If you're actually still reading at this point, I commend you, because frankly, I think this isn't my best work but it's been a source of my frustration for nearly a year at this point, so I'm going to see this through because I really want to write the ending, but chapter 11 is making headway, good because it's not long until I have to post that too, yay!
Word Count: 1,866
As always, I don't own Percy Jackson or the characters related, I don't own the song How To Save A Life by the Fray, and I never will, I don't make money off of this, I only do this for fun.
January 2nd
Hylla's Point of View:
I stared out of the window, watching Max and Esteban tackle each other in a two-man game of football, Antonia had agreed to ref so I had retreated to the nook I'd loved to use as a child, it was a large space hidden under the second floor stairs, granting a great view over the back garden. It used to be the clubhouse Antonia and I used when it rained, our old drawings still decorated the wall. I peeled one off, keeping the blu-tack intact, the scene was obviously a wedding, I recognised the picture, I'd drawn it when I was twelve and hid it in here, never to be found by anyone outside of our little club. I blinked with surprise as the secret door to the hiding place opened, Reyna stood on the other side, watching me carefully, I carefully wiped away the tears that gathered in my eyes.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked, she slipped into the space with me, I was grateful that it was so large, because otherwise we wouldn't have fitted, the idea made me laugh slightly.
"This." I passed the drawing to Reyna and lifted up one of the many cushions I'd hoarded in here to make it a proper den, my wedding scrapbook was still under there, I didn't touch it. "I can't believe how much has changed since I drew that." Reyna drew her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them.
"You and Toni let me in here once, before we left; I became an initiate of your girl's club, we had a jellybean feast with hot chocolate." My sister recalled, her eyes grew glass-like as she marvelled at the nook. "The three of us told jokes and looked through the wedding scrapbooks you and Toni kept until it got dark, and Esteban came to pick up Toni." I chuckled, remembering that day, it had been three months before we'd left. After dad showed Esteban where our secret clubhouse lay, we'd abandoned it temporarily for a room on the upper floors, if only until we decided he wouldn't think to try looking for us there again.
"You blabbed about the wedding scrapbook." I accused Reyna, she gave an innocent smile. "Come on, let's get out of here, close the window and we'll make a tactical retreat to my room. I know where all my hiding spots are, and I stocked up on fresh sweets." I taunted, Reyna pushed open the door again, sliding out into the hall. Once she'd left I picked up the picture she'd dismissed and tacked it back up, leaving the clubhouse as I'd found it, unused but tidy. Once we were sat on my bed I stared at the bag of colourful beans, choosing the first one carefully.
"Something's eating at you, and it's not a monster." Reyna observed, she scooped out a handful without hesitation and I laughed at her.
"It is most certainly a monster." I disagreed, Reyna watched me, not touching her jellybeans. "I don't know why I agreed to stay, Esteban and I have history, and it's not like your history with Jason." Reyna began to protest but I silenced her with a look. "He was my first crush, and I put him on a pedestal, he was everything I thought a boyfriend should be; mature, handsome, kind. It seemed there was a difference of opinion, I thought he could be king of the gods, he thought I was a dorky kid, I didn't realise that at the time though. I felt lucky that he even talked to me." Reyna gave me an incredulous look. "I was twelve, sue me." I muttered.
"Not going to, carry on." Reyna replied quietly, she began munching on the jellybeans as if the story were a soap opera.
"It wasn't until a few years later that I knew how he really felt." I confessed, Reyna's gaze softened. "When I was training with Circe, she insisted on a break and offered me the chance for me to see one person of my past, any person and she'd show me my greatest memory of them. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I took it." I played with the white bedspread beneath my hands, tucking and twisting the fabric. "I could have asked for dad, I could have asked for Toni, but I still held a torch for Esteban, and I chose him." I felt my stomach churn as it had done after seeing the vision.
"Hylla... You don't have to tell me." Reyna whispered, her concern flowed through the room.
"I need to tell someone. Nobody else knows." I replied quietly, at once Reyna set down the jellybeans and put her hand over mine, offering support. "I bought him a rose for St Valentine's Day, I'd come to visit Antonia and her mom, we were going shopping for clothes as we were growing so quickly at that point. Before we left, I took the flower up to Esteban with a card, he took them with a big smile on his face, and thanked me, even giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek in return. The memory should have ended there, when I left, but it allowed me to see what happened after he'd closed the door. He discarded them, throwing them in the direction of his bin and laughed." I felt the tears well up again and brushed at them furiously, it'd do me no good to cry over him.
"Hylla..." Reyna murmured, she squeezed my hand for comfort.
"I exploded the blender that Circe used to make the potion, I was so angry, humiliated. I swore that I would never fall for him again." I sensed the gears churning in Reyna's mind.
"That's why you didn't tell Blackbeard about dad. They'd bring us here and you would have had to see him sooner than you did." I raised an eyebrow at my sister. "Also, they'd kill us all." She added, I chuckled, glad that part of our lives was over. I also felt a lot better now I'd told someone else about that day. "So, would you care to tell me why you chose mint green and white as the colour scheme for your bedroom?" Reyna challenged, a smirk growing across her face as I glanced around my room. She was right, the furniture was all white, the floors white-pine, the walls were white, the only green was the underside of my blanket, green with white dots, dad had redecorated for us, changing Reyna's room to what I hoped she'd like.
"I decided to make this my vacation home, the idea is for this to look like a holiday room in a villa." I couldn't say it didn't, because all it was missing was the golden sun streaming in at seven A.M. while waves crashed on the shore, but it was perfect.
"It is pretty." Reyna agreed, I laughed again and scooped up a handful of jellybeans, pouring them into my mouth until it was full. My sister took one look at me and burst into laughter, the peals echoing around the room, I was so absorbed in memorizing the sound that I failed to hear the door open.
"I knew there was something missing from this house, it's good to hear its return." I turned to see dad in the doorway, he was beaming from ear to ear as he watched us, his soft brown eyes were glowing with happiness and pride.
"I'd offer you a jellybean, but we need to start rationing them." I giggled through the jellybeans before chewing them carefully, dad chuckled.
"I was the one to clean out this room before you came, I know where you hide all your stashes." Dad quipped, I grinned at him. "Try not to eat too many, dinner will be soon and you'll spoil your appetites." He teased before continuing on to tell Shaun.
"No such thing!" Reyna and I called after him with laughs, I got up from the bed and walked over to the balcony doors, throwing them open to allow the January sunshine and winds to filter in, the sudden breeze allowed the curtains to dance in the room, I became still, a smile growing on my face, San Juan stood tall and proudly in front of me, barely a five-minute walk. I heard the sound of someone taking a picture and turned to see Reyna holding one of her presents, a brand new camera.
"You looked pretty." Reyna complimented me, I smiled and beckoned her forward.
"Here, let me take your picture like that." I laughed, we traded places and Reyna stood in the balcony doorway, her smile bloomed across her face as the wind caressed her in a light embrace, barely moving the free strands of hair that had fallen from her braid, I took careful aim and took the picture, immortalizing that moment.
"How'd they turn out?" Reyna asked, closing the doors once again before she darted to my side, I checked the pictures, they had both come out beautifully in their own ways.
"Perfect." I answered her question, we shared a smile and I was struck by how different, yet similar we were. I'd always known, we had the same physical features, eyes, hair, skin, freckles, our abilities, I still remained taller than Reyna, six to seven inches taller when in heels, three when I was out of them. There were a few differences, Reyna was quicker to forgive and forget, I would hold a grudge for years, and she knew it well. I reached out and turned on the radio, letting the music envelope us.
He will do one of two things,
He will admit to everything,
Or he'll say he's just not the same,
And you'll begin to wonder why you came.
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend,
Somewhere along in the bitterness,
And I would have stayed up with you all night,
Had I known how to save a life.
"Shut up." I muttered to the radio, switching it off again, Reyna watched me silently. "Have you ever had that moment when you turn on the radio and there is a song that matches your situation?" I asked her, she gave a soft smile and squeezed my hand.
"Songs are relatable, I think I can smell dinner already." Reyna said, changing the subject, I sniffed the air and smelled pasta and garlic bread.
"Italian, my favourite." I smiled, we got up and Reyna gave me a quick hug before dancing out of the room, I took a deep breath, and followed her, I was prepared to be the dutiful actress and pretend I knew nothing about that day, I'd never give him a reason to suspect I did.
Well, that's it from me this week, I'll be back with more next week, see you then.
Peace, Love, Warmth.
Love Always, Jeyna. X