The Valdez side-effects

Chapter 4

My little alcove in the wall that my bed was in hadn't changed, except for the fact my bed was made, I assumed Tyson did that for me.  The drawing of me sleeping that Leo gave to me last year was still crinkled from the water and pinned up onto my wall and a small brown sea shell was up on the little wooden shelf I had put up.  Not much, but I called it home.  Gods, I've always wanted to use that line. 

Since it was about three in the morning, I crawled into my bunk and collapsed.  I didn't even bother to get under my covers. 

I am woken up in the morning by a warm hand being pressed against my neck.  I blink into the sun light and catch a glimpse of Leo's grinning face.  I smile at him, still half blinded by sleep and I slip my hand over Leo's wrist.  "Hey." He whispers smiling. 

"Hey."  I whisper back. 

His hand brushes the top of my spinal cord, causing me to shiver with pleasure.  "We need to get the day started, sweetheart."  He murmurs. 

I cuddle into his warm hand.  "What do I have for today?" I ask. 

His fingers tangle in my hair and they gently massage my scalp.  "Since we didn't expect you to be back this early you have nothing."  He moves so his face  is right next to mine.  "So I thought ypu might like to spend the day with me."

I tug at his shirt so he will climb up on the bed with me.  He does and I lace my arms around his neck.  We lay there unmoving holding each other tightly. 

"You dont understand how happy I am to be with you right now." He whispers.  I put my face in his neck, right under his chin and chest. 

"You're so hot."  I say cuddling closer.  "In more ways than heat."  I add quietly.  

Leo's hand slips down to my lower back and he pulls me in closer.  "You're just plain hot." 

I shake my head.  "Not as good as mine."

"I know,  it was worth a try."  Leo says quickly. 

I give his neck a squeez and sit up.  I have to curl my back so I don't bump my head.  Leo sits up as well.  "Ready for a picnic?"

I raise an eyebrow.  "I didn't know demigods did picnics."  I laugh.

Leo scratches his head.  "I have to admit, I didn't either." 

He jumos down from the bed, then as I am about to jump down he wraps an arm around my waist.  I scream as he easily lifts me off the bed and carries me out the door.

"Leo!  Leo this might look like we-!" Leo cuts me off as he blows a raspberry into my neck.  I giggle and squirm. 

Leo puts me down in front of my cabin and smooths down my hair.  His hands linger on my cheeks and he looks deep into my eyes.  "I love you."  He says so quietly I barely catch the words.

My hands move up his arms until they are around  the back if his neck again.  I kiss him and he eventually looses allnof his stiffness after he had just told me he loved me. 

"Whoa!"  Someone yells as he comes around the corner.

My eyes snap open and Leo and I step away from each other.  In front of us is a satyr that looks around Percy's age.  He adverts his eyes and walks past us looking at the ground.  "I didn't mean to interrupt.  I'll just-" 

"Wait!"  I call after the satyr.  He stops in his tracks and turns around to face me.  "Grover?" 

The satyr looks at me.  "Uuuuhhh... person?" 

I take a step towards him and look at his face.  I recognize him from the pictures by Percy's bed, only he looks much older. 

"If you're looking for Percy he's probably at the Athena cabin with Annabeth."  I point over my shoulder.  

"Thanks."  He says before taking off in the other direction.  He stops and turns back to me.  "And you are?"

I snap out of my daze.  "Oh!  I'm Leigh-"

"Her actual name is Leora."  Leo says. 

I glare at him and turn back to Grover.  "I'm Percy's sister." 

Grover's eyes widen.  "Percy's s-sister."  He repeats.  

I look down and nod.  "Yeah..." 

"Um, ok then. See you around."  Grover says.  He nods at Leo.  "Leo."

Leo grins.  "Grover."

Grover leaves and once he is out of sight,  Leo wraps an arm around my waist.  "Picnic?"

"Right."  I say before he gently pulls me away.  I stick to his side as he leads me through the camp.  I recognize a few friendly faces and a few unfriendly faces, like Leo's brother who wouldn't let me into the Hepheastus cabin last year. 

We run into Piper and Jason.  I had never really talked to Jason but I assumed he was nice enough.  "Hey!" Piper calls brightly.  "What's up?" 

"We are going for a picnic," Leo shrugs.  "You can come." 

Jason nods.  "I think we will."  He says and casts ne a glance.  I look away when I realise I had been staring and cuddle into Leo's side. 

We all walk towards Long Island Sound, Leo chattering all the way.  I keep quiet and stay close to Leo's side. 

We avoid Leo's spot between the boulders,  because it's Leo's spot and no one needs to know that.  We lay our blanket down halfway up the beach and lay out the food Leo brought.  Our meal consists of snadwhiches, fruit and some fruit juice.  Jason and Piper sit on the opposite side of the blanket from us and I lean back against Leo's arm. 

We eat talking about everything, laughing.  Jason turns to me.  "We haven't really had the chance to talk."  He says and gets up.  "Do you mind if I bring her for a walk?"  He asks Leo. 

Leo looks at me and shakes his head.  "Just don't try anything." 

"Dude,"  Jason looks offended.  "I have a girlfriend." 

I look at Piper silently asking if it's ok.  She smiles and nods.  I give her half a smile back and get up.  Jason puts a hand on my shoulder and leads me down towards the water.  "Did I do something wrong?  Because if I did..."  I start nervously.

"No not at all."  Jason shakes his head and keeps his eyes in front of him.  "I just need to get to know my best friend's girlfriend." 

I open my mouth to say something but shut it when I realise I have nothing to say.  "You were attacked by  empousai last night."  Jason recounts.

I nod.  "Yeah, I was being stupid." 

"No."  Jason shakes his head.  "You were upset about Ace and our tone about the Lastrygonian may have sounded like we thought you were to weak to take one on alone.  But ypu aren't weak at all.  You sacrificed yourself for the ones you love more than once last year." 

I want to object but I remember the torment I went through in the underworld and the fear I felt when facing Circe.   I don't say anything. 

"You see?  You are not weak in any way.  You understand me?" We arrive at the water and he turns to face me. 

I look down at my feet and nod.  Feeling tears prick my eyes, I look away.  "Thank you."  I whisper.  "Don't cry.  That was supposed to make you happy."  He says.

I look up at him.  "It did."  I say before breaking into tears.  Jason catches me and holds me up as we walk back to the blanket.  Halfway there, Leo runs up to me and pulls me into a hug.  "What did you do?"  He asks Jason angrily.

I grab Leo's shirt and tug in it to get his attention.   "No he said very kind things to me.  It's just memories."  I say wiping back tears. 

Leo looks down into my face.  "Hey." Leo pulls me into his side.  "You need to focus on the now.  The past is in the past, ok?  I've got you." 

I bury my face into his shoulder.  "This is embarrassing." I say. 

Leo gives me a tight hug and leads me back to our picnic blanket.  He lays back and I lay down by his side.  He puts his lip against my ear.  "I've got you."  He repeats.  

I close my eyes and relax, knowing Leo will be by my side and I will always be by his.