I Found Love- In Hell

6. Thank You, Captain Obvious

     "What do you mean?" Julian asks, freezing in his seat. The slight hissing of snakes can be heard from outside the car. I close my eyes.

     "Julain," I whisper. "Close your eyes."

     "Why?"

     "Because, that isn't a cop." I take a deep breath. "It's Medusa."

     Something grips my arm. I jump at first, but then I remember it's only Julian.

     "When did she get back?" Julian whispers.

     "I don't know," I reply. Everyone knows monsters don't die. When you kill them, they go to Tartarus, the deepest pit in the Underworld, and regenerate. They could be back in a year, they could be back in a thousand years. Looks like Medusa made a speedy recovery.

     "What're we gonna do?" Julian asks. I can hear the fear in his voice.

     "Uh...I..."

     "Can I see your liscence and registration?" A voice from outside the car hisses.

     "So sorry, but I don't have it with me." I say, loud enough to be heard through the window.

     "Well, then, we have a problem, don't we?" I hear and evil cackle. "Please, step out of your car."

     "No, no, I'm fine inside-"

     "Step out of your car."

     "Zoe?" Julian whispers.

     "What?" I ask through gritted teeth.

     "Put the car in park."

     I don't know why, but I listen.

     "Now, roll down your window and lean back as far as you can."

     "Julian? What're you-"

     "Just trust me." I can picture Julian rolling his eyes.

     "Okay..." I lean back and push the button that automatically rolls down the window.

     "I knew we'd come to an agree-" The gorgon's sentence is cut short by the piercing scream that fills the air.

     Then, all is silent.

     "Julian?" I whisper.

     "You can open your eyes now." He says, getting out of the car. I climb over the seat and get out of his door.

     "What did you get her with?" I ask. Julian reaches down and pulls something out of her chest.

     My dagger.

     "Where'd you...?"

     "I took it from your cabin when you were sleeping-"

     "You stole my dagger!" I turn to him.

     "You obviously weren't going to bring it! We're lucky I did!"

     "I could have-"

     "Could have done what!?"

     "I-"

     "That wasn't an ordinary cop! We could have died! You could have died!"

     I ignore the part where he says I could have died. Why did he care so much, anyway?

     "Thank you, Captain Obvious!"

     "You're welcome, Luitenant Sarcastic!" Julian mock salutes me.

     "You insufferable little jerk! You know what!?" I reach past the dead gorgon, open the driver's side door, pull the keys out of the ignition and throw them at Julian's face. "I'm going back."

     "Zoe!"

     "Go to Hell!" I shout as I stomp away.

     "That's where I'm going, remember?"

     "I'm not listening!"

     I walk into the woods, not caring about anything. A few moments later, a hand grabs my arm, keeping me from going any further.

     "Listen, Zoe," Julian's voice is quiet. "I'm sorry. I just don't want you to get hurt. That day, with the Minotaur, I thought I'd lose you. When I saw it pick you up...I froze. Andy didn't. I almost let you-"

     "Why haven't you come out of your cabin?" I turn to Julian, pulling my wrist from his hand.

     "I...you noticed?"

     "Yes, I noticed! How could I not?"

     "I figured you'd be happy that I didn't come out."

     "I needed to talk to you."

     "About what?"

     "I..." I look up into his grey eyes. I'd wanted to talk about the kiss...but...

     "Zoe?"

     "Huh?"

     "Is this about the kiss?"

     Without saying anything, I look down and nod.

     "Honestly, I don't know why I did it." He looks at me, willing my eyes to meet his, but I focus my eyes on the ground. "Why did you run away afterwards?"

     I sigh. "Because I didn't want to hear you say something like, 'I can't believe you think I did that,' or something and tell everyone how I'm crazy for thinking someone like you would kiss someone like me." I look up at Julian.

     "Yeah, I probably would have." Julian nods his head sadly. "I'm sorry. I really am a jerk. You hate me-"

     "Julian, I could never hate you," I say. "You've saved my life twice now."

     "But I've been the World's Biggest Jerk to you all these years. How can you put up with me?"

     "Because you're just being you," I smile. "You can't help your personality."

     "Here, let's make a deal. Let's start over, pretend the kiss never happened, pretend I was never a jerk to you- let's start over. Okay?"

     "Okay."

     "Come here." Julian opens his arms and I fling myself into them, holding him tight. He rests his chin on the top of my head and rocks us back and forth quietly for what seems like forever.

     A happy forever.

     I mentally slap myself. If I have any feelings for Julian I need to stop them right now. I can't have feelings for another demigod, or anyone else. Not now. Not after Andy...

     But, he would want me to be happy. That's what he always wanted.

     But...what do I want?