You'll Learn to Love Me

Chapter 26: Laylana and Leo Get Yeeted Into the Lake

The day after the incident with Maenads, Laylana was awoken to the conch horn ringing, signaling breakfast. She sprung out of bed, quickly getting dressed and pulling on her boots before running to the dining pavilion. She sat at her table alone, eating as normal. Piper, at her own table, noticed the slight change in her friend's attitude. The unusual pep in her step as she walked up and sat down. Imagine Piper's shock when Leo appeared at the dining pavilion too, sitting with his siblings. She noticed how Laylana's gaze followed him, a slight smile on her face. Instantly, Piper knew she had to interogate one of them at least.

Leo was gone right after breakfast ended, and Laylana had begun to make her way to the arena. Jason intercepted her path, throwing an arm around her shoulder. "Hey, Lana! How was your night?" 

"Grace. It was good. How was yours?" 

"I just went to bed, slept a good 12 hours." Jason chuckled. "So... what did you and Leo get up to after we left last night?" 

"Um..." Laylana's voice trailed off, her face turning bright red. 

"Lana... What's that look for?" Jason smirked. 

"Well... Don't freak out," Laylana let out a little laugh. "We... might have kissed." 

"What? Seriously?" Jason tightened his grip. "Did he ask you out? Did you ask him out?" 

"He asked me to be his girlfriend." Laylana smiled at his reaction. 

"You said yes, right?" Laylana nodded. "Shit! I guess I owe Pipes 5 drachmas." 

"You guys bet on us?" 

"I bet that you guys would become a couple after we set out on our quest. She bet that it would be before." Jason sighed and shook his head, smiling. "I'm happy for you guys, though." 

"Thanks, Grace." Laylana said. "I'm... I haven't felt this happy in a while." 

"You two deserve it more than anyone. I mean it." Jason squeezed her arm. "Are you going to help with the boat today?" 

"Yeah, I've got one class to teach this morning then I'm handing the rest off to Clarisse." Laylana nodded. "I'll talk to you more later?" 

"Yes, of course. I'll see you later." Jason let her go before running off to another part of camp. Little they know that Piper was grilling Leo for the same information. 

Laylana spent her morning teaching the Apollo cabin further tricks and tips on sword fighting. She was quick on her feet today, her mind having cleared now that tension between her and Leo was gone. Clarisse met up with her as the Apollo campers left the arena, and Laylana made her promise that she wouldn't get overly serious with the younger kids. Now whether Clarisse was telling the truth or not, she didn't know. 

She spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon with Leo, him teaching her about building the structure of the boat, and later taking her back to Bunker 9 with some of his siblings to teach her a bit about the engine. He had to explain things a few times, but she eventually began to understand a few things. Enough that she could maybe have some sort of an idea on how to fix it if they ever got broken. Leo's siblings noted the change in his attitude when having Laylana there; he was working harder when she was there, like he was trying to impress her. He was always the typical jokester, but now more than ever. He had a permanent smile on his face that would not go away no matter what. 

"So, we're also planning out every cabin separately. We're building nine of them, considering that Coach is coming with us, and then the eight demigods of course." Leo lead his girlfriend over to the planning table, where there were various sketches of the boat's lower deck. "When we build them... Do you want to take over any decorations? Might be more your forte while we finish with the weapons and engine room."