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

The Day Before Leaving: Zach's Perspective

"Hi," Chloe said.

"Hey,"' Zach said. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same," she retorted, kicking aside a clump of ice.

"Just going for a walk," he said. "You done with tommorow's preperations?"

"Almost. Valdez just left to get emergency Fonzies."

"Does he know what too much of something is bad for him?"

She shrugged. "Maybe. I was actually looking for you."

His heart fluttered. "You were?"

"Yeah. My brothers 'borrowed' the newest Night at the Museam movie and we were wondering of you wanted to hang out with us. You know, the usual sleepover. I looked in your cabin but Annabeth said you weren't there."

"Oh gods," Zach said, remembering the last time the Hermes boys tried to 'borrow' a newly released movie (instead of getting Intestellar they accidently downloaded horse porn).

"I know what you're thinking," she said. "I checked the site. It's a bit dodgy but nothing like last time."

"Good," he said. "You guys got food?"

"Obviously, that's what pizza and popcorn's for."

"Cool. I kinda missed dinner."

"I wonder why," she murmered to herself, and Zach swore he saw a little smile.

Cabin 11 was bustling with the normal nighttime routine. Chris was wrestling an almost empty toothpaste tube, Travis arranged at least 50 pillows inside a blanket fort in the middle of the living room, and Conner just finished making the last of the popcorn.

"Hey, get in your pajamas," Travis said. "It's almost movie time. Conner just added Mockingjay to the list."

"Kay, I'll be right back," Chloe said, going into the girls' bedroom.

"You can borrow my stuff," Chris said, mouth full of toothpaste.

Travis commented,"Dude, we're gonna eat."

"So?" Chris asked.

"Never mind."

Zach went into the boys' room and took a pair black pajama pants and a T-shirt. He found it weird that he and Chris wore the same size. In about 45 seconds, he was back in the living room with the other guys (and girl). They all gathered inside the fort.

The white blanket fort stretched from the couch to the TV with the tiny coffee table full on food in the middle. The inside was littered with cushions, pillows, and a sleeping bag for each person (plus Travis's teddy bear, but no one mentioned that). Each person had a flashlight with a different neon light so they could see the pile of junk food on the table. It was a tradition for them to have a sleepover the night before traveling or for big events like The Fourth of July or the Superbowl. Zach grabbed a bottle of root beer and a slice of pizza and sat between Travis and Chloe.

"First we have Mockingjay: Part 1," Conner said, pressing 'play'.

Zach immediatly facepalmed at the beginning of the movie, as well as Conner and Chloe. He was secretly counting how far off it was from the book. Travis kept playing with his purple flashlight, attempting to 'deface' the characters via colored light. He fell asleep partway through and was woken up however many hours later to the sun rising and everyone rushing around, getting ready for the trip.

"About time you got up," Chris said. "You have about 5 minutes to get ready and be at the Argo II."

Zach raced to his cabin and brushed his teeth while changing, something he mastered whenever he overslept before something important-which always happened. He grabbed his laptop and phone and met the others at the ship.

"All aboard!" Leo called. "We leave in 2 minutes!"

Percy went around shouting random commands like "Swab the poop deck" or "Get me a sandwich".

After a stressful two minutes, they were safely in the air with no worries other than monsters and geese. When everything settled down, he went inside to check his email. In the reflection of his screen, he saw Chloe sneak up behind him and put something in the hood of his sweatshirt, before sneaking away. He reached back and grabbed the thing.

Normally it'd be something useless like a candy wrapper or grass but this time it was a small, light green envelope.

He opened it and out fell one of the flowers and the line of song lyrics that went with it.

It read: "Chloe, run away with me. I promise if you're with me say the word and we'll find a way.".

He turned the paper over and saw a single word in her curly handwriting:

Yes.

_______

~ C. Gallagher