Daylight || Harry Potter

Chapter Thirty-Eight

"I don't get it. Luke was hurt really bad."

"I know, AB."

"And he's the one who got the laurels."

"I know."

"And he's head counselor of the Hermes cabin now!"

"I know."

Annabeth, who was laying on my bed as I packed, huffed and rolled over onto her stomach. "Then why is he so mad?"

"Because I went against what he said." I folded a pair of jeans and tossed them into my trunk. "And it was his quest... so."

As I said it, though, I couldn't help but wonder if that was really the full reason. Some part of me hoped that Luke's anger was purely because of Aphrodite's curse. Then again, he'd been building up his resentment against me since the quest began, so who could say for sure?

"I hope he stops soon," Annabeth said, "Because I heard Sofia and Tessa talking about the last head counselor meeting."

"How are they not catching you?"

"Because they don't care who's listening, I guess." Annabeth shrugged. "Anyway, Luke was badmouthing you, and Grant from Ares cabin sided with him. And then Jeff from Hephaestus cabin said he had a point."

My stomach turned. I'd been at this camp for, what, ten years now? Grant and Jeff had known me for at least five of those years. What was going on?

"Tessa said that Grant even said the Death Eaters were attacking because of you," Annabeth added quietly. "And that you not wanting to be head counselor of Apollo cabin was weird."

"I'm not head counselor of Apollo because I'm in England for over half of the year," I snapped.

"I know!" Annabeth said.

"I know you know, I'm just..." I sighed. "I'm sorry."

"I don't like you two fighting."

"I know. I'm sorry, AB. I'm sure we'll make up before I leave in a few days, I just... I think I should give him some space until then."

To be honest, I wasn't sure if that was the right move. The vision I'd had about Luke's death had mentioned this very moment. After his quest, we'd grown apart. My future self's voice echoed in my head: "I'm the one who pushed you away... I pushed you away." Was this what she meant? Was I doing exactly as she'd said right now? Was I giving Luke space, or was I pushing him away?

"Or maybe I should go talk to him again," I mumbled.

"You could," Annabeth agreed.

"Yeah," I mumbled. Except the last couple of times I'd tried to talk to him, he'd been so distant. I'd gone from attempting to talk about the issue while he stonewalled me, then begging him to please just talk about it while he stonewalled me, then eventually just giving up and talking about the weather instead. Why would this time be any different?

"I'll go get him," Annabeth announced.

I blinked, then processed what she'd said too late. "No, wait, I didn't mean -- "

Before I could finish, Annabeth burst out the door.

Okay, so this was happening now. Wonderful. I froze in place, wondering what to do when he walked in. Should I be casual about it so he didn't know how much I hated being like this? Should I be angry? Sad? What was I even supposed to do? I was so out of my depth.

Annabeth came back in, dragging Luke by the elbow, and I tried to prepare myself. She pulled him over to me, then crossed her arms and smiled stiffly at him.