The next day I felt immensely better, and my siblings knew it, too. Trying not to hide in my cabin and sulk all day was very difficult for me, but I managed to do it. I threw myself at training, reprimanding myself for becoming lazy. It was a given law that you should not let your feelings get in the way of . . . well, anything.

Nevertheless, I swore to myself I would not be that pathetic little girl anymore, who cried all the time and cursed her life.

Sure, I had a phobia, but that didn't mean it was the end of the world. I was a girl, though, and we did tend to be...a tad melodramatic, but whatever.

"Arabelle!" Dammit! Just as I was about to release my arrow, someone just had to yell my name. I rolled my eyes at the universe.

I put my weapon down and did my best to not glare at the person who interrupted my practice. Didn't they know I was trying to make up for the day I skipped training?

"What's up, Natalie?" I forced a smile, hiding my irritation. However, Natalie saw right through it, and I couldn't say I didn't expect her to. Her empathy was very creepy at times, but it was an awesome device for her.

"I know I'm intruding and stuff, but I haven't seen you all day, and I was hoping I would run in to you, but I didn't, so I decided to find you instead," she beamed, as if it was the greatest thing in the whole entire world.

"Natalie, you're my best friend, and you're amazing in every, single way, but I need to start training before I leave camp this fall," I told her, a small part of me hoping she would go away.

Her expression fell at the reminder of my leaving, but being guilty was something I shouldn't be feeling. We've talked about this before, and while I certainly didn't want to go to school, it was essential for me to go, if I wanted to have a career when I grew older.

Most demigods didn't reach adulthood, what with all the monsters trying to kill everyone, but I had to be prepared, right?

"I don't even understand why you want to go," she muttered. "School's a waste of time, and with our disabilities, it's going to be ever harder for us than for normal people."

I crossed my arms, tired of this conversation. "What's the real reason you came looking for me?" I asked, suspicion laced through my tone.

The daughter of Aphrodite had the decency to look sheepish after I called her out. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't the tiniest bit curious of what happened last night," she whispered the last part.

I wasn't the only one practicing archery, and if someone heard our conversation, the whole camp would probably know in less than five minutes.

I didn't want everyone to know I had a fear of falling in love. It was hard enough admitting it to the closest people I trust, what more to a bunch of strangers?

"Can we talk after I shoot my last arrow?" I asked, desperately wanting to get back to my training.

Natalie raised both of her eyebrows, giving me her are you serious? look. I mirrored her expression, and she let out a breath of exasperation.

Crouching down to the ground, she picked up my bow and arrow. In a fluid motion, she released my last arrow, hitting it directly on the target before putting her hands on her hips.

"There," she smiled brightly. "Your last arrow has been shot. Let's talk about Nico!" She squealed the last part, and I couldn't help thinking Natalie was such an Aphrodite girl.

Her excitement caused the corners of my lips to tugged, and it wasn't too long before we headed back to my cabin.

My siblings were actually training, which was why my cabin was empty. I would be, too, if it wasn't for my best friend.

"From the start," she demanded, as she sat down on my bed, cross-legged.

And so, I told her, not editing anything out. I told her all my doubts and fears, all my insecurities. I explained to her how I was worried about Nico's reaction after I told him my phobia, and she let out a piercing squeal when I told her how Nico was trying to understand me and how amazing it was that he wasn't judging.

She laughed after I got to the part where Nico and I were howling with laughter after his cheesy moment, and she sighed dreamily when I told her the promise he made me.

"You and Nico are going to be an amazing couple," she told me. I tried smiling at her statement, but all I thought about was how my phobia was in the way.

"Yeah," I said, "if I had the ability to actually love someone."

"You do love him, Belles," she insisted. I remembered her saying something similar to that...

"I'm not sure if I can love him."

"I think you already do."

"I don't know," I admitted after a moment of silence.

"Why are you afraid of falling in love?" Natalie asked softly. "You don't have to answer," she added, "I just want to know."

"I'm afraid of the pain it would cause afterwards..." Yes, that was the biggest reason why love was so scary for me. The pain it could give you was just...unbearable and terrifying in every aspect.

It was like standing on an edge of a building, deciding whether or not to jump. This was a metaphor, of course, so I wasn't talking about suicide or anything relating to that.

Your mind clearly tells you that you shouldn't jump, that you would die, obviously.

But your heart...your stupid heart tells you to jump, to have faith. It tells you that you have wings or something idiotic like that, but to be completely candid, I always thought of love in that way.

Love was a very big risk, and I wasn't sure if it was one I was willing to take.

Sure, I fought monsters that could kill me any second, but when it came to love, I was a shivering, frightened mess. No matter how courageous or brave a person was, love could render them feeling vulnerable and weak.

I never liked feeling those things if you hadn't notice, yet.

"You trust, Nico, don't you?" she asked.

Instinctively, I nodded my head. Truer words have never come out of my life as I said, "I trust him with my life."

Natalie smiled at my answer. "Then what are you afraid of?"

Her question was simple, but the answer was the most difficult thing that I ever encountered. I didn't know how to answer that, if she actually expected me to, but her next question surprised me even more. Hades, it shocked the hell out of me, and suddenly, I questioned every single thing I knew.

"Did you ever think that maybe...you don't have philophobia?"

A/N: Okay. Did ANY of you saw that coming? I mean, it's not really a cliffhanger, but whatever. I'm not making fun about anyone who has a phobia. I'm just saying that us girls...we do exaggerate things like it's the end dof the world.

Every single review is awesome and amazing, and everyone who reviews is just completely incredible, so thank you!(:

I know I haven't updated in forever, but I started eighth grade this year...it's sucks, to say the least.

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