𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒 - jason grace

12. GHOST HUNTING WITH THE GIRLS

MAIA WAS LOOKING AT the stars again, just like she had almost every night when Jason was gone. She traced the constellations with her eyes, smiling every time she actually remembered their names (so like twice), just like Jason had constantly tried to teach her. As usual, Maia basked in the calmness of the night sky, which, like many of the things she did, had become frequent since Jason's disappearance.

Unlike most of those nights, though, Jason was standing right next to her, a bright smile on his face as he was naming all the constellations Maia had failed to remember.

"That's Ursa Minor." He said, pointing at a string of stars Maia could not connect for the life of her. He saw the look on Maia's face and laughed. "The Little Dipper, Maia. And if you look a little further," he took her hand from where he was, stepping slightly behind her, but where she could still see him, and guided it to point at another set of stars, "you'll see the Big Dipper."

He repeated the motion, guiding her hand to point at another indiscernible set of stars, and spoke, "That's Cassiopeia."

Maia gasped, "Cassie has a constellation? That's awesome."

Jason laughed, "Yeah. Percy has one too. It's visible in the winter, though. You can see Cassiopeia every day."

"No way." She smiled at him. "We need to go out every season, then, and see the stars. I like hearing you talk about them the way you do, even if I never remember them."

"Gods, you're cute." Jason couldn't help but smile at her.

Maia felt Jason wrap his arms around her waist, cheeks turning pink at the action. He pressed a few kisses on the top of her head, chuckling at the way she closed her eyes and leaned into him.

"I never thought we'd get here." Jason said softly, "I didn't think we'd ever be this close."

"What," Maia teased, "did you really have no faith in me?"

"No, I just didn't have faith in myself." He admitted, "I mean, I didn't even really tell you I loved you the way I wanted to. It kinda just happened. Not that I regret it, of course, we're here now, so that's wonderful. But still." He said.

Maia placed her hands over Jason's own, turning slightly to face him. "How would you have done it?"

"I would've snuck us out after curfew, made sure the stars were as bright as they are tonight." He started.

"You? Jason Grace, break curfew?" She gave him a pointed look, "I thought I was the rule-breaker here, and you were the picture perfect Roman legionnaire."

"Hey," He said, "When you're a praetor, you can get away with a lot."

Maia laughed, "Okay, mister praetor. What next?"

"I would've taken you by the gardens of Bacchus, near those flowers you and Reyna liked to sit by. I would've grabbed you by the hand and asked you to dance with me. No music, just us." He moved one of his arms to brush some of her hair behind her ear, cheeks pink.

"Even if it rained?" She questioned, knowing full well what he would say.

"Especially if it rained." Jason's face had gotten dangerously close to hers, lips inches away from hers. Right before he could kiss her, though, she pushed him back slightly, grinning at his confused expression.

"Dance with me, then." She grabbed his arm and twirled him around, which must've looked funny, since he was taller than her.

Jason laughed, a beautiful laugh Maia would probably never get used to, because it managed to surprise her every time. He wrapped his arms around her waist again, and Maia placed hers around his neck.