Something Forbidden

Chapter 12: Raili

RAILI

I leaned on the door while i felt the tears coming out. I sat on the floor of the empty cabin, the banging and shouting from outside was the only noise i heard besides me crying.

"Raili, come out of there! I can explain everything!" i heard Danika shout from the other side of the door.

I ignored her, wanting to be alone.

I had asked Percy where Danika was, he said she wasnt feeling so good. I excused myself to go visit her, but all i see outside the amphitheater is Nico giving flowers to Danika. I saw how happy Nico was with her.

Then i realized how selfish i was to keep Nico away from who he loves.

"I should be happy for them," i thought to myself.

I wiped my tears with my hands and got up. I opened the door.

"Raili, i'll explain everything. Just-"

"Save it," i told her,

"What?" she asked.

"Im sorry, i should know better. I shouldnt interfere with-"

"Wait a minute. What are you talking about? Nico and i arent..."

Danika dint say 'in a relationship', she hated that word.

"But you... i saw you and Nico..." i said, trying to hold in my tears.

"Raili, are you crazy!? I like Nico as a friend ," she began, "What you saw back there? Its not true. These well, wilted flowers, are for you. Nico was just too shy to give it to you himself."

"So... youre saying..."

"Nico likes you , Raili, not me. Gross!"

We both laughed.

"Thanks," i told her, "And sorry."

"Yeah, yeah. So, here." she said, handing me the flowers.

···

"So, is it true?" Roshan asked me suddenly.

I looked at Roshan with Therese and Ysabelle not knowing what she had said as i had been looking at the painting of Nico on the wall smiling happily.

"Wha-what? Huh?" i asked, confused.

"I said, is it true? The rumors? You and Nico are... a thing."

They all shrieked as Roshan said those last words.

"Im not- i dont... wait, rumors!?" i asked.

"Yeah, the others -mostly from the Aphrodite cabin- have been talking about it since last night!" she explained.

"How did..."

Roshan shook her head, but she clearly dint seem to care. I excused myself from their fangirling and tried finding the only person who i suspect.

···

I found Will by the lake cleaning his armor with a rag.

"Solace!" i shouted.

He looked over his shoulder and put down the breast plate. He stood up with a big grin on his face, another reason why i suspected him.

"So, Wilted Rose , hows your day going so far?" he asked, still grinning.

"W- wilted... so you did spread all those rumors!"

"Calm down, Wilted Rose! Look, i dint mean to spread those rumors. I dont even know how everyone at camp knew," he said calmly.

"You dint mean to!?"

"Well, yeah. I only told my friends, but i swear they dint say a word. It must have just come out somehow, Wilted Rose."

"Stop calling me that!" i snapped.

"Okay, okay..."

"But wait, how does Nico know roses were my favourite?" i asked.

"Oh, about that... I might've asked Cheska about that and... hehe."

"IM GOING TO-"

"Anyways! Well, uh, look at the time! I better get going, bye!"

Will ran off before i could choke him, leaving me here to hear the rumors spread.

···

I walked back to the cabin while staring at my shoes, which seemed to interest me. I stared at it for a few more seconds before someone cleared their throat. I looked up and turned around, only to find a group of girls who i knew right away by how they look that they were Aphrodite's children.

"This, " one of them said, "is the girl? The one in the rumors?"

"Could've been worse," another added.

They all laughed in agreement before one of them, obviously the leader, stepped forward.

"Lourdes," i remembered.

"Surely, it couldnt be. But of course, their rumors ! Theres bound to be a twist!"