Percy: I love you or not
*1 month after the previous chapter*
I looked over the menu and saw my best friend Artemis sitting opposite to me, looking over her own menu. Our eyes met and we both smiled mischievously before standing up and screaming, "AHHH! COCKROACH IN OUR FOOD!"
We both laughed and ran out of the restaurant. We continued laughing till we reached a bridge and leaned over it, supporting ourselves. We turned towards each other and I gasped out, "That… w-was… hi-hilarious…"
Unable to speak, she resorted to nod while laughing out loud. I finally contained my laughter and said, "I can't wait to see Hephaestus TV tomorrow."
She replied, "Me too."
I turned to the lake that was flowing beneath the bridge. It was nice with all the city lights reflecting on the dark surface of the water. The little waves showing the flickering of the lights while small splashes of fishes creating ripples across the water.
I sighed in content and closed my eyes imagining myself in the water. (A/N: hehehe) I was interrupted by a laugh. I opened my eyes and turned to Artemis and saw her giggling.
I rose my eyebrow in question and asked, "What's so funny Artemis?"
She continued giggling and pointed in a distance. I followed her arm and noticed a gathering of people rush out of the restaurant, we caused chaos in. I let out a chuckle before getting distracted. By Artemis' giggles.
Over the time, I had developed some serious feelings for her. First it was merely a crush but now, it was love. Jeez, I sound so much like Aphrodite.
I shook my head and said, "Well, I guess they are now never gonna eat there."
She replied, "Yeah. Well that's sad but funny too."
I laughed out before holding out my elbow and said, in a formal tone, "Well milady, now that our dinner has been ruined, would like me to escort you to your house?"
She giggled but hooked her hand through my elbow and said, "Nope. I want to continue our day. Maybe the dinner is ruined but the day isn't."
I shrugged and said, "With us two together, it wouldn't take too long to get the day ruined."
She laughed out and I smiled. I walked forward with Artemis thinking about where to go. I asked her, "So where do you want to go?"
"Nowhere."
Well that was blunt. I kept walking till we reached the end of bridge. We turned right and walked forwards, to nowhere. We kept walking till my ADHD kicked in and I started clicking my fingers. Artemis rolled her eyes but began humming in tune with my clicking fingers.
It took some time, but we got a rhythm and started humming and clicking our fingers all the while walking towards nowhere in mind.
Suddenly she stopped and I stopped and looked at her in confusion. She stared ahead of us and I followed her gaze and saw a buff looking guy with green glasses and shaggy hair. His face was covered in scars and marks and it was pretty clear he wasn't handsome at all. So, imagine my confusion, when I saw her staring at the guy.
She kept staring for another minute and I grew impatient and an ugly feeling bubbled in my chest. I glared at the man and realised that I was jealous. I so wanted to punch that guy in the face and add to his scars, but I restrained myself.
I shook Artemis and she shuddered before looking around frantically before noticing me and quickly hugging me. I looked at her confused but hugged her back as her body began shaking.
I realised belatedly that she was crying. I picked her up bridal style and kept walking till I reached a bench and sat down with her sitting on my lap. She clutched my shirt tightly and refused to let go of my shirt.
I sighed inwardly but reluctantly hugged her tightly. She wrapped her legs across my waist and dug her head in the crook of my neck. I shivered at the position but still stayed that way.
Eventually, she stopped crying and pulled back wiping off the mascara that rolled down along with the tears. I gave her a smile and said, "Hey, you ok?"
She looked me in the eyes and nodded and I asked, "What was that about?"
She looked rather reluctant and she stiffened. I rubbed her back soothingly and said, "Its ok if you don't want to tell me. I won't force you to."
She shook her head and said, "No I have to. Percy that guy back there, that was my ex."
And there's the bombshell. I was about to ask some questions but the way she was looking, I decided not to interrupt her as this was probably very difficult for her.
She continued, "He was a very nice handsome man at that time. Then I started my acting career and left my job at the wilderness company. He was angry as I had taken that decision by myself. He slapped me that day. I became angry and took a vase and threw it at his face. Then I got my stuff and left. This is the first time I have seen him after that day."
I pulled back and saw silent tears streaming down her cheeks. I wiped them and asked, "Do you love him?"
She looked away and said, "I might've but no more. Now I love someone else. Someone way better than him."
Pain erupted from my heart, but I kept my usual façade, determined not to let her know of the heartbreak she is causing me.
I asked again, "Who?"
She looked me in the eyes, her eyes shining brightly, reflecting the moon. I would have been entranced in them if not for my anticipation for her answer.
She started, "Y-" but was interrupted as my phone began ringing. I fetched it from my pocket and looked to see it was none other than my dad. I groaned and cancelled it before facing Artemis and asked, "You were saying?"
She shook her head and said, "Never mind."
I looked at her curiously and asked, "Who do you like?"
She looked away and said, "Hey, look at that. Let's go there." And without waiting for a response, ran off towards the gaming parlour. Realising she didn't want to talk about it, I followed.
A/N: So, they haven't confessed yet. Fun. Don't worry. They will confess in the next one and I don't know if it will be in the next one or the one after that, that I will have the fatherly dispute come. Anyways, enjoy.
