Disclaimer: I don't own the Percy Jackson or Heroes of Olympus series, RR does.
CHAPTER 5
Of course she would have probably been avoiding him, but he hadn't expected her to be that good at it.
He'd been trying to catch her for three days and hadn't succeeded. Of course, he was trying to ignore the anxiety of the thought of her kicking his ass or at least throwing the heaviest curses at him. Which, he felt, was not that implausible with her. But the day had come. On Friday, they were having Laboratory Science together again.
He gulped and pushed the door open. She was sitting in her usual place by the window, black eyes fastened on the students passing in every direction on the pavements below. He felt a mixture of relief and panic wash over him as he approached her, his legs shaking a bit.
Why was she having such a strong effect on him?
"Um... May I..?" he asked, his voice a bit higher than he'd like it to be, motioning for the seat on her right. She closed her eyes, as in count to ten to stop your murder urges, throwing her braid from her shoulder to her back. His eyes instinctively followed the moving end of the plait and he felt heat rushing to his cheeks when he realized he'd been staring at... Well, her jeans' back pockets.
He almost hadn't heard her blank "Yes" when she was eyeing him up and down. He'd immediately regretted pulling a random T-shirt (if it didn't stink, it was still ok to wear) and jeans shorts on. What would be worthy the queen? A suit and a bow tie, maybe?
He mumbled a shy "Thanks" and sat carefully next to her.
They were sitting in silence even though the class hadn't started yet. How was he supposed to start a conversation? And, more importantly, how to apologize yet again, not really knowing what exactly made her run away? He knew only one thing - he had to do something. He felt she was probably still angry with him and certainly didn't want that. He'd make better what he'd screwed up no matter what. Or at least he'd get a clear order of stay away, badulaque.
Why was he sitting there? Was he trying to make a move on her again? What for? Gods, he didn't think she was interested, did he? Because she wasn't, no matter how strangely tight her chest had been and how her hands were sweating when he was so close. No, that had nothing to do with him. The climate in the class had barely ever been pleasant, that was all.
Finally, the action had started, improving the awkward atmosphere between them, when they were cooperating to complete the task given. Fortunately, it went on without explosions and similar dangerous events, even though she let him maneuver the test-tubes with highly reactive substances and use the burner. She'd gladly have done it all herself, if it wasn't for the teacher's directions and his desperate enthusiasm towards helping her out. Let him have the satisfaction, why not?
X
They finished cleaning up the station in the moment Mrs. Lupa called it a day. Reyna picked up her bag and wanted to walk out from the class, her chin high, not bothering to say goodbye to him.
He had other plans, as he stood up too, blocking her way (clearly on purpose). She looked him in the eye, her eyebrow rising in a questioning look.
He fastened his eyes on the floor. Another one having respect for her, huh? Good.
"I was thinking..." he mumbled, glancing at her shyly (damn, where was his impudence when he needed it?!) "Maybe I could walk you to... Wherever you're going now..?" he stuck his hands into his pants' pockets, his whole body tense, she noticed. Not that she was paying special attention to his body at all.
She frowned. "What for?" she asked, crossing her arms on her chest.
He raised his head, returning the look. "I think you're still mad at me and I want to make it better" he blurted in one breath. She raised both her eyebrows. His eyes were piercing hers, waiting.
"Go where you want..." she muttered, forcing her way past him and trying not to gasp at the feeling of his heat on her skin. Gods, was such body temperature even normal?!
As she predicted, he didn't change his mind and followed her.
X
After a few moments of struggle, he finally matched her pace. They were going through the lawn in silence, people staring at the unusual pair. Reyna sighed quietly. The gossiping was going to start with a lightning's speed... Finally, the silence of him bothering her as much as to go with her, but not saying anything, annoyed her to the point of starting a conversation herself.
"So? Why do you think I'm mad?" she asked, staring at him sharply. He blinked a few times and returned the look, frowning.
"You're not?" he answered with a question. She rolled her eyes and cursed under her breath. Why were they always overinterpreting things? Herself not being extremely kind didn't mean she had to especially dislike somebody. Jason was thinking like that when it came to his new girlfriend, that Piper girl... Well, it was true in that case. But hey! She was trying hard to stay diplomatic!
"Did anything I should be angry about happen?" she countered. He shrugged, his blush not escaping her attention.
"Dunno... Just thought that maybe I went overboard..." despite his words, she could hear relief in his voice. "I mean, why would you run away? And why couldn't I catch you for the past three days?" he asked, a weak smile on his lips.
She felt her cheeks flushing and shook her head, hoping to get rid of the ridiculous feeling of her gut's twitch at the sight of the skin on his cheek bulging adorably with the smile. How stupid of her to even think like that.
"First of all..." she swallowed and cleared her throat, trying to return to her professional approach towards him "I didn't run away, I needed to go to my classes" she lied smoothly. Well, it wasn't a lie in 100%, but wasn't the entire truth either... But those few percents she was trying hard to forget. "And you couldn't catch me, because we probably have classes in different sides of the campus. No plot here" He nodded affirmatively, a grin creeping its way onto his face.
"So we're good?" he chuckled lightly, exhaled and chuckled again. "I was scared off my ass to talk to you and here you're even more gorgeous than I thought, not being a drama queen like many girls I've screwed up with!" he blurted without thinking. When what he'd said sunk in, his face turned to a deep shade of red. "I mean... Yeah, you're gorgeous..." he mumbled and laughed nervously, ruffling his hair.
Her eyes widened. "Thank you, I guess..." she felt her ears burning and couldn't stand the urge to lower her eyes. Pathetic. Be proud, reina!
Wait. Had she just called herself with his nickname?!
"I... Really have to go..!" she said, quickening her pace.
"Oh..." was the only word that escaped him when she went ahead of him. He nearly run to look at her face again. She returned the look.
"What?" she asked, starting to feel stalked and not knowing why it didn't feel as bad as it should.
Yeah, what? What did he want to say? He thought for a moment, struggling to keep up with the speed (damn, was she an addict walker or something?). He'd got to talk to her. He'd found out she wasn't mad. That didn't mean she hadn't dumped him but was still a good thing... But hey! It all being only his touchiness meant nothing but one thing...
She still hadn't said no.
He smirked at the crazy thought forming in his head. He didn't try to stop it. (As if that ever even worked!)
Uhuh. She didn't like that look. What had he come up with?
He parted his lips, his smirk widening. The words escaped his mouth before any reasonable part of his brain had got to make an attempt to stop them.
"What would you say at pollo en fricasé for lunch?"
ZJeM, 12.01.14
From author:
Yeah, I know, I've made a loop in the story. I don't care, that's what my mind's come up with.
Dunno when the next update will be. Maybe soon, maybe not. Depends on if I have any ideas for my other pairings' fics that I feel like writing. Like, seriously weird pairings. E.g. Ball x Mei from 666 Satan.
HOPE YOU ENJOYED & THANKS FOR READING! :)
