CHAPTER SUMMARY

Bianca competes in Jupiter's Archery Tournament.

BEGINNING NOTES

Word Count: 2720
Content Warning: Violence (mild)

Aka the chapter about an archery competition that has no archery scenes in it whatsoever because I don't know a thing about archery even though my boyfriend's literally an archery teacher.

(Or at least he was my boyfriend at the time I wrote this. This is why I need to not write my notes ahead of time too *awkward laughing*)

(Oh, he is SO going to see this.)

And all the characters are owned by Rick Riordan.

Credits at the end.

After I hung up on Nico, I handed Zoë back her phone. "Thanks," I said.

"Anytime," she said. "Octavian is scum. How could anyone do that to Hazel? And I don't like Nico, but he doesn't deserve this."

"You don't like anyone with a dick," I teased her, but it was pretty half-hearted. How could all this happen the moment I say goodbye? Hazel getting hit, Nico being outed, the Titans beating him within an inch of his life, and all of it trending nationally. Maybe I was right, a part of me kept saying. I was holding our family together. Everything will fall apart without me.

But the other part of me said, What could you have done? How could you have stopped any of this?

You could've been there.

I know, Nico, but the whole point of this recording was so I could explain. I know how selfish it was, to run away and stay gone through all that, but I needed to be selfish. I'd given every centimeter of myself away to you and Papà and everyone else in my life, and, in San Francisco, it was like I could breathe again for the first time in six years. I knew if I went home I'd never have the strength to leave again, and I'd waste away for the rest of my life. I'd give and give until there was nothing left. I needed to be responsible for no one else but me.

I guess what I'm saying is, I couldn't be big sister all the time. Not anymore.

...

Are you still mad at me, Nico?

I... don't know. A little, maybe. It's just... like, you left when I needed you the most, and you did it in the worst way ever. Why didn't you just tell us where you were?

Because I needed to be so alone that no one could find me. I can't explain it, except that I needed to get away completely. I needed a new life in the fresh air with my bow on my back. I needed a new family, and I got one with Coach Artemis and Zoë.

And you thought we wouldn't let you go.

No! That's not it at all! I was afraid you'd find me at first, but mostly because if I had to face you guys, I don't think I could've stayed away. I'd be back where I was before.

Didn't you ever think that was a sign you shouldn't've left in the first place?

I did. I second-guessed myself all the time. But I'd made my choice, and it... I dunno, it felt like I couldn't go back on it. Like it was a forever promise, a vow I'd taken, and I'd gained as much as I'd lost from it. It was like everything slowed down, and I could see sharper and clearer than I ever had in Los Angeles.

For what it's worth, I still feel guilty about it sometimes. But I don't regret it. I needed to get away so I'd be able to find out who I was besides my last name.

You were always more than a di Angelo, B.

That's the thing, Nico. I wasn't. Not to me.

I think we should finish up. We're starting to push it, and I need to get this edited before everyone shows up tomorrow.

Okay, then let's talk about Jupiter's.

The hotel the competitors stay at-La Maldición del Titán-is massive, and full of literally a thousand people. There were over five hundred schools competing from across the country, and there were scouts looking for talent, and press too. When we checked in, I hid my face behind a ton of makeup and my green hat so none of the reporters would recognize me as Bianca di Angelo.

Coach Artemis took care of our paperwork, so that gave Zoë and me the rest of the day to do whatever. "Let's find the nearest Walmart and get you some clothes and toiletries," Zoë suggested. "You didn't bring anything with you, did you?"

"No," I said. "There wasn't time to go home. It was... on a whim."

"You don't need to explain," Zoë assured me.

We found one of those mega-Walmarts pretty close to La Maldición del Titán and loaded up on everything I'd need for the next six weeks.

I told Zoë I could find myself toothpaste before she could get sunscreen. We left the cart in the electronics section and raced each other. I dashed around the store until I found the teeth care aisle. I grabbed the first electric toothbrush and toothpaste I saw, then retraced my steps all the way back to our cart. Zoë and I almost crashed in to each other in the hardware section. We stopped, eyeing each other. It it were a movie, an old west dueling theme would be playing.

"Oh no you don't," I said. Zoë shot me a cunning smile.

"One! Two! Three!"

We both sprinted back to the cart at top speed, narrowly missing some slow-moving customers. "Sorry!" I shouted to a mother with a stroller. She didn't look happy with us.

Zoë made it back a split second before me. We threw our items in the cart, panting and laughing hysterically. Our shopping trip became a mixture of a scavenger hunt and capture the flag from that moment on. It was the first time in a while I'd actually had fun without anything bogging me down.

Training began the next day. We only had two weeks to train before we'd face the first round of competition. The archery range was a fifteen, twenty minutes walk away from the hotel; it opened at 5 a.m. and closed at 9 p.m. Coach Artemis made sure we were there every day from open to close, minus three hour-long breaks for meals where Zoë and I could walk around and do whatever. Every day we crawled into bed with aching arms and legs and headaches from squinting at the bull's-eye for so long.

I was having the time of my life.

The practice range closed after those two weeks to get ready for the first round of competition. We had three days to rest before the list would go up and we'd know our new time slot.

The night before the first round, there was a knock on my door. "Come in!" I yelled. I was watching T.V. and I didn't feel like getting up.

Coach Artemis came into the room. "How are you doing?" she asked. "Ready for tomorrow?"

I laughed. "You've made sure of that."

Coach Artemis smiled too. "Principal Chiron pays me for a reason. I've got to get you two into fighting shape." She sat down on the bed next to me. "How are you, Bianca?" she asked.

"I'm fine," I said slowly. Her question sounded a little loaded.

"Everything all right at home?" she pressed.

I pressed the power button on the remote and the T.V. flicked off. "You know about Nico, huh?"

"It's hard not to," Coach Artemis admitted. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"There's nothing to say," I told her. "I'm sure the kids who hurt him'll get punished. And Nico's strong; he can push through anything. You shouldn't doubt him."

"I notice you haven't been speaking to your family," Coach Artemis said.

I shifted uncomfortably. "I left my phone at home."

"Does your family know you're here, Bianca?"

I gulped. "Um..."

Coach Artemis handed me her cell phone. "They've put a missing persons report out for you. Bianca, either you have to call them or I'm going to. Now, I think you should tell me the truth. The whole truth." I looked down. I couldn't meet her eye. "Do you have a... problem with Nico being gay? Is that it?"

"No!" I cried. "He's my brother and I love him no matter what! Besides, why would I give a shit who he decides to fuck?"

That's one way of putting it.

She asked me to tell her the whole truth. I care about who you love, you know, if they're a good person and whatnot. I don't give a shit who you decide to fuck.

Say it again, why don't you?

I just did.

"Then what is it?" Coach Artemis asked.

I took a deep breath. "I had to get away from it all. I messed up, Coach, I really messed up, and I can't face it, not yet. Please, I just need a little more time."

"I'll lose my job if I keep information from the police," Coach Artemis explained. "I love you girls, but I can't risk that, unless you're in an unsafe situation."

"I'm not," I assured her.

Wish Zoë knew that when she got you on that plane.

Stop with the grudge. It was my decision, not hers.

Coach Artemis handed me the hotel's landline. "I think you should call your father," she said.

I shook my head, pushing down tears. "I can't."

She sighed. "All right. Then I'll have to go through the police myself. Goodnight, Bianca. Sleep well. I'll see you in the morning."

Zoë came out of the shower a little later and found me in tears on the bed. When I told her what was happening, she stormed across the hall to Coach Artemis's room, still in her towel. I heard them shouting through the wall, but it was too muffled to make out what they were saying. Zoë came back pissed, but I told her it wasn't worth it. I didn't want Coach Artemis to lose her job.

I drank an entire bottle of nighttime cold medicine, the drowsy kind, so I could fall asleep that night.

But there were no police cars outside La Maldición del Titán the next day. Nothing about me was trending on Twitter or in the morning news. While Zoë grabbed us breakfast, I knocked on Coach Artemis's door and asked her for an update.

"The police connected me to your father," she said. "I explained the situation to him. He's glad you're safe, and agreed it was best to leave you where you are. You're an adult now, so it's not as though he can just send you home. He said he won't tell anyone else exactly where you are since you obviously don't want him to, and he'll wait until you're ready to talk to him again."

"So he's just going to pretend I don't exist?" I asked, stunned. "I thought one word and he'd be on the next flight to drag me home kicking and screaming."

"He going to do that, but I convinced him otherwise," Coach Artemis said. She shot me a cunning smile. "I'm not about to lose one of my best archers."

I hugged her hard. I wanted to jump for joy. "Thank you thank you thank you!" I cried. I didn't have to go back to my old life. I was safe.

Safe from your family.

Nico... just let me get through the story. Do you want to finish this or not.

Yeah, it's just hard hearing it.

...

The next few weeks flew by. Zoë and I stayed near the top of the leaderboards and advanced to each new tier. We started attracting the eye of college recruiters. They were usually more interested in Zoë, but I liked it that way. I didn't need to be in the spotlight.

That changed on July 17th. It was two weeks before the championships, and Zoë and I had qualified. La Maldición del Titán was hosting a big celebration for the twenty remaining schools who'd advanced.

It was near the end of the night. I was sitting in the corner of the ballroom with some mini hotdogs and a cup of lemonade. Coach Artemis sat down next to me. "You should be proud of yourself," she said. "This is the first time in Half-Blood High's history that we've made it to the championships."

"Thanks," I said. "Where's Zoë?"

"Talking to some college recruiters," Coach Artemis said. "I didn't want to disturb her." She paused. "What will you do when July 30th comes and we go home? Will you come back with us?"

"I... don't think so," I said. "I have enough money to get by for a while without a job. I can find a place to stay... but I can't go home, not yet."

"Do you know when you will?" she asked. I shook my head. She got quiet, thinking. "I have a proposition for you, Bianca."

I raised my eyebrows. "Yes?"

"You and Zoë are good. Very good." She smiled at me. "I think you two can go pro, and I want to take you there. I've thought a lot about it this year, that's why I gunned so hard for you to come with us when Thalia dropped out. You're something else, Bianca. I think, with enough time and training, you can reach the top."

"The top? Like, the top top?" I couldn't think straight. How could I when Coach Artemis was suggesting... "Are you saying you could take me to the Olympics?"

"I've already spoken to a few coaches tonight," she told me. "And they agreed-the answer is yes. You and Zoë already have your high school diplomas. If you're serious about not going back to L.A., I'll give Principal Chiron my notice. If Zoë agrees, we'll stay here, the three of us, and take you all the way."

"Yes!" I said immediately, without even thinking about it. This was who I was. This was what I was meant to do. I'd spent the summer searching, and I'd finally found it. I knew Zoë would say yes too. I could see my new life ahead of me, free from responsibility, free from everything that was holding me down.

Thanks.

Well, it's how I felt at the time. It's your turn to butt in for a bit.

Ha.

Papà told us where Bianca was a few days after Coach Artemis got in contact with him. He said he wouldn't! you say. Yeah, well, piss off. I'm glad he broke his promise.

We, Persephone, Hazel, Thalia, Percy, Sally, and Paul all waited for Jupiter's to start. We were gathered around the T.V., chatting nervously. What if Bianca wasn't there? What if she'd run off again, this time without anyone who knew where she was? What if Coach Artemis was lying?

The doorbell went off. "Would you get that, Nico?" Persephone asked me.

"Sure," I said. It was funny, ever since Papà and I made up, I didn't seem to have much beef with her anymore.

I opened the door. It was Will. We hadn't spoken in two months.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," I said.

I should've invited him in, but there were people in that house. And the moment I saw him, fire ignited in my stomach. I thought going without him would make my feelings go away. It turned out things weren't that simple. Love didn't work the way I used to think it did. It had only been a year since the Announcement™, but that's more than enough time to change your entire world.

So, I stepped outside and closed the door behind me. It was a warm, sunny day, the perfect weather for dreams to come true. And, look at that, there wasn't a soul in sight.

"I know I shouldn't bother you-" Will began, but I cut him off.

"I'm glad you did," I said. Courage pumped through my veins. Everything that had seemed to hard to say to Will just... didn't anymore. "I love you too, Will."

"I- I thought you loved Percy Jackson," he said.

"I thought I did, too," I said. "But as soon as I told him that... I realized it wasn't true anymore. Listen, Will... I need you back in my life. If you want to be friends until you're ready to come out... I'm okay with that. And if you never want to get together... I'm okay with that too."

"That's why I came to find you," Will said. He took my hand in his. "I'm ready to come out again if it means I get to have you."

I leaned in a little. His lips were so close now. "Do you want to come inside?" I asked. "Bianca's about to be on T.V. Percy's over, too."

"In a minute," Will said. "Right now, I don't think I want a crowd."

I don't remember who kissed who first. All I know is that enough sparks flew to burn L.A. to the ground.

END NOTES

Solangelooooooo!

This week's beta commentary:
STORY: I drank an entire bottle of nighttime cold medicine, the drowsy kind, so I could fall asleep that night.
MELODY: "How'd you die?"
"I overdosed on cold medicine."
LUNA: "Why would you do that?"
"I wanted a nap."
MELODY: "You realize that's even stupider than dying by Hades figurine?"
"Shut up Charon my dad owns you."

Credits:
Author: Melody Rose (Tumblr bianca-the-huntress)
Beta Readers: Jojo (Archive of Our Own bannedfrompencils), Luna Rain (Tumblr peppermintlove1), Oli (Tumblr paradoxicalpsychic)

Please comment so I know what you think! See you next week!

COMMENTS

AquaEclipse

…how can humanity be this sadistic? (This is why the title is fitting.) I was about to do some inter-dimensional travelling to yeet a whole town off the tallest building in the world.

I don't know why people love to pick on other people, but, unfortunately, jerks exist everywhere.

Dem208

Am i actually...THANKFUL to Ares for saving Nico?
And i swear Ethan WILL PAY but omg who the heck was dumb enough to give that dolt a gun
great chapter tho, as always! :)

Hey, Ares isn't too bad, he just has a major case of bloodlust.
Who was dumb enough to give Ethan a gun? That would be Kronos, presumably.

AND THIS CHAPTER BROKE MY ALREADY SHATTERED HEART. GURL I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS *Sobs sooooo dramatically* HOW COULD YOU MAKE WILL AND NICO-AND THEN BIANCA-AND THEN PERCY-WHAT- AND AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Hey, when it comes to writing I HAVE NO FRIENDS! YOU SHALL ALL SUFFER! ALL!

(I know i keep making reviews im sorry)
"You might even say...cOnCeRnEd".

Believe me, I don't mind multiple reviews.
That part with Nico and Hades is one of my favorite moments in this entire fic, if not my favorite hands down. It's so sweet, and so cathartic, too.

YES! I DONT LOVE YOU ANYMORE! YESSSSSSSSSSS!"
ohmygod Nico you are such an ADORABLE DOLT!

He really is XD

Mumu

I HAVE ONE WORD
whymustyoudothis
Omg your stories are always so good but they always make me flip a table too. WHY! *runs away sobbing hysterically and muttering nonsense about Solangelo*

Why do I do this? I like to torture you. :P

well, two things are for sure.
You're the best author ever, and the di Angelos are the most messed up family ever.

I can't confirm or deny the former, but I can certainly confirm the latter. They are, indeed, quite dysfunctional.

I dropped what I was doing to read this and oh my wow. Will needs to get it together. Nico has an amazing support system of friends so Will you wouldn't be going through the same thing. He needs to get it together, man.

Dropped everything? That's a huge compliment.
Look at the story from Will's perspective: of course he's scared after what happened to him. Who wouldn't be? Even if he agreed that he'd be accepted by his friends, the intense bullying probably is still messing with his mind. Of course, now we know they do indeed get together, but I can understand Will's hesitation.