AH! I've written like 5 chapters today its ridiculous! I loved the last one, it was my favorite. Okay, moving on. Please review, I wanna know what you think!

Chapter 8: Realizations

Leo's POV

Through all of dinner all I could think about was what had happened behind the Hermes cabin. I'd watched as Andy had pushed Anneira against the wall and kissed her. At first I thought they were making out and she was moaning in pleasure, but then I noticed a few things like the fact the she was pushing against him, that he had her trapped against the wall, and that she was crying.

Rage flared to life in me. I couldn't believe I had thought that they were making out, the noises were screams of fear. I barreled straight into him and punched him as hard as I could. Anneira curled up into a ball and rocked back and forth, crying. After I'd scared that jerk off, I comforted her. Then, for some reason I'd kissed her.

I could almost still feel her lips against mine. They were cold, but not in a bad way. She sat with Percy, but I caught her glancing at my table a few times. I wanted to be there with her, laughing at Percy's stupid jokes. Dinner ended quickly and I hurried over to her. She also got up, so we met next to the Aphrodite table. Sasha talked to us for a bit, but we eventually went off to the beach.

The waves seemed to calm her. Neither of us talked. We just sat in the sand, my arm wrapped around her shoulder. Eventually, she turned to me, "I'm sorry about the whole thing with Piper. It was stupid of me to just jump to that conclusion." "No, it was stupid of me to be careless like that. I should have told you about Jason." I frowned, thinking of something. "Actually, there's something you should know. When Piper and I first met Jason, we had false memories of him during the first 4 months at this wilderness high school we went to. Hera wiped Jason's memory and gave us false memories of him. In Piper's, she and Jason dated. After we saved the world, the two of us learned what actually happened. Me and Piper dated. I don't actually remember being with her, its like a story someone told me, but I thought you should know."

Anneira looked at me contemplatively and murmured, "As long as you don't have any feelings for her, I don't care. But I care about you." We sat peacefully on the beach for a little longer until Anneira suggested we get a good night sleep for tomorrow. We were walking back to the cabin area when I thought of something, "Oh no." Anneira's peaceful smile faded as she asked me what was wrong. "I'm so stupid," I felt terrible. How could I tell her what I was about to? "I just realized, monsters are going to want you and me. If we're together, thats just extra leverage the monsters could use."

Her eyes were full of pain, "I understand, I would do anything someone said, if they threatened to hurt you." I placed my hand on her shoulder, "If they find out we're together, they could use you against me and vice versa. I mean, I'd do anything for you even if we weren't together, but it's better if they don't know that." Anneira's eyes filled with tears, but she nodded. I felt awful, how could I do this to her? But I had to keep her safe.

Suddenly, Anneira reached up and kissed me fiercely. I was surprised at first, but then I kissed her back. She put her arms around my neck and pulled me into her. I wrapped my arms around her and deepened the kiss. Suddenly, my hands burst into flames. I jumped back, "Oh my gods I'm so sorry!" "Leo, its okay, I'm fine." She was right, the fire hadn't burned her. I lit my hand on fire and she reached out to take it. "See? I'm fine." Ice spiderwebbed across her hand and she pulled me close. "Anneira…" "I know, Leo. We can't, but after the quest, then we can." I nodded. That seemed like a long time to wait