After the End of the World: A Reyna Story

Chapter 9: I Have Some Explaining to Do

Theo took the news pretty well.

After I heard him take a couple of deep breathes, he spoke.

"Okay, so where am I going to meet you? And when?"

That was it. No nonsense. He totally believed me, a girl he just met off of the street (and lied to him), without question.

I had told him everything. About the gods of Greece and Rome and about the Titan War and the war against Gaea. And then I'd told him about Eris and the prophecy and how he needed to come with me. He must have let me speak for a solid hour.

At the half an hour mark, I heard Hazel's light snores and Frank picked her up. He left the cabin to take Hazel to her's.

"Adonis said meet me outside the bakery on Noriega Street." I paused. "Oh and do you know any car we could use for the quest?"

Theo laughed.

"Let's just use my car."

"Your bug?" I said incredulously.

"Yeah?"

"We have to fit four people. No offense, but that thing is tiny."

"Hey! It's not so bad. And anyway, do you have a better option?"

"No," I muttered.

"Then its settled. I'll meet you there at- what? Eight in the morning?"

I nodded, but I realized he couldn't see me. I must have been really tired.

"Sounds good, Theo."

"Alright."

There was an awkward pause.

"Well..." I trailed off.

"I guess I should be getting to bed. I mean, I want to get some sleep before the quest."

"Yeah." My eyes felt so heavy.

"Okay. We'll see you tomorrow."

"See you."

"Yeah. Love you. Bye."

There was a pause as we both realized what he said.

"What?" I asked.

"Oh man, Reyna, sorry. I just- I don't know. Force of habit I guess."

"Ha, yeah." My voice sounded uneasy.

"Yeah, I say it so much as I'm saying goodbye. It's just like a reflex."

"Yeah. Okay, well, goodnight."

"Night."

I didn't want to hang up, and I got the feeling he didn't want to either. But I had to get some sleep so I gently put the phone down as I muttered "Bye" one last time.

As soon as the hum of the phone was gone, I immediately wished I hadn't put it up. Frank's room was cold and empty and too quiet. I shivered in my seat.

I sat there in the chair Frank had given me as I had talked, and I stared out one of the windows. Frank hadn't come back yet, I was glad. I needed a moment or two to myself.

I thought about what Theo had said. About how saying "love you" was just a habit. I wondered how lucky someone had to be in order to have that in life. I mean, I always told Hylla I loved her. And Nico. But that was about it. If one of the Seven said, "I love you guys" or "Bye, Reyna, love you" I'd always reply back. But I hardly felt comfortable saying it on cue.

And then a horrible, terrible thought crossed over me. What if Theo had a girlfriend. A serious girlfriend who he always told he loved her. What then? I would be dragging them apart and I really, really liked Theo.

What had I gotten myself into?

"Hey, Reyna." a gentle voice behind me murmured. It knocked me out of my stupor.

"Frank! You scared me! I didn't hear you come in."

Frank blushed.

"Sorry," he said sheepishly.

"It's fine." I waved him off as I stood. "I'd better get going."

"Okay."

I turned to leave and I had almost made it to the door when Frank spoke up.

"Reyna?"

"Yeah." I faced him.

"I-I- just stay safe tomorrow, okay?"

My face must have fell because he looked upset. I didn't mean to be sad, I just thought maybe one of my best friends might leave me with more than just goodbye.

"Okay, Frank. Good luck running the camp."

I moved and grabbed the door handle. I was halfway out the door when Frank grabbed my other wrist.

"Reyna- wait! Wait."

"What?"

"I love you, okay? You're one of my best friends. Be safe. Keep Hazel safe, too. Please."

I nodded. Something inside me still felt sad. Maybe I was just a sad person.

"Love you too," I murmured. I took his hand and squeezed it once before leaving Frank's bunk.

The night was cold and dark. I knew that I should get to bed, but I just couldn't sleep. My nerves were tingling, and every time I thought about Theo, my heart pounded.

"Reyna," I heard a voice call feebly. I stopped in my tracks. Blood rushing through my head, I slowly pulled my sword from its sheath.

"Who's there?" I dug my back foot into the gravel and bobbled gently on my knees, giving me a good fighting stance.

"It's me," the hoarse voice continued. "Andy."

I relaxed and stood normally.

"Andy, I'm so sorry!" I rushed to the bushes where I had last seen Andy and saw him laying there in the grass, his blonde hair white in the moonlight.

"Not your fault." he coughed. He looked rough. Really rough.

His face was pale and his eyes were dull. He had cuts all over his arms and forehead and clumps of dirt and something else were tangled in his hair. Being a demigod was messy.

"What happened?" I said gently as I helped him sit up. "Let's get you to the medics."

It took a lot of effort on both our parts to get him to where he could be treated, but once he was there, a couple of Apollo kids took him from my arms.

I didn't even get to say goodnight. I hoped he'd be well enough to go on the quest tomorrow.

I made my way alone back to my bunk. It was freezing out, and with the cold breeze hitting my bare arms and skin, I realized how little I'd appreciated an un-ripped dress. The moon shone like a diamond through the dark. Its light cut just as harshly as the gem. The constellation of the huntress still shimmered in the sky.

"Reyna," a voice whispered in my ear.

"Andy?" I called.

But no one answered. It must have been the wind. Yeah, that's right. Just the wind.