Disclaimer: So Rick Riordan wrote the world where I just play.
Author's notes - 4/13/15 - OMG! Back to school and I wanted another week. I'm so tired. I had my husband's family on visit and we did a lot of tourism. I think I am satisfied with the first 30 complete chapters. I am actually proud of how much I have grown as a writer and plotter of good and bad things with this whole saga. 1,218+ views.
CH 7 "Night Out" (Lana)
Finally, TGIF! The whole week had been over-stressing and overloaded with lots of work and all my teachers are already pushing us for our best work for the exhibition. It's a lot of pressure. I was almost thankful that Theo hadn't visited me or even called me. I had been locked with my roommate and the rest of my classmates in the color lab or the workshop.
Everybody is doing paintings but I am making a sculpture of two lovers running at each other, one second of touching each other. I picture their aching need to touch each other with desperation and fervor, pretty much me and Theo for the last 4 years until last week.
I was on the hall payphone almost making a call when I saw my roommate already flirting with a sophomore. She leaned close to him showing as much cleavage as possible. I could see the guy's eyes on her with blushing cheeks and light stammering. She broke up last week with Kenneth, a classmate, claiming that he was too immature. I like her. She is funny, really talented and a pleasant girl, but seeing her flirting like that it made me anxious. She was good and I wondered if any guy could say no to her, more likely if Theo could.
I hated myself sometimes for being so insecure about my relationship with Theo but… things happen. Long relationships are doomed because of the temptations in the road. I sometimes wondered what really kept us together: his devotion for me, his selflessness, our hotness or the pull we felt about each other. When he told me about his, I comprehended mine. Since day one, I only had eyes for him and I thought it was just a dumb infatuation. He was older, more confident and that smile. I realized it was love when he pleaded me not to tell everyone who the Dark Sword was, his own twin sister. I wanted to protect him. I thought our relationship was never going to happen, so I settled down with Ewan who was my age and also cute, besides he loved me.
Anyway, here I was thinking in love and relationships. Before I grabbed the phone and dialed, I breathed out nervously. I still felt the same weak knees as the phone was ringing on the other side of the line. Within seconds, I heard my boyfriend saying "Hello, Jackson residence"
"Hey, Theo. I haven't seen you in days" I said.
"Sorry, working with dad is a whole day thing" said Theo over the phone and he sounded tired. I worked once in a while with Percy when he needed help, so I knew exactly what Theo meant.
"It's okay. I have been really busy myself. It's Friday and…" I said with the right tone. I hoped for my boyfriend to get it.
For a second nothing, I could almost hear the gears inside his brain moving, then he said "I can pick you up at 8".
"Make it 7" I said with a big smile.
"I'll try to make it" he said.
"Sure" I said "See you in a bit" I hung up before hearing his reply. I had to take a shower and get ready.
I was almost out of a very long and spa-like shower when I heard knocking in my door and I was thankful that my roommate was still in the same floor. Then I heard the door opening and I wondered when she returned to our room. I almost plastered my ear to the door to listen to them as I was combing my hair.
"Mimi?" said Theo and I got worried. Who was with my roommate?
Then I heard my roommate's voice saying "TJ? How did you find me?"
"I wasn't. Maybe I am in the wrong door. I'm looking for my girlfriend Lana Blevins" said Theo with a peck of hesitation.
"She is my roommate" she said "Come in. She is still in the bathroom, getting ready, I guess".
Theo said "Thanks… She told me her roommate's name is Morgan". His voice sounded clearer as he was inside the room.
"That's my name" said Morgan, my roommate "Well, my full name".
"Oh, so Mimi…" said Theo
"It's a nickname because Hughie and Helen couldn't say my name when they were babies" said Morgan and now I was intrigued who Hughie and Helen are.
"Well, that explains things" said Theo and I could picture him looking around the room.
I was done and I opened my door carefully slow. I walked outside as I saw them but they didn't see me. Morgan said "Yes, I guess so… Well, Lana should be"
"Here" I said quietly and both of them turned to see me. They didn't look like caught doing something bad, so that was fine, I guess.
"Hi, Lana" said Theo walking to me.
"Hi, Theo" I said and kissed him lightly on his pretty lips.
Morgan or Mimi stared at us and asked "Theo?"
"TJ is a nickname too" said my boyfriend.
Morgan rolled her eyes saying "Obviously… so Theo…"
"Theodore James Jackson" I said "This is my roommate Morgan Collins"
I thought they would shake hands or something but they just stared awkwardly at each other, well, that wasn't good. I was now uneasy. Did they date before?
Morgan said already grabbing her purse "Well, I'd better get going. You two have fun in your date. I will be out with Howard and probably spending the night at Christina's if you get what I mean… Take my keys, so I won't barge in and interrupt something" She threw her keychain at me and left the room quickly.
Now Theo and I were alone. Somehow I was nervous and still uneasy. I didn't expect them to know each other. I wasn't jealous… yet.
"So that's my roommate. Where did you meet?" I asked grabbing Theo's arm. He made a light flitch like something hurt him, probably sore muscles by working with Percy all week.
He looked to me and said "I help his dad once in a while at their farm. Why? Are you jealous?"
Of course, he knew I wasn't comfortable of them knowing each other. I tried to push away my insecurities. Theo wasn't like other guys. Thereby, I just kissed him. I had to tiptoe a little. He was so tall now. He leaned to me as he placed his hands on my neck. We kissed a little more deeply and it was really hot. I felt all flustered and I wasn't sure if I wanted to go out now. I pushed him gently to the edge of my bed and hoped for him to fall with me on top. I just thought 'Hey, we are alone. Morgan isn't coming back for the night. We should do it'. However, my boyfriend seemed to have a different agenda as he said "Do you want to grab a bite?"
I looked at him almost biting my cheeks annoyed that he hadn't taken the hint. I said a little annoyed "Yeah, I could eat". I sighed and grabbed my purse exiting my dorm.
We walked holding hands and it felt just right. I was happy that this was going to be regularly for at least 3 more weeks. I thought of taking him to dinner, then movies, but Theo was the kind of guy who falls asleep with TV, so we went bowling. There is one close to my dorm that serves the most amazing shakes and burgers ever, mostly when you are pretty much wasted and they open all night.
The bowling alley was already packed with a wide range of people: couples, families with teens kids, college students and some older people teams. We were lucky to get the last lane and we played while we were waiting for our food. I was really in the mood for chilly fries and Theo ordered a salad which made me feel like the boyfriend here.
I was winning when our order was ready and we sat facing each other. We ate with little smiles and not really deep conversations mostly me talking "This is really good, try one. Come on. They are delicious" but Theo stayed with his salad. I was eating the last fry and really considering of licking the plate when I realized that this was the perfect opportunity to discuss something that has been in my mind for years.
I looked to my boyfriend and said "I had been thinking about you"
"Yeah, what about me? How awesome I am?" said Theo with a bright teasing smile. He could sound just like Taylor when he wanted to joke.
"Well, you are an awesome dork but I was actually thinking that you should drop the TJ thing" I said.
"Oh, really? I can't wait to hear your reasons" said Theo almost defensive. Since his parents got back together, pretty much everybody has mentioned the same thing once or twice.
I sighed bracing myself for my well rehearsed list using my hand to make a 1. "Okay. 1: it's a boy band member name, your sisters, even Charlie agrees with me" I said and Theo didn't want to agree in that. Two fingers in the air now. "2: your mom and I call you Theo" My boyfriend pursed his lips and I knew I got one in my favor, so I showed him 3 fingers "3: you are no longer the same guy that was angry at their parents or the world because you were stuck at Camp Half-Blood, not knowing" Theo looked to me and I could see how fragile he could be when he let me see it. He was always so selfless, always doing everything for everybody, carrying the world on his shoulders and I love him. I took his hand and kissed his palm "I think it's time to get back to basics, to the name when things were right and you were the happiest. Maybe it will bring good luck"
He smiled at me and I felt his lips on the tip of my nose. He said "I get that it's all in the past now but it still hurts, you know? I was Theo when I have my whole family, when Mer and I would sneak on Aida to scare her, when I lived in New Rome having sleepovers with Em, Sean and Frankie; when Taylor visited us instead of being with Daniel at the movie set, when I visited my grandpa Paul and Calypso in New York and when I went to Central Park with mom, just the two of us. I am afraid sometimes that something bad will happen… maybe I am just superstitious, you know? Maybe…"
"Why do you let me call you that then?" I said feeling uneasy.
"You make me feel happy and you love to do it" said Theo like it was the most obvious reason. I loved when he opened up like this. Theo trusted me so much.
"Well, I do love it and I love you" I said nervously "If you don't want, I can stop"
"No. You are right. I will go back to Theo. It's time" said Theo "Maybe it will bring good luck"
"So what do you want to do now?" I said.
"Whatever you want" said Theo and kissed my cheek, just a friendly kiss. Before he pulled away completely, I kissed him fully and hotly. He replied it but he quickly pulled back since we were still surrounded. Nobody was really paying attention to us but Theo was sometimes too polite.
"Let's go to my dorm" I whispered as I looked to him. I could almost feel the electricity between us. I wanted him on the spot. He nodded a little bashful and I just grabbed his hand leaving the bowling alley behind.
We didn't say a thing as we walked just a little faster than usual. I wanted to get back to my dorm as fast as possible before Theo found a reason not to do it or I lost my bravery.
I opened my door with shaking hands. I didn't know why I was so nervous. It was the logical thing to do. He was finally here. I was older. We were in a stable relationship and of course, we loved each other. Really, there were a lot of bad reasons to have sex and none of them applied to us.
Once inside with lights off, the open curtains and city lights and moonlight softly illuminating the room, Theo and I sat in my bed holding hands and just unsure and really freaking out, well, at least me. I combed his hair in an attempt to relax myself. His hair was soft and a little shaggy and my hand moved a little below to stay over his beating heart. It was fast, really fast.
"I am not sure how… I mean" said Theo with a light stammering.
It probably took me a whole second to comprehend him and said "Wait, are you a virgin?"
Theo looked at me offended. He said almost annoyed "Of course, I am. What did you think of me?"
Now, I felt bad. This wasn't exactly what I expected. I said doubtful "I don't know. All those months alone… Mimi is pretty" Of course, I sounded jealous and insecure which I didn't want to but I did. I wanted someone to kill me on the spot.
Theo sighed and said "Lana, I love you, not Mimi and..."
"But before we got together?" I said and I heard myself. How come I was actually sounding upset because my boyfriend never slept around?
"Still. You are the only girl I want" said Theo and I felt like a bucket of cold water felt on me.
"Oh" I said barely saying "I'm not a virgin". I felt so ashamed of myself right now.
"You and Ewan?" asked Theo lightly like trying not to sound too intruding.
I looked to him and whispered "Do I have to tell you?" I could feel my face hot.
"It's better if you don't" said Theo "Now, I feel embarrassed"
"Why?" I said. I was the one that should be embarrassed since I was with someone before him.
"Because you have more 'experience'. I…" said Theo with red cheeks.
I put aside everything for the moment. I said "It doesn't matter. This will be our first time together. We are virgins at each other… beside it was such a long time ago"
"So, how do you want to do it?" asked Theo gulping.
"I don't know. We can start with kissing and we can take it from there" I said and sounded so obvious.
I looked to my boyfriend and exhaled all my insecurities. Theo did the same. We just stared at each other with racing hearts and trembling hands.
"Okay" whispered Theo and kissed me. It started sweet, mind-blowing perfect then it turned demanding and soaring hot. Before I noticed, we were closer as his arms pulled me tightly against his chest. My hands travelled to his back memorizing and I felt a layer of fabric on his shoulder.
"What's on your shoulder? Still the salt warrior's wound?" I asked concerned. I thought it had healed.
"No. A seal slashed his tail at me by accident at noon" said Theo quickly and sounded plausible.
"Does it hurt?" I asked already worried that we wouldn't do it.
"Not much" said Theo "Don't worry. It's nothing" and he kissed me again.
His hands on my waist kept me grounded and my legs were getting up and closer to his lap. I exactly don't know when it happened but I ended up on his lap with my legs around his waist grinding against him. It was so hot. I could hear my soft pants as he was kissing my neck. He was sloppy and careless but it was still hot. Slowly but surely, I lied on the bed and he was on top of me. He helped to get undress and… Let's just say that it was mind-blowing good, he was definitely gentle and caring. I couldn't feel more loved and precious. He made me worthy like I was the only thing in the world.
Afterwards, he kissed me gently as he was relaxing. He looked like he had run a whole marathon and overall tired. I covered us with a blanket as we were naked and too sleepy to get dressed. Theo started to snore lightly as soon as he closed his eyes. I looked at him for a couple of minutes, just enjoying his youthful relaxed face until I turned off my night table light. His arms instinctively pulled me closer as I buried my face on his neck, breathing in his salty scent. I slept so peaceful with Theo's body by my side.
At dawn, Theo and I did it again before we had to face the world to get some food. We had breakfast in a secluded table in my favorite little cafeteria. I was happy and it showed as I was beaming but Theo seemed like he hadn't rest at all. He was yawning a lot and left right after breakfast claiming he promised Claire to do something today.
I left him at the train station and went to my dorm to do some cleaning. As for Morgan, I didn't see her until late afternoon when I found her at the workshop working in her piece as I started to work on mine.
