Running Away Should Have Been Easy

I got ready in my cabin alone. Next year, my sister would be here with me, but for now it was still so lonely. I adjusted the dress shirt the Aphrodite had left for me when I heard a knock on the door. I walk over and open it, finding Maliah. She stood there with her hair curled and styled half up and she wore a simple floor length lavender dress with a plunging neckline and a slight slit on her legs that was covered sometimes, then revealed again. She had a natural makeup look, save for mauve colored lips.

She looked beautiful.

"You look-"

"Beautiful." I finished for her.

She smiled at me, and looked around my cabin. She took in how empty it was and leaned against me.

"It won't be this lonely for long. I'm so happy for you, that you have a sister out there," she said, absently.

"I know, so am I. It's insane to think about it, though. I still don't completely believe it's real."

We fell into a comfortable conversation, just talking to each other for a while. She once again brought up her plans for the term and her fears of not being able to balance everything. I tried my best to reassure her, but I know I didn't ease her mind. After a while, we decided to walk to the arena where the dance was held. We fell into another comfortable conversation.

"Tony asked Kate." she tells me, a smile on her lips.

"Really?" I ask, though I'm not really shocked.

"Yeah, I think he likes her. But of course she thinks different. She thinks he's doing it because he feels obligated since she took a stake to the back for him."

It was still a sore subject, but we were coping with everything that happened to us on the trip. We walked hand in hand in silence for the rest of the way, enjoying each others company. When we got there, she stopped me before I opened the door.

"I know I can't come with you to find your sister because I have my own thing, but I know the others are going to be the best and they won't stop until all of you find her."

A lump formed in my throat. I couldn't tell her I was leaving alone. Or that I was leaving tonight. I just smiled at her and nodded before she opened the door and pulled me inside. When we entered the building, the lights were low and the music was loud. All of the campers seemed to be here. I scanned the area, my eyes landing on the twins who were laughing and joking with their little sister, Lacey. I soon saw Brandon and Ellie dancing together, as well. Maliah tugged on my arm, willing me to come with her as we made our way through the bodies.

We soon found Kate and Tony, standing in the corner.

"Let's dance!" Maliah said.

"Do I have to?" Tony sighed.

"You've had enough punch, let's go!" Kate giggled over the music.

The girls pulled us out onto the floor and we all began laughing and dancing with each other to the fast paced song. After a minute, the song ended and a slower one played. I wrapped my arms around Maliah and we began dancing.

"I know that we went through a lot on that quest," she began, "but this was the best summer of my life."

"Mine, too." I agree.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I see Tony and Kate dancing as well, not talking. They were just content enjoying each others company. I look back at Maliah and the smile on her face hurts me. She has no idea what's coming next and I can't even tell her. I was awful.

"I'm glad I met you, Tyler Wright," she whispers.

I don't have the time to respond when she leans in an places her lips on mine. We both stop moving while everyone else dances around us. To describe the way that my mind and body felt when she placed her lips on mine was impossible. I knew I liked her. I thought that maybe she might have liked me back, but knowing this and feeling her lips on mine were two different things. I didn't imagine it would get this far, not now. I also couldn't help but be grateful it was happening. I felt the sparks that people talk about, the butterflies. Standing there in that room when her, I felt like we were the only two people there.I kiss her back, lightly wrapping my arms around her. I don't know how long the kiss lasted, but I was disappointed when it had to end.

Gods, this was going to hurt.

When she pulled away, she smiled at me and I smiled back. I didn't miss the sun god in the back of the crowd nodding his head at the door. It was time. The music changed to a faster song and Katelynn came over to us.

"Mind if I steal her away?" she laughs.

"Go for it, Kate." I smile.

I give Maliah one last longing look as she disappears into the crowd. I make my way out of the arena and begin marching toward the stables that house the Pegasi.

"Tyler?"

Her voice stops me dead in my tracks. Why was she out here and not at the dance? I can't face her.

"You're leaving?" she asks, her voice breaking. I turn around and she has tears falling down her cheeks, "You're not leaving without telling me goodbye, are you?"

"Mal, I-"

"Tell me that's not what you're doing." she sobs.

"I have to. I'm sorry," I tell her while I turn away and continue walking. I couldn't keep looking at her, it'd only make it harder.

"Don't walk away from me," she says. "Tyler!"

"I'll make it up to you, I promise." I tell her.

I hear her sobbing and drop against the ground. The doors to the arena open and close and I know that Kate and Tony have found her by now. She was in the best hands possible and that was the only thing that made me feel the slightest bit better. I made it to the stables and I find River.

"You're upset," he says.

"Leave it alone."

"It's not the nice, pretty girl, is it?"

"Let's just go."

He doesn't say anything to me after that. I mount him and fly out of the stables. I flew over the spot where I'd just made the biggest mistake of my life and I see Maliah still there, being held by Katelynn. One of the twins was now with them, crouched in front of her, and I saw Tony. He was staring up at me and for someone with the worst attitude, I had a feeling he was the only one who wouldn't hate me after tonight.

River had a bag strung around his neck, a gift from Apollo to point me in the right direction. I couldn't wait to find my sister, but I also couldn't wait to come back and make all of this right again. There was so much still left to do and so little time. I knew Sophia needed my undivided attention, but I just couldn't get Maliah's face to go away.

I finally had everything that I didn't even know I needed. I was happy. I had a new life, a hard one but one worth living, and I ran away from it.

Well, that's it. The story is now officially complete (again). I can't even describe how good it feels to mark this version complete knowing it's improved so much from the last one.

The next step is to rewrite and continue the Children of Poseidon (which might get a name change, not completely sure) but I can't wait.

Let me know how much you all enjoyed it (if you did) and I hope to get the next story out and then finally continue on with the story. Until next time,

XoXo

Gabby