𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐆𝐎𝐃𝐒, heroes of olympus³

xv. two hearts, beating for each other

━chapter fifteen,
❝two hearts, beating for each other!❞
『H A Z E L』

☆

━━━The only thing that seems to occupy Hazel Levesque's mind these days is her best friend in the entire world━Regina Maximus.

     She can remember when she was small, people talking about same-sex relationships. It piqued her curiosity. (Not very much, however, Hazel had a lot of other stuff on her mind). But she'd heard about gay bars; she'd heard some rude men call these two young boys a "couple of pansies"; she'd heard women who wore suits called bull-dikers. She'd heard plenty of this stuff before, but never thought much of it. If a girl wanted to kiss a girl, who was she to care? Hazel had so much on her plate at such a young age, that she simply didn't care about who other people made out with, and didn't know why other people did.

     Who cares?

     The only sort of romance she had in her life was Sammy━and he was the reason why she knew and knows now that she likes boys. She had never questioned her sexuality before. It had never even occurred to her before. She had heard people shame others for liking someone of the same sex, and Hazel was shamed enough on a daily basis━for being black, for being a woman, for being a 'witch'.

     Hazel knew all too well what it was like to be judged for who you are.

     She didn't know what she thought she was before. Straight? Perhaps. She'd always admire a pretty girl that came her way━like, have you seen those girls at Camp Jupiter? Just look at Valentina and Reyna━but she has never caught feelings for a girl. At least, she can't recall a time that she did.

     Then came Regina Maximus.

     She remembers a month ago━though she doesn't know how it could've been just a month ago, it feels like a lifetime━when she would scrunch up her nose in the wake of Regina Maximus and think to herself, What a snobby princess. She believed Regina had it all━she was white, she was ridiculously smart, she was stupidly pretty, she was rich, she was strong, powerful, and smart, and did she mention pretty?

     But she should've known better. She didn't know Regina. Sometimes, still, she wonders if she really does.

     Hazel has never felt anything quite like this before. It is a feeling that reminds her of what people talk about in those rom-com movies or those romance shows or what Percy says when he talks about Annabeth (gods). It's a feeling of so much endearment, affection, fondness, and warmth ━ a feeling of so much emotion, that it nearly reduces Hazel to tears when she feels it so strongly━when she sees that pretty smile grace Regina's lips, or when her hand covers hers, or when Regina's arm slides around her, or when Regina lets out the smallest laugh━a sound so rare these days.