It Never Rains On Wednesday Chapter 16
Percy's POV
I walked back to my cabin in the darkness, my cheeks burning. I had almost asked Wednesday, the girl who had been my best friend since I was four, to be my girlfriend.
Was I going insane?
Yes.
Time to face the truth; I was head over heels for her. The prophecy had made it click in my mind; it made so much sense. I was in love with my best friend.
And I could tell it would be awkward.
I mean, first of all, what would Wednesday think? And then there was the whole Annabeth situation, which I didn't even want to THINK about what SHE would think about this.
I opened the door to my cabin and flopped face-down on my bed and sighed. I laid there, thinking how quiet it was without Wednesday's quiet, even breathing.
I heard tapping on my window.
"Percy? You awake?" a voice asked through the darkness.
"Grover?" I hissed. "What are you doing here?!"
I opened the window and he crawled through, even though the door was only about six feet away.
Giver grinned wickedly at me from the floor.
"I know who you like."
I rolled my eyes. That line was so elementary-school sounding.
"Sure. Now really, why are you here?"
"I told you! And besides, I heard Chiron and Apollo talking about the prophecy." he whispered.
I flipped on the lamp.
"What did they say?"
"Something about Zeus and Apollo having a big fight over something... Apollo going out and hooking up with Wednesday's mom when Zeus told him not to. I think he's still angry and maybe is trying to get revenge somehow... But they're not sure." Grover finished.
I thought about this for a while.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door, and Grover and I both looked at each other.
"Coming!" I yelled, motioning for Grover to hide under my bed, which was next to the window. He didn't quite get it, though. Instead of taking refuge under the bed, he simply leaped out the window.
Shaking my head, I opened the door to reveal Wednesday, standing on the doorstep in a t-shirt and basketball shorts. I cracked a grin.
"Hey. Come in." I told her, opening the door wider.
She smiled back, making her way into the room and sitting gingerly on my bed. I closed the door and went to sit next to her.
She stared down at her hands clasped in her lap. She didn't say a word. I noticed the bruise on her cheek. It was mostly gone, but you could see the outline of Luke's fingers faintly.
I moved to put an arm around her shoulders, but she simply shrugged it off. I frowned.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Nothing. I'm fine." she said.
"Lies!" I said loudly, chuckling to myself. She didn't even smile, let alone laugh.
Now I could tell something was seriously wrong with her. She wasn't her usual, bubbly, happy self. I stopped laughing and sat cross-legged in front of her and grabbed her hand.
"You're not fine. What's wrong?"
She turned away.
"Wednesday, just tell me what's wrong! I can help you!"
"No, you can't! Do you have any idea how unprepared I am?! Do you have any idea how worried I am?! Not just for me, but for the people I lead into a quest that most likely won't end well! I- Just- I-"
She pressed her hands to her forehead. The tips of her fingers throbbed with a kind of warm, yellow light. She was fighting tears. I could tell.
"Sshhhh, it's okay. You're gonna be fine."
"No, I'm not." she said, her voice thick with the tears she was holding in.
I rolled my eyes and pulled her close, wrapping her trembling figure in my arms, pressing her to my chest.
She buried her head in my shirt, the glow of her fingers fading.
"You know, it's okay to cry. It doesn't make you weak. In fact, I think it makes you stronger."
She shook her head.
"You were very brave. With Luke and all."
She looked up at me. "Really?"
I smiled and nodded. "Really."
She closed her eyes and a tear fell from her eye. She sniffled and buried her head in my shirt, letting all her tears loose.
After about ten minutes of just sitting there and comforting her with my presence, she pulled away from my embrace.
"I'd better go back to the- my cabin, before I get in trouble." she said.
I grinned. "Having trouble adjusting to the whole, 'my dad is the god of the arts' thing?"
"Eh, it's alright so far. 'Night, Percy." she said, walking towards the door.
"Hey, you want me to walk you? Do you need a flashlight or something?" I asked, walking after her as she opened the door.
Looking back at me, she smiled and held up her hand. I illuminated our faces with a warm glow.
"I think I'll be alright."
And with that, she left.
