Sacred

Burned

Julia's POV-
I eye Carter as the girl, Gemma, crumples to the ground.
"I'll take her legs." I say, lifting them up.
Carter takes her arms and were standing across from one another. I blush.
Julia.... I think to myself. Carter and I have been friends for ages, I don't want to ruin that.
We quickly take Gemma through a back entrance out of the school.
We have car parked in a back alley near the school and we quickly strap her in the back.
I haven't gotten my license yet so I get into the passenger seat. Carter is in the drivers seat and starts up the car before driving away.
I bite my lip, trying to decide what to say.
"Carter?" I say, glancing over at him.
"Yes? Julia...?" Carter asks.
I look down, brushing my hair out of my face.
"Do you... want to g-go," I begin, I see Carter's eyes dart back and forth from the road to me.
I blush.
Maybe I shouldn't ask him out. Now, at least.
"I mean, Do you think she'll be okay? At camp?" I ask.
Carter sighs.
"I can't tell yet. But we can help her. You know, be friends to her." He says, I nod.
My eyes drift from his eyes to his eye lashes that I've always thought were gorgeous.
I thought he was gorgeous.
His chocolate brown hair, his eyes that always changed color. His perfectly tan skin and toned muscles.
He was the son of Aphrodite... after all.
Sometimes I wondered if the only reason I was attracted to him was his appearance. But it couldn't be, I liked everything about him.
I've had a crush on him since I was around 12.
I had been attacked and overwhelmed by some monsters in the forest and gotten injured. Carter had darted out of the trees and turned all of those monsters into dust. We had been friends since before than, but this was the first time I'd noticed how handsome he was.
Sadly, he never noticed my affections. Ever.
We were just friends. It was all we've ever been. And apparently all we'd ever be.
I tuned away from him. Staring out the window, my eyes were watering. I swiped them away, there was no way I was crying over this. I have to accept that he just wants to be friends. I don't want to destroy what I already have.
We drive the rest of the way in silence and soon enough we're rolling down the hill to Camp. Thalia's pine tree stands proudly in the distance while the dragon, Peleus, pleasantly snores. We pass him and drive over to the Big House. Carter turns the car off and we both hop out.
I begin to walk inside until Carter pulls my elbow back.
"Gemma," he says, and I nod. We carry her out of the car and into the front room of the Big House.
We set her down on a plush couch.
Carter turns to me, "Can you go get Chiron?"
I nod.
"I'll stay here with Gemma." Carter says and sits beside her.
I feel my blood boiling beneath my skin as blush blossoms on my cheeks. I spin and leave the room quickly. What is wrong with me today?!
I expect him to be in his office, so I head upstairs.
The door stands before me and I knock.
"Hello?" He says.
"Chiron, sir, it's me, Julia. Carter and I just rescued a demigod. Her name is Gemma." I say.
I hear hooves and then the soft rolling sounds of a wheelchair. The door opens and I hop out of the way.
Together we head downstairs.
I look over at the couch, Carter is talking softly to Gemma, who looks like she just woke up. I turn my gaze away from them.
Chiron rolls over to Gemma and she sits up a bit.
I lean against the wall as they talk and he explains to her everything.
Carter walks over to me, and I straighten up and let my blonde hair fall over my shoulders.
"Hey." I say, looking down at my shoes.
"Julia?" Carters asks, touching and hand to my chin and gently bringing my gaze up to his. I feel myself blushing.
"Are you alright? You've been acting strange today, ever since we got Gemma." He says.
I nod.
"I know. I'm sorry, I'm just feeling out it, I guess." I reply, my eyes darting over his face.
"Hey, Julia... it's okay. I get it." He says.
I look up.
"You do?" I say.
He nods and gives me a quick hug. My body melts into it and I wrap my arms around his neck.
I feel myself blushing.
His arms rest on my waist and we hug for a few moments.
Then we pull away, and my face feels like it's scarlet red.
"That was nice." I murmur.
He smiles, "Yeah." He murmurs back.
I grin.
Gemma walks over.
"Sorry to interrupt...." she begins.
Carter turns from me.
"You weren't interrupting anything. I was just talking to Julia." He says and I feel Gemma's eyes on me.
I have to restrain from snapping back something, but I just nod and stare at the wood paneling.
Gemma and Carter talk and Carter decides to take her on a tour. And they want me to come along.
More like tag along and be left out.
I think grumpily.
They walk ahead of me, chatting and laughing.
I feel the snow crunch under my feet and I try not to scowl.
Eventually I find time to escape and I run past the trees and to the Canoe Lake.
I walk over to the dock and look down at the water. It's calming to look at. Chiron let a bit loose on the weather thing for the camp so it brought in the snow from outside.
I lean back and try to cool my thoughts.
I have no idea what's wrong with me.
Am I jealous? No way, I've only met Gemma for all we know she could be some sleepy headed Hypnos child. Something just seems off about her, so just can't put my finger on it.