Thalia didn't like it. At all. Every time she thought of being on top of a mountain or at the roof top of a house, she could already feel her hands trembling, her heart pounding, and her bladder acting up.
Heights made her feel like a coward, and now, it made her sorry she agreed with Luke. He had been pestering her with this crazy idea to overcome her fear, and she was itching to punch him in the nose and knock him out cold, or maybe just tell him she'd changed her mind. She didn't want to leave him either. . .
But then, she found her self trying to climb a tree and fly down smoothly after she reached the top. Luke was shouting encouraging stuff at her from below, and she was tempted to chuck an acorn at him. She figured the driad living here would get angry at her, or maybe a squirrel would try to avenge the fallen acorn. Thalia was starting to have images of angry squirrels trying to exterminate her, and she didn't like it.
Finally, Thalia couldn't take it. She had to get down now.
"I can't take it anymore!" Thalia yelled. "I'm going down now."
Luke tried to protest, "But --"
"No. I won't do it. And no one would stop me," Thalia snapped. She tried to go down, but her fear was getting to her. Luke drew closer and raised his arms, trying to catch her.
"I'm good," she said sharply. She hoped she looked fine, she didn't want anyone seeing her in a moment of weakness.
Suddenly, Thalia made her mistake. Her foot slipped and she fell. Her heart was racing, but then, someone had caught her in mid-air. And it was Luke.
==*==*==
Later that night, Luke mended Thalia's broken ankle, because even though Luke caught her, she still landed quite wrongly.
He allowed drops of nectar into her mouth in silence. Thalia had to break the silence.
"I'm sorry," she croaked. Luke stared at her, looking surprised. She also saw another emotion in his face, but she decide to ignore it.
Awkward silence followed that, and Luke continued to wrap gauze around her foot.
"Luke. . .", Thalia said again. Luke looked up and smiled at her. Thalia felt a warm feeling inside.
"You didn't need to apologize, Thalia. I know it's my fault. I'm really sorry I got you into this. . ."
Thalia smiled back at him. She was so happy to have a friend like him. She was so lucky. . .
Thalia rose and embraced him. At first, Luke hugged her back awkwardly, then his muscles relaxed and pulled her in close.
