If Looks Could Kill *Percy Jackson and the Olympians*

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

“I....” I said again, still struggling to speak. Luke was looking at me pitifully, as if he regretted asking the question. Yet, still, he waited for an answer.

I had just basically formed an answer in my head.

“I-”

“VIOLET!”

Both Luke’s head and mine whipped around to see Percy standing there. I heard Luke grumble, as Percy walked closer.

Percy’s eyes narrowed when he saw who it was I was standing with, and even more so when he looked at the state we were both in. Tear tracks glistening on our faces, my arms wrapped protectively around my torso.

“Violet,” Percy said, “Chiron wants to talk to us now. I hope you’ve been training lately, because he seems really worried.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luke shoot me a look, which I ignored. I just closed my eyes, trying to keep calm.

When I opened my eyes, I looked right at Percy. “Okay…you go ahead. I’ll be right there…I promise.”

He didn’t look to happy about it, but Percy nodded and walked off towards the Big House, shoving his hands in his short pockets.

I turned back to face Luke. He was still staring at me.

“Why does Chiron want to talk to you?” he asked, sounding, for once, scared.

“I don’t know,” I said, closing my eyes again.

“Well….just…Violet,” he said, sounding half strangled, “If he asks you to do something, be careful, okay?” He grabbed my arms and forced me to look at him.

“Promise me you’ll be safe.”

“I…promise,” I said, just a little confused as to what he meant.

“Violet…” he said, shutting his blue eyes for a moment, and then re-opening them, “I need to tell you something before you go…”

I felt my heart beat quickening, but I ignored it. I ignored the pounding of blood in my ears. I ignored the butterflies in my stomach.

“Violet…I…love you.”

*****

I walked as quickly as I could to the Big House, trying my hardest to keep tears from springing up in my eyes. What did he expect me to say? That I loved him too? Did I love him too?

I don’t know, okay?

Something I do know is that I don’t want to hurt him. Unfortunately, I’m horrible at that. It seems like the only thing I’m good at it hurting him.

After he told me he loved me, I said goodbye.

I walked away. I left him there, staring at the spot I had once stood, rooted to the spot, with nothing left of me besides the lingering feeling of my hand in his and a quick kiss I had placed on his cheek.

I’m a jerk.

*****

When I entered the Big House, Percy stood quickly.

“Violet,” he said, noticing my expression. I waved him off, and he sat down in an armchair. I sat down next to him, burying my head in my hands.

(A/N IMPORTANT: The following was taken directly from the book simply because I don’t want to get any information wrong, therefore, messing up the rest of the story. So, please, keep that in mind. The following belongs to RICK RIORDAN.)