The Immortal Echoes

Chapter 4: Harmonia

Perhaps avoiding Heph at work wasn't the smartest idea, he checked in with her and gave her some basic information about his ideas for the trades programs. But the dreams she had over the weekend, were the only reason she hadn't gone in. Each one felt like a memory of a different person. A few times she thought Heph was there handing her something. After she held whatever it was, there was only pain.

Harmonia shook those thoughts from her mind, Hephaestus hasn't shown any sign of leaving her alone. He knew she needed space from him physically but still wanted to have those check ins. Harmonia had even started to listen to his voice mail to calm her nerves. On Friday night, Hephaestus had asked to come over to discuss some of the ideas he had come up with. She felt ready to see him and invited him over for sushi, she had been trying to expand his tastes.

Harmonia was scared to see Hephaestus, though she knew if she put off talking to him for to long, things would just get weirder between them. Hephaestus showed up after his shift with sushi in hand. Though his face said he had grabbed something else.

"Where is the other food?" Harmonia spoke with a knowing tone.

"What food? I said I would try the sushi. Why would I bring different food?"

"Hephaestus Olympian"

He shows her the bag from the Fred Meyer deli. Harmonia shook her head and grabbed the deli food from him. She walked to her kitchen and place both sets of food on the counter. Once the food is laid out, Harmonia feels more pressure to talk. Though she knows in her head talking now would be the best thing, but the idea of bringing up the topic just feels too soon.

"I like you a lot Harmonia."

Harmonia turned around to look at the man who stood roughly at five foot ten inches with confusion. Nothing about how Hephaestus acted around her suggested he would like her in the same way, yet the way he phrased his statement caused Harmonia to stop for a moment and hope.

She backed away. Nothing about what Heph was saying made sense. Harmonia felt like she was going to be made fun of if she spoke. He never showed any interest in anyone. Harmonia wasn't sure how to ask the thousands of questions running through her head.

"Har, I.. Would you want to go out sometime?"

"Hephaestus? What is going on?"

"I like you. More than I thought. I think we should try to go on a date. Unless, the kiss was just adrenaline?"

"No!" Harmonia's anxiety was increasing, "I do like you. I just never thought you would like me back. Seriously, every time I even thought about telling you, I panicked."

Heph grabbed Harmonia's hand and guided her back to the couch in her living room. Harmonia couldn't help feeling overwhelmed learning not only were her feelings returned, but something might actually happen between them now. All Harmonia could think about during the walk to the couch, was how she never wanted things to change.

"We are changing, aren't we?"

"What do you mean? Harmonia what makes you ask?"

"You probably only want to date because of the idea of being with the loner girl. Heph come on don't tease me."

"Harmonia Loveless what about me right now suggests that. I want you. I like you a helluva lot more than I feel like I should. What is going on inside of your crazy head?"

"No one stays. I fear you would be the same."

Hephaestus hugged her tight. Harmonia couldn't figure out why she felt so insecure now. She couldn't help but feel unsure about his heart. Nothing about their situation felt real or hell even normal but it also felt right. Though she couldn't help feeling like there was a sword hanging over her head.