*insert Mushu "I LIVE!" gif*

I know I said about four years ago that I was going to finish, and then didn't; however, I DO INTEND TO FINISH THIS FIC EVEN IF I DIE TRYING.

I started this thing when I was 13. I'm now almost 23. I've focused on my own personal works and school the past few years, (Fall 2020 will be my last semester of college, assuming everything doesn't get axed in the US because of Covid) but I've kind of gotten into a lull and have a serious lack of motivation.

That being said, I stumbled back upon this account, read comments from THIS YEAR and realized how much this was still affecting people. I want to give you all closure. (Also, I'm super hype about the TV serious, and my PJO obsession has been rekindled).

I've made it my duty this year to write at least one chapter a week! I will finish this fic, if it's the last thing I do. I'm also trying not to re-read anything for a fear of embarrassment. I hope my writing has improved in the past ten years, lol.

Anyway, without further ado, I present to you… CHAPTER 25!

25

Stella squeezed me so hard I feared I was about to become a human Gusher.

"You will write to me," she demanded. I laughed as much as I could without oxygen.

"I will if you don't kill me first," I wheezed back.

We stood outside the wreckage that used to be my home. It was two days after our impromptu concert and a few days since the tornado had destroyed everything. Some of the rubble had been cleared away, thanks to my Demeter powers and Adidas and the Stoll's competitive spirits, but it still looked like a war zone.

Today, the thirteen of us were heading to Florida to stay with my aunt. She surprisingly had enough room to lodge all of us between her few rental properties. I was mostly excited. I needed a vacation.

Stella pulled back. I could tell she was upset I was leaving. Our traditional Chrismukkah celebrations would have to wait another year.

"I wish I was going to the beach," she sighed. I frowned.

"It's too cold to do anything."

"Doing nothing there is better than doing nothing here." I nodded. That was very true. "Besides. You'll be there. Who am I supposed to hang out with while you're gone?"

"You have Harry and Diana." I wiggled my eyebrows. "Or maybe Dallas?" She shimmied her shoulders.

"One out of three ain't bad." I laughed. Stella sighed and looked at me softly. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you, too," I said going back in for another hug, this time gentler.

"I have time to prepare for you going to camp," she said pulling back. "This is too soon."

"You'll be fine. I'll message you when I can." Stella frowned.

"You never text me."

"I'll show you a demigod safe way to Facetime." Stella's eyes widened.

"Um, yes please!"

"Katie!" my dad called from down the road. He and the Squad were waiting by our van. "Time to go!"

Well, my half of the squad. Carrie and her half of the family had taken an earlier flight, thank the gods. This just left my dad, Adidas, Shawty, the Stolls, and me. I could keep some of my sanity this way.

"Guess, this is it," I said. She and I walked to the van. She waved to the group. "Have fun in Florida without me!"

"I need a hug goodbye!" Shawty piped. She jumped out of the car and excitedly gave Stella a hug. Adidas joined as well.

"It was nice meeting ya'." Travis then popped up and sighed.

"I guess if we're all joining the love train," he said with fake reluctance. He smiled as Stella giggled under the mountain of people. Only Connor stayed out.

"Alright, I hate to break it up, but we got a plane to catch," my dad cut in. Travis, Adidas, and Shawty climbed into the car. Stella gave me one more quick hug goodbye before I closed the van door and we began the drive to Dallas.

Road trips with demigods are just as bad as I would've imagined.

Two hours trapped in a metal box with four people with ADHD, not including me, that itself is a recipe for disaster. Add the antics of two children of Hermes, and my dad was in for the realization that having one daughter of Demeter was a pretty good deal.

"Are we there yet?" Connor groaned. I could feel my dad's hair turning grey.

"You asked that five minutes ago," Adidas spoke, keeping her eyes on her book. "The answer then was still no."

She, my dad, and I were all on the same page.

Shawty was passed out in the backseat next to Adidas. Connor and Travis somehow drew the short end of the stick They were both over six feet tall, yet they suffered in the third row.

I sat up front with my dad. I passed the time listening to the radio and daydreaming as I watched the landscape change from Oklahoma to Texas.

I was no stranger to road trips. I lived in the country. Shawty, I knew, traveled around the country with her father, and Adidas was from Australia. They both knew how to handle long drives and flights.

The Stolls on the other hand were from a city and have lived at camp since they were young. The longest road trip they had been on was the one from camp to New York for the war. I can't imagine that one went better than this.

"So!" Travis piped resting his chin on the middle seat. His appearance was so sudden, he woke up Shawty. "How exactly is this going to happen?"

"We're flying to Destin to stay with my sister for a while," my dad replied, relieved for casual conversation instead of the same question over and over. "She has a couple of houses she rents to travelers. It's the low season, so not a whole lot of people are coming into town anyway."

"Sweet," Shawty said, rubbing her eyes trying wake up. "I've never been to Florida before. Is it as wild as people say it is?"

"Yo! I heard some dude died after winning a roach eating contest," Connor cut in pushing Travis over. Shawty gagged.

"That is the most disgusting thing I've ever heard," Adidas grimaced.

"What like Australia doesn't have crazy stuff happen all the time?"

"I don't think Australia has anything on Florida," Travis said righting himself back up. "No one does.

"With your luck," Shawty said, "you two imbeciles will become a Florida man headline in no time."

Connor slapped his brother on the shoulder.

"Dude! Do you know awesome that would be?" Travis' eyes glistened. Oh, no.

"Did I make a mistake signing up for this?" my dad murmured to me. I chuckled and shook my head.

"Oh, Father Dear, you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into." He sighed.

"Well, all your friends will be a nice distraction from Devin."

"Oh?" Travis chimed in from the back. I cursed Hermes for his sharp hearing. "Who is this Devin you speak of?"

"My cousin," I grumbled.

"Gods, Katie, do you like anyone in your family?" Adidas chuckled.

"I like Miranda and Della."

"Your non-godly family?"

"I like my dad. Carrie and Aunt Meg are cool, too. And I suppose the twins are tolerable five days out of the year."

"What's wrong with Devin?" Shawty asked. "Even you don't sound too excited, Mr. Bruno." He shrugged.

"I mean… she's fine."

"Hohoho," Connor laughed. His eyes were wild. "That means she's definitely not."

"No, she's a great niece—"

"He lied," I cut in. He frowned at me from his seat.

"Meg is a great sister. She helped raise me. She's kind, generous, eccentric. All-around a great person."

"And let me guess," Travis said, "Devin is anything but." My dad shook his head.

"I just don't understand how someone so fun and amazing could give birth to a child so callous and dry and—"

"Wow, you really don't like her," Shawty whispered.

"No, I do love her. She's family. I just don't… understand her."

"Katie, what's your hot take on her?" Adidas asked.

"Yeah, on a scale of Will Solace to Kronos, how much is she a thorn in your side?" Shawty asked. I sighed tried to brush off the Will Solace statement. I could practically feel Travis' eyes boring into the back of my head.

I had a thing for him once, but everyone in camp knew by this point he had eyes for someone very different from me.

"Uh, I'd a say a solid Travis Stoll," I replied with a soft smile. His jaw dropped. Connor snorted.

"Ah, so off the charts!" Shawty laughed. Travis scoffed.

"No, that means she's a lovely person with good looks and a sparkling personality."

"You wish." I laughed.

"Well, for starters, she's older, so she thinks she knows best. She also went to private school and lives in a 'city.'" I made air quotes with my fingers. "So that makes her believe she's cultured and superior to us country folk." I shook my head. "She literally doesn't have a funny bone in her body. You think living on the beach would make her carefree and wild, but no. I'm the wild one in the family."

"You?" Connor asked. "Wild?"

"Compared to Devin, Katie should be in prison," Dad laughed.

That reminded me of another reason to hate Devin and my blood boiled, but I wasn't about to bring it up in front of my dad. He was still a little sensitive on the whole "mom" subject.

I sighed.

"Let's just say, there's a billion reasons I go to camp for the summer instead of the beach."

"I thought that was because of mortal peril and survival, but okay then," Travis said. "Guess we'll only have a few more hours of freedom until we meet the spawn of Tartarus herself."

I slouched down into my chair more and closed my eyes.

"Yes, so please allow me this timed to relax and enjoy my freedom."

The car became quote for once, and I fell asleep.

I tried not to reread anything while writing this, but I was so naïve. I forgot so many details. Also, in re-reading, I realized how many things I want to rewrite, but I can't do that. I can only forge ahead!

Once, again, I apologize for the long waits. I PROMISE PROMISE PROMISE that to the best of my abilities, I will not do that again.

Lates, peeps.

Brooke