Puppets (Percy Jackson AU)

Hazel

[6]//HAZEL//:

Hazel was finding it easy to fit in at Olympus Academy now.

She had made friends with Rachel, and talked to Reyna twice. She was now friends with Gwen and Lou Ellen. She was also hanging around Frank Zhang a little more- and his friends Percy, Dakota and Bobby- but mainly Frank. In fact, she was meeting him at a little coffee shop five minutes away from campus.

She threw on her denim jacket over her purple t-shirt. She was wearing ratty old jeans and riding boots, not caring about how messy she looked. She threw her hair up in a ponytail.

She exited her dorm. It was seven, a few hours until curfew. She had time. Just as she reached the stairs, someone joined her.

"Hey Nico," she said with a smile.

"Hi!" Her bright eyed, bushy tailed half brother responded. "Where are ya goin?"

"To a coffee shop." Hazel said vaguely. Nico thundered down the stairs alongside her.

"On a date?"

"Please," Hazel scoffed. Like she would ever go on a date. As cute as Frank was, she doubted that he would actually ask her out. A girl could dream, though.

"Are you suuuuuuure?"

"Yeah, Nico. I'm positive."

Hazel laughed as she reached the front doors of the school, where Frank was waiting. "Bye, Nico. I'll talk to you later!

"Bye Hazel!" Nico waved cheerfully.

"Who was that?" Frank questioned.

"Jealous?" Hazel teased, flicking him.

"What? No." Frank looked away quickly. Hazel looped her arm through his.

"If you must know, that's my half brother." She explained.

Frank visibly relaxed. "Oh."

They walked in silence with linked arms, until Frank asked, "Is pain an emotion?"

"Hmmm?" Hazel glanced at him.

"Is pain an emotion? Or a sensation, our imagination, or what is it?"

"Huh. Well, I think maybe pain is too vivid for an emotion. I think we imagine it. A figment of our imagination to make up for something that should be there. The human race has gotten so used to pretending pain is there that we believe in it." Hazel answered thoughtfully.

"Whoa. That was so deep, Adele was rolling in it." Frank said in awe. Hazel laughed. She wasn't a fan of modern music, but she got that reference.

"Let us sustain ourselves with coffee!" Hazel cried as they neared the little coffee shop. They veered into it, standing in line to order.

"Bonjour," Frank said, making her giggle.

"Bonjour. C'est est la?" Hazel tried. She only knew a tiny bit.

"Ah, deux bien le parfait." Frank attempted, making Hazel burst out in laughter.

Soon, it was her turn to order. She quickly ordered her white hot chocolate, but before she could pay, Frank jumped in. He ordered a muffin for himself and paid for the two of them.

"Frank!" She smacked his arm as she grabbed her cup. "I had it covered!"

"Well, I learned from my mom at a young age to always pay for your date," Frank shrugged sheepishly, blushing.

"Well, Gwen taught me about feminism so next time it's my turn," Hazel countered with a grin. She froze and flushed a bright red. "Date?"

Frank bit into his muffin, averting his eyes.