Indigo Eyes

Chapter 35

Camp had been pretty amazing after that - well after Cressida got read the riot act by her brothers for kissing a boy even if it wasn't on the lips.

Grover announced that he'd be able to spend the rest of the summer with them before resuming his quest for Pan. His bosses at the Council of Cloven Elders were so impressed that he hadn't got himself killed and had cleared the way for future searchers, that they granted him a two-month furlough and a new set of reed pipes. The only bad news: Grover insisted on playing those pipes all afternoon long, and his musical skills hadn't improved much.

Chiron had even managed to smooth over the Meriwether Prep mishap that Percy had, manipulating the Mist to change what they thought they saw.

Then Percy had to call his mother who he didn't tell about the quest. That story was kinda funny and it made Cressida want to meet the woman even more.

As for Tyson, the campers treated him like a hero. And Cressida would've been more than happy to keep him company year-round, had Poseidon not sent him a message in his dreams. Tyson had been invited on an internship to work underwater at the Cyclops forges.

And Cressida knew that must've sucked for Percy, not just that his brother was leaving but that Poseidon hadn't invited him as well.

She'd sat on the beach with Percy for a while as he just let the information all sink in.

"Will you come to Manhattan?" he'd blurted as they watched the sunset.

"What?"

"For my birthday, when summer is over. My mom usually does a cake. Chocolate with blue icing. Would you come?"

She gave him a small smile. "If you want me to come, nothing can keep me away. Though I can't promise my gift will be as meaningful as yours."

He was able to crack a smile at that and he appreciated her attempt to cheer him up.

"Please don't get me anything, I've been getting gifts all my life. You don't have to do that," Percy said and she nudged his shoulder.

"We may be friends, Fish Face, but I don't need your pity or your permission."

"Ok, you've got like a thousand nicknames for me and a lot of them are insulting. I have one for you. That's not fair," he whined, and she laughed.

"Life ain't fair, Barnacle Brain. And who knows," she shrugged before standing, dusting the sand from her legs. "You keep up this whole being my friend thing and I may just let you call me Cress."

Percy looked up at her, his eyes wide and his mouth open as if he was about to say something before the conch horn sounded for dinner.

"Come on," Cressida smirked, mischief shining in her eyes as she offered him her hand. "I may even sit with you for dinner. The camp director kinda has a soft spot for me."

"Thanks, but, I think I'd like to keep my life. Mr D may have a soft spot for you, but he certainly does not for me."

"Either way, I'm hungry. So can you get up so we can go?"

Percy gazed back out at the sunset. "Nah, I think I'm pretty comfortable here."

"I wasn't asking you, I was telling you. And if you care about being alive to even see your birthday, you will get up."

"Relax, Wine Vine. I was just messing with you," Percy said as he took her hand and pulled himself up and Cressida raised a brow.

"Wine Vine?"

"That bad?" he asked, and she shrugged.

"It could be worse. And at least it rhymes."

"Well then, Wine Vine, shall we go to dinner?" he asked, and she rolled her eyes as she began walking.