I'm late, but hey!

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2. Propose Day

Percy Jackson & Rachel Elizabeth Dare

Rachel sighed. It was so hot and sticky; she could hardly inhale without feeling like she was drowning in water vapor. She rubbed her sweaty palms on her paint-streaked jeans. Ignoring the chatter around her, she gazed at the cloudy sky above her.

It was very unlikely to be cloudy at this hour at camp. Anyways, although she couldn't see a thing in the sky except the large masses of mist, she could at least pretend it was a beautiful starry night.

The campers were sitting around the campfire, roasting marshmallows while the Apollo kids sang the campfire songs. Rachel loved to listen to these songs; they reminded her of all the things she loved: art, comics, ice creams, skateboards, and the camp. And Percy.

Rachel sighed again. Four years.

Four years had passed since their first and only kiss. But she remembered it as if it were only yesterday. It was right before the Titan War that she had confessed her feelings to him. That was the last time they had talked.

Not that she was embarrassed that he had not reciprocated the same feelings as her, no. And neither was she coward enough to not have the courage to face her unrequited love. She never believed it was a sin to love someone one-sidedly. It was just that they never had the chance to meet again.

Rachel had moved to Baltimore to pursue her career in Fine Arts. Anyways, because she was the Oracle, she still frequently visited the Camp. But though she saw him at least once a week at camp, her interactions with Percy were sparse, limited to just exchanging nods and unwelcomed glances.

Four years.

For four long and torturing years, Rachel had enduringly burnt in the poisonous fire of jealousy. Whenever she had seen Percy with Annabeth, she could feel a sharp knife impale her heart over and over, making it scream in agony.

But she never hated either of the two lovers for this, no. She was not the jealous-type lover - out to take revenge like they showed in dramas. She knew it wasn't their fault if she felt this way. But does that mean that it was her fault?

Then why was it not her? Why was it Annabeth that Percy had chosen? She knew these were just meaningless questions. She also knew that she could never find out their answers. All she could do was wait. Wait for a miracle to happen, which could either give her Percy or help her to let go.

(Flashback)

Rachel watched as Charlie Beckendorf beckoned to Percy, who was sitting in the seat right beside her. Percy nodded and then turned to her, "I have to go now."

Their faces were so close, she noticed, just inches apart. Her heart skipped several beats in an unattractive rhythm, making her feel slightly dizzy. After all, how often is it that you find the son of Poseidon's lips so close to yours?

Rachel hesitated for a moment, but then the urge to finally confess her since-long love for Percy made her close the small distance between them. She crashed her lips against his, inhaling his scent, tasting its salty nature on her lips. Good Greek Gods, he was delicious.

Unfortunately, that blissful moment lasted for just a fraction of second. Soon enough, a pair of tough hands pushed her away carefully.

She was disappointed when she saw the hard look on Percy's face, his eyes willing her to stay away. Her face felt hot with embarrassment. She couldn't look meet his bright eyes, never again.

Now that Rachel was in her senses, she knew she had been foolish to take such a rash decision.

All she wanted now was to somehow disappear, to let herself out of Percy's sight.

"I'm sorry Rachel, but I can't," a cold voice broke the silence. Holy Hera, Rachel was already missing his warm, honey-like voice. But Rachel knew she would never hear it again.

She gazed at him as he got out of the car and sat on Blackjack's back. Her eyes were on Percy until he flew away with Beckendorf. Silently, she wished him good luck for his quest to Luke Castellan's ship.

Rachel didn't expect anything from him in return, no; that one kiss had been enough.

She slowly buried herself into her flaming curls and cried.

(Flashback)

Rachel sighed quietly. She looked around and her eyes settled on Annabeth and Percy. They were sitting peacefully at a distance from the noisy group of campers, celebrating their anniversary.

As she gazed at them for quite a while, the harsh reality hit her like a bus. She finally realized that her dreams of being together with Percy were just hopeless ones, the ones which shattered the moment we open our eyes.

Rachel knew she had to give up, if not for anything else, then to simply end her sufferings.

Decision made and determined, she got up and walked purposefully towards the happy couple.

"Hey Percy," she said, "Long time no see."

Percy looked up with a smile, which quickly vanished when he saw who the greeter was. His unnaturally cold eyes warned her to stay away from Annabeth.

Rachel chuckled.

"I'm not here for any nonsense Perce," she whispered, using the nickname she had given him. "I just wanted to wish you two the best of future. You both are cute together, you know."

And then she smiled, maybe for the last time, or maybe for the first. She didn't know.

Without seeing any of their reactions, Rachel turned about and walked away.

Walked away from her rejected first love.

And walked away from the old Rachel Elizabeth Dare, whose heart was still with Percy Jackson.