The Valdez side-effects

Chapter 7

I was up the next morning when it was still dark out.  The sky was slowly turning a hazy gray and Percy was already leaving the cabin, all of his things packed.  I jumled off my bed and stumbled, still grogy and bearly conscious.   I put my hands out in front if me to sheild my fall and as I landed in my hand wrapped in gauze,  I let out a hiss of pain. 

I quickly get up and run out of the cabin.  "Percy!" I squeak, not loud enough for him to hear me.  He keeps walking.  It's cold out and being in just a tank top and sweat pants wasn't helping with the warmth. 

My bare feet pound against the rough ground.  I only caught up to Percy when it was too late.  He was half way down half-blood hill.  Chiron saw me running and he caught me around the waist before I could run down the hill.  "Let me go!"  I scream.  "Percy!  Percy!"  I scream. 

Percy turns back towards me and when he sees me he drops his bag and runs back up the hill.  I see Leo pop his head out the camp van's door and he jumps out of the van and runs up the hill to me. 

"I've got her."  Percy holds my forearms and pulls me into a hug.  "Leigh it's ok.  We'll be ok."

I hug Percy as tightly as I can and the tears come.  Once Leo gets to the top of the hill, I slip out of Percy's arms and into his. 

I grapple at Leo's shirt and hold him in a tight hug.  "I love you. Oh my gods I love you so much." I say through tears. 

"Hey.  Hey!"  Leo holds my face.  "I love you too and I'm going to be all right." 

I start to cry again and Leo tries to silence me with a kiss but as soon as the kiss is done I cry again.  He hugs me closely and brings his lips to my ear.  "I promise I will come back.  I promise you, Leora Kain that I will come back to you."

I hug him around the neck.  "I love you, I love you, I love you."  I whisper into his neck.

He lets go of me and gives me one last kiss.  The only part of us that is touching now is our hands which are gripping each other.  His hand slowly starts to slip out if mine and I start to follow him.  Chiron takes hold of my arm and Leo's hand slips out of mine.  As soon as his hand leaves mine it feels as if all the warmth in my body disappeared.  I let out a strangled cry, my hand still reaching for him. 

Leo backs away slowly then turns away and runs down half-blood hill with Percy.  Chiron dosen't release my arm until the camp's van is out of sight.  I collapse to my knees and sit there crying.  "Come now, miss Kain."  Chiron says taping my shoulder.  "You'll get cold."

I shrug away from him.  "No.  I'm staying her until they come back." 

Chiron is silent for awhile and I thought he must have left.  "Alright then.  See you soon."  I hear him walking away. 

I crawl over to Thalia's tree and lean back against it, waiting, always wating.

Always.