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Being with Nico is like releasing a nuclear bomb of words in my head. Like now. We were walking up the stairs to my apartment after coming home from the camp, with Joel on my shoulders and Nico at my side and my brain filled with everything I’d done and all the people I’d met while I was there. He had been talking about how amazing Jason was, and that he was glad I met him. “He’s been a good friend, although we don’t talk much,” he said as we rounded the corner for the next flight of stairs. “He promised to build each god a respective temple, which is why he goes back and forth between the camps so much. Speaking of which, what were you doing in Kymopoleia’s temple?”

I shrugged casually, causing Joel to giggle and tighten his hold on my hair. “When Jason told me about how much she was ignored and forgotten, I just felt obligated to go in and say something to her.” That wasn’t the whole truth though. Yes, I went in to pray to her. But I also offered her some things.

The temple/cabin was dark, lit only by a glowing stream that washed turbulently around the edges of the floor in a constant circle. Standing in the center there was a giant brown-and-white conch, as large as a bookshelf, that emitted the sounds of the sea during a rainstorm. The walls had images of crashing boats and drowning men etched into them, and the air felt damp and heavy like it might rain any moment.

From what Jason had told me, Kymopoleia really enjoyed people fearing her storms, taking it for admiration. So I sat before the conch, bowed my head respectfully, and then leaned closer to whisper into it. The sound of the waves immediately stopped when I began to speak. “Kymopoleia,” I said, staring into the huge cavern of the conch. “I understand no one has visited you before, which is totally unfair, because I’m sure tons of people at this camp are afraid of your storms and drowning.” I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. “I offer up my fears to you. I’m very, very scared of being immersed in water. I can’t swim. I would drown if there were no one to help me, or if you weren’t feeling particularly merciful one day. I tremble at the thought of the ocean storms and hundred-foot waves that sink ships whole. That’s all caused by you. So I am afraid of you.”

The conch remained silent.

“I also offer any other campers’ fears that, ironically, they are too afraid to admit,” I continued a little nervously. Maybe these don’t count, but whatever. It’s the thought. “Please, remember this when a demigod does something to incite your anger. Remember me.”

I left feeling very good about the situation.

“Well…” Nico’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. We stood before the apartment. “You sure took a long time in there.”

I pushed my key in and unlocked the door, stepping into the small space. “Sorry. I was just thinking about a lot of things in there. Very calm environment.”

“She’s the goddess of storms,” I heard Nico mumble behind me. “How can she be calm?”

“Hey.”

I looked up and there’s Garret standing by the TV which, I noticed, was not on for the first time in a while. “Hey.” I set Joel down and he ran for his dad, smiling and giggling and lighting up the room. Nico tensed behind me. It was probably uncomfortable since he’d never really met my stepdad. Garret also seemed a little nervous as he held Joel, looking between me and behind me at Nico. “How was the trip?”

“It was good. Great, actually. I kind of need to talk about it with you. Privately, without Joel.” He nuzzled the little boy fondly before setting him back down.

I nodded understandingly and turned to Nico. “Do you think you could take him to the park?” I asked, once again captivated by those dark brown, unblinking rings. “I’ll meet you there.”

Two minutes later I’m seated on the couch across from Garret, who is sitting in one of the flimsy plastic dining chairs. He leans over, elbows on his knees and hands together under his chin, staring at the floor. My head’s bringing up things like, what if he got fired? What if something horrible has happened and we’ll have to move or go homeless or something?

“Son,” he stated, looking me in the eyes now. I stared back patiently. “During this business trip, I apparently did some pretty eye-catching stuff. The right stuff. And I’ve been promoted.”

I felt my eyes widen. Well that was the total opposite of what I’d been originally thinking. “Yeah, and it’s a big promotion too,” he said when he saw my face. He allowed a smile to creep on his own. “We can afford a lot of the things we need now. You could quit your job. I can get us a better apartment and two beds and a more up-to-date TV and computer, and you some nicer basketball shoes and music lessons…” He trailed off and his face reverted back to the serious, trouble-laden face that I knew too well. “I wanted to get you a car. But… I know you’ve been hanging out with your friends at that camp a lot, and I think you feel better about yourself there, feeling you fit in and whatnot. If you don’t want to be… attached to me or my life because you are more at home at the camp, then I won’t let that happen. I can provide for Joel now if you wanted to stay there. Just know that if you do that, no one is going to think of you any differently. That’s completely natural for you to want to stay there.”

My head was reeling from all this information. “Garret, you can’t…” I sighed and shook my head. “You can’t say something like that and then expect me to just leave you guys. And I wouldn’t anyways. I would never leave Joel.” I ran a hand through my hair, trying to figure everything out. “You definitely deserve this. Especially after taking care of me. Joel, I understand, because you two are flesh and blood. But after hearing some of the other stories of kids at camp, I could have ended up a lot worse. And that’s really… awesome of you.”

He smiled weakly at me. Then laughed like we had just shared a crazy secret together. I smiled with him, a sort of high taking over. He patted my back as he stood up and reached into his pocket for his phone. “How about pizza tonight?”

I chuckled and stood, still a little amazed at the good fortune. Thank whatever god made this happen. “With the stuffed crust, Joel’s favourite.”