Hi guys! I am so excited. Less than a week left for the House of Hades to come out! Hopefully, I'll finish this story before then. And maybe, after reading I will be inspired to write more stories! [Because right now, I am fresh out of ideas] Anyway, enjoy the angst and until next time!

Reviews:

MidnightEevee: You thought stuck in a closet was cliche? Wait until you read this chapter... :D

The Wild West Pyro: I completely agree, I love pirates! [As you can tell from my username] But, unfortunately, not all of them can be as charming and witty as Jack Sparrow.

Vans321: Thanks! I try my best to sound professional. I hate when fanfiction stories aren't written well. It irritates me. I want my stories to be read like a novel. :D

FanFictionWriter2000, Clefspear, August1999: Thanks for reviewing! Your comments make me immensely happy! I just want you guys to enjoy reading what I write!

MinecraftLuver: Yes you did! I try to mention everyone who reviews my stories. If I can do it, why not?

Chapter Eleven

Reyna closed her eyes and went through her mental to-do list:

Meet with Octavian.

Ignore Leo's missed calls

Take Argentum and Aurum for a walk

Avoid Leo

Paperwork

Buy Jellybeans

Forget Leo

Since the night in the closet, Reyna had tried her best to busy herself. The busier she was, the less she would think. The less she would think, the less she would think about Leo.

Leo.

His name made her blush all over. She didn't really know what had gotten over her. She just remembered being scared, and remembering. It was dark and cold, and she remembered cuddling against Leo, who was warm to touch. When he put his arm around her, she hadn't felt safer.

And that was what bothered her. After all these years, after being raised on Circe's Island, after being kidnapped by pirates, Reyna had become self-reliant. She was an independent woman. She never needed anyone to make her feel safe.

She didn't want anyone to protect her.

Every instinct in Reyna's mind screamed at her to avoid Leo at all costs, even though her heart wanted to do the opposite. She couldn't face the boy she had told her darkest secrets to. How could she? Now he knew the truth. He knew how vulnerable she really was.

Leo was her one weakness.

Leo was the one who could protect her and the one that could hurt her the most.

…

"Hey Leo, how're you doing?" Piper asked, poking her head into Frank's guest room—the room Leo was currently occupying. Leo lay on his leather chair, staring at the ceiling. He didn't respond.

"Want to go out?" Piper tried again, this time infusing some charmspeak into her voice. Leo didn't respond.

"You can't stay locked in here forever man!" Jason called from behind Piper. Leo lifted his arm, much to Piper's delight, and slapped it over a thingamajig with a button on it. Suddenly a voice resonated through the room.

"You have five seconds to remove yourself from the doorway." A woman's voice said kindly. Piper shook her head, confused.

"Wait a second—" The door began to close.

"Five."

"Leo, just—"

"Four."

"Leo!" Jason called angrily from the other side.

"Three."

"Please, Leo, stop it!" Piper cried out.

"Two. One." The door closed and the lock automatically clicked into place.

Leo stared at the ceiling.

…

"Hi Reyna." Hazel peeked into Reyna's office quietly. "Can I come in?"

Reyna looked up for a moment and pushed the papers she was currently working on to the side, "Of course Hazel. Come in." Reyna inadvertently took a handful of jellybeans and popped some in her mouth. Had Hazel come to speak about Leo? No. Reyna wouldn't discuss that matter. Not at all.

Hazel sat down across from her, her hand folded in front of her. "I was wondering. You know how Frank's birthday is coming soon?"

Reyna breathed in relief, but knitted her eyebrows. Frank's birthday? She couldn't recall, but so as to not seem rude, she nodded anyway. Hazel continued, "Well, I'm throwing him a surprise party. Everyone is coming. I just wanted to invite you."

Stunned, Reyna leaned back into her chair. She was being invited to a party? Well, she had gotten somewhat close to the seven over the past couple months. It would make sense. But, would Leo be there? Reyna pursed her lips, unsure of what to reply.

"We are all dressing up as animals, or, well, creatures, I guess. You know, because Frank can shape shift and stuff. So everyone will be in disguise. No one will know who anyone else is. Unless you discuss it beforehand…but it's supposed to be anonymous." Hazel said carefully, watching Reyna's every move.

A costume party? That wasn't really Reyna's style, but she didn't see how it could hurt. No one would know who she was. Reyna smiled, "I'll be there" before putting the rest of the jellybeans into her mouth.

…

After a day, Frank managed to break the door down. He had assured Jason and Piper that he would take care of Leo, and ushered them away. They were reluctant at first, but eventually gave in.

Now, Frank looked at the room, and shivered at the sight. Leo lay on his leather chair, which had miraculously survived the fire, in the same position he had seen him last, hair messed up, staring at the ceiling.

The side tables were littered with coffee mugs but the rest of the room was vacant. The sheets on the bed hadn't been touched and the floor was bare, as if no one had walked on it. Leo was still wearing the same clothes as three days ago.

Frankly, Frank was fed up. Leo was such a drama queen. As if surviving on nothing but coffee for three days and not showering was going to solve anything.

Frank wasn't really sure what was going on. He knew something had happened between Leo and Reyna. He didn't even know what to think about the closet scenario. Blushing, Frank rid himself of the thought. He grimaced as he remembered when he had brought Leo to his apartment. Leo had called Reyna.

Fifty two times.

Each time, she didn't answer. Each time he left a voicemail, something along the lines of, "Reyna. I need to talk to you. About last night… like, right now. Pick up!"

Every voice message ended with Leo angrily slamming the phone down and mumbling something in Spanish into his hands.

Really, Frank didn't know what to do. All he could think of was getting Leo out. Frank tried everything to get Leo out. He asked him politely, he screamed at him. He even doused him with water—which evaporated as soon as it touched Leo's skin. Frank was surprised that Leo hadn't set his leather chair on fire in his angst.

Finally, Frank decided to play on Leo's weakness.

"Leo, I don't know whether you are listening or not. To be honest, I'm not really sure what's going on in that mind of yours. I don't want to know. But you know Hazel? Well, her birthday is tomorrow, and I am throwing a surprise party…"