AN. Okay, sorry I've been gone for so long, but it is my story and I can update whenever I want. Plus, this chapter is awesome, and not cause I wrote it (gods NO!) because my amazing Beta reader Beta'd it! I love her and her stories and if you don't check her out, I will hunt you down and kill you! But anyway, she has had a lo of stuff to do, so I dont want to see ANYONE asking why I've been gone for so long! She is still totally amazing, and you'd be lucky to get her! She is the amazing "Cuteypuffgirl" so go check her out, after you've finished this! She is such a better author then me, and you'll see that when you read this! I love ya'll!
Coffee
Chapter Eighteen: So Happy For You
Hazel's P.O.V
I wake up to a high pitched scream. I jump straight up and turn around quickly.
"HAZEL!" Piper screams, her hands flailing wildly. She seems to be in the hand of what seems to be – oh, I don't know – a dragon, maybe?
"PIPES!" I scream. Quickly, I withdraw my Spatha from under my pillow and run at the monster. I plunge my sword into its hand; it doesn't seem to notice. It picks me up.
"Put me down!" I scream. No! Do I have to have one good night and then have a monster attack us? Why gods, why? I think squeezes my waist, sending pain up my spine.
"Ouch!" I yell, twisting around. "Let me go!"
And that's when I look up to see a huge, sad face.
"Who...?" I ask. And then it comes to me and my eyes widen. Seriously? I mean, come on! Why?! "Frank, put me down now!"
The monster is frozen for a moment, before it sets me down.
"Now, Piper!" I say. I watch as it obeys and sets Piper down. "Okay, now turn back into Frank."
Almost hesitantly, the monster starts to shrink and shrink until it's in the shape of a boy. A boy named Frank to be exact. "Seriously?" I ask, scathingly.
"What? You aren't glad to see me?" Frank says.
"Okay, Frank, let's look at the logic: you tried to kill Leo, you say you never loved me, and then you say you want to kill me and leave the ship. Did you know that Leo died? Did you know that Piper and I are the only ones on the ship? We are going to the Doors of Death alone and you abandoned us! Leo died because you left! I have been steering the ship for weeks! And now, you come back and expect us to give you a warm welcome? If you want one of those, go back to camp! There is nothing left for you here!"
I haven't even realized that I've started to scream at him. Well, he deserves it. Am I really this angry? Wow, I haven't even realized. Wow, I hate him! I really hate him!
"Wow, Hazel, calm down!" Piper says.
"You let my best friend die because you were so stupid and thought that I'd actually kill you! Frank! I would never kill you! I really liked you, I almost, almost, loved you! And how do you repay me? You leave us here when everyone's been kidnapped! You left and you abandoned me! You abandoned me when you knew that only Leo and I were here, because you had no freaking clue that Piper was still here! I can't believe you! You have to leave; I can't even look at you! I can't believe you had the nerve to come back here and expect to get a warm welcome! Leave!"
Tears start to fall down my face. How could he? How could he? I think, trying to control my rage.
Frank just looks straight with his eyes closed. "Hazel, I'm sorry . . ."
"Sorry doesn't cut it! You of all people should know that!" I scream.
"Hazel . . . I thought you were trying to kill me . . ."
"But there were only two people on the ship besides you! You left when it was only me and Leo and now he's gone! He's gone and now you dare to show your face! Why, Frank, why?" I sob.
"Hazel . . . I . . . I . . . I'm sorry. I didn't know Leo died . . . I thought you'd be fine . . . I thought . . . I'm sorry," Frank says.
"Get off the ship or talk to Piper! Piper! Not me! I can't . . . I can't talk to you!" I scream.
I stomp off-deck and sit down on the ground at the end of the stairs, my mind racing.
Why? Why would he do this to me? How could he do this? I mean, he used to like me! I used to like him! I just . . . ugh!
Why? I can't believe him! Why would he leave me like that? I don't understand! I know that Gaea put memories in his head, but how can he not remember the nice things? I hate him! I hate him! Why in holy Tartarus would he . . .?
Oh, gods! I'm turning into such a drama queen! I just hate that! I thought I was stronger than that. I don't want to go back and exlpain everything that happened to me. No, clinging to the past is stupid and pointless. The past is before me, and it doesn't matter now. I agree with Reyna, the past shouldn't matter anymore. What is important is who you are now and . . .
. . . hmm . . . is Frank here to apologize? If . . . if the past shouldn't matter anymore, it should also count with everyone, I guess. Is he good again? I don't know, but I should I at least give him a chance . . . I just didn't know it would hurt so much. Not because I used to like him, I don't have those feelings for him anymore . . . I love Leo; more like it hurts to think he abandoned me. You know, I shouldn't blame him so much. He was being controlled by Gaea, but whenever I looked at him then, I saw Frank. I didn't see another person, I just saw Frank. I couldn't even think of Frank being evil because, well, he's Frank: a very kind person in real life.
I wonder what would have happened if I'd have lied to myself and stayed with Frank? Where would I be now? I'd probably be miserable. I was miserable. But I couldn't blame Frank, he never did anything wrong. Well, he did tell me he didn't love me but . . . I told him that I don't love him either. Well, maybe now we can finally be friends again. That's how I've always felt, and that's what I've always wanted. Frank is like an older brother, like a great friend. I love him like that. But I will, and will always love Leo like you want to marry someone and like my best friend . . . my best friend!
Okay . . . no matter how angry I am at Frank, I need to try to get over it. I really do.
I get up and brush myself off. I walk up the stairs and close my eyes. I walk onto deck. I slowly open my eyes and I see him just standing there, and the negativity hits me like a speeding bullet.
I hate him! He abandoned me! No he didn't . . . no he . . . he didn't want to, did he?
"Fr - Frank?" I ask.
"Hi, Hazel," Frank says
My lip trembles, my hands twitch, and my eyes get blurry. Tears begin to stream down my face. I open my mouth, only to close it. Why is it so hard to look at him? He was friend before, so why is it so hard to forgive him?
I look at Frank. Biting his lip, he looks scared; his fingers tap together. Tears slowly flow from his eyes. He takes a step forward.
"I - I'm so sorry," Frank says. "I never should have charged Leo that night . . . I let my guard down and . . . and let her in. You have every right to be mad at me, I'm still mad at me. You didn't do anything wrong but . . . you stopped liking me. I understand . . . I didn't feel the spark either. I went to Camp Jupiter . . . Reyna and the children of Mercury helped me with the memories and I can tell which ones are real and which ones aren't . . . you're a good person, Hazel. I am so sorry. You can love whoever you want . . . And I started something with someone . . ."
I take a step forward, smile, then run at Frank and tackle him with a hug.
"You're forgiven! Who did you start something with? Reyna? Tina? Sandra? Gwen? Who? I'm so happy for you!" I say happily. It takes Frank a moment, but he hugs me back. I am so happy for him! We can finally be friends!
"Gwen," Frank says. "I started something with Gwen."
"Really? That's so great!" I say. "Are we still going to be friends? You've always been like an older brother to me, Frank."
"Yeah, you've always been like a sister," Frank whispers.
And then another voice perks up. "So, are we all going to Greece?" asks Piper. I look at her to see she's smiling. I look at Frank. He nods.
"Yes," I say.
"Let's save Leo," Frank says.
"Nope, I'm going to DOA recording studies to save him. We are going to close the Doors. Leo is my mission," I say.
"Oh, okay," Frank says.
"Okay, Frank, give me a hug too, I've missed you!" Piper says. Frank walks over to Piper and throws his arms around her. Piper laughs.
"Well, I guess I'm going to keep steering. We should reach the doors in about . . . two days. No more set-backs. Piper, you're in charge of supplies. Frank, you're in charge of defeating monsters and anything else that is going to set as back at all. And me, I'm going to steer the ship . . . and I'm the new Repair Girl!" I instruct. Both Frank and Piper nod.
I go to the wheel and start to steer. Two days. Two days until Annabeth and Percy are back. Two days and the world is saved. Two days and I can save Leo. In three days, I should be back with Leo. Nico will take me to some places through shadow travelling. From there, I'll have to face the dangers of the underworld. I'll take Leo back. Leo and I will finally be able to be together. Finally.
I can hardly wait!
"Well, troops, time for bed! Festus, auto pilot. Piper, sleep. Frank, to your room and bring your bedding and mattress. We're all going to sleep on the deck for the next two days. Got it?" I ask. They nod. "Good!"
Afterwards, I go to my bed and immediately fall fast asleep.
And that's when it begins.
I'm the the underworld. I'm back. I'm dead. I hear a silent sob. I look over my shoulder . . . and it's Leo.
"She's taken!" he cries. "The only person I remember is taken!"
"Leo?" I ask. He doesn't seem to see or hear me.
"Hazel, the beautiful girl that I . . . I love . . . taken," Leo says. "I don't want her to be taken. I love her!"
"No Leo! I'm not taken! I'm with you!" I yell.
"Frank Zhang. Hazel is with Frank. So pretty, so fine . . . gods, she's really hot!" Leo says. I can't help but roll my eyes. "And I'm stuck in this . . . where? Oh, Hazel . . . why are you taken?!"
"I'm not! I'm not!" I cry. Leo starts to fiddle with something. He makes in into a dove. Then he makes a spear shape. Then makes a lightning bolt. A diamond. An owl. A fish. And a spark. That's us!
"Hazel," Leo murmurs. "I'm going to win you back. I love you."
He must remember the Argo II! If he remembers all of those objects, then he must remember something.
"Yvonne, Hannah, Lion, and Nico," Leo whispers. He makes a ghost shape, but my mouth is already agape. Nico? What does he mean Nico? Who are Yvonne, Hannah, and Lion? Why is there a name of an animal? Why is one of my favorite names in his sentence? Who are these people? Why is my brother's name in his sentence?! I don't understand!
"Our children were going to be named Yvonne, Hannah, Lion, and Nico," Leo manages somberly.
"You've planned that?" I ask. I close my mouth. He can't see me!
I get up for some reason. I walk through the dark abyss known as the Underworld.
I look behind me and then I see . . . her.
"Mother?" I ask. My lip trembles again. My mother has been down here for 70 years, and I haven't seen her until now.
She turns towards me. "Hazel . . . ?"
"You can see me?" I ask.
"Of course!" Mother says. She runs to me and hugs me. "I am so sorry, sweetheart! I have been looking and looking for you! I have been looking for you everywhere."
Tears form in my eyes. "I was right over there! You had seventy years to find me and I was just over there on that bench! I can't believe you! If you were actually looking for me, you would have found me! I'm alive! This is just a dream! I'm only evercoming down to save Leo! Do you even know who Leo is, mother? He is a person who I love! Have you talked to him? He is just where I was! Sitting on a bench, all alone, for seventy years! Seventy! You had so much time to find me and you still never even looked! How could you?"
"Hazel . . ." Mother says.
"I never want to see you again! I have a good life up there! I'm happy! When I was alive before, you never even looked at me! You didn't care about me! So don't you dare say you were looking for me!" I scream, nearly in hysterics.
And then my eyes snap open.
I'm not that angry at my mom! She was terrible, but I didn't hate her. What a horrible nightmare.
I look up. It's sunrise. I turn my head to see Piper and Frank. They're both snoring peacefully, like angels in sleep.
I stretch and get up and I go to the wheel. I can't believe we're almost there. I can't believe I'm almost back in Leo's arms. Leo, with his cute little elfish grin and almond shaped brown eyes. He's almost shorter than me, but he just tops me. His sweet voice that is slightly high pitched but still beautiful. And of course, the way he makes me feel. How happy I am whenever he looks at me. How whenever he looks me, I know he's my best friend. I just love him so much, if there was one word to describe him, it'd be perfect. He is perfect in every way. Everyone has flaws, but his suits him perfectly. He is just . . . well . . . Leo, and that is the best way to describe him. Amazingly sweet, and a bit foolish, but adorable when he tries to flirt, and sometimes not even realizing that he is. It always brings a smile to my face, and Leo always mirrors my gaze. His laugh lines appear and his dimples are always so vivid when he smiles. His teeth are clean and his cheeks are always rosy. His dark eyes light up and his eyebrows rise, like arcs. His face seems to glow, he is just so beautiful and handsome. He is even more adorable on the inside, I just know. That's the look on his face every single time he sees me.
I am so happy that soon, very soon, I will finally see that again. He will take me in his warm arms and hug me and maybe even lift me off the ground. My head will be on his shoulder and we'll just stand there for hours, wherever that may be. Eventually when we have to leave, his arms will leave my waist and we'll make eye contact. We will lean in close and kiss sweetly. No one can take away how happy I feel when he does that. I just love him, and whenever I look into his eyes, I know that he loves me too. I hope that that will be what happens. I just can't wait to see him. I love him more than anything in the whole world. He always smells good, like honey (which is probably because he uses my shower gel). His hair is always clean. His smile is crooked but beautiful, just the same. He is mine, and I am his. I miss him so much. I wonder if he misses me, too? Does he actually think that Frank and I are together? I don't know. I never thought that I'd ever love someone this much. I never even knew that you could possess this much love. I hope that I'll have this much love for him forever, and I think I will. Gods, I becoming way too romantic. Weird.
Frank walks up to me.
"Morning," I say.
"Good morning," Frank replies. "How'd you sleep?"
"Oh, horribly. I had the worst nightmare ever!" I say and begin to relay off everything that had happened.
"I'm sorry," Frank says.
"Well, it's not your fault, is it?" I sniff.
"No, but I'm sad you had a bad dream," Frank says. "I had a dream about my mom, too."
"Sorry," I say. "I guess we all have mommy issues. At least you had a mom who loved you."
"I guess," Frank says. "We all had daddy issues too. They've only ever talked to us once. For you when you were in your last life, for me I only ever met him a few months ago. And Piper . . . well, she saw him every day but he never had time for her."
"Yeah." I nod. "Hey, I was wondering about you and Gwen. Care to dish some details?"
"Well, after I got back, she was the first one at the gate. She talked to me for hours and helped me figure out what was real and what's not. She told me about her and I told her about me. I started having feelings for her around midnight, when we kissed. She was very beautiful too," Frank says.
Instantaneously I squeal and nod. Gwen is very pretty with her long brown hair and icy blue eyes. I'm so happy for them!
"I am so happy for you!" I squeal.
"Thanks," Frank says. "But Hazel . . . I need to tell you when Piper is still asleep. I . . . I still have feelings for you. I always have. And I know you still have feelings for me too."
I look at him; he looks serious. "Frank, I - I'm flattered but . . . I really love Leo. I'm so sorry to say this, but I don't have feelings for you anymore. I think that you are an extremely amazing friend, but I don't think of you in any other way. I just . . . I love Leo more than life itself, and that's why I need to save him. I'm sorry, Frank, I really, truly am."
Frank nods. "I guess that's fair. I do really like Gwen, anyway."
"I am so happy for you!" I say. "I really am!"
"I guess I'm happy for you and Leo," Frank whispers.
I look at him and give him a hug. "Don't worry Frank, you'll be happy. I know you will. You have Gwen now, and if she's not the one, you'll find someone else. I know you will, you made me like you."
"Thank you, Hazel," Frank says with a smile. "I'm going to get something to eat."
I nod and Frank goes down the hall.
And truthfully, I'm so happy for him.
AN. So there you have it! Review NOW! Then go check out Cuteypuffgirl and review her stories! Bye, bye!
Coffee