Ambrosia

I Expect You To Understand

"Where are we going?" I asked.

He grinned back at me and picked up his pace.

"Wait wait! You're going too fast!" I laughed, almost stumbling.

"We're here!" He said proudly, stopping.

I laughed and stood alongside him, my hand still intertwined with his.

We stood before a huge willow tree, the snow still falling.

Huge drops of frozen water clung to the long strands of leaves and the wind swayed the leaves gently.

"It's beautiful," I said.

He grinned at me and pulled me under the leaves, towards the trunk.

I stared at the same tree from my memory, the water drops melting slightly, but still frozen.

"It's beautiful," I whispered, looking at Percy.

"That's what you said last time," he smirked.

My eyes widened as I realized our hands were still intertwined and I cleared my throat, my grip on his hand loosening.

He smirked before letting my hand go.

"What did you want to show me?" I asked, looking at the ground.

"This," he parted the long leaves and disappeared into them.

I bit my lip and followed him.

I parted the leaves and after a few steps, I came to a huge dome. It was made of odd branches and a few stray leaves hanging down.

The trunk was enormous; I could have hugged it and my hands would've just barely met.

"Here," he said, pointing to something carved into the tree.

It was old, faded as if it had been then for a while.

"What is it?" I asked, resting my fingers on the trunk.

Percy just smiled.

My fingers traced the faint heart carved into the trees trunk. Two letters stood inside: A+P

The memory came back, suddenly.

"What'd you bring the knife for?" I asked.

Percy grinned back at me, his Swiss Army knife pointed at the tree.

"Can't you tell?" He asked, turning back to the tree.

"Well I mean I can guess. And if I'm guessing right, it's very cliche," I said, looking over his shoulder.

His knife point dig into the tree, begginginf to carve a heart outline.

"You like cliche, don't you?" He asked, grinning back at me.

I shrugged as he finished and stepped back, standing next to me.

"Depends on what cliche," I said.

He draped his arm over my shoulder and we admired his handiwork.

He leaned down and kissed my cheek.

"What about this for cliche?" He asked.

"I like it," I replied.

"We-you carved it here," I said, turning around to him.

"It was two years before your accident," Percy said, putting his hands on my shoulders.

I shied away, tensing up.

"Uh sorry," he said, putting his hands down.

"It's fine."

He stared at the heart, an almost dazed look on his face.

"Why are you showing me this?" I asked, looking at him.

"I guess I'm hoping you'll remember," he replied, watching me carefully.

"I'm sorry Percy. But I don't remember anything," I shook my head.

"But you will. I know you will. You have to Ambrosia," he said, planting his hands firmly on my shoulders.

I shook my head, my expression fearful and painful.

"No. No no no," I said, turning around and running away.

"Ambrosia wait!"

I ran out of the tree dome, stopping on the sidewalk, but only for a second.

I walked friskily, until I felt a hand close around my wrist.

"Ambrosia wait. I'm sorry."

I stopped, listening.

"I-I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry. Please forgive me," he said.

I turned round and looked at him.

"Ok," I said quietly.

"Can I walk you home at least?" He asked.

A smile tugged at my lips.

"Yeah," I said, following him as he begun walking home.

I watched the road as we walked, giant puddles in the middle of the once icy road.

"You used to love jumping in puddles."

The boy's words rang through my head and I smiled.

We walked a few more feet and I ignored the desire to jump in the puddles.

"You aren't going to jump in the puddles?" Percy asked absently, his hands in his pockets.

"What?" My head ripped around and I stopped as I realized something.

"You're him," I said, turning to Percy.

"I'm who?" His blue almost black eyes turned to me, piercing.

"The boy in my room. The one I could hear but...I didn't know who he was. You're him. You said you lov-"

"Ambrosia!"

Percy's eyes snapped behind me and I turned slowly, gulping.

A figure was furiously stalking towards us, the snow highlighting its familiar brown hair.

"Thomas."