Leo POV

I placed the last diamond in place and stood back to admire my work. The necklace was ready. I picked it up and watched it shimmer in the light. I had tried to make it look different, but ordinary looking. It had been giving my brain a workout. I gently placed it in a box and put the top on. Should I wrap it? I thought. Nah, it wouldn’t matter anyway. I stuffed the box into my tool belt and looked outside. It was probably about four in the afternoon. I started to put my supplies away. I needed to get to the bunker so I could set up the fireworks. Once everything was was put away, I made my way to the bunker. I also had a plan. These won’t be any normal fireworks. Maybe....

Clover POV

I hiked to the very top of the hill and sat down on a rock. How Rachel could get up and down I had no idea. I took a few deep breaths while I stared out at camp. You had a perfect view from here. The columns sparkled in the light and woods seemed to go on forever. I took one last deep breath and stood up. I turned away from the view and looked at the cave. It had a weird maroon curtain covering the entrance and there were odd bones on the ground. I moved the maroon curtain away so I could peek my head in.

“Rachel?” I asked. I was lucky to spit those words out. My jaw dropped. Rachel’s cave was decked out in everything I had ever wanted! A huge flat screen TV was sitting on the far end with a couch facing it. It wasn’t just any couch, it was a fluffy one. There were some side tables on either end of the couch that had old soda cans and chip bag piled up. In the center of the room was a huge table with chairs, which could easily seat eight. On the left wall, across from the table, was a fridge, table full of food, and a microwave. Closer to me was a table, like a ping pong table. I walked inside and touched the table. It was one that could convert from a ping pong table to a pool table. Sweet. There was a door to my left that seemed to lead into a bathroom. From the ping pong table, I could see that it had a huge tub and shower. Wow. To the right of me, up against the wall, was a table with three computer monitors. A leather chair faced the computers, looking great to lounge in while chatting with friends. I walked over to some bean bag chairs that were grouped together, as if they had been recently used. They sat between the big table and Rachel’s bed, which was unmade. It sat back in an alcove like sleeping didn’t really matter. I noticed a door near the end of her bed that, I thought, lead to the closet. Up against the right wall of the alcove was a dresser, which had a blue plastic hairbrush near a mirror, and a lamp. I looked at the TV and thought that if I had that TV, I would have a party here every night. As I looked at the TV, I noticed that there was a door that lead into a room that stretched farther into the rock. I walked over to it and knocked on the door.

“Rachel? Are you here?” I asked, peeking my head in. Rachel was facing a, no longer blank wall, decked out head to toe in paint. She looked over and saw me. Her face broke out into a grin and she set down the blue paint she was holding.

“Hi Clover! How can I help you?” I took a seat on a wooden stool that stood by a desk area. The desk was covered in paint, drawings, pencils, pens, chalk, and pretty much anything you needed to make a work of art.

“Well, I need to ask you some questions.” I said. Rachel understood what I meant and started to take off her apron, which had been trying to protect her clothes, but had failed.

“Alright. Let me just put some stuff away and then I will help you. Why don’t you wait out on the couch?” I nodded and stood up. Rachel walked into a supplies closet and hung her apron on a hook that was attached to the door. I walked out and sat down on the fluffy couch. It made me feel like I was at home on my bed, snuggling with my favorite blue fluffy pillow. Sadly, the couch was purple, which didn’t help the effect. Rachel stepped out of the Art Room and took a seat on the couch. Her face was smeared with colors, as if she washed it with liquid rainbows.

“Okay, what’s your first question?” she asked. I bit my lip,

“Well, I talked to Rick about the, um, situation I’m in, but he said I should come to you.” Rachel nodded, as if it didn’t surprise her. “And so I was wondering if there was any other way that I don’t have to leave Leo. Is it possible for me to stay his girlfriend?” Rachel shook her head,

“Sorry, but no. Leo is supposed to be a loner. It is what he bases some of his major choices off of. If he has someone waiting for him to come home, he won’t make the sacrifices that need to be done by him.” I bit my lip harder. No more crying, I told myself, no more crying! Even with me saying that, my eyes began to tear up.

“So, I have to go through with my plan?” Rachel nodded sadly.

“It is what needs to happen.” She paused, letting it sink in. “You want some snacks?” she asked, standing up. I nodded. Rachel walked over to the table full of food and picked out some Cheez-its and Root beer. Wow, was she good. I pulled my knees up to my chest and began to rock myself. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no...... I thought over and over again. Crying wasn’t going to help any. Rachel came back over and handed them to me. I placed the Cheez-its on the couch next to me and popped open the Root beer. I took a sip and thought about the very first time I had tried these two snacks together. It was at my grandma’s house during the summer. The memory soothed me, but made some of my pain surface. That was the last straw. I just let the tears run. Rachel put a comforting arm around my shoulder and tried to comfort me.

“Clover, it’s okay.” I was tired of the crying, people feeling sorry, and this stupid plan. It was tearing me apart.

“Rachel, when I go through with my plan, you will be the only one who remembers any of this happening, okay?” Rachel blinked,

“You mean, Rick Riordan won’t remember any of this either?” I nodded.

“It would be bad. I haven’t told him, but I don't think he would want to know anyways.” Rachel sighed.

“So, you’re asking my to keep the secret for you. Not to tell Leo, or his friends, or even Rick?” I nodded once more. I didn’t even want to talk. Rachel bit her lip,

“Alright, but if I ever spill anything about it, I’m sorry. If Leo remembers after the quest, maybe he will come searching for you.” I shook my head.

“He won’t. I am just a useless piece of trash in Rick’s world.” Rachel gripped my shoulder and made me look her in the eye.

“Clover, I don’t want to sound mean, but you need to stop downsizing yourself. Don’t think negative. I didn’t know you even had a negative side until now. Leo will come searching for you after the quest.” I pursed my lips,

“But what if he is the one to... to....” I couldn’t finish, but Rachel got what I meant to say, Die. Rachel hugged me and said,

“Clover, try not to dwell on that. Think positive and everything will turn out okay. Like with your plan, what are the positive things in it?” I thought about it. I had never put much thought into the idea. I sniffled,

“Well, I will get to have a normal teenager life. I will have my whole family in the same house. I get to see my grandma again and I will get to go down to the pond she lives by and...” I sobbed. That memory didn’t help. It reminded me of Leo. Rachel squeezed me,

“Keep going.” she said. I sniffed and continued,

“Well, I will have normal friends and I don’t have to keep anymore secrets.” That last one hurt, but it was good to get off of my shoulders. “Rachel, could I tell you something?” Rachel nodded, “I feel like I shouldn’t be with Leo in the first place.” Her eyes got wide,

“Why? You two are perfect together!” I shook my head.

“Everytime I see him, I have to remind myself not to tell him about my secrets. I want to share them with him, but I can’t. It makes me feel like I am lying constantly! Rachel, Leo and I probably aren’t meant to be.” I said all of that in a soft voice. It was all true, not one lie. Rachel looked like she wanted to smack me.

“Do you know how many girls go through a relationship like this? The girl feels like she is lying, the guy wants her to stay, it is in a lot of books and movies. Just roll with it. Maybe you aren’t meant to be, but at least enjoy yourself while you can.” I nodded and opened up the bag of Cheez-its. I tossed one in the air and caught it in my mouth. It felt good to do that. It reminded me of a time I had with my sisters.

-FLASHBACK-

“Oh come on! I bet you can catch it in your mouth!” I called from my grandmother’s rocking swing under her pergola. Amanda beamed and tossed it into the air. She opened her mouth and the Mike and Ike landed on her tongue.

“Ha! I did it!” she gloated. I smiled and tossed one of my skittles higher up than Amanda’s Mike and Ike and it landed in my mouth. I stuck my tongue out and make a ‘na-na-na’ look. Zoe, who was sitting in a fold up chair by the pool smiled. She fished out one of her M&M’s and threw it into the air, higher than Amanda’s and mine. She stood up and moved around as she watched the candy start to fall. She opened her mouth to catch, but she took one step too far backwards. She lost her balance and fell into the inflatable pool! Amanda and I broke into giggles. Zoe came up spluttering and coughing.

“Clover and Amanda,” she called to us as she climbed out of the pool , “that was not funny!” That only made Amanda and I laugh harder.

-END FLASHBACK-

I chewed on the Cheez-it and smiled to myself. Maybe this plan was not as bad after all. I could make memories more like those than the ones I was making at Camp Half-Blood. I looked over at a clock that was hanging on the wall. It read, 5:38 PM.  I had at least three hours before the fireworks were to begin. I took a shaky breath and looked at Rachel.

“Thank you so much! I needed that talk.” Rachel beamed,

“No worries.” She paused, probably considering what to say next. “I probably won’t see you again, but I promise that I will never tell a soul. If I spit it out in a prophecy, I’m sorry. I will try to keep it as long as I can.” I nodded, but I wanted to make one slight change.

“Rachel, after the quest, and if Leo is still here, tell him for me. He can come looking for me then.” Rachel nodded and I stood up. I picked up my snacks and took a breath. “Now all I have to do is make my way down the hill again.” Rachel laughed. I looked at her confused, “What?” I asked.

“You don’t have to walk down. You can take my elevator!” I looked at her.

“An elevator? You’re kidding me right? I hiked up a hill while you have an elevator?” Rachel blushed.

“I don’t like to have others see it, but I will make an exception for you.” I smiled and put another Cheez-it in my mouth. Rachel stood and walked over to the wall next to the fridge. She moved her fingers over the wall and found a bump. I would have never noticed it, and I guess that was how it was built. Rachel pushed it and the wall slid open. Inside was a lobby looking elevator, with polished metal handrails and a tiled floor with a rug. Rachel stepped inside and motioned for me to follow.  I stepped inside in a daze. I looked over at the elevator’s panel. It had six buttons.

“You have six floors?!” I asked amazed. Rachel blushed and nodded.

“Number two is my favorite!” I blinked, bewildered. Rachel pushed the ‘close doors’ button and the doors closed. She pushed the ‘ground floor’ button and the elevator started to descend. I thought about having a place like this. Everything I wanted and when I wanted. It made me feel so.... poor. Although, not a lot of people could be daughters of a huge business man so I guess it was alright. I thought about the type of setting I wanted when I completed my plan. I could have this. A room like this, always be pampered. Still, I would probably feel really bad about it. The doors dinged open and sunlight streamed into the elevator. Rachel stepped outside and motioned for me to follow as well. I did so and looked back. The doors of the elevator closed, looking like part of the rock hill. I blinked then turned toward the camp. We were on the ground, green grass swaying around us. I looked out toward camp. The sun shone just right to make the columns on the cabins gleam and shine. Even the Hermes cabin looked beautiful in the setting sun. A beautiful scene, before a terrible plan. I hated it, but I had to do it. I just had to tell myself that, over and over. I turned to Rachel,

“Thanks for everything. It really helped.” Rachel nodded and said,

“Don’t worry Clover. Everything will turn out perfectly fine.” I nodded, but on the inside, I knew it had to be a lie. But she’s the oracle, I thought, What if it’s true?  I turned to go back to the cabins, but a question came to mind.

“Hey Rachel,” I said turning, but she was gone. I wondered if she turned into smoke and went POOF! It was likely. I looked around, but she was completely gone, no where. I shrugged and started my walk to the cabins, ready to get my stuff and say goodbye.