I honestly didn't intend to finish this series anymore since the release of The Blood of Olympus, but it seems like, due to popular demand, people are still interested in this series. It was originally difficult for me to come up with an idea to write about that would stay true to the canon of the series, but I felt that you guys deserve an ending to this series. Thank you for all of your support, and it took me a while to get back to writing after two years, but life has been pretty hectic for me. Anyway, I will post another chapter for Jasper soon (hopefully), but if I get enough reviews and feedback, I will write one last one with both ships. :) If you guys are interested, please leave a review. I will only do it if I have enough supporters. :)
I know that I will receive a lot of flack about Jeyna because Jasper is basically canon. However, this is still just a story, and FanFiction is all about imagination and original ideas, so I don't necessarily have to worry about what is canon and what isn't. But if you have a complaint about it, I don't care... so don't bother leaving one. However, I do try to keep it somewhat canon, so just chill.
With that in mind, please enjoy this chapter.
Smiles
- Jeyna -
Reyna wrung her fingers nervously. This was absolutely silly, she chided herself. Today will be her first time seeing Jason after the war. With the whole Greek versus Roman camps being at each other's throats being settled, it was a nice change of pace to be able to see her former praetor again. Since the two camps have come to peace with one another, it was not uncommon for Greeks and Romans to travel from one camp to another to fully take advantage of the unique programs offered by each camp. However, Reyna did not understand why Jason had to stay over at the Greek camps more often, even if his girlfriend is over there-Rome was their home. Because of Juno's little kidnapping stunt, she has not gotten a chance to properly talk to Jason since the whole thing happened... so stating that she was eager and excited to see him would be a blatant understatement.
The nerves were kicking in. What was she supposed to tell him when she saw him? Congratulations? What's up? How's life? Nice weather, eh? However, all of these greetings do not seem to suffice for the situation at hand.
She shook her head to erase all the ridiculous thoughts she was getting, finally realizing the intent of the situation. It just was not the fact that Jason chose another girl; she also lost a friend. He was probably one of her first friends upon coming to Camp Jupiter. He was so nice and generous: his gaze was gentle and warm. He made her feel at home again at Camp Jupiter after losing her home... along with a lot of other things too. Therefore, she found it sort of pathetic that she could not feel happy for him and his new profound happiness, even though he helped her find hers.
Things were just so unfair. It was to be expected, she figured, begrudgingly. This was her unfortunate fate, after all. Things just never seem to go her way.
This was so unlike her though, fussing about such trivial things... Granted, it is much better than worrying about the war and Gaea's awakening. It came as such a surprise to her when Jason told her that he wanted to talk to her, but he did not give her much details about why he wanted to see her all of a sudden. After all, it's been three months since the war, so he could have easily visited her during that time period. She was not going to lie; she was disappointed he did not come back to see her sooner. But then again, who is she to him, really? What was she really expecting him to do?
With a frustrated sigh, Reyna got out from her room and headed toward the street. She grinned in anticipation; after all, despite the nerves, she was finally going to see her friend again for the first time in what seems like forever.
"Hey Reyna," a familiar voice called out to her. His tall figure was approaching her, and she could feel her heart fluttering strangely.
Reyna, although she was mainly over her infatuation with this boy, could not help but gasp when she saw him. His handsome and gentle face was the same as she remembered it to be when they met many years ago, but his eyes look happier and more content. He matured a lot too and very different. She could not pinpoint it exactly, but this Jason was different from the one she met when she was eleven. Even though she did not hear much about his life at the Greeks' camp, she was happy to see that he was happy.
"Hi," she managed to utter out, finally. Hopefully, Jason did not notice the long pause and think weirdly of her. That was so oddly atypical of her, but she did not care. After all, Jason Grace, her friend, was here in front of her.
Jason smiled back fondly and looked around the Camp Jupiter in awe. "I love all the new changes you have made to Camp Jupiter after the war, Reyna. It seems much more welcoming and friendly than before."
She swelled up with pride, hearing him praise her hard work these past few months. It was nice to have some recognition, at last. "Thanks, Jason."
Yet, despite it all, she felt slightly disappointed. What was she expecting him to say?
Jason seemed to be happy to be home again, walking around and looking at the new buildings that have been instated. "Why did you ask to see me?" she blurted out abruptly. Great, way to be subtle, she berated herself. She did not mean to inquire him so soon, though she could not help it-that was the only thing on her mind the entire morning.
Turning his gaze from the buildings to her, he just grinned. "I wanted to see how different Camp Jupiter is with the Greeks visiting. Camp Half-Blood is completely different too, nowadays. Percy, Annabeth, Leo, Piper, and I have been working to make changes to the camp, just as you are with this one."
Reyna ignored the twinge in her heart at the mention of Piper but dismissed it altogether promptly.
Jason continued, "I just wanted to apologize to you... for leaving so much responsibility on your shoulders since I disappeared. I have not gotten a chance to properly talk to you since, and I just wanted to apologize. So sorry for disappearing on you like that, especially since I was supposed to be your other praetor. I did literally nothing for this camp, but you have stayed here the whole time making sure everything was alright."
"I am willing to do anything to protect my home, is all." Reyna's statement was somewhat truthful. She would do anything to protect her home, since she did not want a repeat of last time. However, a part of her was angry at Jason for leaving her alone all this time, fending off invaders and dealing with problems on her own. Octavian made things so difficult for her after he disappeared. Although she knew it was not his fault for disappearing and being a part of a prophecy that saved the world from another disaster, she could not help but resent him just a little bit. And even after everything got resolved, he did not come back to Camp Jupiter until now... to see her.
Maybe he forgot about her and their friendship after all.
"I really like that about you, Reyna," Jason said with a smile. "I knew there was a reason why we were such good friends, even when my memories were taken away."
Friends. Of course. They were just friends. And Reyna, despite knowing that deep in her heart, could not help but feel slightly hurt. Of course they were just friends, she repeated in her head. Why would she expect it to be different. But yet, she also felt a bit content, knowing that she was still important to him. He did not seem to forget their friendship, despite all the time he spent mingling with his girlfriend and the Greeks. And the fact that he even remembered her despite losing his memories had to mean something right?
She let out a breath she did not know she was holding. "Yeah..." Her voice wavered hesitantly. She did not know what else to say in this situation.
"You know, I think I had feelings for you before I disappeared off to Camp Half-Blood, because I felt guilty every time Piper and I got close. It is such a shame that..." he trailed off, but the unspoken words hung between them. He did not have to say it; Reyna knew exactly how he was going to end the sentence. It is such a shame that we never told each other before it was too late...
What if? That was such an interesting thought, eh? Reyna could not help but feel bitter and resentful after Jason told her that. She had no idea why he would say such a thing, but she figured he was just trying to come clean, not realizing how much his words hurt her feelings. Of course she has thought about that. She has thought about it ever since he came back with Piper. And that has been the only thing on her mind since. What if, indeed...
"However," he went on, "I did not want to ruin our friendship, because you do mean a lot to me, but I just figured I would tell you now. I am not sure the full extent of my feelings to be honest, because I did not stick around long enough to find out. But despite me leaving you in the dusk all this time, I just want you to know you do mean a lot to me. Maybe it is different now than it is back then, but I still care about you, as a friend.
Of course, Reyna repeated to herself. She knew she could not compete with someone as pretty as Piper at this point, but if he never met her, just maybe... they would be together right now. Maybe...
Reyna quickly shrugged off the thought and blurted out something she had been meaning to tell him for four years already. "I think I had feelings for you back then too," Reyna claimed. "And maybe still do," she added in her head. "But that is of the past, so I just want us to be good friends from now on. I missed you, Jason."
"I missed you too," he answered automatically, smiling softly at her. She simply smiled back...
She smiled because her friend is happy... because she finally told him her feelings, somewhat... because she knew she was still important to him... and because she knew that was the only thing she could do at this point. She knew his love interest is Piper, and she respected his decision. She knew this would happen... she just wished that it did not have to turn out this way.
I hope that it was up to expectations. It only took me two years to get this chapter out, so a review would be nice. I do not know how long I am going to stick with FanFiction but keeping up with both writing FanFiction and schoolwork will be annoying and painful.
So let me know about the joint chapter at the end and if you are interested in seeing that.
Lots of love,
Lily.
