Her Cowboy

Chapter 21

ten·sion\ˈten(t)-shən\
noun
: a feeling of nervousness that makes you unable to relax

There you go, guys. Right up there is the word "Tension" defined by our good friend Mr. Merriam-Webster.

The point is, I found it humorlessly funny (if that makes sense) that one word was able to describe my whole life right at that moment.

Tension was what I felt when I tiptoed cautiously into the house, hoping to avoid one person, but feeling oddly disappointed when my wishes were granted.

Tension was what I felt when I collapsed on my bed, barely able to form a thought because it seemed as if what had just happened was taking my sanity bit by bit.

Tension was what I felt when I thought about that thing that just happened, the thing that made butterflies roar in my stomach. 

Tension was what I felt when I laid in bed that night, my tummy grumbling because I refused to leave my room for food in fear that I might stumble upon the person who started this tension in the first place.

And tension was what I felt when I woke up the next morning after a rocky night of sleep, my mind peaceful until the "K" word flitted through my brain. It acted like a trigger, detonating a bomb in my head that sent my thoughts reeling and the room spinning.

It took a lot of willpower to overcome said tension and throw the covers off of me, getting up to face the world. Or more like Percy, who seemed to make me more nervous than anything in the world right now.

I checked my phone real quick, my veins seeming to turn to ice as I saw nothing. No word yet about what the consequences were. I prayed my mom or Piper would text soon to relieve just a bit of my nerves, but I was scared to see what the text would say.

But I was also so confused. I wanted to stay here in Colorado so badly, and be with Percy and his friends and family, but I didn't know if I just made everything here awkward. So did I want to stay and try to brave my way through this tense layer, or should I just accept the fact that I probably don't belong here and I messed everything up and I should just go back to California?

I didn't know where my thoughts were. They were too jumble and panicked.

Throwing on a pair of jean shorts but leaving my t-shirt, I stepped out into the hallway. My feet descended the stairs with trepidation, then entered the kitchen with even more worry.

Poseidon stood in the corner, talking to Sally. I didn't know when she had come, but I was glad to see her. Maybe I could go somewhere with her and avoid seeing Percy.

Speaking of which, Percy sat cross-legged on the ground, playing with Mrs. O'Leary. A lopsided grin adorned his face as he tugged on the small rope, the other end of the toy held in the puppy's mouth.

He looked so painstakingly adorable with his hair sticking every which way, that smile doing weird things to my stomach.

But that smile dropped as he caught sight of me entering the kitchen.

Once again, the dread and tension returned, placing a burden on my shoulders.

He gave me a tight nod, and I returned it, my heart clenching. Normally we'd smile or offer a joke. I'd gotten used to coming down everyday to a cheery "Good morning, Wise Girl!"

Guess I was the cause of this blanket of awkwardness covering us both.

"Hello, Annabeth!" Sally chirped as I neared her. She reached out and gave me a quick hug. "I heard what happened."

For one, heart-stopping moment, I thought she was talking about the kiss. My muscles relaxed, however, when she continued with, "I hope everything is okay, and I was glad you were able to get out of there so quickly."