Meeting Of Swords and Wands

Chapter 34: Sunlight in the Night.

I stormed into my cabin and slammed the door shut. I was beyond hurt, which just caused me to get angry which spiraled into more hurt. I felt like a hurricane of painful emotions was spiraling inside of me, trying to break free. But, it's not like you're allowed to be a demigod and have a freakout. Not unless you want to cause someone to get hurt or killed.

Grabbing my hair in frustration, I threw myself onto my bed and screamed into my pillow. I channeled every ounce of emotion into my scream. As I did, every memory of Annabeth and I, good and bad, flowed through my mind. We were a good team, a great team. I know I wouldn't have survived as long as I did without her and I think the same was true for her. I felt some tears in my eyes, but I pushed them back. No use causing the Canoe Lake to explode. It's not like I haven't pushed worse away.

Once I shoved the rest of my emotions down, all I was left with was emptiness and pure exhaustion. Gods, I haven't felt something like that for a long time. I pulled my pillow closer to my head and took a deep breath. I couldn't act out my depression in public. People looked up to me and saw me as 'fine', whatever that meant. I couldn't let myself show the pain and sadness, especially in front of Mom, Dad, Nico, Will, Chiron, or anyone. I know it would just concern them and they got enough problems of their own. As for Mr. D, he'd have a grand old time with it at my expense. I took another deep breath and sighed, feeling myself get lost in the pillow.

Suddenly, I felt a cool hand on my back between my shoulder blades begin to make small circles, massaging my muscles. I felt the bed sink and heard the sound of the springs taking on some weight. I gathered myself enough to see my boyfriend looking at me with a soft face.

"Hey Perce." He greeted softly, still rubbing my back.

"Hey Neeks." I said back, getting myself to smile.

"Had it rough, I take it?" Nico calmly asked.

"Nah. I handled it. Nothing to worry about Nico." I said with as much bravado and charisma as I could muster. I got up and kissed my boyfriend on the lips. Instantly, I felt some of the emptiness disappear. In it's place was warmth and closeness. I tooked to see Nico had brought a mini lunch of Juicy's double cheeseburgers, large Cokes, fries, and gummy bears.

"Nico, did I ever tell you that I love you?" I asked, my mouth salivating at the mental taste of the greasy, fatty goodness that is Juicy's.

"I wouldn't mind hearing it some more." Nico said with a smile before kissing my cheek. He handed me a meal and we dug in.

Like what Fleur said, Hogwarts food is very heavy, based largely on broths, stews, and what could be considered healthy-ish comfort food. Camp has the best Barbecue out there as our resident Texan ironically admits. But, there is no other food out there quite like a greasy, fat building, cholesterol-filled, heart attack inducing cheeseburger and fries all downed with an ice cold, king of the diabetes makers Coca-Cola. I allowed the favours of the seasoned beef and gooey cheese to send my soul into the Isles of the Blest.

"Wanna just hang here until dinner?" Nico asked.

"Sure." I replied, sipping my Coke. "Thanks for the food, Neeks."

"No probs Perce." Nico replied as he opened a package of gummy bears. "You would've won had your body not turned traitor." He laughed a little.

I got a chuckle in, but the fun quickly died down and was replaced by the twinge of hurt. Nico must've noticed my pain as he looked at me with concern.

"Percy? What's wrong?" Nico asked.

I looked at him and put a smile on.

"It's nothing Neeks." I replied with as much happiness as I thought I could put in without being it seeming fake. "Hey! Pass me a bag of gummy bears!"