Chapter 16

It's sundown by the time I wake. I look around and both Oz and Marlene are long gone. Grumbling, I get up and start walking back towards the school.

I've never been one to get scared easily, but I am sort of absolutely terrified at walking back to my dorm while it's dark out. I've heard the news. It's a relatively typical scenario for a girl in college to get...

Yeah, never mind.

I try not to jump at every shadow and noise, but it's hard quite frankly. I know right now would be the cliché moment in a book or movie where my friend pops out of nowhere and I realize I was panicking for no reason at all. But the world is not cliché, unfortunately.

I am suddenly very grateful that I have a good sense of direction and could easily find my way out of those woods and back to the schools campus. I sprint out of the forest and onto campus. I slow down once I reach the door and pant slightly.

I then facepalm remembering that you need to have an ID to get into the building and that I left mine in my dorm. Great. How the heck am I supposed to get inside now.

I stare at door for a while, trying to spot any possible ways I could get in through that entrance. It appears I am out of luck so I decide to walk around the building trying to find other entrances. It's also a very nice time to try and sort out my thoughts.

Let's do this Peeta style; Real, or not.

Oz is hiding something about Tobias from me. Real.

My sort of boyfriend who might not even be in a relationship with me anymore is cheating on me. That's definitely real.

Two of my roommates are constantly fighting. Unfortunately, real.

I like Tobias.

I falter at this one. I'm not sure where the idea came from but nothing inside of me screams that it isn't true. I guess, for once, all of the voices inside my head agree. How joyful.

I forgot what I was even doing outside until I came across quite the scene.

Peter and Oz were sitting on a bench outside in a little garden. I hid behind a tree and watched it go down.

Peter said something that made Oz smirk, but then she said something back that made him laugh. They were laughing and smiling at each other and I couldn't help but think that they'd be an adorable couple. Then Oz gets rubbed the wrong way and she slaps him.

Peter then says something that makes her crack up and he leans in. She leans towards him as well and some part of knows what's about to happen and how it'd be rude if I kept watching but I seem to forget that part. I watch the kiss. It's a quick one, just a peck, but it was adorable and makes the air feel charged with energy. I can only what it's like for the two of them.

I grin and walk towards them. I plop down next to a slightly blushing Oz. She turns my way and so does Peter. The difference is one is scowling and the other gives me a hug.

"I'm sorry that I let you there in the clearing! I just forgot... Sort of. Marlene walked off and then I remembered that I had to do something so I went and did it and then I forgot about you. Then, like an hour ago, I remembered and I started walking but, um..." She trails off. I smile. I then turn towards Peter.

"Peter, it's officially over." I say and slap him once for good measure. Oz turns towards me horrified.

"Please don't get mad at me! It's all his fault for being so Peter-ish! Quite frankly he's actually really weird and creepy and I don't really even like him!" Oz shouts. I start laughing really hard and Oz laughs too.

"Oz, I'm not mad. You two should be together, he was cheating on me anyways." I say with a shrug. Peter gapes at me.

"How did you-?"

"It wasn't really hard to figure out." Oz says. He glares at her and she blows a kiss.

"Now that all of this has been sorted out, may someone please let me in?" I ask. Oz volunteers (AN: as a tribute, of course) and swipes her ID on the scanner, letting me in. I hug her and tell her that if Peter ever cheats on her that I will rip him to shreds and feed him to wolves. Oz laughs and says that she'll be right next to me.

I walk down dark and empty corridors finding my way to my room. I slip inside and fall upon my dear bed. I snuggle up to it and close my eyes so that happy dreams can take me away.

Oz POV: (Who missed it?! None of you? I figured as much!)

I walk back to Peter and notice his mood swing. I sit in silence staring at him as we usually do when there is nothing to say. Eventually he backs down and looks at our feet. I raise an eyebrow. Usually I lose these staring contests by losing focus somehow.

"Did you really mean what you said?" He asks in such a quiet timid voice I wasn't even sure it was him. I smile faintly knowing this is all just an act and that Peter isn't really this sensitive.

But all of those thoughts are taken away when he looks back up at me.

His green eyes are shining giving the impression of tears, his mouth is twisted into a pained frown, and just his aura itself has changed. I feel bad for a second, and think that he needs comforting. Then I remember he's fine and I sling my arm around his shoulders.

"Oh come on, Peter! Drop the act!" I say and then laugh. He shoves my arm off of him.

"Has it ever occurred to you that maybe it isn't an act, Oz? Maybe I'm genuinely hurt by what you said. No, of course you haven't considered it. Why would someone like me, the antagonist who cheats on his lovers, be hurt by just a little slip of the mouth? This is the reason why I don't do serious relationships. Because they always end up hurting me. Maybe that's why I cheat, because it can inflict pain which brings me joy in a sadistic way. Maybe I want to love, but I know I'll just end up unwanted. Nobody cares. But you, Oz, you're the worst of them all! You're the most insensitive, hurtful, careless being I've ever met! I hope you know that." Peter shouts. He gives me once last glance before turning around and leaving me alone with my guilt.

Am I really that insensitive?

The voices in my head are at war with each other. My pride and seldom fiends are shouting that this is all his fault for being so sensitive while my self doubts and insecurities scream that I'm heartless. My brain seems to have sided with my insecurities.

Suddenly, everything silences just long enough for my heart to speak. Let me share a lesson with you all, though. Your heart is the trickiest organ. It will never give you an answer that is completely black and white. It's tricky, though it's always right in one way or another. Some days you wish to thank it, and others to curse it.

And today I would like to curse my heart for saying that I love Peter so we are both at fault.

Well, hello there. It's been a while, hasn't it? I've been busy with reading the whole PJO and HOO series the past month. I got Blood of Olympus and I read the last paragraph and oh my gods, it's perfect!

Anyways, thats pretty much all I've been doing. I've already ranted to about 8,000 other people in PMs so I think I've gotten all of my fangirl nerdy for today out. Thank gods.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering, my OTP for the PJO fandom is Percico. All the way girlfriend.

So. This happened. I am way too tired to form anymore half decent sentences so goodnight. Hope you enjoyed!