From Fear Comes Love

Silena had returned to her cabin long before noon, thank the gods she didn't have hyperthermia. Beckendorf had been treated as well by Will at the Hephaestus cabin. Juniper sighed as she sat next to me. It was lightly snowing still from earlier.

Juniper was now wearing a yellow and white hoodie and black jeans, her hair was up in a braid.

I had changed into a black and yellow hoodie and a new pair of black jeans. I let my hair fall loosely on my back.

We sat on the hill under the willow tree, it had lost all its leaves. Juniper was exhausted after the long morning, I wasn't surprised when she yawned.

"Tired?" I asked.

"Late night, early morning." She responded nodding.

"Want to rest your head on my shoulder?"

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'll read for a bit."

"Thanks, your the best Peck." Juniper rested her head on my shoulder and drifted off into sleep.

I smiled softly and took out the book I'd grabbed from my bunk. I skipped to the chapter about Apollo where I'd recently stopped reading. As I read I thought of the children of the "Big Three" there was Percy Jackson who I hadn't met and a girl I'd heard of, her name? Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus. I heard the story of how she'd sacrificed her life to save her friends. And then there was me, perhaps someone else could come around and take the role of head counsellor.

I finished the chapter of Apollo and continued reading to pass the time. I zoned out completely as I read.

***

I looked up a while later, how much time had passed? I didn't know, all I knew was that Juniper was twitching in her sleep. She kept whispering one word in greek but I didn't know what it was. I didn't know whether to wake her or to leave her.

"Juniper? Hey, Juniper, wake up." I shook her shoulder.

Juniper shot awake, her eyes wide with fear.

"It was just a dream, it's ok, you're safe." I shuffled over till I was on my knees. I then raised her head till I was looking at her eyes.

Juniper was too shook to say anything.

"You're safe, it was just a nightmare." I pulled her close and hugged her.

"It felt so real," Juniper whispered.

"Dreams do that sometimes." I stroked her hair trying to calm her.

Junipers grip tightened but I didn't mind.

"Just take some deep breaths." I soothed her. "In... out... in... and out."

Juniper took a few more deep breaths and started to calm down. She released her grip on me and pulled back.

"You better now?" I asked.

"Yeah, thanks." Juniper sniffed.

"You want to talk about it?"

"N-not really."

"That's ok."

"Sorry."

"Don't be, you were scared and I understand if you don't want to talk about it."

I sat back against the tree as Juniper sat in front of me.

"Thank's again, Peck, I'm lucky to have you as a friend." Juniper looked into my eyes.

"And I'm lucky to have you," I blushed.

Juniper blushed brightly. We both knew we had feelings for each other, but for the time being, we were friends.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" We both said at the same time.

"Sorry, you go first," Juniper said.

"No, you go," I said.

"Ok, Peck, I know we've only known each other for a month or so, but, will you... will you be my girlfriend?" Juniper asked as her face reddened.

"Thought you'd never ask." I smiled.

Juniper took my hand and pulled me close until our faces were a few inches away. After a few moments of staring into each other's eyes, Juniper kissed me. I didn't pull away, gods, I'd loved the girl since I'd set my eyes on her, that day outside of the stables it felt like years ago.