Chapter 9
Reyna felt sweaty and gross. She had just finished track practice, and was currently on the couch, playing with her phone. Her head snapped up at the knock at the door. Who in their right mind would bother me after track practice? Reyna thought irately. She got up from her seat lazily and opened the door.
She raised an inquisitive eyebrow at the sight of the Latino boy kneeling on one knee and holding a bouquet of red roses. It didn't make any sense in her mind at all. Leo grinned at her widely and stood up. "May I come in, mi reina?" he asked her. She nodded, still quite confused. He grinned again and stepped inside.
Reyna felt the very compelling urge to smile back, but instead she asked, "What are you doing here, Leo?"
Leo cleared his throat and stared at his hands. She could actually make out sweat going down his face. "Are you okay, Leo? You look like you're going to be sick." Leo looked up and smiled weakly. "I'm fine. Uh…here." He shoved the roses into Reyna's hands. Reyna looked down at them and looked at Leo. "No more beating around the bush," she said, "Tell me why you're here." She never was one for sugarcoating things.
"Uh..I…um," he inhaled deeply. "I'd like to ask you out."
Reyna's eyes widened. She was stunned, she didn't really know how to react, nor what to say. Most girls had had their fair share in dating; but Reyna hadn't ever been asked out before. She realized she had stayed silent for far too long, because Leo was wilting a bit. It's just one date, she thought to herself. And it's with Leo. I trust him.
"Of course I'd go on a date with you."
Leo grinned, his cute dimples showing. He hooted and spun around in his victory dance that Reyna had come to love so much. "Yes!" he said after he calmed down. "Okay. I'll pick you up at nine on Saturday."
"Where are we going?" Reyna inquired.
Leo's grin grew wider. "It's a surprise, mi reina."
Reyna raised an eyebrow. "At least tell what kind of date it is. I need to know what kind of clothes to wear."
He sighed. "Fine. We're going to a restaurant. It's not too fancy, but it's not that casual either. I'll pick you up at five." Reyna nodded. "Okay. I'll see you then." Leo smiled and hugged her. Reyna gasped from surprise but he quickly let go and walked out of the house. Reyna felt very confused from what had just happened, but she couldn't help but feel elated anyways.
Bellona walked in shortly after Leo walked out, giving Reyna an inquisitive look. "I saw that Leo boy you told me about dancing on our front lawn. What's going on?"
"He asked me out," Reyna replied cooly.
Bellona's face contorted from confusion, to anger, to sadness, and finally morphed into one of pure happiness. "Oh, my baby's finally growing up!" Bellona cooed. Reyna made a funny expression. She crushed Reyna in a hug. "I thought you'd never get a date!" Reyna frowned. Well, that wasn't hurtful at all.
"Thanks…I guess," Reyna muttered. Bellona smiled fondly. "I always knew some boy would notice you. I mean look at you! You are beautiful! We have to celebrate!"
"Calm down mom," Reyna said, "It's just one date.'
"One date, yes, but it's your first date!" Bellona offered. Reyna rolled her eyes. "You just want an excuse to celebrate."
Bellona nodded. "Yes, I do. Now come on! Movie night!"
Reyna slapped her forehead.
After movie night, Reyna headed up to her bedroom to talk with Annabeth. They had exchange numbers at track practice. The phone rang a few times before Annabeth picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
Reyna sighed. "You win."
"Ha! I was right! And only three hours after the bet, too!"
Reyna rolled her eyes as Annabeth continued to chatter through the phone. "Oooh, I bet he's gonna take you to some place where only his family goes, wouldn't that be so romantic? And then, you guys are going to kiss under the full moon and you'll fall in love, and then—"
"Okay, calm down, Annabeth!" Reyna said. "It's just a date."
"Just a date? Reyna, it's your first date!"
"You sound a lot like my mother," she grumbled.
"So, when and where's the date?" Annabeth asked.
"It's on Saturday," Reyna replied, "I don't know where. All I know is that it's at some restaurant. He's picking me up at five."
"Oh, okay. I'll be over at three on Saturday."
Reyna's eyes widened as she imagined Annabeth yanking at her hair and caking some foreign product on her face. "No no no no wait!"
"Bye bye!" Annabeth said energetically, and the line went dead.
SATURDAY
"Bye honey, have fun on your date," Bellona said, and kissed her daughter's cheek. She grabbed her keys and purse and left the house. Reyna smiled and waved at her as Bellona backed out of the driveway. She collapsed against the couch and rested for a few minutes before someone rang the doorbell.
Reyna frowned as she saw Annabeth at the doorway, holding bags probably full of makeup and some iron stick. "You're early," Reyna said. Annabeth nodded. "Of course I'm early! Didn't I tell you? I always show up at least three hours before I say I will."
Reyna shook her head. "That's not how life works, Annabeth."
Annabeth shrugged. "Eh, it's worked for me. Anyways, let's get you ready."
"My date starts in five hours!" Reyna argued.
"Oh! Right! How about we paint your nails?"
Reyna groaned as Annabeth tugged her upstairs and sat her down at a desk in her room.
"So, which color? I have red, orange, blue, purple, green—"
"Purple," Reyna interrupted, knowing that if she didn't speak up Annabeth wouldn't stop talking. Annabeth frowned. "Nah, I don't think purple'll compliment your complexion. Let's try a French manicure instead. Reyna shrugged. "Sure."
Annabeth expertly painted her nails, and when she was done, Reyna couldn't stop looking at them. "Like it?" Annabeth asked, smirking. Reyna nodded.
Reyna was about to get up, but Annabeth pushed her back down. "Woah, calm down. You have to wait for the polish to dry." Reyna huffed. "Fine."
They talked aimlessly about school and family life. Annabeth was pretty normal, she had two siblings named Bobby and Matthew, and she lived with her two parents, Frederick and Athena. Reyna discussed her friend problems; and she was appalled about how easy it was to talk with Annabeth. It was almost as easy as talking with Leo.
"Okay, you're done," Annabeth announced. Reyna got up and stretched her legs. "Okay, now it's time to curl your hair."
The iron stick that Annabeth had been carrying was actually a curler, Reyna learned. Annabeth plugged it in and heated it up. When it was done, Annabeth clipped a chunk of Reyna's black hair. She wrapped the hair around to coil, and kept it there for a few moments. When she released it, the hair sprung out, it was curled. Like Annabeth, but more tamed. It framed Reyna's face perfectly.
Annabeth repeated the process for the next half hour or so. Reyna didn't even get to glance at herself before Annabeth pulled out her makeup. She lightly patted some dust on Reyna's face and spread pink powder across her cheekbones. "Close your eyes," Annabeth instructed. Reyna obeyed and Annabeth put some black eye shadow with some purple to accent it. "Okay," the blonde said, "You're done."
The result was stunning. Reyna looked like a model. Her cheekbones were high and defined, and her intimidating dark eyes looked even more gorgeous with the eye shadow. And for a final touch, Annabeth taught Reyna how to apply a nude lipstick. "You're ready," Annabeth nodded in approval.
"Thank you," Reyna said kindly.
PAGE BREAK
Annabeth left thirty minutes before Leo arrived. Reyna was relaxing and sitting on her couch when she heard the knock on the door. Pure excitement rushed through her as she opened the door. Leo grinned at her and grabbed he hair. His hand was warm, so warm that Reyna felt like closing her eyes. "Ready to go?" he asked. Reyna nodded.
They arrived at a place called El Fuego. Reyna found the name quite comical, and let Leo lead her in. They were sat down by an overly friendly waitress. Leo looked her up and down. "You look gorgeous," Leo commented. Reyna blushed a deep red, but she was pretty sure that the blush Annabeth had applied earlier concealed it pretty well. "Thank you," she said.
The waitress gave them their drinks and asked them what they wanted.
"The tortilla soup, please," Reyna said.
"I'd like the chili relleno, please," Leo said.
The waitress nodded and left. "So, why here?" Reyna asked.
"Huh? Oh. My mother used to take me here, after we practiced soccer."
Reyna raised an eyebrow. "You play soccer?"
Leo nodded. "I do now. My dad just recently signed me up." She smiled. "It's fun, isn't it? My dad taught me how to be a good striker."
"Striker? For me, it's midfielder all the way," Leo said.
"Well, the soccer field needs both equally. Anyways, any other sports that you play?" Reyna asked. Though it seemed silly, Reyna felt that her date with Leo was a bit too casual. It didn't seem like a date, it just felt like another friendly outing that they'd had.
Leo shook his head. "Not really. But I was quite the flirt back in the day."
Reyna snorted. "Back in the day?"
Leo scratched the back of his neck. "Well, more like in nearly every single year of my life up until sophomore year."
"Did it work?" Reyna said, smiling at the thought of Leo winking at every girl he saw. Leo looked up at the ceiling and counted his multiple failures on his fingers. When he ran out of fingers, he looked back at her.
"Nope," he answered simply.
The waitress came back and handed them their food. "Here you go." She turned and left.
Leo devoured his food while Reyna daintily picked at her tortilla soup, watching him in amusement. He finally stopped and looked up at her. He frowned at the sight of how little Reyna had eaten. "Come on, mi reina!" he said encouragingly, "It's the best tortilla soup in the state!"
Reyna scooped up a spoonful. It tasted mildly spicy and it had the right thickness to it. "It is pretty good," Reyna agreed.
"Pretty good?!" Leo exclaimed. "It is the best in the state, Reyna!"
Reyna raised an eyebrow. "Says who?"
Leo grinned and leaned back in his chair. "Says me."
"I don't know…" Reyna said, looking at her soup, "I think the tortilla soup I make is a lot better."
Leo's face was painted with the expression of shock. "You cook?"
"Duh," Reyna responded.
"You have to make me something then! I haven't had homemade food in years," Leo said, "Hephaestus doesn't know how to make squat. And when I try to make something my mother taught me, I always manage to catch something on fire."
Reyna laughed. "How about this: I'll make you some food and then I'll come over and have dinner together when my mother isn't home. Then you'll have all the homemade food you want."
"Thank you Reyna!" Leo exclaimed childishly. Reyna rolled her eyes but she still found his excitement intoxicating.
"No problem, Leo."
The waitress handed them their check. Leo paid and they got up to leave. "Let's walk home," Leo suggested. Reyna shrugged. Their houses were only two miles away. "Sure."
"How's Jason and Piper doing?" Reyna asked.
"They're good," Leo said nonchalantly, "They fight from time to time though."
"Every couple does," Reyna said, remembering her own parents' quarrels.
"It's part of life," Leo agreed. They walked in silence for a while until they reached the front of Reyna's house.
"Thank you Reyna," Leo said, looking down at her. Reyna stared at his warm chocolate brown eyes. "Of course. Thank you for taking me out. Let's do it again sometime, okay?"
Leo nodded. He leaned down to give her a quick hug, but Reyna had different ideas. She captured his lips with her own. He gasped from surprise. He felt warm and soft, and Reyna could not get enough of it. It awakened a desire within her that would not be satisfied now, and not for a while.
"Good night, Leo."
"Good night Reyna," Leo replied, still a little dazed.
A/N: Sorry I took so long. But like I said last chapter, I needed a little break. So, what do you guys think? Just a little taste of the Leyna to come. Also, I apologize for Annabeth being OOC. But it was either her or Piper, and I think it'd be just a tad bit awkward if it was Piper...Leo being one of her best friends and all...
Anyways, I really appreciate all of your support, thank you guys so much.
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