AN. Sorry I took so long! But guys, I think it's time to rap this story up. I'm writing one more chapter, and I'm done. It's just...House Of Hades came out, and my story got squished, and this story is set just before House of Hades, k? But I'm finishing this. I have to rap up several stories, and sorry this one is one of them. You guys have been awesome!

Coffee.

Chapter Four.

I feel very, very cold, standing out here alone. I'm on the deck. No one is awake. Well, Hedge is awake, but he drunk so much coffee that I won't be surprised if he is up all night. I like to come out here. If Hedge caught me, he'd send me to my room, like I'm a child. Though I don't blame Hedge. I know he cares about us, like we're his herd of goat kids. He's just gruff, and seems to have gone crazy over time, which is fine with me. I can deal with people going crazy. I've experienced people going crazy.

In my hands, I hold a sappy, cliché note to Leo, telling him my feelings. I've thought of a thousand ways to tell him. I've thought of a million things to say in this note. But the note doesn't seem like the way to go. It seems to calm. It doesn't feel like something that I should do. I wrinkle my nose, reading the note. It's all garbage, and Leo would probably think of it as a joke. But maybe he wouldn't. Leo is the only one who gets me. He's the only one who understands me, and who gets my jokes and laughs with me. Frank and I did laugh, but we also fought a lot. We fought more then we laughed. Frank and I didn't have very much in common. He liked strange TV Shows that he showed me. I got offended by them. They were rude. Though times have changed a lot since my time and his. When Leo and I watch TV together, he always explains things, and explains why they're funny now. I still don't get them, but they're easier to watch now.

I think I should just walk up to Leo, and tell him. That's all I need. I just tell him. Alright, I'm going to do it.

I turn around, only to something that will stop me. It's Nico, my brother. I sigh.

"What's wrong?" Nico asks, calmly.

"I need to tell Leo something, now" I say.

"Why?" Nico asks. "What's so important about talking to Leo? Plus, he's asleep."

"Yes. And why aren't you?" I ask. Nico raises an eyebrow.

"Why aren't you?"

"I can't sleep" I say.

"Neither can I" Nico says. "Come on, Hazel. You're upset. I can tell."

"Why wouldn't I be upset? Gaea, the world ending, Percy and Annabeth...everything" I say.

"I understand" Nico says. "But why do you need to talk to Leo?"

"You wouldn't understand" I say.

"Why?" Nico asks.

"Because you're a boy!" I say.

"Oh, so this is a girl problem? Why would Leo be able to help with that?" Nico asks.

"Oh my Gods, boys are clueless" I say.

"That's what I hear" Nico says. "What? Do you have a crush on him, or something?" I take a step back, and look at my feet. I sigh. How did Nico figure it out? "Really? You have a crush on Leo? Hades children, we have the weirdest crushes."

"I'm a Pluto child" I say.

"How does that change things?" Nico asks.

"It doesn't" I say.

"You should tell him, by the way" Nico says. "He totally has a crush on you, I think. I don't know. People are hard to read." I give him a half glance.

"I need to go, okay, Nico?" I ask.

"Hazel, is it the best time? The middle of the night? Just weeks after what happened with Percy and Annabeth?" Nico asks.

"I thought you just said I should tell him!" I say.

"Well, not right now" Nico says, awkwardly. "You don't see me going up to my crush and telling them I like them just after a war." I sigh.

"Okay. Fine" I say. "But please don't tell anyone."

"Why not?" Nico asks.

"Because I need to tell them! You and Piper are the only people who know!" I say.

"Oh" Nico says, nodding. "Well, I'm going to hit the hay. Goodnight, Hazy."

"Night, Nico" I say. Nico yawns, and walks away. I lie against the railing, and drop my head down, toward the ocean deep below. I yawn.

The ocean hits the ship, creating new waves. The moon reflects itself in the water. It is beautiful. The crashing of the waves...the night sky glimmers in the reflection in the water. As the ocean moves, it appears that the sky does, too. The sky...the universe. Ever changing. Doesn't stay still for a single second. So many wonders. So many possibilities. So unexplainable. So many layers. So much more then the eye can see. Secrets that are kept. Lies that are told. But the universe doesn't care. It is it's own person. When I look up at the sky, I always wonder about things. Why are there so many petty arguments? Why is there so much teasing and back-stabbing happening? In the end, it doesn't matter, because there is a power so much greater then us. If we look up at the sky, and see it the same way I see it, then everyone would stop and think. Life is so short, compared to the universe. She has lived for eons. She's like the Gods. Our lives are puny. That's why there is such a great need to make it a good one. People stumble, and fall, but the universe doesn't care. I could stand here forever, just staring up at her beautiful dark coat, and moons and suns and planets and stars that are sequined along the lining. If you watch for long enough, and look very, very closely, you can see so much. Shooting stars. Even tinier lights that appear.

I learned about the stars long before I learned math and English, and everything else. I learned about everything I could. And now, I can pick up a book devoted to it, with even more ideas and truths then back when I learned about them. It is so amazing, how the universe works. How after time, as she waits patiently, she slowly shoes more and more detail about herself. She slowly gives the humans more and more information. Or maybe she's finally figuring out how. Maybe she grows, as the humans grow, with their technology and sorts.

I think one of the saddest parts of my childhood has when I learned I was a Demigod. Not because of the Monsters, and not because of the constant threat. It was because it meant that the universe was an illusion. The sun and moon are real, but the stars are just memories of the sun. I know that before the Gods and before all this happened there must have been stars and a universe, but their just memories now. When Gaea and Uranus were first born, maybe. And then they closed it off. Now we're stuck here, and the universe is no longer there. Maybe that is what is motivating me. Knowing that if we can defeat Gaea, then maybe the universe can come back, as well. If the universe were still there, then humans would have already explored it. They have the technology, and the brains, but since the universe isn't even there, they just...don't. That's a reason that I wish I wasn't a Demigod. Then I could live and believe the lie that the universe isn't just an illusion...a memory.

I pull my head up, and leave the reflection of beauty by itself. I know how it feels, to want space away from the rest of the world. Or maybe I just need space. But I'll never get it, in this world. The Gods are always watching. Something is always watching. The sooner we can defeat Gaea and her horrible children, the better, because then I can be safe at Camp. I can forget these horrible memories. I can catch up on my sleep, which I have been getting little of. I can live my life training and training. Become Camp Jupiter's little solider, and plead to Reyna to not make me go on a quest ever again. But, the down side to the plan for the rest of my life is; I'll be leaving Leo, permanently. I don't want to do that. I care about him to much to leave. But I can forget Leo. Maybe I could even get back together with Frank, even though I don't love him. I could fall in love with him, again. But there is always that nagging thought that I'd be betraying Leo. But that shouldn't even be an issue, because Leo doesn't love me back. He doesn't consider me. Leo and I are not together, so why do I feel so inclined to him?

I walk down the stairs, trailing my finger tips along the wooden walls of the deck. I hum a small classical tune. I feel my way around the room, since there are no lights out. My candle had been blown out by the wind two hours ago, when I first got onto deck. It must be one in the morning now, since I headed out at eleven.

I hear a door open behind me. I jump up, and squeak loudly. I turn around fast, as stiff as a board.

"Hazel, why are you up?" Jason asks.

"Just coming back from getting a glass of water" I say. Jason nods.

"You've seemed shaky. What's wrong? I was awkward before about you breaking up with Frank, but if you want to talk about it..."

"No thanks. You aren't Piper, you won't understand" I say.

"Come one, Hazel. Tell me the truth" Jason says. Truth...

"Nah, you aren't a fan of girl problems" I say.

"Correct, but I am a friend, or I'd like to be. I've been talking a lot with both Nico and Piper and..." Jason says.

"How does Nico count as a girl?" I interrupt.

"Uhh...He doesn't. But he's your brother, and he's been saying you've been acting strange" Jason says. I nod.

"It's about Leo" I say.

"You like him?" Jason asks. I nod. "I suspected as much. Tell him. He's totally into you, too."

"Thanks, Jason" I say, with a smile.

"Seriously, tell him. He is dying right now for something, and he got so excited and sad after you broke up with Frank and..." Jason says, steering off.

"What?!" I ask. Jason gives me a blank look.

"Crap. I gotta go" Jason says, putting his hands up and walking away backwards, knocking over a bucket of water. Jason tenses. "See ya tomorrow! And goodnight!" He starts to run.

End Of Chapter.