Octavian's P.O.V.
"I'm coming with you." He whispered, wrapping her in his coat.
"You don't care."
"I got the quest reinstated, but you didn't take the time to realize that because you were too busy being angry at me."
"W-what?"
"I asked Travis and Connor to get the quest reinstated anyway they can so we could go on it, together."
"You didn't look like you cared when Drew was hanging off of you."
He blushed and studied the ground.
"I don't like her. She annoys me and she's a little terrifying." He laughed nervously.
"Yeah. But why'd you even go in there?"
"Because I'm skinny and have no muscles and my hairs a mess and I wanted to impress you by looking like something more then that. I'd put my comfy blue shirt back on if I thought you'd be impressed by that and-"
"Go be you. Change. Tell anyone who stops you that they can take it up with me." She told him. His heart melted. He swayed a little, looking down, and in a whisper said,
"I think I'm falling for you Rachel Dare." Then he stepped a way, quiet, humming, thoughtful. He went to change and, as a hindsight grabbed Augustus and stuffed it in his packed for quest bag. He was going.
He had to go.
"Look Rach, I have to go with you." When he game back she'd cuddled up inside his coat and was sipping a glass of soda.
"Why?"
"First off, I was assigned to help you find the Sibylline books, and finding them was my dream."
"Was?" He choked on the cheesiness of his next disney quoting flirt.
"You were my new dream."
"That's from Tangled."
"Yes it is did it work?" She threw her hands up.
"This is just a set up! This is still just them pulling strings and match making! You're working with them this is all a joke! All of this was a joke I bet! I bet you don't even like me. When I asked you to be my best friend? I thought you deserved it!" She ranted and raged until he caught her.
"Shh shh no! No this isn't a joke. I want to be your best friend. I do I do. And no, I don't deserve it. I'm a horrible person, you've probably heard the rumors-" He stifled a sigh, hating the rumors,
"-but that's why I want to go on the quest with you. I want to earn being your best friend. And yeah, I think I'm falling for you but if you don't want that then we'll go on the quest and I'll make sure no one ever brings it up again." He would rather suffer not being with her yet still being her friend then have her so unhappy he didn't even want that.
"I hope you're packed." She grumbled. He held up his bag, Augustus peeping out.
"And I hope you can fight." He laughed.
"Nothing as on par with you as hair brush throwing, but I have a few skills."
"I don't even think Chiron will let you come with me," She pondered.
"All of that is straightened out." He promised, finally letting go off her shoulder.
"Rachel? Octavian? It's time to say goodbyes." Pollux informed. Octavian had an almost sad farewell with his new bros, and a curt goodbye with Reyna, who he didn't hate but hadn't forgiven. He merely nodded at Jason and politely thanked Piper for her kindness, then stood back and watched, almost jealously, as Percy squeezed Rachel. She liked him. She liked Percy Jackson. Or she had, at least. And who wouldn't? He was the hero.
He'd be lucky if he came out of the quest alive, luckier still if she was his friend after everything.
He'd never be the hero that got the girl.
Never.
It was impossible.