Chapter 13: HOW TO GET STUCK ON BABYSITTING DUTY
So there we were.
A big, ugly sea monster was staring us down like we were an all-you-can-eat buffet. I had my fists clenched, adrenaline pumping, ready to throw hands.
And then, Grover decided he had had enough of our collective nonsense.
"That's it!" Grover shouted, grabbing the wheel of the ship. "We are not fighting another monster right now!"
I blinked. "Grover, buddy, pal, what do you mean we're not fighting? That's literally what we do."
Grover glared at me like a disappointed kindergarten teacher. "You especially! Do you ever not want to fight something?!"
I pointed at the sea monster. "I don't see the problem! We fight, we win, we flex, everybody cheers, we move on."
"No! We are moving around it!" Grover yanked the wheel, and the ship suddenly lurched to the right. The wind howled as the Birmingham veered hard, skirting around the monster just as its massive jaws snapped down where we had been seconds ago.
I stumbled, barely catching myself on the railing. "Grover!"
Grover kept his death grip on the wheel, eyes filled with goat rage. "Nope. No more! We are focusing on the quest, Lionel!"
I turned to Percy, waiting for him to back me up, but he was too busy looking relieved that we weren't currently in the belly of a sea horror. Even Annabeth, who usually encouraged stupid plans as long as they were her stupid plans, seemed fine with it.
Clarisse muttered something about "idiots picking fights with sea monsters," but she wasn't exactly disagreeing, either.
I threw my hands up. "This is so lame."
Clarisse rolled her eyes. "Oh, I'm so sorry we're not letting you get eaten today, meathead."
I crossed my arms. "I wasn't gonna get eaten. At worst, I was gonna lose an arm. Maybe a leg."
Percy gave me a look. "That's not better."
"Speak for yourself."
The ship rocked again, but this time it was from our actual movement instead of some eldritch horror trying to have us for brunch. Grover was still at the wheel, his face a mask of pure, stubborn determination.
After a few minutes, the monster finally sank back into the depths, probably deciding we weren't worth the trouble.
I sighed.
"That could've been so cool," I muttered under my breath.
Annabeth shot me a glare. "No. It would've been stupid."
I smirked. "And cool."
She groaned and turned away, clearly choosing to ignore me.
Clarisse looked like she was about to say something when Tyson suddenly perked up. "Land!"
We all turned.
And sure enough, through the mist, we could see it—Polyphemus' island.
The place looked exactly like you'd expect from a monster's lair. Jagged rocks, twisted trees, ominous dark clouds swirling overhead—basically, bad vibes all around.
Annabeth pulled out the map again. "Alright, we made it. We need a plan."
I cracked my knuckles. "Finally! Time for some good ol' fashioned godly brutality. So what's the deal? Are we sneaking in, fighting our way through—"
"You're staying here," Clarisse interrupted.
I stopped mid-sentence.
"…What?"
Annabeth, Percy, and Clarisse were all pointedly looking at me.
Clarisse crossed her arms. "You're staying with the ship."
I stared at her.
Then at Percy.
Then at Annabeth.
Then back at Clarisse.
Then at Tyson, who was just standing there smiling like this wasn't the biggest betrayal of my life.
I placed a hand on my chest, eyes wide. "You're…you're joking, right?"
Annabeth sighed. "Lionel—"
"No, no, hold on." I took a deep breath. "So let me get this straight. We finally get to the island. We're right here. We're about to do some real heroic stuff—"
"—And you want me to stay here?!"
Clarisse nodded. "Yep."
I stared at her in absolute horror. "Clarisse. Clarisse, please. I am begging you. Let me punch something."
Clarisse scoffed. "Oh, please. We don't need a battle-obsessed maniac messing up the plan."
I gasped. "Messing up the plan? Excuse me, I improve plans!"
Annabeth pinched the bridge of her nose. "No, you don't."
I pointed at her. "That's your opinion."
Percy clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Look, man, I get it. But the ship is still important. If something happens, we needit to escape."
I crossed my arms, scowling. "Oh, so I'm on babysitting duty now?"
"Pretty much," Clarisse said.
I groaned.
This was the worst.
I turned to Tyson. "You're staying, right?"
Tyson blinked. "No. I go help."
I reeled back like I'd just been stabbed. "WHAT?!"
Tyson nodded eagerly. "I am good helper!"
I turned to the others. "You're bringing Tyson—but not me?!"
Annabeth looked vaguely sick at the thought of working with a Cyclops, but she still nodded. "Yes."
I threw my arms in the air. "Why does the universe hate me?"
Clarisse didn't even hesitate before replying. "Because you ask for it."
I groaned again, slumping against the railing. "I hate this."
Annabeth adjusted her cap. "We'll be back soon."
Percy gave me a sympathetic look. "Try not to, uh…sink the ship or something?"
I waved him off. "Yeah, yeah. Go do your heroic things. I'll be right here. Suffering."
With that, the group made their way toward the island, leaving me alone on the ship with a bunch of ghost sailors.
I exhaled.
Stared at the sky.
Muttered to myself.
"This is so lame."