Elysia POV

I go to the beach and stare up at the storm clouds. After a while, I hear a voice I know all too well.

"So, what are you doing?" I remain silent. Jake sits on the sand next to me.

"How are you doing?"

"I'm not dead."

"How are you really?" and I can hear care in his voice.

"Why do you care?"

"Because I'm your friend."

"We are not friends," I state simply.

"Because I'm the head of my cabin?"
"You are a bad liar."

"Because I like you."
"Like I said, you are a bad liar."

"I'm not lying." he takes my hand and pulls me closer. He must be messing around.

"I can't," I say.

"Yes, you can. Give me a chance."

"The annoying jerk, sure. No. I can't." I stare up at the storm clouds again.

"Your'e afraid."

"Maybe," and with that, I get up and walk away.

I go back to my apartment and lay down. It is getting dark out, so I might as well catch up on sleep. It takes me a while to fall asleep. I keep on thinking about Jake. It was probably some stunt Garrison put him up to. He is a child of Hermes, so it might just be his idea of a prank. I don't know if I can date him. Maybe I can, but he is right. I am afraid. Eventually I drift off to sleep.

I stand next to Jake, and he looks relaxed. We are holding hands.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

The scene changes. I stand inside of a glass tank, watching from the inside. Jake is with the pretty girl that asked him out, when I summoned the raincloud. The are holding hands and smooching. Then I come into the picture. I can see myself walk out there in tears.

"You said you loved me!"

"I used to. Now I love Jessica. Go find someone else." That is exactly what I am afraid of. Lying, cheating, being hurt.

I awake cold and sweaty. I do not cry, but curl up into a ball. I can hear a knock on my cabin door, but I don't move.

"Elysia, are you OK?" I hear Jake call. Not Jake. I don't answer the door, I just stay there curled into a ball, head tucked in my knees. The cabin doors swing open, and Jake rushes over to me.

"Elysia!" I don't move. He tries to put a hand on my back, but I smack it away.

"Don't touch me!" I shout. I summon a gust of wind to knock him backwards, and I pull the covers over my head. I can feel Jake get up and approach me slowly, like I'm a wild animal.

"Elysia," he says. I am now full on crying. I just want to be alone. Sobs rack my body, and I am huddling under the covers.

"It's OK. Your'e OK. It was a dream, just calm down." I can feel his hand on my back and this time I don't do anything about it. He lays on the bed next to me and slowly pulls the covers off, wrapping his arms around me. I lay my head on his chest until I'm not crying anymore.

"What was the dream?" he asks me.

I shake my head and turn over. "Nothing."

"That wasn't nothing, Elysia. You're a bad liar."

"Go away." He shouldn't be here. Not after the dream.

"No," he says, wrapping his arm around my waist and turning me over.

"What was it about? Tell me," he demands.

"No."

"Elysia," and I start crying again. I don't meet his gaze; I stare up at the ceiling, tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Come here," he pulls me closer so my head is on his chest. He kisses my hair, and I understand. I can date him. I will date him. I can not let this fear overtake me; I will give him a chance. I will give us a chance. I wrap my arms around him, and I can tell he is surprised. He doesn't say anything. We lay there in silence, and I dissolve into his warm embrace. He looks down and stares into my eyes. He leans down and kisses my forehead, and I close my eyes. We stay like that; his lips against my skin. He pulls away and strokes my cheek with his thumb, pushing hair behind my ear. He puts his forehead against mine. I feel infinite; but then I remember the dream. I sink back and turn around. His hand strokes my neck.

"What is it?"

"Nothing," my voice is small.

"Come here," he says, turning me around. He leans down and kisses me.