Chapter2

The afternoon sun filtered through the windows of Goode High School, where Percy Jackson was immersed in the everyday chaos of teenage life. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, in the untouched forests of some forgotten corner of the world, Artemis led her hunters in an eternal pursuit of monsters and mythical beasts.

Despite the distance and their vastly different worlds, neither could erase from their memory that night on Olympus, when they forged a friendship as improbable as it was unexpected. The memory of that conversation under the stars, with shared pain and burgeoning trust, had become an anchor for both in the months that followed.

Never in her four millennia of existence had Artemis imagined that she would place her trust in a boy in just a few hours shared. The goddess of the hunt, known for her disdain towards men, now found herself in a situation that challenged everything she believed she knew about herself.

Percy, for his part, was not one to seek sympathy or attention. Accustomed to bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders (literally, on one occasion), he usually repressed his own emotions, hiding them under a facade of humor and nonchalance. However, he surprised himself by opening up to the least likely goddess, revealing his deepest feelings, those he desperately tried to hide for reasons he did not even understand.

Three months had passed since their last face-to-face conversation. Artemis was driving her silver chariot through the night sky, lost in thought, when suddenly, the air around her glowed with an intense rainbow, revealing a faint image of Percy Jackson.

"Percy?" she asked with a mixture of surprise and wariness, her silver eyes shining in the dim light.

"The very same," he replied with a mischievous smile, his green eyes sparkling with amusement. "And how are you, goddess of the hunt?"

A fleeting flash of pain crossed Artemis's face before she regained her usual composure. "Fine," she said firmly, avoiding his gaze.

"Artemis, I'm not like the others. I can read you like an open book," Percy stated confidently, his tone softening.

This time, Artemis couldn't help but look him in the eyes, revealing her own eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"What did you expect, Percy?" Her voice trembled slightly. "Immortals are not supposed to be affected by the death of mortals, but here I am, feeling shattered. Can you blame me? I just lost my closest companion of the last three millennia. And the worst part, I can't even express my pain publicly. After all, I'm the 'perfect' goddess everyone sees in me," she said bitterly.

Percy looked at her with understanding, his face softening. "Artemis, I completely understand what you're feeling. Don't bottle up your emotions, at least not in front of me. I will never judge you for your feelings," he replied warmly and sympathetically.

At Percy's words, Artemis visibly relaxed, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "You're right, Percy. I'm glad to have someone to confide in. Although it still hurts. I can't even imagine what would have happened if I hadn't opened up to you. Thank you for being there for me these past few months," she said with a bittersweet smile.

"Stop with the compliments, Artemis. I'm just helping a friend. And of course, I'll always be here for you," Percy replied, then frowned with concern. "Have you talked to anyone else about this, or have you been bottling up your emotions for the past three months?"

Artemis simply shook her head, her gaze fixed on the starry horizon. Percy sighed loudly, frustrated by her lack of openness.

"Do you talk about anything other than your work? About your hobbies or interests?" he insisted, crossing his arms in front of her.

Once again, Artemis shook her head, her expression impassive. Percy groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated.

"Artemis, you need to talk more!" he exclaimed, his voice resonating with a mixture of frustration and concern. "If you truly believe you trust me, then open up more, at least with me. I don't care if you make me angry, we can talk all night if you want! And not about your work, let's focus on you, even if it embarrasses you, okay?"

Artemis wanted to protest, to tell him she was doing fine, but deep down, she knew Percy was right. She never focused on herself, always prioritizing her duties as a goddess. With a defeated sigh, she agreed. "I don't even know why I'm obeying your orders, but fine," she said with a tone of resignation.

Percy gave her his infectious smile, which she couldn't help but return. And so, they began to talk, exploring topics beyond hunting and divine obligations. Artemis discovered a new pleasure in sharing her thoughts and feelings, feeling a weight lifting from her shoulders.

Over the year, their calls and secret meetings became a constant in their lives. Their friendship flourished by leaps and bounds. At first, it was Percy who called her every day without fail, eager to hear her voice. They both enjoyed those long hours of conversation, no matter how late it was.

As time went on, they became inseparable. Artemis also began calling him during the day, unable to wait until night to hear him. Their meetings were no longer limited to once a day but multiplied, even sharing picnics in Central Park or a fun hunting adventure in Nevada, where Artemis "kidnapped" Percy to bring him to her domain.

Percy's 15th birthday arrived, and Artemis found herself in a dilemma. She had not yet revealed to her hunters about her friendship with the demigod, and as usual, had to sneak out at night to avoid uncomfortable questions.

Upon arriving at the door of Percy's apartment in Manhattan, she imagined a house full of noisy friends and mentally prepared for the inevitable conversations with boys that would make her nervous. However, what she found left her astonished: the apartment was empty, except for Percy, who greeted her with his mother, Sally Jackson, whom he had introduced as "Diana."

Percy chuckled at the look of surprise on Artemis's face. "I don't have many close friends, Artemis. In fact, you're the first and only friend who's ever come to my birthday. I can never thank you enough," he said softly, ensuring his mother did not hear her real name.

Artemis's eyes widened as she realized the depth of their friendship. Now she understood how this connection affected both of them, and how much she meant to him as a friend.

Artemis had planned Percy's birthday gift with special care. She gave him a silver ring identical to the one she wore, a symbol of their friendship and a means to be connected at any time. This magical ring not only allowed Percy to call her without needing to create mist or spend drachmas, but also gave Artemis the ability to show Percy's location at any time.

Percy, upon receiving the gift, was as excited as a child at Christmas. It was the first gift he received from a friend, and the excitement overwhelmed him. During the ride in Artemis's chariot, Percy couldn't stop talking, his voice sometimes reaching unbearable volumes. However, Artemis wasn't bothered at all. In fact, she found it adorable.

As they parted with a hug, Artemis returned to her camp, engulfed in a wave of emotions she had never experienced before. She felt a warmth that enveloped her every time she was near Percy, a sense of security that made her feel protected. Jealousy burned inside her when she saw other girls eyeing him brazenly, as if daring to covet what was hers.

She reflected on everything Percy had done for her, how his happiness was her happiness, how his sadness was her sadness. And suddenly, like a lightning bolt illuminating the darkness, she understood: she had fallen in love with the green-eyed demigod.

However, instead of feeling anger or frustration, Artemis experienced a mix of tranquility and clarity. The clarity of knowing her feelings were real, that she could no longer deny them. And the tranquility of knowing that, for the first time in her life, she didn't have to hide her emotions, that she could let her heart rule for once.

Nevertheless, a whirlwind of emotions overwhelmed her, filling her with fear and confusion. This strange feeling, so different from anything she had experienced before, conflicted with her morals, with her hunter's code. She was terrified of rejection, the possibility of losing her precious friendship with Percy.

She found herself at a crossroads, divided between logic and emotion. And once again, as so many times before, she decided to listen to her heart. Unlike what she would have done a year ago, she fully embraced this new feeling: her love for Percy Jackson.

However, at the last moment, a wave of pragmatism washed over her. She decided to bury her feelings for now. Maybe, in the future, they could be something more. But for now, she couldn't risk losing her only friend.

As Artemis gazed at the stars from her tent, thinking of Percy and the uncertain future that lay ahead, she couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and fear. Fate had brought them together in an unexpected way, and now, only time would tell what the future held for them. But one thing was certain: her life would never be the same after meeting Percy Jackson.

To be continued...