I LOVE YOU SO || PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS¹

8.

"WE START TODAY'S LESSON..."

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CAPTURE THE FLAG.

Gritting her teeth together in pain, she tightens her grip on the strap, she needs to tighten it. But, it was killing her. Fuck. Lifting her head up, she watches as everyone around her gets ready, tying their hair back or polishing their weapons. She knew that should ask for help, but she didn't need to hear, 'Well, why are you playing if you're hurt?' or 'How about you ask one of the Apollo kids?'

Pulling the strap, she bites down the curse that threatens to break through, she was not going to wimp out on this. She would just have to bite her tongue for the meantime. Besides, it was almost over. Letting out a shaky breath, her knee throbbing in pain, practically shaking with a heartbeat of its own. Bucking the strap in place, the pain subsides for a second.

"Look who showed up." Walter teases, flashing her a cheeky grin.

"Shut up, Walter." She grumbles.

"I'm surprised you showed up for the game, I thought Lee had handcuffed you to the bed." He jokes, adjusting the strap on his armor.

"I messed up my knee, it's fine if I don't put pressure on it." She hisses, bending her knee.

"Is it really safe for you to be doing this?" He asks, his voice genuinely concerned.

Lifting her head up from her knee, she meets his eyes, his face instantly darken at the sight of the cut above her forehead. Clarisse was brutal as they come. But, also really smart when it came to fighting. She knew what she was doing. Purposely chasing her into the forest, knowing that the fear of being hurt was enough to do the job. No actual need for fists to be thrown. Straightening out her knee, the bulky black brace stands out like a sore thumb, so much for going undetected.

"I'm not missing Capture the Flag because Clarisse decided to chase me into the forest. Then, leave me with a broken knee." She argues, "I've already made plans for this game and I plan on sticking to them."

"Do whatever you want, I'm not your keeper. But, I do wish you were on my team, it would certainly make things more fun." He pouts, making her chuckle at the thought.

"If we were on the same team. We'd go rogue, two minutes in." She jokes, snickering.

Shaking his head with a faint smile, his eyes couldn't help but linger on the bulky black brace on her left knee. She shouldn't be playing. She could barely walk. She couldn't even bend her knee properly. Hell, she was carried into the infirmary screaming in pain when it first happened. She never did that. 

Fiddling with the strap of his armor, he licks his bottom lip, eyes glued to the brace. He didn't want her to play. Not, when the risk of the injury could get worse. Not when she wasn't thinking right, letting her pride get in the way of her heath. He didn't want to see her in even more pain.

"Being serious, are you going to be okay? I know that Lee said it was really bad⎯and if Lee says it's really bad. Then, it has to be like really bad.." He asks, his voice trailing off at the end.

"I'll be fine. I'll just take a shot of nectar and ambrosia, then I'm back in business." She waves off.

"Natasha." He starts, but only rolls her eyes.

"This is a perfect training moment, Walter! Monster's in the real world aren't going to let me sit out a fight because I'm not feeling well. They're not going to wait." She argues,

"Yeah, but is it worth the risk?"

Yes. A million times yes. Shooting him a glare, this wasn't a matter of if she should do it or not⎯this was a matter of trying to prove that she could take care of herself. That she wasn't a wimp. She had fucked up with running from Clarisse. She had fucked up with falling ten feet into a hole. She had fucked up with her knee. But, she learned her lesson. This was her redemption.

"I should be prepared for anything and everything, Walter. And to be prepared, I have to do this." She argues, standing firm.

⎯¤⚔️¤⎯

Crossing my arms over my chest, I glares dagger's at the side of Walter's head, the brunette cowering slightly under my glare. I have come to the conclusion, Walter Evan Petrov was a coward, a complete and utter coward. His whole little 'tough' guy routine was bullshit⎯and I was going to be the one to beat it out of him.

Lowering my eyes to Luke, I bite down on my tongue as he continues to bend my knee, his eyes focused on my reaction. I wasn't going to give him the reaction that he wanted. I wouldn't let myself. Straightening out my knee, I swear to Tartarus I felt something pull that shouldn't be pulled. 

"Okay, you're not playing. That's final." Luke orders, "I can see the pain in your eyes, Nat."

"You don't tell me what to do." I argue, glaring at him.

"Watch what you say." He warns, his voice low.

In any other situation, my heart would have skipped a beat. My hands would grow sweaty. I'd maybe even mockingly bat my eyelashes as a way to hide my flushed cheeks. But, I was too pissed to really let his words affect me. I wanted to play⎯I needed to play. He wasn't going to stop me. Swatting his hands away, he only smacked my hands back. Ever so stubborn, Luke.

"Or what?" I argue, "I always protect the flag. Who's gonna take over, huh?"

"Percy will take over. You are staying here." He orders.

"Like shit he is! Luke, the kid can barely handle a fight. He'll get pulverized out there! Better yet, what about our winning record? Are you seriously gonna give that up?" I scoff, glaring at him.

"He'll be fine. But, I don't want or need you getting hurt out there." Her argues, shaking his head. "You're done. End of story."

Standing up from the ground, he towers over me, which was nothing unusual. He always towered over me, the dude was practically bigfoot to me. Some of the Aphrodite girls would say that It was one of the 'special' things about him. A tall, handsome guy who knew exactly what to say? Good enough to make any person blush. Jumping up from my seat, my knee kills me making me hiss out loud at the shift of weight on it.

Gripping onto his shirt, I pulled him close to me, our chest just barely grazing against each other. I wasn't going to let this go. I was going to play, one way or another. Even if it meant that I had to lock both of them in the cabin. Lowering my eyes for a split second, I take a wobbly step back, realizing just how close we were. Blinking away my thoughts, I remember what I was meant to do.

"You aren't the boss of me, Luke." I jab him in the chest with each word.

"I'm not gonna fight you on this anymore, Nat."

"I'm going to play, end of story." I sneer, "Don't make me have to put you down, Luke."

"Okay. That's it." He grits his teeth together. 

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And I am done with the chapter! Stay safe out there guys!

I hope you all are doing okay emotionally and physically! I love you all!

I hope that you are enjoying the book so far! A quick reminder to comment below about the story of what you think so far.