Chapter 5

POV: Thalia

The rest of the day after Reyna's appointment I sat around the tattoo shop trying to read and answering phone calls. A couple of people wanted to come in today for simple tattoos but I knew I couldn't focus enough for that. My mind was racing with all the possibilities of what could happen tonight. I wasn't ready to forgive Reyna, at least not fully, but I knew I needed to hear her out.

At 6:30 a locked up the shop and began my walk over to Castor's. The sky had turned a vibrant shade of violet as the sun set in the west and the air had become chilly, blowing a stinging wind in my face. Despite the weather I still took my time getting to the bar. Just because I knew I needed to hear her out didn't mean I was looking forward to it.

I made it to the bar at 6:45 and took my usual seat in the back corner booth. Pollux, who was manning the bar, came over and took a seat across from me.

"Surprised to see you here. You usually drink at home don't you?" he asked. I had known Pollux for a long time, having gone to the same high school as him growing up, and he knew how to read me at this point. "So what's the special occasion?"

I sighed, "I'm meeting someone here. Someone I'm not necessarily excited about seeing again. Now can I please get two shots of whiskey and the biggest glass of the strongest thing we have." Pollux gave me a nod and went to get the drinks.

After depositing the drinks at my table, he went back to manning the bar, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I downed the two shots and leaned back in the booth, sipping on the moonshine Pollux gave me. At 7:00 on the dot Reyna walked into the bar. She looked around for a minute before she caught my eye and made her way over to me.

"Hi," she breathed out. She looked as nervous as I felt. Under the table my leg was bouncing faster and faster and I could feel my heart rate increase the moment she walked in. Reyna was still so beautiful. She looked regal and dominant. Like she would kick you in the face and then kiss it afterwards to show her control over you. But her eyes still flicked back and forth, refusing to connect with mine.

"Hi Reyna. Can I get you something to drink?" I mumbled. Even two years later this girl still flustered me. At the party when I saw her, all I saw was red. I was furious. Now I remembered everything we did, all the good times we spent together in the hunt.

"A beer. You know whi-," she cut herself off. Of course I knew what kind of beer she liked. Our first real date, after months of sneaking around, we had gone out to eat and she had gone on a thirty minute rant about what was good and bad beer. At the end of it I just said I liked whatever would get me drunk. She had laughed at that and leant across the table whispering in my ear I don't need to drink to feel drunk around you.

I got up fast, forcing the tears to stay inside me. I couldn't afford to cry again today. I had already done it once which was enough for the year for me. I went to the bar and ordered Reyna's favorite drink. I walked back and set the drink down in front of her. By the time I had sat down she had already finished the drink. I flagged down Pollux who brought over another beer before quickly returning to the bar. He didn't know what kind of conversation this was but he knew well enough to not be around if there was a chance I'd get angry.

We sat in silence for the next five minutes, slowly working up the courage to say what we needed to say. Finally the tension got to me and I broke the quiet.

"So how are the Hunters?" I asked trying to feign interest in hearing about my former family.

"Oh, um, I don't really know. I left the Hunters about six months after you did." She left? Reyna left the Hunters? For who? Why? I wanted to ask her but I feared I wouldn't like the answer. She must have found someone else. "I still keep in touch with some of them, Phoebe mostly."

"You left? Wow. I didn't think you would. Where did you go after?" It had been a year and a half since she had left the Hunters. Why is she now appearing in New York?

"I stayed with my sister in San Francisco up until about three months ago when I moved here." Reyna answered. She keeps saying I, never we. It could mean that she doesn't have someone special. I could still be that someone special still.

By this point, I'll admit, I was wasted. The moonshine and whiskey were getting to my head. I could see that Reyna was pretty drunk as well. Either I was seeing doubles or she had six empty pint glasses in front of her, and I knew that she must be feeling it. So in my drunken state, I decided to ask the question that had been nagging me, "Why did you leave the Hunters? Why did you come to New York?"

Reyna's eyes widened at my question and she took a big swig of her seventh beer. She let out a long sigh and finally answered, "You."

I was stunned to say the least. I had expected a lot of answers but nothing as simple as that. You. She left for me? She came to New York for me? I didn't know what to say or what to do. I was in shock and I didn't even realize Reyna was talking for a few moments.

"-And after you left I thought I could handle being alone. I mean I had been my entire life. The Hunters were my only family I'd ever had. But when you were gone I lost it. I wasn't able to sleep, I barely ate. I missed you so much Thalia. So I left. I moved to San Francisco and got a job working with my sister. She helped me get over my heartbreak. Hylla was the only one I would talk to. Outside of work and errands I became a recluse. I eventually got over my heartbreak but I never got over you. I fell asleep most nights and dreamt of our time together on the hunt. So about four months ago I began searching for you. I eventually found you here in New York and I made a decision. I wouldn't let you go without a fight. So here I am."

By this point she had a few tears trickling down her face. Reyna wasn't a crier so this took me by surprise. No matter what back in the hunt, Reyna refused to cry. Before I could even register what I was doing I leant over the table and wiped her tears with my thumb. I muttered, "I-I'm sorry. I ha-have to go."

I left the table where a wide eyed Reyna seemed to be sitting in shock. How could I be so stupid as to do something so intimate with her. I hated her? Even I couldn't convince myself of that anymore.

Fortunately I made it outside before the tears started falling, but I cursed myself for what I did in there. I started walking back to my apartment, snow starting to fall around me. It seemed wrong how peaceful the city seemed at the moment. I couldn't hear any cars or angry pedestrians. All I heard was the gentle hum of all the lights.

Inside my head was a different story. My mind was filled with conflicting thoughts and arguments. The only thing I seemed to be able to agree with myself on was that I wasn't over Reyna. I continued to walk in silence letting my thoughts wander, making it about a block before I heard someone yell.

"Thalia! Thalia please wait!" Reyna came running down the street before slipping on a patch of ice and falling down. I ran over to help her up before I could talk myself out of it but slipped on the same patch of ice and fell right on top of her.

"I'm-I can't let you go again Thals. I can't lose you," she whispered in my ear. Tears threatened to spill once again. I pulled back, looked into her eyes, and let my impulses do one more dumb thing today.

I gently pressed my lips to hers. Her lips were slightly chapped but moved in sync with mine as I deepened the kiss. After gods know how long we pulled back from each other, both breathless. "I'm sorry I ran back there."

"I'm sorry I didn't quit the hunt when you did. I love you Thalia."