I sighed at the fact that this whole getting her to trust me thing didn’t start off as well as I had hoped. I got in on the driver's side and pulled out of the parking lot.
Carefully, I watched her hand signals and the road to navigate us just out of town and up into the mountain heading towards the ocean. Once I realized what road she was taking us to, my eyebrows couldn't help but scrunch. It was the way to the Winchester Cabin. That place was a wreck, probably one of the oldest buildings in the area. I knew it was the mayor that owned the property and the last I spoke to him about it, he had said he planned to tear down the shack and rebuild it.
When we pulled up to the driveway, I saw that the mayor hadn't done diddly squat with the cabin. It was still as rundown as the last time I heard about it.
"You know Atalanta, I know a few of the carpenters in town that would be happy to help you fix up the place," I said, unable to stop myself.
She stiffened. 'No. It's okay. My father is really handy and he likes fixing up old homes.'
“Alright, but if he wants any help with it I'd be happy to."
The relaxed expression she had had until now was stony. I realized she was probably offended by me basically calling her new home a dump.
The damage done, she grabbed her backpack from between her legs and began to get out of the car.
‘I’ll tell him. Thank you for giving me a ride, hopefully it wont become a habit.’ She said before slamming the door behind her, judging by how much the car rocked with the force of it.
I sighed. “You done goofed this one up man.”
I made a point to try to think of ways to make it up to her tomorrow when she came in.
Chapter Eight
Atalanta
I practically sprinted to the door of the cabin before slipping behind the old wood and leaning against it.
“Way too intense,” I sighed.
Today had been full of unexpected encounters. I was ready to just go to sleep on my cot and try to forget the whole thing.
“I’ll say! Did you actually look at the guy you just ran from? Because he was H. O. T. Hot!”
I jumped a little and turned to see Cal standing near one of the windows, a wide grin plastered on her face.
My mouth agape, I replied, “I didn’t…well, maybe. But I had a good reason!”
“And that would be?” She asked, one eyebrow cocked, hands on her hips.
“He was getting too curious. Wanted to help fix the house.”
Her smile dropped. “Oh.” She looked out the window, and we both watched as his car made an awkward U-turn and drove away. “Well, that’s not too bad. At least he wasn’t actually asking questions. You turned him down, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I feel a little bad though. I think I probably came off a bit harsh. I panicked. He might think I hate him now.”
“I doubt that! I saw the way he stared at you. Practically devouring your mouth with his eyes.” She said, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
“What, do you have eagle vision? He was checking out my mouth so he could read my lips. He’s deaf.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Really?”
“Yeah, so don’t get your hopes up.”
I walked into the bare living room space and stuck my bag near the lit fireplace. The heat of the fire created a bubble of warmth inside the house that I was just giddy to curl up in with a book and read. Then I remembered I didn’t have any books to curl up with anymore and my sour mood darkened.
“I don't know, even if he was reading your lips there was far too much interest on that boy’s face.”
“You're crazy. I doubt you could see that from here.”
"Do you doubt the almighty Calilope?!" She boomed in an attempt at a god-like voice, her arms raised out at her sides.
I rolled my eyes. "Yes I do, you doofus. Now, come help me with dinner."
We worked in a comfortable camaraderie for a while as we meandered around the kitchen, opening and closing the fridge and the cupboard several times, trying to figure out what to make for dinner with what little we had. Eventually we got into an argument about salad or chicken fajitas before compromising to make a chicken fajita salad, which we managed not to burn or destroy! Go us!
As we ate our success of a meal together in Cal's room on her cot, I recounted to her the day's events. The weird salt thing with Jason, being tricked by Hip, and being utterly oblivious to Theseus’s condition and making a fool of myself.
"You met a lot of guys today. You little minx," She teased, doing a little cat claw and 'meow' at me. "Do you think any of them are prom date-worthy?"
"Whoa, Cal, I just met these guys today! None of them under very romantic circumstances, I might add."
"Oh, perhaps that Percy guy then? He was pretty cute too. Maybe ask him?"
"You have a one tracked mind," I got up off her cot with my empty bowl and went to go put the dish in the sink. "I'm done talking about boys."
“Fine, fine. I'm sorry. You know I live vicariously through you," She pouted, following me into the kitchen.
I laughed. “Cal, you could easily get any guy you want. Why do you need to live through me?"
"Because I'm lazy?"
I tapped her on the tip of her nose. “Methinks you're afraid of commitment."
"Am not!” she shrieked.
“Sure, just keep telling yourself that,” I said, patting her shoulder.
"Whatever," She shoved me, making us both break out into a fit of giggles.
“I spotted a path down the cliff to the beach. You wanna go check it out?” Cal asked after our laughter died down.
I thought about going back out there into the cold. I really didn't want to, but I found myself nodding anyway.
“Sure, let me just put on better clothes."
I had yet to change out of my slightly damp hoodie and was surprised I wasn't shivering to death. Rushing into my room, I pulled off the cold clothes and yelped when the even colder air hit me. Despite the clothes being damp, they collected my heat like a shitty furnace! Now shivering, I rummaged through the boxes and found one of Dad’s coats, one of those giant poofy ones with the fur-lined hood. Shrugging, I pulled it on and changed my pants and socks. No sense in taking a shower yet.
We went outside, and I followed Cal towards the same spot I had been standing the other night when I saw the sea monster and its freaky glow. She directed us to a somewhat hidden path that led down the cliff face and onto an untamed beach.
Large hunks of driftwood scattered along the shore with rough boulders displaced against the soft peppery sand. The waves rushed in with a force that warned me to not to get too close. The sky was beginning to darken as the sun ticked closer to the water. I spied a dock not far off. If it was in good condition, it would make a good spot to fish at a safe distance from the rough waves.
Cal sprinted ahead of me towards the water laughing. "It’s been so long since we went to the beach!”
“I wouldn’t do that! I bet that water is freezing!” I called after her.
Disregarding me she ran up to the water to touch it, only to come flying backwards spewing “cold cold cold cold cold cold!”, to which I only rolled my eyes at her stupidity.
We strolled along the shore for an hour or two before heading back to the cabin, too cold to stay out any longer.
I sat waiting on my cot for Cal to finish up her 45-MINUTE-LONG SHOWER.