Annabeth, Thalia, and I had not spoken in several months, and the impending storm only added to our nerves about the mission ahead. The atmosphere was tense and quiet, with the only chatter coming from my mother, who had a tendency to ramble on about my childhood when anxious.
As we approached Westover Hall, night had begun to fall, and I felt embarrassed as my mom shared every cringeworthy story from my early years with Annabeth and Thalia. This awkwardness added to the overall feeling of unease we were experiencing as we prepared to face the challenges ahead.