Finally! Yay! Woo hoo! And all that jazz…

Sorry for the wait!

Enjoy and review please!

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO!

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Chapter Three

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As the day went on and as the day became evening, the intensity of the heat dwindled down. Thalia and Luke sat beside each other on the beach, watching the sun set.

Luke wanted to tell Thalia about his plans to go on a quest, but there were two reasons why he hesitated. One, he was afraid of her reaction. Had he not just told her that she needed to relax? She would just think he was a hypocrite.

The second reason was he was still thinking about it. Whenever he thought about his father, he had a strong urge to prove himself a hero, to prove that he didn't need Hermes. But then he would see his friends, and he would calm down and he could think clearly.

So Luke came to the conclusion that he was stuck in a rut.

Thalia saw the conflict on his face, and she knew something was bothering him. But at the same time, she had seen that expression a lot since they left his mother's house. She was afraid to ask him what was wrong because she didn't want to upset him, but she cared about him and didn't want to see him suffer.

"Luke?" She asked. "Are you okay?"

"Huh?" He replied. "Oh…Yeah, I'm fine."

"Oh, okay. You sure?"

He chuckled once and nudged her should. "Yes, I'm sure. You don't need to worry about me."

"Yes, I do, because even you don't worry about yourself, and if you don't, someone else has to."

"I don't want—or need—people fretting over me, especially you."

Thalia frowned. "I'm your friend, and friends care about each other, so I care whether you like it or not."

She then gave him a look that dared him to say otherwise. Luke just pursed his lips and looked back at the sky.

Thalia studied his face and the way his eyes seemed miles and miles away. His mouth was set in a hard line, and his body was tense. His overall facial expression was stern and brooding, and even bit bitter.

"Is it about your father?" Thalia asked quietly.

"Could you just drop it?" He demanded harshly.

Thalia huffed. "Fine! How about I just leave so I don't bother you at all?!" She shouted back. She quickly got up and stomped off towards her cabin.

"Thalia!" Luke shouted, running after her. "Wait! I'm sorry!"

"Just drop it," She mimicked bitterly. He grabbed at her arm and pulled her to a stop. Being two years older than her, therefore being stronger, Luke was able to keep a grip on her as she squirmed and struggled to get loose.

"Look," Luke said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. I just…that was the first time I've ever seen my father,"

Thalia stopped squirming and stared up at him. By this time, it was dusk, and the last rays of light cast and eerie shadow across Luke's face.

"When I was a kid, I had to deal with my mom's fits by myself. He never helped me, not even when I was on the streets. After fourteen years, I finally see him…and, well, things didn't exactly go peachy."

Suddenly, Luke felt something hit his chest. He looked down and saw Thalia clinging to him. Her face was buried in his chest and her arms were wrapped around him.

"Thalia…?"

"It's okay, Luke!" She exclaimed though her voice was muffled. "I'm here for you! Annabeth and Grover are, too!"

He smiled and hugged her back. "I know. Thank you."

"You know, if it makes you feel any better, I've only talked to my dad a couple times." She sniffed. There was a slight rumble in the sky, and Luke laughed. It was a deep rumble in his chest that shook Thalia. She smile. She liked being with him, and he usually put a smile on her face, even if he didn't say anything. His presence alone lit her up.

They stayed like that for a while before pulling back. When they did, Luke noticed the smallest of details about Thalia. Like the way her black hair seemed more tamed than usual. Like the way her eyes gleamed with happiness when she looked up at him. Like the way her smile seemed brighter and wider than usual.

He grinned back at her. "You should get to bed," He said.

She stuck her tongue out at him before abruptly turning on her heel and heading to her cabin. She looked over her shoulder and said back to him, "You should, too. It's been a long day."

"I think I'll follow your advice."

She nodded. "Night, Luke." She said and turned back to walk to her cabin.

Luke stared after her. "Good night, Thalia." He whispered to nobody and made his way to his cabin.

The facts were these: one, Luke was undoubtedly falling in love with Thalia. Two, Thalia herself was already in love with him.

Luke just didn't know that last one.

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When Luke stepped into his cabin, he was immediately ambushed by his brothers Travis and Connor.

"Where were you, man?!" Travis demanded.

"None of your business," Luke replied smartly. "What do you want?"

"Are you going to help us raid the Aphrodite cabin?" Connor asked this time.

"Oh, no,"

"But—"

"No buts! I only said I would help you get supplies. Besides, I'm too tired."

Connor sighed. "Fine. C'mon Travis, it's just us tonight." His frown quickly turned into a smirk as he helped his brother grab the stuff. The two left and Luke sighed. "Idiots," He muttered and some of his family, who had heard him, laughed.

Luke walked to his corner where he slept and sat against the wall. He was still contemplating whether he should ask Chiron for a quest or not. He wanted to show his father, to prove himself, but…

…but at the same time, he didn't want to leave Thalia. He felt this strange connection with her tonight when they were talking, and he had never felt it before. He couldn't think of a word to describe it, but it was something new to him.

He sighed. 'I'm too tired. I'll think about it tomorrow…' And with that thought, he drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile, Thalia had lay down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. The silence of her cabin bit into her mind and nipped at her skin like ice. She became restless, and soon she was fidgeting like a pig about to be slaughtered. She huffed and picked herself up from the bed. She stepped outside and sat down against her door. The sounds of the crickets and the giggling wood nymphs and Naiads calmed her and she was able to relax.

But then she thought of Luke, and she tensed up again.

"Yes, I do, because even you don't worry about yourself, and if you don't, someone else has to."

"I don't want—or need—people fretting over me, especially you."

Thalia shook her head. "That boy needs to learn that he has friends that'll help him," She mumbled, the words drifting from her mouth and disappearing into the night air.

"Thalia! Wait! I'm sorry!"

"Just drop it,"

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at your. I just…that was the first time I've ever seen my father,"

Thalia sighed. 'Is he really that upset about his father?'

She looked up into the clear, star-filled sky and once again sighed. She continued to fret over Luke, and soon she fell asleep.

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There you go! I HOPE to have chapter four out within two weeks.

Constructive criticism welcomed! Review please!

--Akatsuki Child