ATLOP: Lessons in Water

It's free to say "it be like that"

Bleh, my account has been glitching all week. And of course I got sick again and had six exams and two essays in the last two weeks (one more essay to do!).

Ah well, the update is here at least.

Hope you enjoy the chapter <3 Next chapter we start having more fun.

Come yell at me on my tumblr: Percabeth4Life
Come chat with me on discord: https://discord.gg/3tGNJhu

OO OO OO OO

I swung my legs and watched as Leilani heated the glass in the forge again.

Leilani had been learning how to make stuff out of glass last year, so today's forge was dedicated to her continuing that, while Tyson worked with Beckendorf. Next one would be focused on our cabin sun dial again.

"Percy," Silena said.

I focused back on her, "Sorry, what did you say?"

She studied me, "Are you sure you don't want to talk about what happened with you and Annabeth?"

I tugged at my veil, gaze drawn back to the molten glass on the end of the pole.

"Percy?"

"It's fine," I told her. "Just... you know, she doesn't like Tyson."

My stomach twisted uncomfortably as I remembered her words and expression. I really messed up, but I didn't know how to fix it.

And I really didn't want to talk about it.

Silena sighed.

"Percy... you know we're here for you, right?"

I nodded, swallowing. "Yeah, thank you."

"Well... let me know if you want to talk. Or if there's anything I can do to help..."

"I will," I mumbled.

Leilani drew the pole out of the fire and grabbed the tongs to pull at it. I wasn't sure what she was making but it was blue (she'd asked me for a color) so it would probably be cool regardless.

I wondered if she was good at it because glass was made of sand. Could she learn to control glass? Could normal earth benders learn to control glass? That would be cool. Or maybe it was a fire and earth bender thing.

Maybe Annabeth would know-

I swallowed and shook the thought away.

Maybe I could check on the tree later, see if the unicorn draught had improved anything. If so I could use more of it.

I only had a few bottles but if it saved the tree and undid my mess up-

"Percy," Silena said softly. "You do know that you aren't at fault for the tree, right?"

I looked away. Annabeth had told someone what happened, probably someone from her cabin. They likely were worried when she returned crying... And well... the whole camp was aware of my screw up now.

It didn't help with the inter-cabin relationships.

"Yeah," I mumbled. "I'm fine."

I jolted at the light touch on my shoulder.

"Can I hug you?"

I blinked at her, swallowing hard.

"Yeah," I croaked. "If you want-"

She tugged me into a tight hug.

"It'll be okay," she whispered. "It's okay to not be okay right now though."