He Stoll My Heart - Connor Stoll.

Ch.9: Inner Conflicts.

A/N: This chapter takes place during TLO, ch.13 ("A Titan brings me a present.")

Happy birthday Hazel! (17/12)

- - -

Connor was pissed. At himself. At the gods. At that freaking Lily, whoever the hell she was.

He was sitting in the lobby, in one of the fancy chairs that Grover hadn't eaten yet, arms crossed and scowling at the ground.

What did she see? he thought. Why does she need to go so badly? It's clearly important to her... I'm hungry. What if... Am I in the wrong? No. No, I'm not. She has no right to leave us. I mean, she does, but she shouldn't. And not after...

He cursed under his breath and clenched his fists.

He should've said it back. He wanted to say it back. Why couldn't he say it back?

Now, the moment was lost. Gone. Dead. It was as if she'd never even said it.

But she did say it, he thought furiously. She did say it. I heard her say those words. Why does she have to pass out at the worst moments!? Which gods hate me!? Scratch that, probably all of 'em.

The moment they arrived back at the Plaza, she'd disappeared off to somewhere else, leaving him alone to report back to Percy and Annabeth.

"I love you too, Rose," he grumbled under his breath. "Not that hard."

I was supposed to say it first. It was supposed to be me.

"Gods," he muttered. "I guess... I guess I threw away my shot."

He couldn't even bring himself to smile at his joke.

- - -

Rose was in some kind of trance, fueled only by this desperate thirst for knowledge.

Who she was was all that mattered.

She wouldn't let anyone stop her. Not even Connor.

She grabbed an abandoned bag from a corner and threw a few supplies in, but not enough to cause suspicion. She checked her pockets and saw she had about 30 dollars and 5 drachmas. It would have to do.

She was going to take the two-day trip to San Francisco, using Iris' van.

She was going to meet Lily and Jason. She was going to meet the Romans. Her people.

She knew she didn't belong in Camp Half-Blood. She never had. She belonged in the Roman legion. She was sure of it now. If anything, Pompona's statue was further proof of their existence.

She sneaked past a few, sleeping demigods in the lobby. She somehow managed to avoid the Demeter Cabin (Katie and a few of the others had arrived, she'd left two of the boys at the tunnel as guards). Travis saw her but didn't seem to notice her bag.

She made her way to the Plaza parking lot, where the Iris RV had parked.

The harpies that were supposed to guard the plaza parking lot were fast asleep, one leaning against one of the walls and one roosting on a street lamp.

"How secure," Rose muttered, raising an eyebrow.

She walked over to Iris' van and stood in front of the door.

This is it, she thought. This is your chance.

But what if they're not there when you get there? Two days is still a lot, they have all the time in the world to leave, said a little voice in your head.

I know where they are right now, Rose replied, I can't let this chance slip.

You're needed here.