They Don't See What I See [Private to Rune]

Caleb Austin Wright
Son of Momus

This... This cannot be happening. Everything June said seemed to fit perfectly like a jigsaw piece that was missing for a long time, but it was still a lot to take in. Caleb looked down on his shoes, trying to process everything she told him in the past few minutes. It was so unnerving to think that he had all but completely forgotten about someone only to meet her again after a few years. Caleb had always prized his excellent memory and now, it was hard to look at the proof that it wasn't as perfect as he'd thought. Groaning, he scratched the back of his head in annoyance.

"Why is it so easy for you to remember..?" he asked faintly, his lips pulling into a thin line as he looked up to meet her gaze. Jealousy had overwhelmed Caleb as he listened to June recalling their interrelated past lives in seemingly perfect detail. Why couldn't he do the same? His memories were still fading in and out, too unclear for him to focus on each of them individually.

"Bits and pieces... just bits and pieces. I remember a girl who lashed out when some kid ruined her coloring of Donald Duck back in second grade. A girl who had a stripper for a mother. A girl who I went to school with for three grades."

Caleb swallowed thickly, the memories rushing back to him in waves. "You broke the school record for the most number of referrals. I thought you were pretty messed up back then. Decided to look up some of your weird traits and more or less came up with the conclusion that you're not normal. Psycho. Socio. Something like that."

Racking his thoughts, he sank to the ground, slumping against the tree behind him. It was like a film was unfolding in his mind's eye, as if he were watching a movie. "I got home. At least, I think I did." Had his mother mentioned anything about this to him? Was it possible that her memories were wiped clean too? "It was a few more years before my mother decided to send me here. Something about me becoming worse and isolating myself from people," he said, echoing her words from roughly a year ago. A new thought suddenly struck him. Had June's sudden disappearance been the reason why he became worse off than he already was? For now, all the clues were pointing to that direction. And honestly, Caleb didn't know whether to be sad about it or not.

He stared at June, her last words repeating themselves in every corner of his mind. Please tell me you remember. I... miss you. His mouth opened as if he was about to say something but he closed it again without a word. It was just so bizarre. Everything was bizarre. How was he supposed to respond to June now? Tell her he misses her too? That would be weird, since he wasn't too sure of his own feelings toward all of this himself.

Breathing a rueful sigh, Caleb held up a hand to his forehead and bowed his head, hiding his glasses from view. "Just let me breathe. This is an awful lot to take in," he said simply, his voice trying to take the emotionless edge to it like it did before. But this time, his voice broke at the end of his sentence, a sign that this had shaken him up pretty badly. A sign that he was starting to break himself.

Principal

"I think I know your name from something recently. Definitely since I've been at camp."

"Don't worry, Caleb. Everything's . . . okay."

"So are you a popular, social butterfly?"

"My brothers and sisters--my half brothers and sisters--really don't like you. They talked about a Caleb Wright. I've heard the stories. Forcing you out of camp for a few hours, pushing you into rivers . . . You must be pretty important to those neanderthals; to get them to focus so much energy on you is quite the feat."

"They're jerks. They don't like me either. I'm s . . . s . . . sorr . . ."

Caleb Austin Wright
Son of Momus

Caleb couldn't help but snort, and it was a little sign that he hadn't completely lost himself. "Whatever this is, Prenston, this isn't okay," he said flatly, looking at her through the lenses of his glasses. He was still seated on the ground, staying slumped against the tree. He could see the pity in June's eyes and it affected him in a strange way. As if it started riling him up. He didn't want her pity. He never wanted anyone's pity. The small irritation forming in the back of his head was almost a relief, telling himself that he was still Caleb Wright.

"Ah, so your half-siblings see me as some sort of special case, I take it?" he asked with a hint of amusement. For a moment he forgot about the situation, how weird it was that he and June met some time before. Not only that, but they were friends. What a weird thought, Caleb having friends. The two words were not supposed to go together in the same sentence, but it seemed that at some point, they did.

"They're nutcases. I doubt most of them even have half a brain. All that matter to them is brute strength. Apparently they're thick enough not to realize that you'll need more wit than physical power to actually survive this world and leave a legacy behind," Caleb said freely, ignoring the fact that these were June's half-siblings he was talking about. It was just a natural trait of his, being a harsh and stinging critic to those he set his eyes on. It was a trait he secretly wanted to change, but it was thanks to his father that it apparently wasn't possible. He was born this way thanks to Momus.

Caleb leaned his head back against the tree, carefully watching June's face. Would she be angry that he freely criticized the children of Ares, or at least, majority of them? He'd ponder about that if his mind hadn't focused on another thought completely. "Wait, did I just hear it right? Are you actually trying to apologize?" The smirk on his face was teasing, almost insulting to look at. He didn't mean to be rude, but he had to be. He needed to cover up his moments of vulnerability with this tough armor. He wasn't a pathetic prat and he wasn't about to let June think that he was even for one moment.

"How am I supposed to have any control over this?"

"I never said that,"

"I just said they didn't like you. But . . . I suppose you could say you're a bit special to them."

"I couldn't agree more. They're human elephants. Fat and dumb. I'd like to think I'm slightly better than them, all of my issues aside."

"N--No!"

"I don't apologize, Caleb. You should know that by now. Right? Convincing?"

"I'm not an actress,"

Caleb Austin Wright
Son of Momus

"You don't. That's why it's annoying. Everything is out of whack and it's all because of the gods." Would Ares or his father come after him for saying that? Perhaps the gods had more things to do than attend to a petty demigod pinning the blame on them.

Caleb almost felt relieved when June glared at him. Glares, he was used to. He knew how to deal with them. Pitiful sympathetic looks, however, were another story. When June began to laugh, he raised his eyebrows in alarm. It didn't sound like the June today. It reminded him of the hazy June from before, for some strange reason. A reluctant smile rose out of his lips but it lasted only for a few seconds before he pulled them back into a smirk. The smile was an involuntary action, not something he had usually done but something in his mind had the sudden impulse to make him do it. It was rather unnerving. "Eh, maybe you are," he said, looking as if he was considering the idea. "For starters, you're the first Ares kid I've spoken to for more than ten minutes. Congrats."

June was a lot of firsts to him, he noticed. His first... friend (he still had to get used to the idea). The first long conversation he has had in a long time. The first child of Ares he had actually... enjoyed (another idea he had to get used to)... spending time with. What next? His first kiss? He started a little at the idea. Where had that come from?

He sighed as he stared at June, trying to figure her out. Like before, it yielded poor results. The way she flitted in and out of her sociopath nature didn't really freak him out. It was more like he was familiar with them. Strangely familiar. "Well you could've fooled me, if I had been a few IQ points lower," he said smugly. June had better get used to his huge head, if she weren't already. "I don't know what to make of you. One moment you're being all 'let-me-help-you-but-excuse-me-for-I've-never-done-this-before' then being all defensive in the next. Which is the real one?"

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that?

"Um . . . So about my personality--"

"I don't know, to be honest. I don't know a lot lately."

"Stick around long enough and maybe we'll see."

"No June, don't think that. He's your only friend."

"Caleb?"

"I don't try to be rude to everyone. Especially you. I mean, what have you yourself into, befriending me?"

"Were you aware of the fact that you owe me three birthday parties? I expect dancing, and wild animals, and music, and decorations, and surprises galore!"

"I'm sorry. For everything. For hurting your eyes, for never apologizing for anything, for getting us into fights as kids, for insulting you when I shouldn't have, for sticking around even after I saw I was making things worse, for getting you into trouble when I did something bad, for being jealous of your grades, for my siblings, and for the people who are rude to you for no reason. For your mom dumping you here and for being left with me. Unless you have any other friends you just haven't mentioned . . . For your stepdad, and for your stepbrother, and for my dad and yours. For forgetting you and for still being here now. For caring too much and for not caring enough. I'm . . . I'm sorry."

"And I'm sorry for being weak. I'm not supposed to be like that."

Okay, sorry for real. My first post got deleted when I just had to finish up the coding. It was a lot more complete and a lot longer. I'll make a better post next time! My mind's pretty much asleep, too. It's 3:18 Am here. xD

Caleb Austin Wright
Son of Momus

Once Caleb got over the fact that June had delivered a full speech of apology, he breathed an exasperated sigh and kept his gaze on the patches of grass in front of him. No matter how smug it made him feel when someone apologized to him, it felt different with this girl. The smug feeling was still there, but there was also the faint feeling of confusion. How was he to respond? He should be apologizing as well. After all, he had also been at fault for a fair few--scratch that, a lot--of times. However, there was his huge ego to consider...

"Apology accepted. And I'm sorry as well."

Ah well, screw his pride. But he wasn't going to get any further than that, even if June obviously poured all her heart out in that speech of hers. A single 'sorry' was enough for him, and it had better be enough for her. If it wasn't, then it wasn't going to be any of his concern, he thought.

Caleb straightened up, dusting off the dirt that got on his clothes. "You also owe me three birthday presents, so consider both of our debts canceled," he said, looking over at her. "Wild animals? Really? Are you planning to throw a party or open a zoo?"

He spotted his electric knife lying motionless on the ground, surrounded by the blackened and sizzling blades of grass. He picked it up and examined it for a few moments, running his fingers down the hilt, before seemingly coming to a decision. In a quick movement the weapon was sheathed, now hanging harmlessly from his belt. There was no need for it anymore.

"I should probably stick around, make sure you don't get in trouble," he said with that signature smirk of his. He ruffled his hair, messing it up so it was spiked at the front rather than falling all over his face. A curious thought wormed its way into his mind and he paused, looking first at the ground before meeting June's eyes. "Is this a secret? Or would you rather flaunt our... friendship to the whole camp? Something tells me your siblings won't like it. Mine probably wouldn't, if I had any."

((Whoa, I would've ragequit if it were me xD It's 4:18pm over here when you last posted. Opposite ends of the world, much? Haha.))

"No, I don't want to open June's Creepy Zoo. But I hear all of the good parties in Vegas have tigers and monkey and stuff."

"Are you sure?"

"You're going to play that game of chance with me?"

"Pressure's on now . . ."

"I can . . . stay calm. I will,"

"It's a good thing you're here,"

"Otherwise, who knows what trouble I'd get into! I'm such a scamp."

"Are you kidding? Flaunt a friendship? I'd get a lot of hate for that, though I'm sure they would be jealous of me. 'Cause, you know, everyone's lining up to be your friend."

"This?"

"If they knew I'm your friend, they make me sleep on the roof."

"As long as we stay friends."

"I can talk to them for you, if you'd want. Maybe even if you don't want. They have no right. When did it even start, anyway? The harassment?"

Caleb Austin Wright
Son of Momus

"Would you rather have a knife pointed at you while we have our conversation?" Caleb asked incredulously. His fingers lightly flicked the handle of his blade before he covered it with his shirt. "Didn't think so."

He got a little surprised at the wink and the smile from the seemingly harmless sociopath in front of him, just because it made her seem a little... peculiar. Did it perhaps mean something? Were those gestures reserved for her friends? "I doubt they'd let you sleep on the roof," he snorted. "They might be a little scared to do that, given your record. Or maybe they're really thick enough to go through with it. Can never know with your siblings. And how it started? Hm... I don't exactly remember. I guess it was something I said about the lot of them being dunces with brains the size of a walnut? Then you can figure out how it went from there. Harsh words exchanged, insults thrown around at every angle. And you know how they have their little anger issues."

A dry laugh. Stay friends, huh? Let's see how long it would last. After all, it didn't seem like their past lives weren't cut off by a happy ending. Caleb shook his head and glanced at her. "Don't talk to them. It won't make a difference. The hole is dug too deep--there's no way to reverse anything now. You'll only make it feel worse, probably."

Caleb sighed and absently kicked at the ground. It must be his ADHD kicking in now, trying to force him to do something, anything besides keeping still. Wait, did June have ADHD too? And dyslexia? He supposed every demigod had those two problems, but with her it was more. Besides them, she also had sociopathy, another mental disorder, to deal with. The thought made him strangely lonely for the girl. She must have had it rougher than most demigods in here.

"You have dyslexia? ADHD?" he asked suddenly, shooting June a curious glance.

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"If that's what you want,"

"You never know that,"

"I'd like to think the roof is better than the Ares cabin, though. Am I wrong?

"I don't get it. Every time we open our mouths, we're bring judged and labeled. I hardly get out a few sentences and people are treating me like I'm diseased. Neither of us have any friends, right? Don't . . . Jump on me if I'm wrong, but you haven't mentioned anyone."

"Dangerous. Sick. Diseased. Rude, selfish, pityful, aggressive."

"That's just what comes to mind,"

"I feel like we're the campers no one cares about a little too often. When you think about it though, we're the perfect warriors. We're both strong, cunning, quick to think and even quicker in a fight. And there's our talent with knives. I'd say you've got a shot of "Best Knives." I don't give nicknames for nothing."

"No emotional ties to anyone."

"Welp, I suppose I can't speak for you. Wanna talk about what's happened with you since you got here? You don't have to, it's just . . ."

"Y--yes. Don't you? I convinced myself awhile ago that it wasn't just another June-Infection. Campers didn't need another reason not to hang around me. You understand . . Well, maybe you don't. You were the genius after all. Was that the thing keeping you out of trouble? Your brain. It seemed like you could think. I didn't have much control of my thoughts. Something was always running me, whether that was the medication or the ADHD, or the anger issues, or, more recently, the sociopathic infection in my head, but this thing,"

"never belongs to June."

"Maybe I should go. I'm sorry, I'm talking too much. They'll kill me."

"You could come to my cabin for a while? As my favor? Because I saved your life, and I'm still not sure how I'm going to get that paid off."

"Forget about that. I'll go back. They'll be asking about where I went. It's easier for them to keep tabs on me than to always be wondering where I've run off to. I'll cover for you. Just don't let them see you and you're golden."

Caleb Austin Wright
Son of Momus

Caleb listened in silence. Her words, even if he didn't have much to respond with, made him feel oddly at ease. Had this been what he was missing? Was this how it felt before, when he actually had a friend? Using June's hand to pull himself up, he quickly let go and dug his hands in his pockets. The physical contact wasn't something he was used to.

"No one cares, but people must still make an effort to remember us," he said softly, eyes fixating at a point in the distant trees. "Even the look of disgust on their faces say something. A sign that they know who we are. I'd rather be judged than forgotten, honestly."

He sighed as he looked up, trying to see the sky behind the thick canopy above them. "There's not much to tell. Not hard to guess, either. Fights here and there, and if there were no fights, there'd only be silence. To put it quite frankly, it's not a good story to tell. I guess that's nothing new. Almost nothing about me is good, according to a fair number of people." He laughed dryly. "Don't convince me otherwise. It's true." A sudden thought struck him, a face sliding in the vision of his mind's eye. "I suppose there was something else. A daughter of Zeus. But it's complicated. I don't know what to make of her, really. In fact, the situation is almost as similar to this, barring the fact that we have been--no, are friends." He paused, considering how he worded his statements. Implications would be easily made, but he quickly disregarded the thought of correcting himself to rid of them. What importance would it be to June, anyway?

"You said 'they'll' kill you. Mind if I ask who? I'd guess your siblings, but they don't exactly strike me as the type to murder their own relations. Brawny, yes, but they wouldn't go that far." Caleb sighed. He didn't know what to feel about June leaving, but it was a little unpleasant. "And I'm sorry to say that your cabin is one of my least favorite places in the world. You're not getting me in there even if you paid me."

Caleb turned to stare at her, not caring if it would come off as rude. He was used to being rude. His thoughts scrambled for anything, for an excuse to make her stay, but he ultimately decided against it. As to why he was even trying to think that way... his own line of thoughts bothered him slightly."If you really have to leave then... I guess I'll just see you around."

"We're famous,"

"They? I don't know, gods, monsters, the usual,"

"Okay, alright. Sometimes it seems as if the other campers have access to a June switch. When it's on, my heart is still beating, but if I slip up once, they can flip my life off. I know it's stupid, but I'm always being watched, unless I come here or leave camp, which I've yet to do. I'm afraid someone out there would remember me."

"So Caleb has a little girlie friend?"

"Tell me more about her . . . tomorrow, okay?"

"I really have to go. You have no idea how many questions my siblings can ask when I'm gone for 5 minutes. We've been out here a lot longer than 5 minutes . . ."

"See you tomorrow, Caleb,"

really

Caleb Austin Wright
Son of Momus

Caleb raised his eyebrows, amused at how June was afraid of nameless people who were out to get her. Had she done something bad enough to merit some kind of revenge? He guessed that it was a certain possibility, given her condition. However, he decided against asking about it. It was a story for another day, as the daughter of Ares had made it perfectly clear that she wanted to leave.

"She isn't a friend. More in the lines of acquaintance." He watched her leave and snorted. "What are they? Your mother? Does June have a little curfew?" Nevertheless he managed to raise his hand half-way but dropped it quickly. Was he just about to wave goodbye? But the gesture was lost, as the girl had already turned her back on him.

"See you," he spoke softly, knowing that June was already far enough not to hear anything he would say. Releasing a breath he didn't realize he was holding, Caleb followed a few minutes after, going in the opposite direction. That was the most normal conversation he has had for a long time. A slight trace of a cocky grin played on the corner of his lips as he walked off. He still didn't know what it meant, all of that, but he was sure of one thing.

Whatever it was, this was a start.