Enjoy! Also, I edited something at the end, so if you read this early on, note it was changed. First: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1251840016 Next: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1279947423 Previous: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1260658893/ Chapter Five: Tate stopped walking and turned her head to look at me. I thought I had ruined my friendship until she returned the gesture. Her hand was cool. Not a freezing cold, but a soothing cool. Tate smiled at me before trailing her fingers along my wrist and palm as she started pulling away. Our fingers caught at the end before falling. She disappeared into the crisp night, though I knew she was heading back to her cabin. ————————————————————————— I sat outside the next day at around 5AM, thinking about our earlier encounter. I had held her hand and she had clutched it back. Did that mean she liked me? Did I? We were now going on a quest together and . . . A sick feeling unearthed itself in the pit of my stomach. My breathing sped up. I could feel my heart pound quicker every beat. I was losing control. My head spun and sweat grew on my hairline. I couldn’t move or do anything; I was frozen. Without any warning, strong, caring arms wrapped around me from the back. “It’s okay,” Tate whispered in my ear. “You’re okay. Let’s take some deep breaths. In for 4, out for 4.” I followed her lead, taking steady breaths. “Let’s name 5 things we can see, 4 things we can touch, 3 things we can hear, 2 things we can smell, and 1 thing we can taste.” I obeyed and started to feel more grounded. “You’re okay,” she said. “You had a panic attack. My little sister used to have them.” “I had a panic attack?” Tate nodded. “And what do you mean ‘used to’? Did she stop?” “In a way yes.” Tate didn’t elaborate and I chose not to push. Her eyes were slightly glassy. My body became not my own as I stepped forward and hugged Tate. She reciprocated and I stared up into her grey eyes, my new favorite color. I began to lean in closer and she didn’t pull away. Our faces were mere inches apart when someone cleared their throat. “Girls.” I spun my head around to Chiron with . . . curlers in his tail. I noticed my hand had been tangled in Tate’s hair and one of hers on my waist. “I couldn’t sleep,” I blurted, “I came out here to clear my head.” “And I’m always up now,” Tate added. “I saw her come out here and helped her when she had a . . .” She glanced in my direction and I nodded. “A panic attack. She’d never experienced one before.” “Yes, I have,” I quietly added. “They started after my dad d!ed about a year ago.” ————————————————————————— No one wanted to go on a quest with me, other than Tate. Bree didn’t feel prepared enough and wanted to stay at camp. “Anyone?” Chiron pleaded. Percy looked uncomfortable and the blonde woman, whose name was Annabeth, sighed. She stood and said, “Okay, listen up. One of you has an amazing chance but you aren’t taking it. I went on a quest to the Underworld with this Seaweed Brain when I was 12 and you’re missing the opportunity to go with these amazing young women.” People shifted in their seats, but not a single camper volunteered. I felt anger rising inside me, clawing its way out. It tore at my esophagus and when I could no longer contain it, it erupted from me. “Oh my gods! Are you all too scared or inexperienced? What is your problem? This is a prophecy and quest for gods’ sake! I know you’re weirded out by me, but I am disgusted that you are missing this opportunity! What is wrong with you all?” My eyes grew wide in horror. Had I really just done that? Said all that? Chiron cleared his throat and said, “So, can anyone give me a reason why they do not wish to go on the quest?” Lena said sharply, “Well, I don’t live or stay with ugly people.” “Your siblings do,” I shot back. Some Hermes kids made an ‘ooh’ sound. “So do yours. Oh wait, you don’t have siblings. Or a parent who acknowledges you.” “So desperate you had to use that.” I laughed. Like, actually laughed at her. Tate had grabbed my hand, telling me to sit back down and be quiet. Lena noticed. “Who’s got a little girlfriend?” she taunted. All heads swiveled towards us.
Tate blushed and dropped my hand. Lena laughed. “Look who’s embarrassed. And I guess ugly people do date ugly people.” “Then where’s your ugly boyfriend?” I shot back at her. She was quiet. “And I’m proud,” I added, grabbing Tate’s hand. “You two should kiss!” an Aphrodite kid called from the back. ————————————————————————— We did not kiss in front of the entire camp. The Aphrodite kid, called Amor, had agreed to join us. “Yes, my dad named me Amor,” they said. “His grandma had always wanted to name someone Amor. Just call me Mor or Mora.” Mora explained that they’re a demigirl and goes by she/they pronouns quickly as we started to prepare. I really was going on my first quest.
