Pretty isn't Pretty - Jason Grace

I.XII.

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TW : mentions of sexual assault and abuse in the before last segment (indicated with •)

Part one. Chapter twelve.

The golden boy and the broken doll

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If she hadn't been on the verge of doing exactly the same thing, Aris would have mocked Piper for jumping into the ocean the way she did. But when Frank, Hazel and Leo had broken through the surface of the water, Aris had never felt so relieved.

"Frank !" She had yelled and lunged at him.

The boy caught her. "Ari, you'll get all wet !"

"I don't care." She hugged him tightly. "I just care that you're safe."

He hugged her back, the dampness of his clothes transferring to hers but Aris really didn't care. She then got herself another layer of water on her being when she held Hazel to her once Percy let go.

"I am so glad you're okay," she breathed.

"I was so worried about you guys," Hazel told her. "We didn't know if the monster left or not."

"We're okay," Aris promised, patting Hazel's hair.

"Hey everyone  !" Annabeth clapped. "Let's go change and hear about what happened."

Everyone nodded in agreement and started heading to their respective rooms. It had been a long night and even those who had been stuck on the ship were in dire need of a fresh set of clothing.

Aris was about to close her door when a hand caught it. She turned, sighing in exasperation when she saw who it was. "What do you want ?"

Jason sent her a look. "What I've wanted since the beginning."

"Gods, Jason," Aris breathed. She rubbed at her face. "Not today. I don't have the energy for this shit."

"I hurt you."

"You always hurt me." She hadn't meant to say that. But it was a knee jerk reaction. And it was true. Jason never meant to, but he did hurt her. A lot.

He looked as if she had just slapped him. He looked so hurt and lost. "Thea."

"No," she snapped, though it sounded almost like a broken sob. "Don't."

"Why not ?"

"Because she's dead."

"No, she's not."

"Yes, she is ! The girl you loved is gone, Jason."

Jason shook his head. "She's—"

"Please stop," Aris begged, holding back tears. "Why do you have to keep hurting me ?"

"I don't want to."

"But you do." Aris let a tear roll down her cheek. "You hurt me so much. All the time. Doesn't that make it worse ?"

Jason looked struck, on the verge of tears himself. He stared for a moment before lowering his head. He backed away, pulling the door closed behind him. Aris put her hands on her hips and cried. Not knowing that he was on the other side, hearing every sob that racked through her and hating himself for it.

🖤💔🖤

Aris cleaned herself up and went up to breakfast. She silently came and sat next to Percy. He looked down at her as she smushed her cheek on his shoulder. He chose to not to say anything, only laying his head on hers and broke off half his brownie and handed it to her.