Leo Valdez-Not okay?

Leo

The truth? I'm not okay. I never am. So why do I find it so easy to say I am? Nobody sees me at night. Scolding myself. Telling myself 'you're fine' and 'other people have it worse.' I say 'Oh, I'm just taking a walk.' And they ask why, I reply with 'Overstimulated haha.' Or 'I need to ask Hephaestus for advice.' And shrug. They don't ask questions. Let me walk alone. It's isolating but nice.

Tonight though, I came up with a different lie. One that concerned my cabin mates. What was it I said? "Hades cabin. I need to talk to my mother and Charles Beckendorf." I lie. One kid, an older one, Nyssa, came up to me. "Leo. How do you know who Charles is? He passed before you came here." I shrugged and told her "I dream of him sometimes, I don't know. He told me his name and said I need to go to Nico's cabin and talk to him." Which was half a lie. "Hmm..maybe I should walk you to The Big House and see if Chiron-" I shake my head. Chiron would immediately know I was lying and I didn't need him to know what I'm going through. I didn't need to cry either. "Okay Leo." Nyssa replies. "Just promise me you will be back before midnight?" I nod, checking the—Monster safe—clock I made a few days ago. It was about 10 pm so I had 2 hours to 'talk'.

*KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!*

Nico opens the door. "Hey Leo, what's up?" He says, leaning against the door. His eyebrows furrow, and I realize, I've been crying. "Are you okay Leo?" I nod.

"Will?" He calls out.

Oh Gods...I thought. Will's immediately going to know whats wrong. He's going to know whats happening. I can feel my heart racing faster than it usually is.

"Leo." Will says firmly. "Sit down. Now. Your heart rate is FAR too high. It's dangerously high. Take a deep breath and calm down."

I laugh. "Leonidaz Valdez." Will exhales. "This is not funny. Your heart rate right now is the highest I've ever seen in camp."

"It's fine." I laugh, "if I die I die haha. Not like I have much importance in camp. Gods, Harley is more important than me. So what? I built a ship and clock. Big deal." I laugh even more.