You'll Learn to Love Me (Leo Valdez x OC)

Chapter 2: Laylana: 'haha I'm in danger' Jackson

Laylana didn't stick around much after people began rushing to Piper, and Jason confirmed she would be apart of their quest. She agreed to meet up with the group in the morning before running back to her cabin. Upon reaching it, she let her tears finally fall as the stress of everything finally caught up to her. She sat on the ground, leaning against the wall with her knees to her chest crying for Gods knows how long until she heard a knock at her door.

"Who is it?" Laylana called, wiping her tears and mentally cursing herself for her voice crack.

"It's just me." Annabeth's voice sounded from the other side.

"Come in," Laylana stretched her legs out as Annabeth opened the door, closing it behind her and looking at her friend on the floor.

"You look like shit."

"Thanks. I know." Laylana groaned as she got up, heading towards the bathroom. Annabeth followed her as Laylana splashed water on her face, looking in the mirror at her red eyes.

"You know you don't need to go..." Annabeth mumbled.

"I have to. Who else could go? The only one I can think of is Nico, and I'm not forcing him back to camp just to go off on another dangerous quest." Laylana thought of her best friend, the one she called her 'Underworld brother' which he hated, but overtime accepted and loved her and she loved him. "He's been through too much."

"I know." Annabeth's voice trailed off. "I just... don't want to lose you too."

"You won't. I'm going to come back." Laylana rolled her shoulders, turning to head back into the main area as the two took a seat on her bed. "There's no way I'm dying without punching my stupid, fucking brother in the face for disappearing and worrying all of us like that."

"He deserves it." Annabeth agreed, a small smile on her face.

"Do you think we'll find him?" Laylana leaned her head on Annabeth's shoulder.

"We have to." Annabeth pulled the girl close. 

The two used to dislike each other years ago when they first met, much like Annabeth and Percy had. But, that changed when Laylana helped rescue Annabeth and Artemis from Atlas. Laylana had been first to reach them and take the sky, before shifting it to Percy shortly after at his insistence. After that, the two girls became inseparable. Annabeth saw Laylana as a little sister, and Laylana treated her like her older sister (as they should, considering Laylana was almost 100% sure Percy was gonna marry this girl.) 

"Have you heard anything from Nico, yet?" Annabeth asked.

"Not yet. He's supposed to come by after the winter solstice. I was going to finish traveling around New York first." 

"Maybe he'll show up for Christmas this year." 

"I can probably drag him out of the Underworld for it." Laylana chuckled half-heartedly. 

"Drag him to your mom's place. No one can really resist her cooking." 

"Fuck, that reminds me." Laylana groaned. "I forgot to Iris Message mom when it was still light out."

"Do you want to call her real quick?" Annabeth pulled her cellphone that she was not allowed to have out of her pocket.

"Please?" Laylana took the phone.

"Do you want me to step out?"

"No, it's okay." Laylana found her mom's contact in Annabeth's phone and quickly called. Within the first few rings, Sally Jackson picked up.

"Hello?" Laylana almost cried at the sound of her mom's voice.

"Mom?"

"Layla? Honey, are you okay?" Sally's voice softened at the sound of her daughter. "Did you find anything?"