"I almost smothered you with a pillow last night," Nico commented as he sat by Reyna. She glanced up at him and raised an eyebrow. "I saw you flirting with that guy. Well, all I saw was blonde hair."
"I was not flirting," Reyna quickly denied. "He asked me if I wanted a drink."
"Okay, so he was flirting with you. Either way, I thought it was Will."
"And, you were going to suffocate me for stealing your man?" Reyna asked as she reached into her backpack to grab her laptop. Her hand froze on the manila folder near the top. It had been hand delivered to her by Gleeson Hedge earlier that day, but she didn't have the chance to look over it.
"Pretty much," Nico admitted as he sat forward. "Now, stop trying to do work and give me a damn lettuce already."
"You get too violent when we play this game. I'll cut you off soon," Reyna warned as she put her backpack down and grabbed the controller again. It was the first time they were able to play video games ever since her car wreck. Nico had started a backlog of games for them to play together, and now, he wanted to play some cooking game.
"I'll show you violence," Nico promised. Reyna rolled her eyes.
"Does Will even like girls?" Reyna asked as she focused on the screen.
"What do you mean?" Nico asked as his fingers mashed against the controls.
"Is he bisexual or strictly gay?" Reyna questioned. Nico hesitated and then shrugged. "You never asked him?"
"Not really. Is that a bad thing?" Nico asked as he looked away from the screen and at Reyna. She shrugged.
"I guess it doesn't really matter in the first place because he likes you. I don't know why," Reyna remarked. She scoffed as Nico's character shoved into her. "Hey! You knocked me off the level."
"I'll do it again," Nico threatened. "Now, cut me some tomatoes."
Reyna rolled her eyes and focused on the game. She occasionally reached to grab a mozzarella stick or a chicken wing that they got from the bar. Nico nearly spasmed when she stopped to grab a beer near the end of a level. She just ignored him as she cracked it open.
When they were nearing the end of their intense pizza making level, Reyna glanced at Nico. He had been dragging the wings closer to himself, probably to hog all of them, "Are you going to give me a plate?"
Nico handed her an empty one, "Here's your order."
"The hell is this?" Reyna waved the empty paper plate in front of her.
"That's what you asked for," Nico cheekily replied.
Reyna rolled her eyes and snagged the box closer to herself. Nico glanced at her as the level results flashed on the screen, "Do you want to talk about what has been bothering you?"
"No," Reyna shot down immediately. Nico looked like he was going to argue, but Reyna shook her head. "Not today, Nico. I'm just not in the right headspace. Maybe later. I need time."
"Sometimes, you wait too long," Nico stated. Reyna sighed in annoyance. "I'm just being honest."
"You wanted me to open up, and I have been. Now it's not quick enough?" Reyna complained as she felt frustration building in her chest. She placed the controller down and stood. "Why is nothing I do good enough?"
"Reyna," Nico began. Reyna grabbed her backpack and threw it over her shoulder. "Reyna, wait!"
Reyna ignored Nico and walked toward her bedroom. She felt Nico grab her forearm, brushing dangerously close to her wrist. Nico seemed to realize it and moved his grasp upwards to grip her bicep.
"What?" Reyna snapped as she turned towards Nico.
"I know you're upset at Lupa, but you can't retreat back into your shell," Nico lectured. He met Reyna's eyes. "I'm not going to let you shut me out again."
"I'm not shutting you out," Reyna argued.
"Then why are you snappy at me when I make a single comment?" Nico demanded. Reyna glared at him. "When's the last time you called your sister? Last week?"
"It's none of your damn business, Nico!" Reyna snapped. She jerked her arm away.
"You shouldn't shut out your sister or your best friend just because of what Lupa did. I know you are scared of being hurt again-"
"Nico. Enough," Reyna hissed as she felt her temper slipping once again. She tried to take deep breaths, but it was no use. Nico didn't move an inch. "Fine, dammit! I'm scared of being hurt again because it happens every damn time!
"I got close to Thalia, and she cheated on me. I got close to Lupa, and she knew my mother since she was a teenager! Do you know the worst part? I saw my mother at Lupa's gym! And that bitch couldn't just tell me who she was!" Reyna almost yelled. She almost flung her backpack across the room.
"What do you mean?" Nico slowly asked.
"When Lupa's mother died, I was watching the gym for her. And my mother was there! She walked right into the office like she owned the damn place and looked so surprised to see me. I didn't even think much of her reaction at the time, but I thought something was suspicious about her. I was going to look her up, but Annabeth convinced me not to because Annabeth Chase knows everything!"
"Reyna, you need to calm down," Nico began as he raised his hands and stepped forward. "Please. Just don't shut me out."
Reyna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She placed the backpack down and placed a hand to her face. Reyna slowly spoke, "I'm sorry, Nico. I'm not trying to. It's just-"
"I'm sorry," Reyna repeated. She collapsed back on the couch and hung her head. "It's not fair of me, and I'm sorry. I don't... I'm sorry."
Nico sat by her and gently rubbed her back. Reyna stared at the ground. She hated that she was taking her anger out on Nico again. Why was she like this? Reyna rubbed her forehead. Why couldn't she just control her temper? It felt like she was doing better the last few months, but then, she learned about her mother.
"I'm sorry, Nico."
"It's okay."
"It's not," Reyna dismissed, standing up.
"Wait," Nico stood to match her.
"I just need a few minutes, okay? I'll be right back," Reyna promised. Nico studied her and nodded. Reyna gripped her backpack and walked toward her room. She placed it down and sighed tiredly. What the hell was wrong with her? Why did it feel like she kept taking one step forward and two steps back with her damn temper?
Reyna slowly sat on her bed and stared down at the ground. She opened her backpack and carefully pulled out the manila folder inside. She pulled out the contract Hedge had given her. While she had looked through it once already, she couldn't believe it.
Hedge was going to pay her three hundred thousand dollars more than her current contract, and it was for a shorter amount of time. There was the possibility of endorsement deals. It was something that Lupa didn't like for them to have unless they were the champion. Even then, she was strict about it.
Reyna placed the contract down. She laid back on her bed. Lupa's gym had been her home for such a long time. It was the place that got her off of the streets. Because of her mother asking Lupa. Why the hell couldn't her mother be a damn parent? Why would she pawn Reyna off to someone else?
And, that meant their mother knew Hylla was struggling as well. She didn't care, though. That woman wasn't Reyna's mother. She was just the bitch that gave birth to them.
And Lupa knew her.
Reyna's back hit the bed, and she placed her hand to her face. What was she supposed to do? Everything had been so bad for the last few months, and it felt like it couldn't get worse from here. But, it could; Reyna knew that. She could lose her fight to Clarisse, and that would just complete her spiral.
Reyna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Why was everything getting out of control? Reyna didn't know what she was going to do. She just felt... depressed really. Life sucked, and it didn't seem like it would get better.
A sigh left Reyna, and she sat up. She placed the contract to the side and grabbed her phone. Her finger moved to Hylla's name, and she called her sister. The phone didn't ring long before her sister answered, "Hello?"
"I'm sorry for not calling the last few days," Reyna said softly.
"Hey, it's okay," Hylla began.
"It's not," Reyna mumbled. She hung her head. "I know it's not okay. I told you I would call you every day, and I didn't. I'm shutting Nico out again, and I don't know what to do Hylla. I'm just..."
Reyna closed her eyes tightly. She swallowed painfully. "Y...you said that you had a therapist. Do... do you still have that number? I don't know if it will help, but something has to work."
"I'll text it to you," Hylla promised. "Do you want me to come over?"
"You're probably busy," Reyna said offhandedly.
"Reyna, I can always make time for you," Hylla swore.
"You can come over if you want. Nico and I were playing a game," Reyna finally agreed. She closed her eyes. "He's going to hate me."
"Reyna, he's not going to hate you. Just talk to him and let him know I'm coming over. I'll bring food," Hylla promised.
"Thank you," Reyna whispered. She slowly sat up, and her gaze moved to the contract. She would handle it later. For now, she would just try to get out of the funk she was in. Maybe, the therapist would help. Or she would just cancel the appointment before it could happen.