I would like to honestly and sincerely apologize for my sudden disappearing act.

My teachers decided that this week would be a GREAT one to drown me with tests, test retakes, projects, and the average homework.

No joke. This week:

4 tests (Granted, 2 were for Spanish)

1 Test retake (I didn't do so hot on my Biology test last week)

1 major world history project

And the hell-inspired day-to-day shit that is classified as 'homework'.

Plus, it's my last week of swim so that added stress. My last meet (JV conference) is tomorrow (I'm swimming the 200 and the 500).

So, I am SO sorry about my lack of updating. I'm glad I got a good one in before I vanished.

But, luckily, I now have a two week break before I start swim again! And even then, it won't be as demanding and not every day! YAY!

You guys rock. Keep reviewing and I'll keep updating. I really did feel guilty about not updating.

So, yeah.

Random note: Have any of you read Beautiful Creatures? I suggest it to all PJO fans….I'd SUGGEST 8th grade or above, but whatever. If you 7th and below kids wanna take a crack at it, go ahead. But it's REALLY good. I can't really describe it, but the author's style is infectious and so truthful and relatable. While my town isn't as small as Gatlin, I sometimes feel like I'm trapped and being suffocated. That's why, when I'm older, I wanna move to a big city (my friends and I wanna live in DC). I wanna BE someone (Such as a famous author, perhaps?). Ya know? Anyhoo, enough about me. It's a great book, and it's getting turned into a movie in like Feb or whatever, and judging by the trailer, it doesn't look like they're screwing it up TOO bad (LIKE PERCY JACKSON!).

You should read it.

I'm ranting, but you wanna know one of the things that bothers me most about PJO movie? If they had hired young actors, like in HP, they could have had a huge franchise. I'm not claiming it'd be as successful as HP, but they could do all 5 books if they had started young. It's HIGHLY doubtful they'll do a third book, since they're actors are so old.

Whatever.

Disclaimer.: ...

READ ON!

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

If Alexa found something strange about Zack and I's entanglement when she awoke us, she didn't let on.

"Hey, get up, you two!"

I was up in an instant, my lifelong paranoia still affecting me, while Zack just groaned and rubbed his eyes. "'Time's it?" He slurred.

"Time to get your ass up, Zack." Alexa grumbled.

Zack still didn't move. I locked eyes with Alexa, rolled my eyes, then turned and nailed Zack in the stomach.

His eyes shot open as he groaned. He sat up, clutching his stomach. "There are kinder ways to get me up."

I shrugged, not all too concerned, and trying desperately to act like last night hadn't been a life changing event for me, in front of Alexa. I stood up and dusted off my pants. Alexa glanced between the two of us, as if sensing the change in the atmosphere, but sill, she kept her thoughts to herself.

"We're leaving in ten you two, with our without your company." She then ran off back to the busses.

"Don't really see how they can do this without me, but, you know, whatever." I mumbled. Zack started rolling up his sleeping bag and I did the same. We were both silent as we worked.

When we were finished I threw my sweatshirt back on and started walking back toward the busses. Then Zack grabbed my wrist. "Wait." He turned me to him and he kissed me. It was soft, and sweet, and reassuring.

He looked into my eyes and he smiled, as if he loved what he saw, and I loved how that made me feel.

Feel.

I was still getting used to it, and I think it will be a while before I do.

"I still love you, Silena." He whispered.

I raised my head in pride. "Are you expecting me to revoke what I said?"

"A little reassurance would be nice." He said, but he was smiling. He just wanted to hear it again. I laughed and rolled my eyes.

"I still love you, Zack." I searched for a falter in my speech, a lie in my words, but pleasantly found none. An occurrence I do not remember having happened in a long time.

So, of course, I had to be a smartass.

I shoved him. "I swear, if you call me Silena in front of anyone else, I'll skewer you."

He narrowed his eyes. "With your knife or sword?"

"I'll let you decide."

"How kind."

Then we just stood there, smiling like fools. I reached up to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, but Zack beat me to it, doing it for me. I realized that he had caught on to my nervous habit. My thumb was about to go to my teeth, before I realized he probably knew that habit too.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. "Alexa may not be able to ditch us, but she can sure beat our asses if we don't get over there. And don't you think for a second I'm letting you go on the bus with those cruel bastards, with is an understatement of a title for them."

He kissed me, softly and quickly. "I won't let anyone touch you, Silena. Never again."

My eyes darkened and I looked away. My thumb went between my teeth before I could stop it.

He frowned. "What?"

"Don't." I muttered.

"Don't what?"

"Don't…" I sighed and looked him in the eyes. "Don't be a hero for me. I couldn't bear another death on my head. I'll take my own if it comes to it."

Zack looked genuinely confused and worried. "Lena…"

I sighed in exasperation and threw my arms up. "This is not me going suicidal, again." That's a sad statement. "This is me saying don't throw yourself in front of me, okay? I'm not afraid of death, but I'm not running towards it anymore either." I swallowed. "Suddenly, it's not just the land of the dead that have people I care about. Can you just please promise me you won't do anything idiotically stupid for me?"

He paused. He played with my hair. He kissed my cheek. "No."

"No?" I repeated. "That's all you have to say?"

He shrugged. "I felt that the request was idiotically stupid. You should be happy I responded at all." His tone sounded light, but I could hear the tenseness in his voice.

"Zack…"

"Lena…"

We were in a standstill. "I don't need a hero."

The corner of his lips turned up. "I know. That doesn't mean you don't deserve one. Besides, how did saving yourself turn out last time?"

We both knew what he meant. The last time I tried to save myself, I attempted to do so by building the walls. I had nearly destroyed myself, and would have if not for Zack. I still felt like my healing was not over, not by a long shot. I still had some difficult obstacles to overcome, the wall had left plenty of rubble, but with Zack I was sure I would succeed.

"I couldn't bear it if something happened to you." I told him honestly.

"Then you understand my position."

I sighed, knowing this was going nowhere and that Alexa would legitimately skin us if we waited any longer.

Hand in hand, we jogged to the busses. When we reached them, Alexa glared. "Fourteen minutes." She told us.

"Sorry?"

She just blew at the hair in her face. "Whatever. You joining us, Zack?"

He nodded, but his focus was directed at Zeke and Kara, off to the side of the bus Zack had rode here in. Both were glaring at him, no, us. The two of them were very close together, and I mean literally close. Zack went tenser than ever. I saw his eyes narrow, just as Zeke's did. Zack's hand also tightened on mine, as if he was afraid I would run.

I tugged his hand lightly, trying to coax him into the bus. When he turned to me, all his rigidity was gone, and he relaxed. As if relieved that I was still there, concerned about him.

"As I said," he whispered to me as we found a seat and sat down. "I won't let anyone touch you, again."

I knew he was referring to what Zeke did, and almost did, that night in the clearing. My throat clogged and I tossed Zack a forced smile that I hoped looked reassured, but probably just looked grimacing.

Zack wrapped an arm around me. The sun wasn't even peaking over the horizon. We had probably gotten less than an hour's sleep. Or at least, I had. What, with my late-night sword practicing and talk with the son of Hades.

"Go to sleep." He muttered. "I'll wake you if anything exciting happens."

I shook my head, but I knew it was a futile battle. My eyes were already dropping as I curled into Zack's shoulder.

Zack kissed my forehead, and I felt the luring pull of sleep already, comforted by his presence.

"Sleep well, my beautiful, brave, strong, funny, erratic, and enticing Silena."

These were the last words I heard before I left the world of the conscious.

No memories haunted me that sleep. It was a blissful, worriless sleep. I dreamed of Zack and I and my parents. I dreamed of a life of normality, where Zack and I were mortal and my parents were living. I had friends who knew me and loved me. I had a predictable life.

I'm not sure what I would have done when I woke up, how I would've felt, had Zack's arm not been still around me. At least that part of the dream was reality.

Yet, I couldn't stop yearning for the dream.