things you said | leo valdez

11 | things you said that made me feel like shit

eleven
things you said that made me feel like shit

The rain fell in sheets, drumming against the windows of the old barn like a thousand restless spirits trying to escape the storm. Inside, you sat curled up in one of the old wooden chairs, the scent of damp earth and woodsmoke mingling in the air. The storm had forced you to take shelter to this forgotten corner of the world, where memories lingered like ghosts, and the past whispered through the creaking floorboards.

As thunder rumbled in the distance, your fingers traced the spine of an ancient book resting on the table beside you. It was a gift from Aphrodite, filled with tales of love and loss. Both of which are very much present in your life currently. Each story was a thread woven into the fabric of Love's history, but one tale in particular had always intrigued you—the legend of the Midnight Lantern, a mythical artifact said to illuminate the truth hidden in darkness, forged by Hephaestus himself.

As you read, your quest partner and ex-boyfriend, Leo poked the fire separating the two of you.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

"No."

"Do you need any water?"

"No."

"Are you just saying no?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"No."

"Very mature." Leo rolled his eyes.

"Very bold coming from you." You retorted.

"Why's that?"

"Why do you think?"

"I don't."

"Clearly."

"Except when it's about you," Leo mumbled under his breath, too quiet for you to hear.

"Wanna speak up?" You slammed the book shut and plopped it onto the table.

"No." Leo countered. Then he sighed and rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Are we gonna keep doing this the entire quest?"

"Yep."

"Y/N," He pleaded. "Talk to me."

"No."

"Please,"

"We have nothing to talk about."

"We have a lot to talk about."

"Like what?"

"Like Calypso."

That made you stop in your tracks. Your fists tightened, and you ground your teeth together, feeling heat rise in your face.

"Oh, sure, let's talk about the girl you cheated on me with. What a fantastic idea!"

Your words dripped with venom, hitting Leo squarely in the chest.

"I didn't - " Leo sighed. His fingers rubbing his temple with more fervor now. "I didn't mean specifically her. I meant us."

"As in the two of us or the three of us?"

"Just us." Leo groaned, your antics wearing his patience thinned and thinner.

"There is no 'Us' anymore." You retorted.

"Don't say that."

"What do you mean?! Why on Gaea's green earth would there be an 'Us' still?" You couldn't look at him anymore. Opting to look at the flickering flames instead.

"Because I - "

"Don't."

"I love you, Y/N."

"I can't do this right now." You stood up from your chair and tried to flee the scene. But before you could, Leo caught your wrist.

"I'm sorry - but I love you."

"Stop talking." You spit through your teeth. Your back still turned to him. "You have another girl to love now. I can't love you anymore."

"I know, I know." He continued. You could practically feel the desperation dripping from his voice. "I shouldn't love you, but I do."

Silence followed, thick and suffocating. Your mind was racing with a million thoughts, each one more chaotic than the last. How could he do this to you? The betrayal felt like a storm swirling inside, threatening to spill over. You could hear your heartbeat pounding in your ears, drowning out everything else.

Finally, with a surge of determination, you tugged your wrist free from his grip, the contact feeling like a chain you desperately wanted to break.

"I'm not doing this," you said, your voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "You made your decision, now stick with it. You and Calypso might have gone behind my back, but I'm not that kind of girl. I won't be the other woman in any relationship."

The words hung in the air, heavy with finality. You could see the surprise flicker in Leo's eyes, quickly replaced by a mixture of regret and frustration. He opened his mouth to respond, but you cut him off, not wanting to hear any more excuses.

"You think this is just some game? That you can waltz back into my life after what you did and expect me to just accept it? You don't get to play with my feelings and then expect me to stand by while you make a mockery of everything we had!"

Leo took a step closer, desperation etched across his face. "Wait, just listen—"

But you shook your head, feeling a surge of anger and hurt. "No, Leo! You don't get to make me feel guilty for standing up for myself! You made your choice, and now you have to live with it! I'm not going to be your consolation prize, your fallback option. I deserve better than that."

His expression shifted, and for a moment, you thought you saw a flicker of understanding, but it was quickly overshadowed by frustration. "I didn't mean for it to happen! It was a mistake!"

"Then why did you let it happen at all?" you shot back, the pain in your chest tightening. "If you truly cared about me, you wouldn't have put yourself in that position. You wouldn't have betrayed my trust."

The silence stretched between you, thick with unsaid words and unresolved feelings. You could feel the heat of your anger mixing with the sting of heartbreak, and for a moment, it felt unbearable. But you stood your ground, refusing to let him see how deeply his actions had wounded you.

"I'm done, Leo."

With that, you turned on your heel and stormed away from the flickering firelight, retreating into the shadowy corner of the barn. You unrolled your sleeping bag with a swift motion, the sound of fabric crinkling breaking the silence, and crawled inside, seeking refuge from the awkwardness in the air.