The Girl Who Stopped the Apocalypse (pjo fanfiction)

17- Turns out love does not hurt at all

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I stared into the mirror. My face had ugly purple bruises, my cheeks had blood cloths over them. And yet I'd never been happier.

"Hazel, please sit still" Frank said.

I pretended to pout but still did as he said. He wiped my face with a nasty smelling oinment and I didn't wince. I was way too excited to care about the pain.

I was free. Free at last.

"Tell me if it hurts, ok?"

It did hurt, but it didn't matter. I just wanted to jump and scream of pure joy.

"Is it done yet?" I asked, practically bouncing in the seat.

"Nearly... Done!" He said, kissing my forehead

I smiled and got up.

We all had a picnic that afternoon, the whole entire camp. We drapped blankets over the grass, made sandwiches and cake, and played games the whole afternoon.

We decided to have a piggyback race. Percy lifted Annabeth, Leo paired up with that beautiful girl called Calypso, Jason was with Piper and Reyna and Thalia were together. I jumped until I setled mmyself at Frank's back and waited for the start.

"Three, two, one... GO!"

And we went for it. Piper yanked Annabeth's hair. Reyna pushed Leo. I kicked her and settled for the first possition, until Percy made me trip. At the end, we were all on the ground, laughing and having the time of our lives.

Frank raised his hand towards me and, for an awful second, I thought he might hit me, but instead he placed a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.

"You have the most gorgeous hair" He said, until he noticed my panicked expression "Is there something wrong?"

"Just pain" I lied. Better than admitting the truth.

But, I discovered, it would have been better to tell him, because he made me lie down abd stay still for a while, asking me every five seconds if I was alright.

"I told you, I'm fine" I repeated for the fiftieth time "They are playing Twister! Can't we go?"

At the end, he gave in, and we enrolled in a crazy round of Twister. Piper turned out to be really flexible, and she won because she managged to do a split while the rest of us struggled.

"Not fair" Jason said

"Says who?" she smirked, and then kissed him "Ugh, so grumpy"

Right then, Nico and Will appeared. Turns out Will had grounded Nico and wouldn't let him lift a finger or leave bed until he decided he was absolutly fine. Which, mind me, sounded quite familiar.

"Sorry guys, did I miss the fun? Mr Significance annoyance here decided I should miss all of it"

"Significant annoyance? Are we doing pet names now?" Will giggled, until Nico shut him up with a kiss. Then he stuttered, red as blood, or a tomato.

The afternoon turned to evening, butthe party didn't stop. He danced, laughed and just had fun.

When I couldn't keep up with Piper's dance no more, I sat and stuffed my face with cake.

"Whipped cream beard suits you" Frank pointed out, taking a seat beside me.

I smiled superiorly and painted a dot of blue icing in his nose.

"Hello, Mr Smurf"

We started laughing, and I layed on the blanket, pushing him to do the same.

"I love you, Hazel. It's clearer by the minute, second actually. I adore you"

Memories from my motherpopped up in my brain, fogging it. After she beated me, when I was really young, she used to tell me that she loved me. I believed that love hurt, and that someone injuring you and making you in pain was a way to express love.

But now I understood. I knew the truth, that she had never loved me at all.

"You know what? Turns out love does not hurt. At all" I said, laying my head in his chest "It's actually quite nice"

Night fell, and stars dotted the dark sky. But stars weren't a reminder of the bad things I'd done anymore, but just a sign that war was over.

I realized I had done it. I had been brave, a hero, but most importantly, myself. The mistakes my mother had made did not define me, and I had proved it.

Because I was Hazel. And not just Hazel. I'm the girl who stopped the Apocalypse, and I know exactly who I'll be.

Because no matter how rough times get, I know we will overcome them. We're a family, and we will always be so.

That night, barriers were destroyed inside me.

That night, I was free.

That night, I loved again.

And... It's over! Thank you so much for everything, for reading, commenting, voting... This story never would have happened without you. Just thank you!!

And yes, it is the end, and I must say goodbye. 

(or not, for this is only my first Pjo story, but certainly not the last...) UPDATE: Next story "You never know" is out!

Peace and out!

Julieta <3