally, after 879534987 years, they left.

"About time," he thought.

He felt even more hesitant the second time approaching the door-the first time was hard enough. He knew he couldn't do it alone. He needed advice from a professional.

"I can't believe I'm asking him for help," he said to himself.

Five minutes later he was knocking at the door of Cabin 3, which was oddly damp with something that didn't seem like water.

"It's open," Percy said from the inside.

Zach went in and-thankfully-Percy was just packing his stuff alone. In other words, he was shoving crumpled laundry into an already full suitcase.

"Hey man. What's up?" Percy asked. "Let me guess...you don't know how to ask someone out. Or you're nervous. Something like that, right?"

"How'd you know?" Zach asked.

"The paper flower. They're the same ones Leo gives to Calypso. And your hands are kind of shaking, but that just might be ADHD. "

"Oh, right. Don't tell Leo I took this."

"No worries. So what is it: are you nervous or confused or what?"

"A little bit of everything. I've never asked anyone out before."

"That's obvious. Here, sit down," Percy gestured to a couch.

Zach sat down. "The problem is I've never asked anyone out before. I've known this girl for a while and I really like her and I don't wanna mess up."

"Who's this mystery girl?"

"None of your business!"

"Then I can't help you. If I don't know who she is then I can't give you the right advice because no two girls are the same. At least tell me what she's like. I don't need a name."

"Well...she's sort of girly. I mean, she sometimes wears girly stuff but usually doesn't act like it. I guess I can say she's kind of like me."

"So what does she like to do?"

Zach noticed that Percy had a pen and notebook out, jotting down a bullet points. Just then, Annabeth came in asking if Percy saw her jacket.

"What are you guys doing?" she asked curiously.

"He needed some advice about girls," Percy answered.

"Really? You should've come to me instead. You know, me being a girl and all," Annabeth said to her brother.

"But he just needs advice on how to ask one out," Percy said.

"Then Zach needs to know what girls like. For example, we like something romantic and sweet."