The Sword Of Tiberius

Chapter 9

A Walk In The Harbour

| Juliette | 

After Rachel left none of us spoke a thing. Adrian stared at the door she had walked out of. I stared at Adrian. I didn't know what he would think of this. Would he agree? Or would he leave me to go to Camp? No, he wouldn't do that. I was being an idiot again.

Finally after a eternity of silence Adrian spoke,

" I guess we're not going to Camp-Half-Blood then" I smiled inwardly. I didn't know how I could have ever thought that he would leave me.

"Yeah" I just said.

" What Rachel said, about you finding what you have desired most... Do you know what she means?" Adrian asked.

" I think she means I would find my Mother" I told him. He nodded,

" Ok, good." We were silent again for an awkward moment. What was wrong with Adrian? He was usually the one to speak a lot. In various situations.

"Do you wanna go outside somewhere?" he asked, "To get a breath of fresh hair maybe?"

" Yeah, that would be good." I said.

We walked out of the apartment and decided to go to Boston Harbor. We both loved that place as much as the Commons park. Walking around the Harbor, with the smell of the sea brought both of us some peace. It seemed the best place to go for now.

Boston Harbor was a large area so walking along it would take plenty of time. Which I didn't mind at all. Something about walking with Adrian now made butterflies emerge in my stomach. I tried to shut them down. He was JUST a best friend. Nothing else. However the voice inside me begged to differ, Keep saying that to yourself. Doesn't make it true. Clenching my hands into fist I came to the realization that Adrian, after all, was more to me than I was to him. But I couldn't risk ruining a decade of friendship over a stupid crush. It would go away.

Adrian didn't talk much along the way. He would point to some things that have changed since the last time we had come here. Colours of the crates, more ships, the color of the wooden plank we were walking on; he noticed everything. He noticed the pretty girls that walked past, but surprisingly, he didn't go up to them and flirt. Or ask for their number. Or comment on their dresses. I knew something was wrong. Adrian was a flirty boy, and would let no girls pass without them knowing how charming he was. We sat down on a bench, looking out at the water. I started the conversation,

"What's wrong?" I inquired.

"Nothing," he mumbled. I rolled my eyes and made his eyes face mine. His cheek in my hand grew warmer. I kept my hand there.

"I know when something is wrong with you. 8 years of being best friends, and you think I wouldn't know?" I said.

" There's nothing particularly wrong, just that-" he paused. His eyes shone so much I couldn't tell if they were his eyes. I just sat there, glancing at his eyes, nose, eyelashes, and at last mouth. My face warmed. We were so close, that if he moved an inch, his lips would touch mine.

"Just that-?" I breathed.

" Just that you -" he started but then stopped. I don't think he meant to stop. Our breath mingled together, and I wondered what it would feel if my lips did. Maybe he was thinking the same as he leaned a centimeter closer. Then another centimeter. His hands came up the back of my neck, fingers fluttering nervously there. He tilted his head a bit and so did I. Was he going to kiss me? I couldn't think anymore as his nose touched mine. His tousled hair fell on his forehead and eyes. Pausing for a moment he said softly,

" Just that you're different to me now." In response I came closer to him. Just as our lips were about to touch, we heard a monster.